How Ritzy Maruti Ritz and Hyundai I10 Compete

When Maruti Suzuki launched the premium hatchback Ritz in May this year it made a huge splash in Hyundai plans. The Maruti officials openly claimed that Ritz will eat into the market share of Hyundai i10 at the base and the high end Hyundai i20. They also claimed that Mariti Ritz was better than Hyundai i10 in many ways and hence was a better buy. Hyundai officials rushed to clarify this point and let their actions speak louder than words.

The result was Hyundai sells at least 8,000 units of the i10 on an average every month. Indian small car market leader could not let such a market slip away form its finger. It launched Maruti A-star which was designed to rival the base versions of the Hyundai i10 while the Maruti Suzuki Ritz was meant to bit the share from the top end version. But Hyundai i10 has stood its ground and continues to pack all other hatchbacks to the lower ranks.

Let us take a compare the two cars Hyundai i10 and the Maruti Suzuki Ritz for what they stand.

On the performance, Hyundai i10 comes with two types of powertrains including Kappa engines and Ritz is powered by the new K12M engines. The smaller capacity 1.1Litre engines borrowed from Santro is a very capable power source. The other 1.2Litre Kappa engine is brilliant in performance and fuel economy. It delivers healthy 78.8 bhp while the Ritz with 1.2 Litre engine generates 84 bhp. Both engines offer a peak torque of 11.4 Kgm. When one compares the power to weight and torque to weight parameters, the Ritz is a big loser. The heavy body construction adds a full 170 kgs over what the i10 weights. This means the Hyundai i10 will offer quicker acceleration and sharp curves. Even when the cars are compared during the 0-60 km/h clock- the Hyundai i10 lands a few seconds earlier than Ritz. The Hyundai i10 surges comfortably ahead of the Maruti Suzuki Ritz.

On the ride and handling front, Ritz scores higher points than the i10. Built on the legendary Swift hatchback platform, Maruti Suzuki Ritz sports a taller roofline, a wider front end and a heavy rear end which helps balance the car during sharp curves. Ritz is a notch better than the Hyundai i10 on agile handling parameter. The steering wheel in the Ritz offers good feel of the road and allows driver to feel in control of the vehicle. But drivers who believe that they have to zip through traffic like a cheetah, should go for the Hyundai i10 as it is more agile owing it its lighter weight. At high speeds both cars display awesome stability.

On the design and interiors, Maruti Suzuki Ritz is more likely to rival the Hyundai i20. The tall and bulkier Ritz, comes with larger headlamps and wider front end, which translates to an attention grabbing exterior style. It has an utilitarian appeal complete with all the Maruti Suzuki design cues. The Hyundai i10 has a more contemporary design with pear drop shaped headlamps and grille that exudes power. It has the radical styling (like the swift) which will change the way hatches will look in the near future.

The interiors in Maruti Suzuki Ritz are spacious like the Swift. There is a tachometer integrated into the dashboard and twin dial instrument cluster is visually pleasing. Due to its tall roofline it offers an airy headroom which can accommodate adults over 6 ft tall. The rear seats offer a spacious legroom. The Hyundai i10 sports a modern feel. The controls on the dash are logically placed. The fine quality of the materials and the clean blend of dual of equipments and styles gives a feel of an upscale car. The in-car entertainment is on of the best in its class. The visibility from the driver's seat is excellent as the driver get a full forward view. The rear seat can be slightly cramped for large adults. Overall, Hyundai i10 and the Maruti Suzuki Ritz serve as great family cars.