Jan 05, 2014 12:22 PM
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The two cars I have driven the most in the life would qualify for – the Zen MPFI and the Swift Diesel. While the Swift has evolved over 3 generations in India, it has been one of the most successful hatchbacks in the country today. I would discuss about my experience with the Swift.
History:
Back in 2005, when the Swift 1.3 petrol was first introduced in India, people used to give it a second thought before actually spending a fortune on a hatchback. But the Swift has proved its reliability on the Indian roads. Swift has one of the best resale value in the used car markets today.
Car enthusiasts crave for the 1.6 L high revving petrol Swift and mod it to their tastes. From 2005 onwards, the Swift has evolved over three generations. In 2010, the 1.3 petrol was replaced with the 1.2 K-Series engine which was more mileage centric. In 2011, the Swift came in all new form with updated interiors and more sporty exteriors. The engine was tuned to produce more linear power and improve the mileage.
Design:
The present generation Swift looks sporty from outside and the interiors matches up to the gen-x aura. Although the low end variants only packs in the car chassis and engine it sorely misses even the basic safety features.*Thumbs up to Honda for providing safety features even in the base model of Amaze!
The headlights and taillights are now stretched than the earlier version and mates well in the fluidic body. The front end looks clean, bold and trendy. I somehow feel a little addition of chrome would have done wonders. The side profile has nothing much to talk about but is proportionate with the entire mould. The rear looks complete unlike the previous version of Swift.
The tail lamps are stretched out and integration with the rear hatch looks super clean! The waterfall dash has its set of advantages as well as disadvantages. The front end visibility is now reduced and it is difficult to maneuver in narrow roads and while parking in tight spots. The earlier version of the Swift had better visibility as compared to the new generations.
Notice carefully and you will see most Swift/Swift Dzire have their front bumpers scratched. I have seen them in huge numbers in various Maruti Workshops.
Performance:
The 1.3 Fiat Multijet engine is the heart and powers both the Swift and Swift Dzire Diesel. It is one of the best free revving engine in the market today. Maruti engineers have tuned it well to provide more HP and to add to the mileage figures. The car slogs in lower RPM’s and is a little difficult to drive for the ones who are moving from a petrol sibling. But once the turbo kicks @1800-2000RPM, you are pushed to the back seat. It is easy to overtake in cities and highways. Cruising at 70-80kmph at 5th gear in highways can yield mileage from 18-20kmpl.
Handling the car is good and is stable at high speeds. The braking is a letdown howsoever. It is even worse in rainy seasons and slippery roads. Blame it on the MRF Tyres – an upgrade to Yokos/Bridgestone is really necessary. I just hope the car comes with better braking in the upcoming generations.
The 1.2 K Series petrol is zippy and fun to drive in city. It is more of a city performer and is a gas guzzler. Effective use of gears and clutch can yield a good mileage of 13-14 kmpl. The car is fun to drive and to throw around in corners. It is a perfect car for a small family and is reliable in the long run.
My Taste:
I would any day vouch in for the old generation Swift over the current generation. The previous generation Swifts was more fun and peppy to drive. The current generation Swifts needs more maintenance and add up to burning maintenance costs within the first year of purchase – Maruti’s maintenance are not that cheap now-a-days.:(
Competitors at a glance:
Ford Figo: The car comes with best-in-class handling with the 1.4 L Duratorq engine and is fun to drive for miles without any fatigue but it lacks the punch in outright performance. The ground clearance is also a problem.
Hyundai Grand i10: The 3 cylinder engine is refined and the car is loaded with features. First in class rear AC adds to the list of features in the car. Hyundai engineers have paid every attention to detail and this car is a real winner. Don’t expect much from the 3 cylinder engine though – it simply cannot be pushed to the limits.
Fiat Punto: The 90HP model is an enthusiast’s car. Good highway handling and terrific road presence. Feels like sitting in a cockpit while clocking 3 digit speeds on highways. The Fiat A.S.S and maintenance can be a problem though.
Volkswagen Polo TDi: Bold European looks and good handling. It offers a varied choice of engines according to the tastes of consumers – old wine in new bottle. Issues with gearbox and A.S.S can be matter of concern though. And high end versions are tad costly!
Maruti Ritz: The car shares the same engine as that of Swift but the rear hatch design is a hate or like feature. If you can do away with the eye sore, it is a good car and is reliable in the long run.
Toyota Etios Liva: Budget and dull interiors plus the odo is located in the center of the dash. I am a driver and I want the speedo/odo in front of me any day. Otherwise it is a good and reliable car.
Chevy Sail U-VA: Chevy’s after sales service can be a pain plus there is a huge depreciation in the resale value as well.
Mahindra Verito Hatchback: The car drives well and has good suspension build up. But the steering is on the heavier side and maneuvering can be a tad difficult.
The above versions are completely from my observations – other’s opinion can happily differ. Please feel free to add in feedback/suggestions in the comments section.
Thanks for reading.
~Somjeet~
