[a4anurag]

Ford Figo Aspire vs Tata Zest vs Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Honda Amaze vs Hyundai Xcent

Ford Figo ASPIRE:


Hyundai XCENT:


Tata ZEST:


Maruti Suzuki DZIRE:

(Image courtesy: ACI)


Honda AMAZE:


I am putting the following in the comparison:

1) Prices;

2) Specifications;

3) Colours.

[a4anurag]

1) Prices Comparison of Figo Aspire vs Zest vs Dzire vs Amaze vs Xcent

I have taken the prices from the websites of the respective manufacturers. Prices given are for major cities in India.

Cities used for comparison:

• Delhi
• Mumbai
• Kolkata
• Hyderabad
• Chennai
• Bangalore

I have added AT variant too in this comparison. List of Variants and how they are named:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Base Variant:

• Figo Aspire: Ambiente
• Xcent: Base
• Dzire: LXi/LDi
• Zest: XE
• Amaze: E

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mid Variant:

• Figo Aspire: Trend
• Xcent: S
• Dzire: VXi/VDi
• Zest: XM
• Amaze: S

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top-end Variant:

• Figo Aspire: Titanium
• Xcent: SX
• Dzire: ZXi/ZDi
• Zest: XMS
• Amaze: VX

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top-end (O) Variant:

• Figo Aspire: Titanium +
• Xcent: SX (O)
• Dzire: -----
• Zest: XT
• Amaze: VX (O)

NOTE: Click any picture to open a larger higher-resolution version in a new window / tab.

[a4anurag]

2) Specifications Comparison of Figo Aspire vs Zest vs Dzire vs Amaze vs Xcent

What has been compared in this section is:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Dimensions
• Weight
• Brakes
• Suspension
• Tyres
• Capacity

How have I done it is on the basis of the Fuel:

1. Petrol
2. Diesel

1) Petrol:



2) Diesel:



NOTE: Click any picture to open a larger higher-resolution version in a new window / tab.

[a4anurag]

3) Colour options:

Ford Figo ASPIRE:


Hyundai XCENT:


Maruti Suzuki DZIRE:


Tata ZEST:


Honda AMAZE:


PS: Images taken from respective Brochures.

NOTE: Click any picture to open a larger higher-resolution version in a new window / tab.

[a4anurag]

Here is a Summary pertaining to the Likes and Dislikes of each of the cars in comparison:

Ford Figo Aspire

What you'll like:
• Aston Martin-esque face looks very stylish!
• Value for money price & positioning
• Powerful & efficient 1.5L diesel engine. Good driveability too
• Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
• Dual airbags as standard (a segment first). Titanium+ variant gets 6 airbags!
• Well-packaged cabin offers adequate space, lots of features, comfy leather seats and a chilling air-con
• Dual-clutch Automatic with a bigger 1.5L petrol, ESP, traction control & hill start assist

What you won't:
• Commuter 1.2L petrol is unimpressive. A mediocre engine
• Drives like any other mass market sedan...but not like a Ford. Ordinary handling
• Lighter build quality isn't as solid as Fords usually are
• Cabin width makes the Aspire suited to 4 adults, not 5
• 14" rims & 175 mm tyres are too puny, especially for the fast diesel
• 359 liter boot is smaller than that of the Amaze & Xcent (~400 liters)
• AT unavailable in the fully-loaded trim. Period

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

What you’ll like:
• Competent engine range. Very refined motors
• Absorbent ride quality, even over rough roads. Neutral road manners too
• Terrific fuel efficiency, especially from the diesel
• Effortless to drive in the city; light steering, clutch and gearshift. Automatic transmission available
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service & wide dealer network

What you won’t:
• Oddball boot design. Side profile looks particularly awkward
• Small 316L boot & no folding rear seat either. Limited practicality
• Mediocre brakes (LXi / LDi & VXi / VDi), just like the mechanically-identical Swift
• Limited rear seat space is incomparable to the Manza, Etios, Verito et al
• Hefty premium for the Automatic transmission variant

Hyundai Xcent

What you'll like:
• All-rounded package in a contemporary design
• Interiors have best-in-class fit, finish & quality. Accommodating 407 liter boot too
• Fuel-efficient, practical diesel & peppy petrol. Smooth gearbox
• Loaded with features (keyless start & go, reversing camera, rear air-con, cooled glovebox etc.)
• Comfortable ride quality and predictable handling
• Hyundai's fuss free ownership experience & excellent after-sales service

What you won't:
• 1.1L 3-cylinder diesel lacks the top-end punch of competition. Ordinary highway performance
• Steering & dynamics aren't to an enthusiast's tastes
• Narrow width makes it more suited as a 4 seater, rather than 5
• Boot aside, the premium i20 is closely priced with more power, space, equipment & refinement
• Adjustable front neck restraints, seat-belt height adjustment, full MID, auto-locking doors & dead pedal missing

Honda Amaze

What you'll like:
• An all-rounded compact sedan that does most things well
• Packaging brilliance. Roomier backseat than the Dzire, and a larger 400 Liter boot
• 1.5L i-DTEC engine offers good power & performance. Excellent driveability too
• Diesel's 25.8 kpl ARAI fuel economy rating
• Light controls, slick gearshift and easy maneuverability for in-city commuting. AT gearbox available
• Honda's reliability & fuss-free ownership experience

What you won't:
• Diesel's NVH is a full level poorer than the refined Maruti Dzire
• Brio's unconventional dashboard is too basic for this class of car
• Not as dynamically accomplished as the Ford Fiesta Classic, Toyota Etios and others
• Diesel isn't as high-rpm friendly as the 1.3L MJD
• Many practical features missing (climate control, seat-belt height adjustment, adjustable neck restraints, auto-locking doors, full MID, folding rear seat etc.)

Tata Zest

What you'll like:
• India's first diesel-automatic in the C1 segment. Affordable, convenient & low running costs
• Build quality, fit and finish are on par with competitors. Tata has made significant improvements
• Spacious well-designed interiors & comfortable seats. A rare compact sedan that can seat 5 adults
• 1.2L turbo-petrol has class-leading torque and impressive low-end driveability
• Balanced suspension offers compliant ride quality mated to neutral handling. Nice EPS too
• Light controls, agreeable ergonomics and good refinement. Drives like no mass market Tata car has before
• Features: 3-driving modes (petrol), LED DRLs, projector headlamps, 5" touchscreen, parking sensors, voice commands & more

What you won't:
• When driven hard, the AMT can't match the smoothness & shift-times of a conventional automatic
• Turbo-petrol lacks mid-range punch and fails to excite at higher rpms. Not to an enthusiast's tastes
• Poor in-cabin storage & missing niceties (rear seat armrest, dead pedal, seatbelt height adjustment)
• Thick A-Pillars create severe blind spots while driving
• Concerns over long-term reliability & durability. Previous Tata cars haven't fared well in this area
• Tata's sub-par after-sales service quality is far from that of Maruti, Hyundai and Honda

NOTE: The above points have been taken from Ford Aspire: Official Review.

Here are the direct links to the Official Reviews of the cars:

Aspire Link

Dzire Link

Xcent Link

Amaze Link

Zest Link

Thanks for reading guys.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Sedans Section. Thanks for sharing!

I'm a big engine guy; the powerplant under the hood is very, very important to me. Hence, among diesels, my pick would be the Aspire 1.5L Diesel for its best-in-class performance. It's damn fast for an entry-level sedan.

Among petrols, it would be the Xcent 1.2L. Quality, refinement, equipment & very smooth - the perfect city commuter. Hyundai's reliability & fuss-free after sales round it up nicely.

The Amaze has too much cost-cutting, the Dzire is too old and the Zest - well, I'm still not convinced about Tata's long term reliability (having burnt my fingers with an Indigo earlier).

[Eddy]

Aspire is an easy pick among all the diesels listed here.

For me, Dzire comes a close second because of the 1.3 MJD.

Tata loses out for its reliability; Xcent for the three pot engine and Honda Amaze for poor quality.

Among the petrols, my choice would be the Dzire followed by the Xcent.

[dpkbehera]

Ford Aspire and Proud !!!

Already reams have been written about this car..

[Grand Drive]

Ford Aspire Titanium plus for diesel and Hyundai Xcent Sx(o) for petrol will be my pick among the listed sedans.

Request to Mods : Can we have a separate poll for petrol and diesel sedans?

[AkMar]

Aspire for Diesel & Xcent for Petrol would be my choice. I echo GTO's thoughts on the Amaze, Dzire & Zest. Those were the points which led to finalisation of Xcent as our next car!

Note to Mods: Perhaps it would be logical to close this thread now: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/sedans...dai-xcent.html

EDIT: Totally missed the Aspire DCT - that is the undoubted choice for an automatic. Rajeev's post reminded me of the auto box Aspire.

[MaheshY1]

My pick will be Aspire even though the build is lighter than what Fords are known for. Not to mention the Fun-to-Drive factor is missing too.

Fit and finish of the Xcent makes me wanna pick it but when safety (ABS and Airbags) takes a back seat, I take a step back.

Airbags and ABS are my top priority, and being able to buy that without going for the top variant is new in this segment. Aspire is a no-brainer for me. The powerful and fuel efficient motor with good looks are just bonuses.

[Rajeevraj]

• Aspire for the Diesel.
  
• Aspire for the Petrol Automatic- 1.5L + DCT. A huge game changer in the <10L bracket.
  
• No specific choice on petrol. Since they are all pretty close, If I am in the market will probably go for Aspire or Xcent.
  
• Some points for to Hyundai for reacting quickly and making ABS standard on the Xcent. Good move. The loaded with features Xcent with its refined petrol engine should survive comfortably.
  
• The Amaze and Zest will definitely get hit hard by the Aspire.

Overall vote goes to the Aspire. in spite of entering late, managed to pull of several USP's, Powerful diesel and Petrol Automatic, Standard Airbags, 6 airbag variant. Killer pricing.

[hiren959]

Ford Figo Aspire it is, purely for the engine 1.5L TDCi.
Tata is not reliable as burnt my fingers in Indica Turbo.
Xcent is good overall but I dont like the suspension set up in Hyundai.
Amaze is ugly and a product from Honda cost cutting division.
Desire is aged now and Maruti is playing same in their all models with 1.3L Fiat sourced engine.

[GrammarNazi]

Depends on whom I've got to choose the car for.
Me :
Since I'm OK with spending a day once or twice per year with the car during the service & have a patient temperament, I can manage if I chose the TATA Zest.

Its top end XT variant has :
Max features in the segment at the best price,
warranty & extended warranty and AMC is good to have
and smooth & quick processing of warranty claims makes it better
and also the spare parts are cheap (availability is usually not an issue either).

(P.S. : I'd personally prefer to buy a new car ONLY if I plan extensive use (18-20k kms p.a.) through the next 4 years.)

If I've to choose for my brother(/other relative), who's not much into how the car works - but wants a good design uses only for office-runs & doesn't mind moderately high service bills even during warranty period, I'd go eyes closed with the Ford Aspire.

[Karthik Chandra]

Thanks a4anurag for this thread. This would certainly help the potential Compact sedan buyers finalise their purchase decision and look no further.

Among the lot, the new aspire, inspires a lot. It has the biggest engine with the best power/torque combo and though tuned to mass market taste, the ford will definitely be the best in terms of ride and handling among its rivals.

The focus on safety aspects without the cost being substantially high is worth mentioning although the build quality as reported in the forum is not on par with Ford standards but should be on par with the segment standards (i haven't checked though.

This should take the 2nd spot and hence my vote goes to the new Aspire . The new Aspire, Dezires to be Amaze(ing) by giving exce(lle)nt VFM.