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Hatchbacks
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2024 Maruti Suzuki Swift
What you'll like:
Stylish exterior is unmistakably "Swift", although opinions can be polarizing
Smart-looking interior with a good-looking dashboard and fine ergonomics
Manual transmission with short throws is very slick and a joy to use. Absolutely brilliant MT!
Great drivability and light controls, along with a small footprint make it a joy in the city
Sporty engine sound is addictive. It's the best sounding 3-cylinder I've driven
Choice of sporty MT and convenient AMT - take your pick
3-cylinder engine is fuel-efficient; ARAI rating of 25.75 km/l for the AMT (MT is 24.80 km/l)
Enjoyable handling & good high speed composure with a precise steering
Long list of features including automatic LED projector headlamps, LED DRLs, LED foglamps, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, connected car features etc
Safety features such as 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, hill-hold assist, ABS+EBD, ISOFIX child seat mounts etc.
Maruti's widespread service network, excellent after-sales support & fuss-free ownership experiences
What you won't:
1.2L petrol is not fast & exciting enough for enthusiasts. Not as refined as the outgoing 4-cylinder, nor as powerful (power has actually dropped to just 81 BHP)
Priced very close to the more premium & spacious Baleno
Mediocre plastic quality (interiors) is typical Maruti grade; very ordinary
AMT can get jerky & slow. Some competitors offered smoother ATs (e.g. Altroz DCT, Hyundai's AMT, i20's IVT)
No CNG or diesel option like some rivals
Low speed ride is jiggly due to suspension tune & 15-inch wheels
Black interiors and smallish glass area can make one claustrophobic, particularly at the back
Rear seats under-thigh support is mediocre for taller passengers
Some misses (auto-dimming IRVM, TPMS, sunroof, driving modes, smaller spare tyre on the Z trims...)
L & V variants get horribly skinny 165 mm tyres. Please upgrade
163 mm ground clearance raises our eyebrows, although Maruti hatchbacks aren't known to scrape speed breakers
Review Link Hyundai Grand i10 Nios
Review Link Tata Tiago
What you'll like:
Great styling. A very chic-looking hatchback at a value-for-money price!
Tata has put in a lot of effort on quality and it shows. No signs of cost cutting at all
Solid build & construction, unlike most of its flimsy competitors
High quality, well-designed interiors. Lots of storage and a useful 242 liter boot too
Suspension offers excellent ride comfort with neutral handling
City friendly nature: light controls, agreeable ergonomics & good driveability (both engines)
Amazing 8-speaker
Harman entertainment system. Sounds top class
Feature list with 2 driving modes, parking sensors + display, cooled glovebox, full MID & more
What you won't:
Mediocre 3-cylinder engines. Petrol, especially, is unimpressive
Low refinement levels. NVH package has many holes
Rear headroom is tight. Also, a rare Tata hatchback that cannot seat 5 (
best for 4)
Concerns over long-term reliability, more so of the freshly developed engines
Tata's after-sales experience remains a gamble. Service quality is far from that of Maruti & Hyundai
Review Link CNG Review Link Hyundai i20
Review Link Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Review Link Toyota Glanza
Baleno Vs Glanza Tata Altroz
What you'll like:
Looks absolutely stunning! Solid build too
Nice interior with good quality parts & adequate space
Accommodating 345-litre boot is among the biggest of the segment
Competent turbo-diesel engine. Good driveability, punchy & fuel-efficient
Mature on-road behaviour, including at highway speeds
5-star NCAP safety rating! Safety package includes dual airbags, CSC, break reminder etc.
Enjoyable Harman 6-speaker ICE. One of the better systems in this segment
Impressive kit (
auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, ambient lighting, adjustable armrest...)
Factory-fitted customisation packs available
What you won't:
Under-powered, lame & noisy 3-cylinder 1.2L petrol engine
Suspension has a firm edge at low speeds (
16" rim variants). Bad roads will bother you
Diesel variant carries an insane premium! Works out to almost Rs. 2 lakhs on the road
Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (
1 year / 10,000 km is the norm today)
Some missing features (auto-dimming IRVM, thinner spare tyre on top trims, split-folding rear seat...)
No automatic variant in a market that loves its ATs
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
Concerns over niggles in a freshly-baked Tata product
Review Link Altroz Turbo-Petrol Review Link Altroz DCA Review Link Altroz CNG Review Link Maruti Suzuki Ignis
What you'll like:
Unique, funky design - exterior & interior stand out in a crowd. Customisation options available
Smart packaging! Good legroom & headroom in such a small car. Useable 260-liter boot too
Peppy petrol & efficient diesel. Whats more, the AMT automatic is available with both engines
Dual airbags, ABS with EBD and ISOFIX child seat anchors are standard across all variants
Maruti's widespread service network, excellent after-sales support & fuss-free ownership experiences
Features such as LED projector headlamps + DRLs, reversing camera, Apple & Android ICE, navigation, electrically-foldable ORVMs etc.
What you won't:
Simply overpriced, not a VFM Maruti. Top trim is especially pricey
You can buy more accomplished cars for the same (Grand i10) or a little more (Baleno) money
Weird rear end styling. Overall, the unconventional looks will polarize opinions
AMT, although improved, still cant match conventional ATs on smoothness or speed
Narrow cabin width. Rear seat is better for 2 adults than 3
32-liter fuel tank is too small for this segment. Even the humble Alto gets a larger tank
Review Link
The new Swift seems wicked fun to drive as per Aditya's review. But the engine is now one-cylinder less than in the outgoing car, makes lesser power and there is no smooth AT. I hate AMTs. If I wanted an MT, I would probably pick the Baleno MT over the Swift.
My vote goes to the Tata Altroz. It's the best looking, has a lovely spread of turbo engines now, a smooth AT is available, offers the most mature suspension, has "big car" manners at 120 kmph and got the full 5 stars for safety.
I love its design so much that, if I see one parked, I actually stop walking and admire its styling for a moment or two.
It's the i20 for me, specifically the N Line with the MT. Close second = Tata Altroz.
Both look great, both have good suspensions and both have well calibrated steering wheels, but the i20 gets more points from my side for the additional tech (at least as of now), sporty credentials, arguably better powertrain (that could change with the upcoming Racer), better space, easier ASS and peace of mind. Moreover, I cannot live with a car which will give me OCD attacks (aka w-i-d-e panel gaps, roughly finished plastics, unsynchronised indicator chimes, etc), ASS headaches and an onslaught of failing electronics. The only area where the Altroz properly trumps over the i20 is safety. But I'm fine with three stars.
To all those who are waiting with chappals, remember that three stars is better than none. The i20 isn't the
safest, but it is safe
enough.
Ain't it a looker? ;)
Since I currently own the Tiago, I would like to put some perspective.
1) The Tiago is a hardy, tough feeling car.
2) The interior is not high quality, but feels hard wearing.
3) NVH is surely a problem.
4) Manual gearshift is smooth in all but 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 2nd transitions. Service center interventions have not fixed my car atleast.
5) The car feels quite planted at high speeds and seems to have a decent mid/ top end. Suspension feels pretty robust.
6) Sound system is perhaps the best in class, although the experience is marred by overall NVH at speeds above 60 kph.
7) AC unit is incredibly powerful.
8) Lack of rear headrests is a sore miss. So is a convenient rear hatch release lever, which is placed at the foot next to the fuel lid opener.
Overall I think Tiago NA is a good, safe choice as a compact city runabout, albeit less refined. I like to call it the Duster of the hatchbacks. Gives me the same vibes as my erstwhile CSUV.
IMHO, these are two different segments, the Swift, i10, Tiago and Ignis in one, and the rest one above. One option is missing from the list, the Citroλn C3; but I doubt it would make a big difference.
In the strictly "sub"-4m hatchbacks, I would have picked the Grand i10 Nios for the quiet engine and rear legroom. Plus points: smooth(er) AMT, 6 airbags across the range, and ESC on most variants. The Swift is a close second, but the Ignis is too old and the Tiago not having ESC is a deal-breaker.
In the 4m class, it's the Glanza for me. It's fairly well-loaded (experienced the new SmartPlay system in a Grand Vitara and found it more than decent), has all the safety tech I want and has a bright dual-tone interior. The only letdown is the not-so-nice AMT. The i20 is next; it would have been first if not for the GNCAP airbag issue (will wait until a retest), and the dark interiors. The Altroz is missing a lot of safety equipment I think a premium hatchback in 2024 absolutely should have: looking at Tata's other recent launches I am hoping for much better in the upcoming Racer.
Its Altroz with Ignis a close second.
Maruti will escape from the market with this update but cannot do so from people like us who loved the outgoing swift.
Hyundai will also be hugely successful with both the i10 and i20 but could not make the cut for me owing to the manufacturers inherent weakness that still persists in the form of ride and handling although they have made huge improvements between the years when I owned an i10 and now.
Tiago would have been my choice if I would want a cute city car and nothing beats its size to space ratio. I was extremely happy driving a EV sometime back.
In the hatchback segment, the only car that really catches my eye is the Hyundai i20 N Line. If the N Line isn't available, then the normal turbo petrol version is my next choice.
The design of the i20 N Line is a standout in this segment, and it's not just about looks. The car drives really well, and that exhaust note is simply music to the ears.
I really wish other car companies would consider offering a fun-to-drive variant in their cars for enthusiasts like me. It's great to see Tata's upcoming Altroz Racer catering to this demand.
With the increasing traffic in metro cities, there's a growing demand for small, fun-to-drive hatchbacks, and the i20 really shines in this aspect.
Its Tata Altroz all the way and voted without trouble for the Tata offering. The design stands out tall amongst all its competitors and with its 5 Start ratings, its a must have for the hatchback hunters. The only weak link is its 3 pot petrol NA engine, but its weak power is not noticeable on the roads and is certainly acceptable to a normal owner. But again, this model offers plenty on the platter for its wide choice of engines notably being the Diesel burner, CNG and the 1.2L TCIC.
The second vote would have gone for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno for its fuss free ownership and an excellent all round package. The one factor which brings it down as compared to Tata Altroz is its safety ratings.
Voted for i20. Recently drove the N-line which my friend has and its legitimate good car without any apparent flaw, except may be price. The Altroz is generally good and safer too but I don't think it is as polished as i20 and certainly not as fun to drive.
My pick would be i20 Sports (O) cvt over any other car in this segment though I drive a Tiago. Tiago is robust and very stable at high speed but this varient of i20 has got all necessary and good to have features.All new maruti launched cars are over priced and not at all value for money. Compare Brezza, Fronx, Swift Jimny etc with the cars from other manufacturers in their respective segments.Others offer better in less price.
Voted for the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, specifically the AMT Variant.
I have kept i20, Glanza and Baleno out of the equation as they belong to a different class and with them in picture, we would have to include compact sedans and micro (pseudo)SUVs to make it a fair comparison.
Remaining list of cars - New Swift, Ignis, i10 Nios, Tiago.
Expectations - Easy to drive, Easy to park, Reasonably Spacious, Most importantly ease of ownership.
Of this lot, the ride and handling is the best for Tiago, no doubt, and it gives a proper big car feel on highway speeds. However, currently owning a Tata Punch and from the experiences of my dear ones who own a Tiago and a Nexon, we would NEVER consider a TATA car ever again, as the niggling issues become a common affair and occur when you least expect them. One who is accustomed to a Hyundai / Maruti / Toyota can never live with a TATA. Period.
With Tiago out, the remaining cars are more or less very closely matched. One car might have a slight advantage on one parameter, while the other car might have a slight advantage on another parameter.
One clear advantage, in my opinion, is the latest gen AMT on the i10 Nios which is way superior to the AMTs on the Swift & Ignis. The AMT on the i10 Nios behaves just like a Torque Converter at slow to medium speeds. It's only when you do a pedal-to-metal approach that the AMT jerk is noticeable. Having driven all these cars, the i10 Nios AMT would be my pick!!
The first picture with the table shows that Altroz has 210 litres of boot space, which is applicable only for the CNG variant, I guess it can be mentioned in the foot notes or somewhere or it might be misleading to some people.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vattyboy
(Post 5779412)
In the hatchback segment, the only car that really catches my eye is the Hyundai i20 N Line. If the N Line isn't available, then the normal turbo petrol version is my next choice.
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Getting the N-Line delivered in couple weeks of the same color, would love to know more about the accessories that you have added to it, if possible can you check
this thread
I voted for Altroz. I20 is a second choice.
Reasons,
=> Better cabin space management
=> larger wheelbase compared to Swift. Better rear seat
=> Striking looks (subjective though)
=> More power figures (at least on paper). I have yet to test drive the new Swift.
=> Available in proper automatic (DCT)
=> Most importantly; it is a 5-star rated car
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