Summing up:
It all boils down to the requirements of the customer that whether he/ she prefers being self driven/ chauffer driven, he wants performance or mileage/ comfort or utility/ family carrying criteria etc.
So, the winners will be those cars which do a combination of most of these things right and very few wrong, that is, the winner is the car with the least compromises.
First up is the vista. It looks decent, has good space and comfort and comes with cheap price.But as a complete product it does not excel in every single area and is hopelessly outclassed in important areas like performance and mileage, maintenance costs, quality/ fit and finish and resale value.At best, avoidable. Buy only if you really want a tata product and even if you are tempted towards the vista, only the quadrajet diesel makes sense.
Next-the aveo 5. Other than decent space and comfort and ride, again, it feels hopelessly outclassed in every single area. poor resale value, inconsistent after sales service and outdated design and mechanicals means again, it is avoidable. Its biggest problem is that it lacks the overall feel that most cars in this segment now provide. Dull driving experience and wheezy engines are another chinks in its armor. GM needs to come out with its replacement-the viva-fast.
Next to go is the fabia. It looks good, has the best fit an finish, ride and handling and space and comfort and is packed with features not usually found in some D segment cars. Surprised? Then start counting its negatives and you will never give it a second look again as the cons like pathetic engine configuration, vibrations, reliability issues, electrical gremlins, stratospherically priced spare parts and maintenance and the worse of all, dealers almost zero commitment to customer satisfaction means that this car is also off from the buyer’s radar.
The hyundai getz also ticks most of the right boxes-like practical nature, decent ride, space and comfort , after sales service etc but again, it fails to deliver what car buyers want-value and feel. Poor depreciation means that the getz’s resale value will be abysmal and despite hyundai’s resorting to brutal discounts, demand has not really picked up and now there's a word that the vehicle may get phased out by the end of this year doesn’t help the matters also. Only recommended for the best price to size ratio and those who can live with an outdated 7 year old product.
The Honda jazz-modern design, practical and spacious interiors, best in class performance and good mileage with industry best resale value and the “H” badge on the nose-suddenly the whole package looks tempting and the right choice.
But, factors like inconsistent after sales service by honda dealers, high purchase price and most importantly, skimping on essential equipment means that the jazz is not as good value in long term as you have better alternatives available.
It’s a close call between the swift and the punto, which are declared as joint runner ups.
The punto ticks almost all boxes right-sexy design, solid build, ride and handling, decent interior space, competitive pricing and equipment that would make a jazz look like a stripped down model making it fantastic VFM.It loses out due to mediocre performance from its claimed 90 bhp 1.4, below par fuel efficiency, so important in a car of this segment and poor interior quality with sme small parts falling off. Questionable after sales service is also a cause for concern.
The swift, again is a good all rounder with good equipment levels, VFM price, amazing after sales service and industry best resale value. Combination of performance and mileage is also worth noting but it loses in crucial factors like rear seat comfort, outdated engine which is about to be replaced, and most importantly, the body which though has proven itself, still does not feel well screwed together. Wait for the new KB series swift which is expected to change games drastically.
It’s a close call, again between the Ritz and the I20, declared as joint winners as both these cars tick most of the boxes right and very few wrong.
The ritz will appeal to city dwellers who want a practical car with high visibility, decent ride and handling, amazing performance and mileage from its new generation KB series engine and most importantly, the sheer value for money it offers in terms of equipment levels in the ZXI. Cramped rear and small boot with questionable rear styling are small things that an average car buyer can live with.The peace of mind coming with the maruti badge is another jewel in its crown.
The I20, on the other hand will appeal to those who want a safe, spacious and comfortable car with lots of features and do some highway runs. Though the engine is uninspiring, it more than makes up with decent mileage, stability and the peace of mind that comes with the hyundai badge, making it easy to live with.
The Ritz and I20 are good, competent all rounders that take the best ingrediants from all the cars and blends them into a recipe of optimality, something that we people need. And we Indians love optimality. Don’t we?