Maruti Suzuki has finally launched its first compact crossover, the Ignis in the Indian market. While price for the entry level variant starts at Rs 4.59 lakh, it goes all the way up to Rs 7.80 lakh for the top end variant. With this kind of pricing not only the Ignis competes with the KUV100 and the Hyundai Grand i10, it will also grab some market share of other Maruti cars. Let's see where does the Ignis stand in the Maruti portfolio.
Battle of the bases (Ignis vs WagonR vs Celerio)
The base-spec Ignis is priced nearly on par with the mid-spec WagonR and the Celerio. For the same amount of money, you get a bigger, more powerful petrol engine (83PS vs 68PS). A bonus point in the Ignis' account is courtesy the standard dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and ISOFIX child seat mounts that its siblings skip out on, unless you opt for the absolute top-spec version.
Buy Ignis if: safety features and powerful engine is a priority
Buy WagonR if: you need nothing but a point A to point B commuter
Buy Celerio if: you need a fuel-efficient diesel hatchback on a budget
Pound for pound (Ignis vs Swift vs Swift Dzire)
Interestingly, the Ignis is priced dangerously close to one of Maruti's bestsellers – the Swift. Since the Swift's sedan sibling is only half a lakh dearer, we've thrown it into the mix as well. We're sure Maruti expects some cross-shopping to happen between the two hatchbacks in question here since both fit the bill for those wanting 'sporty' and 'funky' cars.
What should play into the Ignis' favour is that the Swift is already on its last legs, due for an update around Diwali this year. Double that with extra features such as LED projector headlamps, seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and the snazzy dual-tone paint jobs – and you know what the millennial is likely to pick among the two.
The Dzire, is a notch more expensive and offers nothing over the Ignis except the bigger boot and rear legroom. And a compact sedan is for the old ’uns, right?
Buy Ignis if: you want what's 'new' and packed with the latest tech
Buy Swift if: you prefer a tried-and-tested hatch that's fun to drive
Buy Swift Dzire if: you want to own a 'sedan', and need the bigger boot
Bullying the big boys (Ignis vs Baleno vs Brezza)
The top-spec Ignis Alpha is priced neck-to-neck with the Baleno Delta and Zeta, and overlaps with the Brezza LDi as well. However, the Ignis comes across as a more value-for-money offering here, packing in more features for the price.
The Baleno is a bigger car and thus features more space and room for luggage. The compact SUV, on the other hand, has its own charm, thanks to the raised stance and the more powerful 90PS motor. We think the Ignis is a nice balance between a premium hatch and a little SUV, that lets you experience a bit of both worlds.
Buy Ignis if: you want a fully-loaded hatchback
Buy Brezza if: you want nothing but a compact SUV, and the lack of features doesn’t bother you
Buy Baleno if: you need a bigger hatchback for the family
The sheer number of cars in the sub-Rs 10 lakh space gives you an idea about why Maruti Suzuki has a lion's share of the Indian automotive market. There’s a car for everyone! With the Ignis, that position can only strengthen.
Source: CarDekho.com
