[MutantX]

Zdi/Zxi is around 7.5L/6.6L OTR in chennai. For me, *my POV* It didnt feel VFM getting the Z version. Ofcourse you get goodies that are significant things like the ACC, Rear wiper, defogger, airbag, ABS, 15 incher, alloys which is worth more than 1 lakh difference but things like extended waiting period, difficulty in fitting aftermath HU etc etc., made me choose the V version.

GTO mentioned that the performance of the petrol (K12 VVT) isnt all that great when compared to the Gen 2 K12. It would be really interesting to hear this comparison from one who has driven the Gen 2 k12 for alteast a year. And also some real-world mileage figures for the new petrol engine.

Btw, I had booked mine 2nd Sep-2011. Hopeful to get it by Nov-2nd. 1 month is almost done, another month to go.

[anandjha]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Test drove i20 yesterday. Really impressed with the interiors. (Have seen it before, but the blue display and everything totally caught me off-guard). Even the Magna version had ACC! The Asta version i drove had almost all features you could demand for the price range.

The engine was sweet, refined and picked up pace quickly - i felt the acceleration to be better than Swift. Lag/ absence of it felt similar to new swift. Not as much turbo kick though IMO.

BUT, same cant be said about the dynamics. At speeds around 90kmph- didnt feel too confidence inspiring, specially the rear suspension seemed too soft and gives a pitching sensation when car goes over small undulations. I didnt have a problem with the steering since I am used to light EPS system in the WagonR. Heard the infamous steering rattle three times over bad roads. Irritating and really loud, i thought i hit the front underbody on two occasions.

Overall IMO- Budget no-bar, no nonsense diesel city car, to impress the boss and ladies - i20 without doubt. Swift simply doesnt feel as premium. However, if you look forward to driving the car yourself - Swift diesel it is!

PS - I have been driving a WagonR for over 50k kms now. i20 is a lot better in dynamics front, and would be a big step up for me. Just that I really dont want to compromise just because of the waiting period.

My first preference too was i20 D. Killer looks and unmatched interiors. But reports of its AC's performance turned me off. Didn't even test drive.

[srishiva]

Not just TBHP, I have seen more Zdi on roads in Bengaluru. Its like something that lot of people wanted it and was not available all these days. So initially, the numbers including aam-junta might be good.

[KarthikK]

Just heard from one of my friends that the strike has ended in the maruti factory. A truce has supposedly been arrived at, and the workers have agreed to sign the bond and resume work. Does this mean any improvements in the waiting period for the Swift? Anyone here who got information/confirmations from dealers?

[GTO]

Originally Posted by opendro

Point taken, 2 sec is significant. Out of curiosity, what is the figure for 0-120 for Figo (somehow I'm unable to get anything on Figo on net)? I'm sure it must be around that 23 or 24 secs which the DZire DDiS also takes.

In nearly all cases, the performance gap only increases as the speeds rise. Thus, if the Swift is 2.5 seconds quicker to the 100 (than the Figo), it will be even quicker to 120 / 140 / 150.

Originally Posted by Safari_Beast

GTO what you say i20 or swift zdi .

Self-driving (and if you really love to drive) = Swift.
Overall package / Family car = i20.

Except for handling & steering feel, the i20 diesel blows the Swift away. But then, the Swift is really the most fun-to-drive diesel hatchback out there. Take your pick.

Originally Posted by anandjha

My first preference too was i20 D. Killer looks and unmatched interiors. But reports of its AC's performance turned me off. Didn't even test drive.

The diesel has a better air-con than the weedy 1.2L petrol i20. Try it out.

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

The Fabia is not considered competition to the New Swift ?

Please refer to our other reviews, and to my posts on this thread, where I have categorically stated that it is NOT possible to include each and every hatchback in the comparison post. One of the reasons is lack of space. The reviewer (this time, me) will only include those alternatives that he thinks are most relevant. Other hatchbacks like the i20 (a car that sells 6X the number of Fabias btw) has also been excluded, as well as the Honda Jazz. Please use the "contact us" form if you need to discuss this further.

[anandjha]

Originally Posted by srishiva

Not just TBHP, I have seen more Zdi on roads in Bengaluru. Its like something that lot of people wanted it and was not available all these days. So initially, the numbers including aam-junta might be good.

ZDI is quite popular. At least one third of Swift D bookings are for Z. Seems Team BHP's concern about ZDI being pricy is not shared by the masses.

[ra'ul M]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Just heard from one of my friends that the strike has ended in the maruti factory. A truce has supposedly been arrived at, and the workers have agreed to sign the bond and resume work. Does this mean any improvements in the waiting period for the Swift? Anyone here who got information/confirmations from dealers?

Just got off the phone with my dealer and according to him Maruti are not focusing on making ZDi's as of now . I don't know how much truth is there in their statement but he keeps pushing my delivery timeframe .
Of all the drawbacks mentioned by GTO in his review this one hurts the most! If only there was a way to be certain of the delivery date and no foul play by the dealer. Sigh!

[kalpeshc]

FYI - The waiting period for Swift VDi in Surat is 365 days as per one of the major Maruti dealership !!

[anandjha]

Originally Posted by GTO

The diesel has a better air-con than the weedy 1.2L petrol i20. Try it out.

Thanks but the time to try it out is now well past. Maybe I will confirm it perhaps in the new 'fluidic' i20 in May June July when the sweltering heat of Delhi puts AC to severe test.

[ankurvirmani19]

Originally Posted by kalpeshc

FYI - The waiting period for Swift VDi in Surat is 365 days as per one of the major Maruti dealership !!

Here in Faridabad dealers are quoting 9 months for Vdi currently, but it is bound to reduce as the strike at MSIL has ended and workers have resumed the normal production. Probably after 1-2 weeks you will get to know the difference.

[Safari_Beast]

Good news for all who are waiting for new swift , strike at maruti manesar plant ended . Workers have agreed to sign the good conduct bond , its good news for all swift owners . Management didn't compromise for quality instead they ran under loss for over a month . Here is the below link to the news from Business standard .

Month-long strike at Maruti's Manesar plant ends - The Economic Times

[SwiftSD]

Most of the Dealers in Kolkata have been quoting a wait period of 3.5 to 4 months for Swift Diesel and around 1.5 months for the petrol sibling.

Swift Dzire Diesel seems to have the longest waiting here which is around 175 days.

[opendro]

Originally Posted by GTO

In nearly all cases, the performance gap only increases as the speeds rise. Thus, if the Swift is 2.5 seconds quicker to the 100 (than the Figo), it will be even quicker to 120 / 140 / 150.

Not necessarily true according to me. For example, Swift is 1.2 sec quicker to 100 than Linea and more than a sec slower to 120 than Linea.

Compared to Linea, DZire (BSIII) is about 1 sec quicker to 100 and 2.5 sec slower to 120, 3.2 sec slower to 140. DZire will never reach 160, Linea will do 160 in 49 sec.

OT, I do know that Linea is also grossly underpowered car according to you, which I had opined otherwise long ago.

I don't go totally by this 0-100. Seeing various cars on highway, Swift DDiS and fiesta/Figo TDCi are both capable cars in my opinion. But knowing DDiS, one might feel it more peppy because of the rev-happy nature of the engine.

[nitin.rai]

Originally Posted by GTO

In nearly all cases, the performance gap only increases as the speeds rise. .

Not necessarily, depends on the state of tune reflected in the rpm vs power output and rpm vs torque output charts of an engine. Same engine, slightly different state of tune, to a large extent it depends on the gearing ratio in each gear.

[viny2k8]

Hi Folks
GTO, thanks once again for the fabulous review. Have now begun to wait for these detailed reviews of most cars.
While I have been hugely appreciative of the Swift (especially since I own a 2008 VXi) I have been eagerly awaiting the new car's arrival. The European versions promised a lot and the Swift Sport displayed at the Frankfurt Motorshow this year, just raised expectations of things to come.
GTO's review has actually come as a shocker to me with the kind of bits and pieces missing especially due to 2 major reasons:
1. The competitive landscape having changed over the last 6 years ever since the Swift was first launched;
2. Swift raising the bar and trying to move into the premium hatch segment with the ZXi & ZDi versions.

While the new car is welcomed, as a critic some of my reservations:
- Flimsy power window switches carried over from the previous generation are unpardonable,
- A/C Knobs feel out of place in the dash,
- Smaller boot space as compared to the outgoing version is simply unacceptable and that pointed out by GTO is absolutely right, while European buyers would accept the same owing to the fact that they have multiple cars for various purposes, Indian families have an all- in- one

All in all from the review, apart from the refreshed styling, Swift branding and definite improvements in the long standing Quality & Build niggles of older Swifts Maruti's New Swift falls damp in comparison to the competition today. Have a feeling the Swift fad & waiting periods would die out soon with competition eating the share.