In 2013, the Indian car market witnessed the launch of many vehicles spanning from luxury car makers to other manufacturers. Whether it be compact Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), sedans or hatchbacks, almost every segment got newer models. Till now numerous models have made inroads in the Indian auto market and the possibility of more coming up at the end of 2013 cannot be ruled out. As this year would be mainly noted for few launches, which took the market by storm, car companies like Ford and Honda have found a fresh lease of life in the country.
With their respective models like EcoSport and Amaze, the companies have enjoyed a new found success in the country. These cars received an overwhelming response in the Indian car market. Also to mention, the hatchback of Hyundai, Grand i10, has been instrumental in driving the sales for the company. So with plenty of contenders lining up to take the most coveted title of best launch of the year, an assessment has been made.
Talking about Ford EcoSport, the compact SUV took its segment by storm as it outpaced the sales of its rivals soon after its launch. The buzz generated by the car was such that it got 30000 bookings in mere 17 days of its launch, setting a new record in the Indian car market. The car grabbed all the limelight as the demand rose to an all time high for Ford in India, despite the negative market situation, which affected the fortunes of almost every major car maker. According to industry experts, the particular reason behind the such high faring of Ford EcoSport is its competitive pricing. With its ex-showroom price tag of Rs. 5.59 lakh for the base variant, the car found a large customer base in India, being affordable and trendy. At present, its bookings are still going strong.
On other hand, Honda's first car to come equipped with a diesel engine, Amaze, became a runaway success as it evoked a huge response from different cities of the country. The demand, thus created, was such that about half of the company's growth was majorly influenced by that of Amaze. Within the first quarter of its launch, the Japanese car maker sold 22000 units of Amaze. Appreciated for the powerful yet fuel efficient i-DTEC engine, Honda soon over fought its back in the Indian car market, gaining extensively on the market share. With a claimed mileage of 25.8 kmpl alongside the aggressive pricing, the Japanese auto maker continues to strike a right chord with Indian audiences with its Amaze model.
When it comes choosing between the two, it becomes quite hard as both cars have generated a considerable interest in their respective segments. However, Ford EcoSport wrests a huge advantage over Honda Amaze as the sales of petrol and diesel versions of the compact SUV are almost the same, in numbers, whereas in case of Amaze, the diesel version has been the main catalyst for generating demand.
