After Venue’s phenomenal success in compact SUV segment, Hyundai has stepped up focus on capturing the hatchback segment with the launch of Grand i10 Nios. Unlike Venue that is a completely new product, Nios is the third generation of i10, which is named Grand i10 in India.
However, Nios is quite close to being a new product, as it utilizes a different platform, has BS-VI compliant engine and offers first-in-class and best-in-class features. Here’s a quick comparison between Nios and rivals to understand which car offers the best value. Hyundai NIOS vs Grand i10 vs Maruti Swift vs Ford Figo.
Exteriors: Nios is sportier than its predecessor and features an attractive design. Just like Venue, it appears to be youthful and lively. Some key features include projector headlamps and fog lamps that ensure improved visibility, boomerang LED DRLs, classic radiator grille, body coloured bumpers, blacked-out B-pillar and window line, chrome door handles , diamond cut alloy wheels, G-i10 branding on C-pillar, rear chrome garnish, shark fin antenna and rear skid plate.
In comparison, Maruti Swift comes with a floating roof design and has a sculpted profile. Swift’s exterior features include aggressive front grille, LED projector headlamps with DRLs, body-coloured ORVMs with integrated turn signals, two-tone alloy wheels and LED rear combination lights. Ford Figo also comes in an attractive package and key features include a sporty front grille, automatic headlamps, body coloured bumpers, dual-tone roof, and R15 alloy wheels.
Interiors: Nios comes with a premium cabin and interiors are designed to be spacious and comfortable. Key features include semi-fabric seat upholstery, leather wrapped steering wheel, rear AC vents, all-new instrument cluster, 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and rear power outlet. First-in-segment features include AC with eco coating technology and wireless charging. In comparison, Maruti Swift comes with a driver oriented cockpit design and has sporty and spacious cabin. Ford Figo has premium, stylish interiors that are designed to make your journeys comfortable and enjoyable.
Dimensions: Hyundai Nios is larger than its predecessor, measuring 3,805 mm in length, 1,680 mm in width, 1,520 mm in height and a wheelbase of 2,450 mm. The largest car in this group is Figo that measures 3,941 mm in length. Figo also has the longest wheelbase of 2,490 mm. Swift leads in width and height at 1,735 mm and 1530 mm, respectively.
Engine and transmission: Nios is offering petrol as well as diesel engines and both will have manual and AMT option. The 1.2-litre BS-VI compliant petrol engine makes 82 hp of max power and 114 Nm of max torque. Engine is mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT unit. The 1.2-litre diesel (BS-IV) engine makes 74 hp / 190 Nm and is mated to a 5-speed manual or AMT unit.
Maruti Swift also offers both petrol and diesel engines and the option of manual and AMT. The 1.2-litre BS-VI compliant petrol engine makes 82 hp / 113 Nm and comes mated with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT. Swift diesel variant (BS-IV) is powered by a 1248 cc engine that makes 74 hp power and 190 Nm torque. It is mated to 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT.
Ford Figo has two petrol and one diesel engine options, all of which are BS-IV. The 1.2-litre petrol variant makes 95 hp / 120 Nm, making it the most powerful in this group. Engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The 1.5-litre petrol engine makes 121 hp / 150 Nm and is offered only with top-spec Titanium variant. Engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Figo’s 1.5-litre diesel engine makes 98.5 hp / 215 Nm and comes mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Safety: In terms of safety, all three cars share several common features such as dual airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, seat belt reminder, engine immobilizer, and high speed alert.
Price: Hyundai Nios petrol variants are priced in the range of Rs 4.99 lakh – Rs 7.13 lakh whereas diesel variants are available at Rs 6.70 lakh – Rs 7.99 lakh. Maruti Swift petrol is priced in the range of Rs 5.14 lakh – Rs 7.97 lakh while diesel variants are priced between Rs 7.03 lakh and Rs 8.89 lakh. Ford Figo petrol variants are priced in the range of Rs 5.23 lakh – Rs 7.70 lakh whereas diesel variants come at Rs 6.13 lakh – Rs 7.55 lakh. These figures reveal that Nios has the lowest starting price for petrol variant whereas Figo offers the cheapest diesel variant.
Hyundai Grand i10 Nios looks promising, but does not offer anything extraordinary like Venue. However, with its aggressive pricing in comparison to primary rival Swift, things could work out in its favour in this price-sensitive segment. Nios could boost sales for Hyundai, but it is unlikely to generate a response similar to that of Venue.
