ZigWheels makes a quick comparison of the top contenders in India's entry level sedan market, where the bare minimum isn't necessarily a big shortcoming

ZigWheels makes a quick comparison of the top contenders in India's entry level sedan market, where the bare minimum isn't necessarily a big shortcoming

As much as we fancy speeding down an open stretch on a highway at 200 + km/hr, or settling down in the passenger seat stitched with the finest leather for others, the mass market for automobiles in the country desires something more of a frugal nature, more importantly something that first and foremost fulfills their requirement of being transported safely on a daily basis.

Both indigenous and foreign manufacturers have therefore, addressed this unique cost effective transportation requirement in India, with their respective flagship models, of which the long standing Maruti Suzuki D’Zire, the refreshed Verito and the latest entrant turned celebrity, the new Toyota Etios.

So, when we consider actually making a quick comparison between these three cars, it was important to focus on the criteria which form the deciding factors amongst the general public. We compared these cars on the basis of four important characteristics – fuel efficiency, ride quality, space and price.

For starters, both the Verito and the Swift D’Zire come with diesel options, which are fairly frugal mills. A fuel efficiency of 21 kmpl on the Verito is certainly a big thumbs up, and 17-18 kmpl on the D’zire are both par for the course. The Etios petrol manages a fuel efficiency of 13 kmpl, which is comparable to the corresponding petrol variants of the Swift D’Zire and the Verito, but also fits in well with the refined and comfortable family-sedan image that Toyota has chalked out for this car.

Looking beyond the numbers game for the three value for money four-wheeled transporters, the obvious question that arises in the level of comfort and drivability that these cars have to offer. Let’s begin with the Verito, which though underpowered is a handy car to own while frequently covering long distances with a mid-sized family, simply because it is one of the most spacious cars in this trio, and does in fact offer a very composed ride. 

The Toyota Etios on the other hand offers one of the plushest interiors you are likely to find in an automobile competing in such an economy class segment. Though available in just a Petrol engine version at the moment, the Etios is certainly a fun car to drive and handling is fun thanks to the limp steering on the car. The reliable and rock solid backing of the Toyota brand is what has held this car in very good stead from the very start and the 12,000 bookings in the first few weeks since its launch speaks volumes in the truest sense of the term.

The Maruti Suzuki Swift D’Zire however remains one of the most refined yet peppy cars around. The hatch-adapted tall-boy design gives the cabin a good measure of airiness. The car is also a lot of fun to drive thanks to a tactile feeling from the steering and controls. In its diesel form, the Swift D’Zire is almost untouchable, giving great driving pleasure yet enough practicality to suffice for a small family.

That essentially brings us to the oh-so-important pricing differential where the differences are very little and the margins quite tight. Though the lowest base price of Rs 4.92 lakh is that of the Mahindra Verito, the D’zire and the new Etios aren’t too far behind at their Rs 4.95 lakh and Rs 4.96 lakh respective starting prices for their base-level petrol variants. The high-end version of these three cars can take your budget higher than Rs 7 lakhs though.

Verdict

We finally have the undisputed leader of this segment (at least for now) in the form of the Maruti Suzuki D’zire, which just seems like a great overall package amongst the other two contenders, the Etios and the Verito. Yes, the design isn’t even close to being satisfactory, but then this segment isn’t so merciless to unimpressive looking cars, and that is where the Maruti Suzuki D’zire becomes a true winner.

That pretty much sums up our thoughts on the real dominator of this segment, but it’s still too early to give a long-term judgment, on such a volatile bracket of cars, especially when we are expecting the diesel variant of the Etios coming in soon, that may in fact turn things around quite quickly for the segment.