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Both Are Market Favorites, But Only One Delivers More Economy, Safety, and Cost-Effectiveness. See the Complete Comparison Before Sealing the Deal.
The competition between the Chevrolet Onix and the Fiat Argo remains fierce in 2025. Both are popular among Brazilians, ranking among the best-selling hatches in the country and promising to deliver what consumers seek most: economy, comfort, technology, and low maintenance costs. But when it comes to choosing between the two, which one really offers more for the price?
Chevrolet Onix – The Sales Leader in All of Brazil
Starting with the Chevrolet Onix, GM’s hatch has been synonymous with efficiency and trust for years, especially among app drivers. And it’s no surprise. Its fuel consumption is one of its great highlights: with the 1.0 naturally aspirated engine, the car achieves up to 15 km/l on the highway, being one of the most economical in its category. Additionally, the Onix does not disappoint in safety: it comes with six airbags as standard, traction and stability controls, and a top score in Latin NCAP tests in its more complete versions.
The engine, while modest in power (78 hp with gasoline and 82 hp with ethanol), delivers performance suitable for urban use.
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After decades out of the spotlight, Citroën is preparing to bring back the legendary 2CV as a low-cost electric vehicle, betting on the revival of one of the most popular cars in history and aiming to enter the race for affordable compact cars.
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The 2026 electric Vitara arrives in Brazil and proves that Suzuki is not leaving: 4×4 traction, 184 hp, 61 kWh LFP battery, 293 km range, R$ 259,000, and a trunk capacity of 224 L.
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Hyundai has unveiled the Boulder, a square SUV with a body-on-frame design, 37-inch mud tires, and carriage-style doors that seems to be made to take on the Ford Bronco and the Scout Traveller in the United States.
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The Toyota Hilux is R$ 75.5 thousand cheaper and bets on the 2.8 turbodiesel engine with up to 204 hp and 50.9 kgfm to catch up with the VW Saveiro, which leads with 4,472 sales.
Cheap Maintenance
Another attractive feature is the maintenance cost: the services are affordable, and insurance has an average value lower than competitors in the same price range. The starting price for the base version is around R$ 102,000, making it one of the most economical options with a good equipment package.
Fiat Argo: The Category’s Trump Card Is the Trekking 1.3 Version
On the other side is the Fiat Argo, which surprised the market by surpassing the Onix and the HB20 in hatch sales recently. One of its trump cards is the manual Trekking 1.3 version, which returned to the market with a suggested price of R$ 99,990. The proposal here is more adventurous, with a higher suspension, robust appearance, and a more sophisticated interior finish than expected for a compact hatch.
The Argo also offers good engine options, highlighted by the 1.3 Firefly engine with 109 hp using ethanol. The performance is slightly superior to that of the naturally aspirated Onix, especially in accelerations.
In terms of connectivity, the Argo offers versions with the UConnect multimedia center, but the more affordable versions may fall short in terms of standard features.
Chevrolet Onix: The Economy Champion
- Fuel Consumption: According to Inmetro, the Onix Plus (sedan) achieves up to 17.7 km/l on the highway with gasoline and 12.5 km/l with ethanol
- Real Economy: data confirms an average of 12 km/l in the city and around 15 km/l on the highway with the 1.0 naturally aspirated engine
- Popularity Among App Drivers: precisely because it consumes little and has good reliability, it has become a frequent choice in this segment
- Features: comes with MyLink multimedia center (with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto), six airbags, stability controls, air conditioning, and electric steering in LT versions
- Performance: 1.0 three-cylinder engine produces up to 82 hp with ethanol, 78 hp with gasoline; accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in about 13.3 s
- Costs: initial maintenance reviews below R$ 2,000 and average insurance under R$ 3,000
Main Strengths: real fuel economy, low maintenance costs, embedded technology, and good factory safety.
Fiat Argo: Option That Came to Take the Lead
- Strong Sales History: recent studies indicate that the Argo has surpassed the Onix and the HB20 in sales among hatches in Brazil, especially in the Trekking version
- Available Versions: Drive 1.0, Drive 1.3, Trekking 1.3, HGT 1.8, among others – with options for manual, automated GSR, and 6-speed automatic transmissions;
- Trekking Version: The 1.3 manual returns for R$ 99,990 according to Quatro Rodas;
- Design and Finish: interior with a finish superior to the previous Fiat standard, more robust style especially in the Trekking;
- Safety: received zero stars in Latin NCAP in the configuration with only 2 airbags;
Main Strengths: adventurous aesthetic appeal, variety of versions (including Trekking), good market acceptance.
Controversies Involving the Fiat Argo
In terms of safety, the Fiat Argo still carries a controversy: in tests conducted with the base version, equipped with only two airbags, the hatch received a score of zero in Latin NCAP. It’s an important point of attention, especially for those who value occupant protection.
And you, do you prefer the Onix or the Argo? Leave your opinion in the comments!
Estudei 4 meses antes de escolher, corrente comando fez a diferença fui de argo 1.3
Tive onix 5 anos mas, na pandemia faltaram peças e troquei pelo Argo Trekking.Adorei.
Eu prefiro o fiat Argo
E um excelente opção é custo benefício