Shootdown - Maruti Swift Dzire (Vxi) vs Toyota Etios G

The sedan race is certainly the next best after the on-going competition among hatch brands. The introduction of various sedans by various carmakers is an indication that an average consumer is slowly shifting focus to a bigger car and this requirement is aptly gauged and satiated by automobile companies. And the wide range of cars with different versions to suit every pocket size, which perhaps makes the consumers' choice that much more difficult. Among the sedans in the Indian market Maruti Swift Dzire seems to lead at least while talking of numbers but the Toyota Etios G might shock the Maruti Suzuki camp or may be its entry is a little late to shake up the firm-footed entry level Dzire.

Looks

The two c segment sedans Swift Dzire (Vxi) and Toyota Etios G might not have a major fan following, as one glance at the two sedans does not create quite an impression. Nevertheless, on insistence rather if asked choose one then one might pick Etios G. The Swift Dzire does not charm you one bit especially the bulging exterior might turn you off, while Etios has stuck to the conventional school of design; the generous use of chrome, wee-bit projection at the front with smiley grille and the unique tail lamps are the stand out features in Etios G. The motto of almost every sedan is space refinement and Etios has promptly followed that. And yes, the alloy wheels are a plus in Etios G whereas, Dzire Vxi will disappoint you on this front, as only the Zxi variant gets alloys wheels. In fact, the Dzire Vxi has very few exterior features that would excite you.

Coming to the interior aspect of the two, Etios G gets full marks for providing mind-blowing space both at the front and the rear with a lot of head, leg and shoulder room and the passengers will never cringe to find their space in the car. The Dzire Vxi on the other hand is an extension of Swift and is pretty roomy but in comparison to Etios G it lacks volume, especially rear passengers might complain. But Dzire kind of compensates the space factor with better interior features than the Etios G. The usage of plastics does not feel substandard; the controls feel better, fabric upholstery, headrests for all passengers, air conditioner with heater, cup holders at front, center arm rest at the rear seat, power windows at front and rear etc. In Etios G the cost cutting is pretty conspicuous and advanced features are restricted to hi-end models. Safety features such as ABS and airbags are missing in both the sedans, at least one would expect these features in Etios G considering the on-road price.

To sum it up, Etios comes in futuristic design and stylized with sleek appeal, and the Dzire comes with a sober and bold appeal, matter of personal preferences though I would vote for the Etios.

Engine, performance and mileage

The Swift Dzire Vxi is powered by 1197cc, K12 series, and five-speed manual transmission, petrol engine that gives a power of 85PS at 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 113Nm at 4500 rpm. The engine meets the BS IV norms and gives a good mileage, power, acceleration and is an eco-friendly car. The manual transmission decreases friction and improves the engine durability and enhances higher torque. The MPFI (multi-point fuel injection) system ensures fuel economy. While the K-series engine is known to deliver superb performance.

As for the Etios G, it is braced with 1496 cc petrol engine that gives power of 90 PS at 5600 rpm and torque of 132 Nm at 3000 rpm. The advantage of dual camshaft to the engine and 4 valves per cylinder enables power, performance and fuel efficiency. Toyota has done a good job in engine refinement department thus making a powerful sedan in comparison to its rivals and unlike Dzire it has an EFI (Electronic fuel injection) to ensure better performance. Also blessed with a powerful mill the Toyota Etios beats the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire hands down in terms of acceleration and pickup. The Etios touches top speed of 178 kmph while the Swift Dzire won't run beyond 169 kmph. Talking of the ride quality both the cars are pretty much similar except that Etios is a little quicker because of lighter weight and behaves well on the potholes.

Even when the mileage of the two sedans is compared Etios G stays ahead giving an average of 14 kmpl and the Dzire Vxi runs around 12.5 km for every liter all other driving conditions being constant.

Colors and Pricing

The Toyota Etios G comes in color options of bluish silver, white, silver, black, red and beige. And the Swift Dzire comes in color choices of silver, black, blue, beige, white, red and gray.



In terms of price, the Swift Dzire comes in price range of Rs.488,557 to Rs. 632,770 and Etios on the other hand comes dearer with a price range of Rs.496,000 to Rs. 686,500 for the different trims. The prices are of ex-showroom Delhi. While there is a Rs. 50 k price difference in the top versions of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and the Toyota Etios, the base models cost about the same.

Verdict

Toyota Etios G is a better sedan in terms of practicality, space, comfort, engine performance and ride quality while the Swift Dzire Vxi is no bad car and has decent looks, features but more than performance it sure is a value-for-money sedan although the failing fact about Dzire is that it is less spacious. Considering the entire Dzire Vxi package, it seems to be a tough ride for the Etios G. Nevertheless, if one cannot give a long waiting time (of 6 months) after booking the Swift Dzire then Etios G would be a wiser choice.