A while ago, the micro crossover segment in India had just one contender – the Mahindra KUV100. We don’t count cars like the Toyota Etios Liva and Hyundai i20 Active in this segment as they were basically designed as hatchbacks, and then given a higher ground clearance and body cladding to appeal to the crossover-loving crowd. However, the KUV100 has been designed from ground-up to have SUV-ish looks, in hatchback dimensions. As a result, Mahindra was able to lead a solitary fight, and thus clocked sufficient sales numbers for the Indian automaker. However, there has been a new entry into the segment, from an automaker that is known to turn tables around!
Maruti Suzuki launched the Ignis placing it in the niche micro-crossover segment. This marked the entry of a rival in the KUV100’s territory. And coming from the country’s largest car maker, the Ignis is sure to have potential under its hat. So how do things turn out when we pitch both these little crossover against each other? Let’s find out!
Maruti Ignis vs Mahindra KUV100 – Specifications comparison
Maruti has a couple of highly trustworthy engines under its umbrella and the automaker isn’t shy to use them whenever it gets the chance. As a result, the Ignis too comes with the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel and 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine options. These are the same engines that are offered with the Swift, Dzire and Baleno. The diesel motor churns out 74 BHP and 190 Nm, while the gasoline mill develops 84 BHP and 115 Nm of torque. But the biggest advantage that the Maruti Ignis has is the option of transmissions. The Ignis is the only car below Rs 10 lakh to offer both manual and automatic transmission options with both petrol and diesel engines.
Meanwhile, the KUV100 is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine that puts out 28 bhp and 114 Nm of torque, while the diesel duties are handled by a 1.2-litre turbocharged common rail engine rated at 77 BHP and 190 Nm of torque. There is only one transmission option on offer with both engines – a 5-speed manual.
Maruti Ignis vs Mahindra KUV100 – Mileage
This is where things go very downhill for the Mahindra. The petrol engine of the KUV100 is a three-cylinder unit that can easily be termed as the most poorly mated transmission. The lower gears are too close to each other, while the higher gears aren’t refined. This results in a pathetic practical fuel economy of 10-12 km/l. Various owners of the KUV have reported a further drop in mileage if they constantly use the AC. Meanwhile, the diesel engine isn’t that bad, and delivers a practical mileage of around 16-17 km/l.
On the other hand, the trusted Maruti engines are known for their mileage and refinement. The petrol Ignis easily extract 16-17 km/l, while the diesel variant’s mileage touches the 20 km/l easily. Well, what else do you expect from Maruti? After all, this was the automaker that gace Indians the Kitna Deti Hai tagline!
Maruti Ignis vs Mahindra KUV100 – Features
A feature comparison between the two cars hugely puts a dent in the KUV’s contention for the winner’s title. While the Ignis has been made for the youngsters and comes loaded with LED projector headlamps with DRLs, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Mahindra KUV has been designed and engineered to a robust, take-anywhere vehicle. The only to major talking points about the KUV’s feature list are DRLs and puddle lamps. As a result, Ignis is the clear winner in this battle.
Maruti Ignis vs Mahindra KUV100 – Price
To be specific, let’s see the price range of both these models.
Maruti Ignis – Rs. 4.59 lakh to Rs. 7.15 lakh
Mahindra KUV100 – Rs. 4.82 to Rs. 7.93 lakh
While the KUV might look a bit aggressively priced as compared to the Ignis, the latter offers much more value for the bucks. As a result, our comparison clearly leads to an apparent winner – the Maruti Suzuki Ignis.
There is no doubt about the fact that the audiences too share the same thought process, as the Ignis had recorded 10,000 bookings just 6 days after its official launch.
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