Mar 24, 2009 04:44 AM
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The latestin Maruti Suzuki’s formidable platoon of small cars is the A-star.However, the Hyundai’s i10 has what it takes to make inroads into theMaruti small car bastion. It is a pretty good hatchback and claimed theOverDrive Car of the Year in 2008 by means of its international appeal,quality and value for money virtues. Maruti though intends to setthings right with the A-star and bring back status quo.
The battle lines are drawn. OverDrive (Jan. ’09) brings to you the test results.
In terms of looks, focus on the international market has spurred designevolution for both cars. Both hatchbacks exude flair and attitude aimedat a youthful clientele but in differing ways.
The A-star appears muscular and solid despite its diminutivedimensions. The design is eye-catching, with a striking front endmaking for a contemporary square-jawed look. The tapered rear glass andtail-light are Alto-like. Though minimalistic, the A-star design isstriking with overt, almost extravagant curves. The i10 on the otherhand is subtle and classy, exuding understated European flair. Like theA-star, the i10 sports a large front fender and air dam that meldadmirably into the entire design. The A-star is the smaller of the twowith a wheelbase 20mm shorter than the Hyundai’s. A 5mm wider trackmakes it look more compact. The wider track and shorter wheelbasethough do work wonders for its handling. Unfortunately the A-star’sfully independent suspension set-up with gas-charged shocks, MacPhersonstrut up front and isolated trailing link coil suspension at the rearare on the stiff side and compromise ride quality.
The i10 on the other hand, with MacPherson struts with stabilizer barup front and coupled torsion beam axle with coil spring at the rear,offers a good ride even if it blunts the handling a bit. Body rollaround the corners can be a mild annoyance for the corner carvers.
On the highway both cars feel adequate even when it is not really theircomfort zone. The A-star feels exactly how it should, a grown-up Altoand the i10 feels like a grown-up Santro but with a better suspensionsetup. Both cars are capable of 140kmph plus speeds but given theirsmall dimensions spirited highway driving is not their forte.
In the urban context both cars are in their element. The A-star’sstiffness shows up over concrete joints and speed-breakers while thei10 marginally feels plusher, but overall the A-star is slightly betterto drive in the city, in the handling and maneuverability. Also bothcars have ABS and meet safety norms.
Coming to the heart of the matter, both cars are equipped withlightweight, fuel efficient engines designed to comply with current andfuture, domestic and international emission norms. The A-star sportsthe all-new K10B engine, which has taken Suzuki three years in themaking at a cost of Rs. 1200 core. This future-ready engine willeventually find its way into most Maruti small cars, starting with Ritz(Splash, renamed). The K10B makes 67PS of peak power at 6200rpm and maxtorque of 90Nm at 3500rpm.
