Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Maruti Swift: Premium Budget Hatchback Face-off (2024) | Value vs Efficiency

Key Considerations

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Asta:

1. Competitive Pricing: At Rs 799,500, it's significantly more affordable than its competitor.

2. Modern Design: Features a contemporary exterior that appeals to style-conscious buyers.

3. Feature-Rich: Offers a good mix of convenience features even in the Asta variant.

4. Spacious Interior: Provides ample room for passengers, suitable for small families.

5. Brand Reputation: Hyundai's strong reputation for build quality and after-sales service (with a reported 95% customer satisfaction rate) provides peace of mind.

Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi Plus:

1. Sporty Design: Offers a driver-focused interior and dynamic exterior styling.

2. Fuel Efficiency: Boasts an impressive ARAI-rated mileage of 24.8 kmpl.

3. Advanced Infotainment: Features a 9-inch touchscreen system.

4. Engaging Driving Dynamics: Lightweight chassis and sporty suspension setup for nimble handling.

5. Brand Trust: Maruti Suzuki's extensive service network (with over 3,500 service centers nationwide) offers reliability.

5. Comprehensive Safety: 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) provide peace of mind for your family.

Let's see what the numbers reveal:

1. Price:

- Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Asta: Rs 799,500

- Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi Plus: Rs 899,500

- Price difference: Rs 100,000 (Grand i10 Nios is 11.1% cheaper)

2. Engine Performance:

- Grand i10 Nios: 81.80bhp, 113.8Nm

- Swift: 80.46bhp, 111.7Nm

- The Grand i10 Nios offers 1.7% more horsepower and 1.9% more torque

3. Fuel Efficiency:

- Grand i10 Nios: 18 kmpl

- Swift: 24.8 kmpl

- The Swift is 37.8% more fuel-efficient, which could result in significant savings over time.

4. Dimensions (in mm):

- Length: Swift 3860 vs Grand i10 Nios 3815

- Width: Swift 1735 vs Grand i10 Nios 1680

- Height: Both 1520

- Wheelbase: Both 2450

5. Boot Space:

- Grand i10 Nios: 260 liters

- Swift: 265 liters

- The Swift offers 1.9% more cargo capacity.

Exterior Design:

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Asta’s modern and sleek design, is as stylish as it is practical. Its signature cascading grille and sharp character lines give it a European-inspired look. The Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi Plus, on the other hand, is sporty, dynamic and eye-catching with its distinctive silhouette and LED headlamps.

Interior and Comfort:

Step inside the Grand i10 Nios, and you'll find a well-designed interior with good quality materials - it's like walking into a modern, minimalist apartment.

The Swift's interior, with its layered dashboard and sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, feels more like a pilot's cockpit.

Both offer comfortable seating, but the Swift's wider body might give you a bit more elbow room - handy for those times when the kids are getting a bit too "friendly" with each other in the back seat.

Driving Experience:

The Grand i10 Nios's engine offers silky smooth performance and lives up to the driver’s dream on both city errands and highway road trips.

The Swift's new 3-cylinder engine, while focused on efficiency, is always up to some exciting driving, with good low-end torque and crisp throttle responses.

Practicality:

While both cars offer similar boot space, the Swift's higher boot lip might want to make you think twice before trying to haul in the big bags.

The Grand i10 Nios, with its ample storage spaces throughout the cabin, might just save you from hearing "Mom, where did I put my sunglasses?" for the umpteenth time.

Feature Comparison

1. Infotainment: The Swift ZXi Plus offers a larger 7-inch touch screen compared to the Grand i10 Nios's 8-inch display. Both support smartphone connectivity, ensuring you stay connected on the go.

2. Safety: Both vehicles come equipped with 6 airbags, ABS, and EBD as standard, ensuring your precious cargo is well-protected.

3. Comfort Features: Both provide automatic climate control, rear AC vents, and keyless entry. The Swift ZXi Plus ups the ante with cruise control - perfect for those long highway drives.

4. Exterior Features: Both cars feature LED DRLs and alloy wheels, but the Swift adds LED headlamps for that extra touch of modernity.

Recommendation

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Asta emerges as our primary recommendation thanks to its significantly lower price point (11.1% cheaper) while still offering a compelling balance of features, comfort, and style. Hyundai's reputation for quality (95% customer satisfaction) further solidifies its position as a sensible choice.

However, if fuel efficiency is a top priority and the budget allows, the Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi Plus makes a strong case for itself. Its superior mileage (37.8% more efficient) could lead to substantial long-term savings - think of it as an extra family outing every month!