The Micra might be the most popular car in the Nissan’s Indian portfolio, but its sales numbers have always been relatively lower than that of other B-segment hatchbacks. To infuse some excitement in the car, Nissan launched an updated version of the Micra in India, earlier this week. While there aren’t any cosmetic updates, the new Micra does get a slew of creature comforts, making it a better value-for-money proposition than the outgoing model. We take a look at what Nissan Micra offers vis-a-vis its biggest rivals – the Hyundai Grand i10 and the Maruti Suzuki Swift
Nissan is offering the Micra with two engine options, a petrol and a diesel. The hatchback is being offered with two engine options - a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel. The petrol engine delivers 75bhp and 104Nm of torque and is available only with a CVT transmission. The top-spec XV petrol retails at Rs 6.95 lakh. The diesel on the other hand produces 65bhp and 160Nm of torque and gets a five-speed manual transmission. The top-of-the-line XL Comfort diesel will set you back by Rs 7.23 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).
Hyundai Grand i10
Like Nissan, Hyundai also offers the petrol Grand i10 with an automatic gearbox, an ageing four-speed unit. The top-of-the-line Grand i10 Sportz (O) is marginally more affordable at Rs 6.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It is also more powerful at 81bhp and 114Nm of torque. The most premium diesel variant is the Asta U2, priced at Rs 7.34 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), which makes it pricier than the Micra. Under the hood is a 1.2-litre mill delivering 74bhp and 190Nm of torque, which is again, relatively higher than the Micra.
The Grand i10 is biased towards comfort rather than sportiness. The Grand i10 in fact, is the segment leader when it comes to comfort and features. The Hyundai Grand i10 was recently updated for the Indian market. Features like the 5.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, climate control system and rear AC vents make it a more comfortable car to be in. Dual airbags are standard.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
The current Swift has been due for an update, and we expect the new generation car to make its debut at the 2018 Auto Expo. The updates will be in line with the new Dzire and we can expect a slight bump in sticker price.
The XV petrol variant of the Nissan Micra takes on the Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi. However, the Swift doesn’t get the option of an automatic ‘box, and is offered with only a five-speed manual gearbox. But this also means that the Swift ZXi is more affordable at Rs 6.39 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). It also gets a more powerful powertrain, the 1.2-litre unit develops 83bhp and 115Nm of torque. It is the same story for the diesel variant – the Swift ZDi’s 1.3-litre mill is more powerful at 74bhp and 190Nm of torque. However, it is also pricier at Rs 7.46 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
True to its sporty character, the Swift is also more involving to drive than the Micra, and is better option for an enthusiast. The Micra, on the other hand, offers slightly better space for the passengers. Even inside, the Swift gets sporty black trim while the Micra gives a sense of elegance with its beige interior. The rear passengers get an armrest and cup holders. The driver is pampered with automatic headlamps and rain sensing wipers. The boot is also bigger at 251 litres as opposed to Swift 205 litre boot.
The Swift though, gets a six-speaker audio system in place of a four-speaker system in the Micra. As for safety, both the Swift and the Micra get two airbags up front and ABS with EBD. The Micra gets seven colour options as opposed to five for the Swift.
