Fiat has launched its Avventura Urban Cross hatchback SUV in the Indian market making it the first such vehicle in two years in a relatively dormant part of the market. Showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo, the Urban Cross is the second vehicle to bear the ‘adventure’ tag and comes at a time when consumer preferences are moving towards SUVs and crossovers. To figure out where it stands we have compared it to its established rivals- the Toyota Etios Cross and the Volkswagen Cross Polo.
Dimensions
All three cars in the fray have similar proportions both in terms of external dimensions as well as wheelbase. However, the Avventura Urban Cross has the highest ground clearance of 205mm which as per Indian laws actually qualifies it to be an SUV. Their design philosophy is quite similar too as they are all standard hatchbacks with taller wheels body kit and high ground clearance making this a question of personal choice. Of the three, the Urban Cross sports the most aggressive design thanks to its sharp headlamps, wide grille and high stance. It also holds another ace up its sleeve which is the Abarth body that comprises the alloy wheels, stickers and scorpion badging. The Etios Cross does manage to fight back a bit thanks to the diamond cut wheels and large bulbar element on the front. The Cross Polo has the mildest design of the three which is in line with VW’s general design philosophy of silent on the outside, action on the inside.
Equipment
To get an idea of what each of the three cars offer we have compared the top-of-the-line petrol variants. Standard equipment across the three includes fabric upholstery, keyless entry, tilt adjustment for steering wheel and anti-glare IRVMs. The differences start to pop up when you look at each part individually. The Urban Cross and Cross Polo both have a touchscreen infotainment system and climate control while the Etios Cross does not get both. What is surprising though is that while Toyota and Volkswagen offer dual airbags as well as ABS with EBD as standard equipment, the Urban Cross only gets the latter two as standard and dual airbags are only offered on the top spec petrol model.
Engine
First the diesels
The Urban Cross is offered with Fiat’s well known 1.3-litre Multijet mill that produces 92bhp/209Nm of torque while the Cross Polo is powered by a 1.5-litre mill producing 89bhp/230Nm of torque. Toyota’s Etios Cross is powered by a 1.4-litre engine that produces 67bhp/170Nm of torque. All three are front-wheel-drive and have five-speed manuals. The Urban Cross’ power out is marginally higher but is beaten outright by Volkswagen’s diesel engine in terms of torque both in terms of number and the RPM at which it is available.
Now the petrol engines
Where the Cross Polo had the upper hand in diesel fight, it falls significantly in the petrol powered range. The only option here is a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine producing 74bhp/110Nm of torque. The Etios Cross is offered with a 1.2-litre engine as well as a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. The former produces 79bhp/104Nm while the latter is good for 89bhp/132Nm. However, it is the Urban Cross that sits on the top step here thanks to its ‘Powered by Abarth’ engine which has a segment leading output of 138bhp/210Nm of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is common for all three vehicles.
Pricing (ex-showroom Delhi)
The Toyota Etios Cross is priced in the range of Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 8.10 lakh while the Fiat Avventura Urban Cross is priced in the range of Rs 6.85 lakh to Rs 9.85 lakh. Finally, the Cross Polo in petrol guise priced at Rs 7.62 lakh while the diesel version costs Rs 9.03 lakh. Clearly, the Urban Cross is the most expensive but it also offers maximum kit.
