Maruti Swift was launched in India in 2005 and is now in its third generation since 2011. Exterior changes compared to 2005 model are prominent but when you see both cars side by side there are not much of difference in basic figure of the car or its elements, just stretch and pull here and there got the job done in 2011 Maruti Swift. Speaking of stretch and pull, despite new Swift retained original form by sight, chassis, suspension and equipment underwent significant changes. For starters, length and width were increased to offer extra cabin room and comfort.
Both cars have got character that you can talk about a lot. Maruti Swift can be easily suggested as sporty, with well defined and simple shaped headlamps, fog lamps, front grille, bonnet curve, athletic side body lines, A & B pillar black-out job, fashionable tail lamps and tall rear bumper. Every aforementioned components make the Swift look big, including the expansive front and rear windshield and steeping Day Light Opening (DLO). Maruti Suzuki Swift is not going to go out of style so easily and the sheer sales figure of over 15,000 units every month backs the theory.
Functional features on exterior of Hyundai Elite i20 also include integrated turn indicators on Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVM), button on driver side door handle for smart key unlock and entry, rear wiper with washer, Ultrasonic parking sensors embedded onto rear bumper and reverse camera protruding from centre of boot lid.
Maruti Swift gets remote keyless entry, blinkers on ORVM, rear wiper & washer, and no aid for parking or reverse.
Hyundai Elite i20 has got features like automatic headlamps, electrically adjustable, foldable and auto closing ORVM, smart key, push button for start/stop, clutch lock, auto door unlock function, tilt & telescopic leather wrapped steering wheel, height adjustable driver seat, advanced supervision cluster with steering position reminder, parking sensor display, service reminder, Instrument Console Backlight Adjustment (Rheostat), automatic air conditioning with cluster ioniser, rear AC vents, adjustable rear seat headrest, 60:40 rear split seat, two 12 Volt power outlets CD, Aux-in, USB & Bluetooth connectivity in music player with 4 speakers & 4 tweeters, seatbelt pretensioners for driver & passenger, and dual front airbags (driver & passenger).
To learn features offered in each variant of Hyundai Elite i20, head here.
Swift does not have telescopic steering adjust, no reverse assist, no centre arm rest for driver, no rear AC vent and rear seat folds as single unit. Cup, cubby and bottle holes are limited, but the retractable cup holder beneath side AC vent is a smart touch. Notable features offered in Maruti Swift are commonly available ones across all models in segment; nothing stands out.
Here is the list of features in Maruti Suzuki Swift:
Engine – Both cars come with one petrol and one diesel engine, at least yet. Maruti Suzuki is given 1.2 litre K series petrol engine that produces 87 PS @ 6200 rpm and 114 Nm @ 4000 rpm. Hyundai Elite i20 also gets a 1.2 litre engine, that is VTVT Kappa, capable of producing 83 PS @ 6000 rpm and 115 Nm @ 4000 rpm. Both engines are mated to 5 speed manual transmission.
Diesel variant of Hyundai Elite i20 gets 1.4 litre U2 CRDi engine generating 90 PS @ 4000 rpm and 220 Nm @ 1500 – 2750 rpm, mated to 6 speed manual transmission. Swift diesel houses 1.3 litre DDIS diesel mill that churns out 75 PS @ 4000 rpm and 190 Nm @ 2000 rpm, coupled with 5 speed manual gearbox. There is no automatic variant in Swift, Hyundai Elite i20 gets one 4 speed auto transmitting power produced by 1.4 litre VTVT Gamma engine, rated at 100 PS @ 5500 rpm and 136 Nm @ 4200 rpm. Elite i20 Auto is pending launch.
Diesel version of Elite i20 is superior in terms of maximum power and peak torque, 15 PS and 30 Nm higher than Maruti Swift is not to be taken lightly. However, Swift is not a dull performer. Both engines are lively and high spirited. Key factor that differentiates the 1.3 DDIS and 1.4 U2 CRDi is the transition into turbo region. Maruti Swift has a bit more turbo lag since peak torque is achieved at a single point, 2,000 rpm, while Elite i20 diesel has more flatness in torque curve, between 1,500 and 2,750 rpm. This makes Elite i20 more drivable and enjoyable in city. Nevertheless, the heavy punch Swift throws after about 2,000 rpm and the way it keeps acceleration alive is exhilarating. Elite i20 having more power and better torque delivery characteristics demands less gear work, while Swift needs if not much, some amount of attention to gears to keep the fun flowing.
Hyundai Elite i20 has noticeable body roll while manoeuvring and steering path is not so precise. Together makes tactical moves on road risky. Maruti Swift maintains good stability while driving in say, unorthodox manner. Confidence level is not hindered in Swift.
Price – Price of Maruti Swift petrol ranges between Rs. 4.42 and 5.66 lakhs while Elite i20 petrol is priced between Rs. 4.90 and 6.47 lakhs. Diesel version of Maruti Swift costs between Rs. 5.46 and 6.71 lakhs while Elite i20 diesel demands in the range of Rs. 6.10 to Rs. 7.67 lakhs; all prices are ex-showroom Delhi. Hyundai Elite i20 is almost the most expensive in segment, while Maruti Swift is easier in terms of affordability.
Mileage – Maruti Swift petrol trumps Hyundai Elite i20 by a margin, as ARAI claimed mileage of former is 18.6 kmpl and latter is 18.5 kmpl. Diesel variant makes more difference; Maruti Swift returns 23.4 kmpl and Hyundai Elite i20 delivers only 21.9 kmpl as per claim.
Here is technical specification comparison of Hyundai Elite i20 and Maruti Swift:
Why would you buy Hyundai Elite i20:
Looks
Features
Comfort
Performance
Why would you buy Maruti Swift:
Price
Mileage
Handling
Driving pleasure
Also read:
Hyundai Elite i20 Review, photo gallery
Maruti Swift facelift launch after Diwali in November 2014.
This post was last modified on March 18, 2019 3:46 pm