Cartrade Comparison Test
The entry level sedan segment never gets old or out dated. New cars and refreshed versions of existing models keep hitting the market every now and then. But there are some players who have been in the game for long and are still unbeatable by any other rival. We are speaking here of the legendary Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire that has been the unchallenged ruler of this segment since the beginning. Its closest competitor Hyundai Xcent falls far behind it in terms of trade figures. Take any month’s model wise sales report and you will see the difference. So, in this write-up we are trying to figure out exactly what factors are responsible for this large difference between the two sedans except brand reputation.
Design: Interiors and Exteriors
A derived sedan from Maruti Suzuki Swift, the Dizre hasn’t been able to score much in looks and style department. The latest uplift version of this entry level sedan has been bestowed with a new chromed grille, fog lamps with chrome background, black colored headlamp inserts, and a novice reshaped front bumper. The side profile remains all the same with electric ORVMs and mounted turn indicators. Its long bonnet and small cabin gives a sporty touch to its overall appearance. The rear end looks ok with large tail lamps smoothly fusing with the body profile and a high mounted stop light. The Hyundai Xcent, on the other hand, looks a bit more premium with a sleek grille with elegantly placed Hyundai logo. The side profile is somewhat similar to Swift. The rear however gets marked by a perfectly placed boot lid, small tail lights, and high-end stoplight.
On the inner end, the Maruti Swift Dzire makes a good impression with dual tone upholstery over comfortable seats. The legroom for the rear seats might seem a little problematic to some but rest all is pretty good. The list of noteworthy features include power AC with climate control, ample number of storage cubicles, power windows, keyless entry, airbags, ABS, EBD, and a few others. The Hyundai Xcent stands at par with this one with its dual tone interiors, rich features, and leather wrapped steering. The ambience is pleasant and ensures a mid-size sedan feel to its passengers.
Performance
It is main point where difference between these two sedans starts appearing. The Hyundai Xcent employs Grand i10’s latest 1.1-litre 3-pot engine that has been tuned to yield better performance. It gives quick response on lower RPMs. It is a perfect vehicle for urban driving. The mid-range has no spike and the power builds up gradually as you increase number of RPMs. It is offered in Indian market with both diesel and petrol engine options. The petrol trims of this car derive power from a 1.2-litre Dual VTVT petrol engine that gives an output of 88.77bhp for 170Nm. The diesel version gets powered by a 1.1-litre CRDi diesel mill that gives 71.01bhp for 180Nm. The best fuel efficiency of this vehicle stands at 24.4kmpl. The Maruti Swift Dzire, on the other hand, takes power from a 1.3-litre diesel engine that ensures an output of 73bhpand a mileage of 20.3kms over highways.
Conclusion
The two sedans are pretty close to each other in almost every respect. The biggest difference comes in terms of brand reputation and resale value. Being an Indian brand, Maruti Suzuki scores very high with respect to brand trust and reliability. It is a wide known fact that Maruti builds cars in India for India. Hyundai has gained a fair share of market in last 2 decades, however, it has still a long way to go to come any close to Maruti Suzuki.
