India’s most popular hatchback Swift is pitted against its modern sibling Ignis for a tasty comparison
Maruti Suzuki Swift has been a very popular compact hatchback from India’s largest auto manufacturer. The car has been serving the company for quite long, and now it is expected to get new guise. On the other hand, with the ambition to manufacture more premium cars, Maruti Suzuki has launched the Ignis urban compact hatchback.
Showcased at the 2016 New Delhi Auto Expo earlier this year in February, the Ignis has now finally hit the Indian market. The car comes as a urban compact hatch, and it is expected to attract those customers, who are keen toward buying an overall hatchback package. As the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is priced in and around B segment hatchbacks, it is very much affordable.
Though in-house competition is something every company tries to avoid, the Indian customers love for a completely packed hatchback might make some impact on the sales of Maruti Suzuki Swift and Baleno as well due to the Ignis. Its contemporary styling is something very attractive, which can win customer’s hearts over the dated styling of the Swift. Here we take the current generation Maruti Suzuki Swift and the new Maruti Suzuki Ignis, and compare both the cars:
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Pricing
Maruti Suzuki Swift is priced between Rs. 4.72 lakhs to 7.44 lakhs (ex-showroom, New Delhi). On the other hand, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is expected to come with price tags ranging between Rs. 4.59 lakhs to Rs. 7.80 lakhs (ex-showroom). Considering all the advantages Ignis has, it is the clear winner on this front as well which is crucial.
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Exterior
Maruti Suzuki Swift comes with a dated styling, but it looks very practical. When Maruti Suzuki launched this car, it certainly grabbed attention. Apart from Indian market, the Suzuki Swift is very popular across the world as well. The car comes with sharp swept back headlamps, a wide radiator grille, with the brand logo sitting at the centre. The front bumper boasts a large and horizontally slated air intake with the fog lamps sitting at both sides flanked by L shaped chrome trims.
Also the car features a sloping hood, alloy wheels, blackened out glass area, floating roof design. The rear fascia comes with a roof spoiler with high mounted stop lamp, rear windshield wiper, large taillights, and a muscular rear bumper. So far, the car has been considered as one of the sporty models in India for long time, but with the introduction of the new models this design have become dated.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis on the other hand, comes with a contemporary design incorporated. It looks a bit boxy and lot sportier. The Ignis features rectangular headlamps with LED daytime running lights. The headlamps and the wide radiator grille come designed in such way, which make them a single unit. The front grille gets chrome embellishment and an aggressive mesh, while the front bumper looks muscular and bold.
The front bumper sports a bold air intake, chrome finished fog lamps, and a faux skid plate as well. At the side profile, the Ignis comes with sporty black finished alloy wheels, floating roof, blackened glass area, sharp character lines and side body cladding as well. The flared wheel arches really give the car a muscular tone. The rear fascia features a rear windshield wiper, large taillights and a muscular bumper.
Dimensionally, the Maruti Suzuki Swift measures 3,850 mm in length, 1,695 mm in width and 1,530 mm in height. The wheelbase of the car is 2,430 mm, while the 170 mm of ground clearance ensures hassle free driving on little rough patches. It also comes with 205 litres of boot space, which ensures decent space for luggage.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis on the other hand gets 3,700 mm of length, 1,660 mm of width, 1,595 mm of height, and 2,438 mm of wheelbase. It features 180 mm of ground clearance, which is 10 mm higher than Swift, and the boot space for this car is 258 litres, which can be expanded up to 458 litres by folding the rear seats. Therefore the Ignis offers lot more room for luggage.
So far, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is short in length compared to the Swift. Also, the urban compact hatchback is narrower and taller than the hatchback, while it gets a bit extra wheelbase as well.
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Interior
The Maruti Suzuki Swift gets a multi-function steering wheel, dual analog dials and a digital MID at the instrument cluster. The centre console comes with an audio system with digital display flanked by buttons and knobs. The audio system also gets Bluetooth connectivity. The seats and upholstery come sporting fabric. In terms of space, the Maruti Suzuki Swift doesn’t disappoint at all. The interior of the swift dons a black theme, which enhances the sporty appeal of the hatchback.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis comes with more upmarket features inside the cabin compared to the Swift. It features a multifunction steering wheel with silver trims. The instrument cluster boasts a large analog dial while a digital display will also make its way into the console. The center console looks pretty much attractive with a touchscreen infotainment system.
No wonder, the touchscreen infotainment system gives the cabin of the Maruti Suzuki Ignis a premium feel, which will attract the customers. The interior of the Maruti Suzuki Ignis gets a dual tone theme, while the seats and upholsteries come sporting fabric wrapping. Despite being a small car, the Ignis is expected to offer decent headroom, leg space for the rear occupants.
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Engine and Performance
Maruti Suzuki Swift comes available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol engine is a 1.2-litre four-cylinder K-Series VVT multi-injection unit, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine churns out 84.3PS of peak power at 6,000RPM and 115NM of peak torque at 4,000RPM. It delivers 20.4kmpl of fuel economy.
The diesel engine powered Maruti Suzuki Swift gets a 1.3-litre four-cylinder CRDI DDiS unit, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. This engine kicks out 75PS of peak power at 4,000RPM and 190NM of peak torque at 2,000RPM. This diesel engine delivers an impressive fuel economy of 25.2kmpl.
Maruti Suzuki Ignis comes available in both petrol and diesel engine options. And, interestingly, the petrol and the diesel engine for this car will be the same units like the Swift. Therefore the power outputs and torque outputs will come similar as well. The petrol Ignis pumps out 84.3PS of peak power and 115 Nm of peak torque. While the diesel model will generate 75 PS of peak power and 190 Nm of peak torque.
On the transmission front the Maruti Suzuki Ignis gets a five-speed manual gearbox as standard. There is an AMT as option on both petrol and diesel as well. On the fuel efficiency front, the Ignis returns improved fuel economy compared to the Swift. The petrol Ignis is claimed to deliver 20.89 kmpl and the diesel Ignis to deliver 26.80 kmpl of fuel economy.
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Safety
Maruti Suzuki Swift gets safety features like dual SRS airbag for the driver and the front passenger on the top variant. Apart from that, it also gets new generation ABS with speed regulation system, reverse parking sensors etc. Maruti Suzuki Ignis comes bearing standard dual front airbags ABS with EBD, automatic headlamps and reverse parking sensors. Therefore, on features and mechanical wise Ignis is the superior car.
Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Maruti Suzuki Ignis Comparison Verdict
Maruti Suzuki Swift has remained a volume-selling hatchback for really long time in India. With the car getting a new generation next year or late 2017, the appeal of the car is surely about to get a new life. But with the introduction of the Ignis, the Swift might face a bit of sales loss similar to what’s been happening since the launch of the Baleno.
Indian customers are generally keen toward the SUVs and crossovers, but many would opt for hatchbacks simply for the budget cut. Now with the Ignis coming as pocket-friendly, those customers will surely focus on theis urban compact hatchback. Moreover, the Ignis comes featuring a new age design and also some very upmarket features. This is bound to attract the urban new age customers, who seek the style and features blended with practicality.
The urban compact hatchback has been designed to take on the urban roads and little bit of rough roads as well. Therefore, it will surely attract the customers who seek to taste the thrill of driving off the roads. But keep it in mind that this car is not built for hardcore off-roading. Getting a car which can be used for daily mundane drives in and around the city and also on the highways and on little rough roads surely looks much attractive and Ignis appeas to be the right metal for that.