Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent comparison: Who wins the compact sedan war, autos, Hindustan Times
Maruti Suzuki Dzire vs Hyundai Xcent comparison: Who wins the compact sedan war
Updated: Jun 04, two thousand seventeen 08:31 IST
By Saumil Shah , Autocar India
The Maruti Dzire and Hyundai Xcent – both based on successful hatchbacks, the Swift and Grand i10, respectively – were created to sate sedan-seeking Indian car buyers on a budget. The cars suggested the practicality of a decent boot, for a puny premium over their hatchback counterparts. This is because their sub-four-metre lengths ensured lower government taxes, and that permitted their pricing to be aggressive. The Dzire went on to become one of the bestselling cars in the country. Now Maruti has just launched an all-new generation of the compact sedan and it`s thicker, more spacious, more practical and more efficient than ever before.
But it`s up against an identically formidable rival –the sophisticated Hyundai Xcent – which was updated recently with newer looks, more features and a larger diesel engine. The upgrades have made it more refined, better on spectacle, and it also feels more nicely put together. But is it good enough to see off the fresh Dzire?
From the driver`s seat The third-generation Dzire employs the older car`s 75hp, 1.3-litre diesel engine. The good news here is that this engine is a bit more refined and quieter than before. At idle, there`s little clatter, but spin the engine hard and the diesel drone is clearly audible. It isn`t very responsive at low revs, but once past 2000rpm, there`s a fair amount of spectacle on suggest. There`s an option of an automated manual transmission (AMT) as well. The manual version tested here had brief throws, but there were a few occasions when the gears refused to slot into their gates. Also, the clutch is a touch strenuous.
The Xcent, on the other forearm, gets a 1.2-litre diesel engine with a power output of 75hp; identical to the Dzire`s. However, being a three-cylinder motor, it stimulates more at idle and the thrum is lightly noticeable as you spin the motor quicker. Yes, it is refined and fairly silent compared to other diesel compact sedans, but you can hear a soft rattle at all times – in comparison, the Dzire is a bit more silent. What`s nice, however, is it`s responsiveness right off the line. There`s negligible delay in acceleration and it builds speeds from low revs in a nice and impatient way. However, spectacle at higher revs isn`t as nice as the Dzire. On the 0-100kph sprint, the Dzire takes 13.29sec, while the Xcent reaches 100kph much slower in 15.58sec. Also, the diesel Xcent only comes with a manual gearbox. This gearbox, however, is very sleek to operate. The gearshift act feels positive and the clutch is nice and light to use. The brakes, however, are noticeably weaker than the Dzire`s. Albeit they bite well originally, they don`t provide enough confidence at speeds.
Both the cars here are well-tuned for our road conditions and are convenient to drive in the city. Maruti has softened the Dzire`s suspension a bit more than before and that means it is fairly absorbent at low speeds. In fact, go a bit quicker and you`ll soon realise that the rail has significantly improved. The Xcent`s rail and bump absorption was improved with the facelift but it still crashes a bit over acute bumps. However, when it comes to highway driving and tackling corners in an enthusiastic manner, it`s the Dzire that`s more competent. What dampens the joy, however, is that its steering feels vague, especially in and around the straight-ahead position. The Xcent`s steering on the other forearm, is light, consistent in nature and fairly direct too.
What are they like inwards?
While the Dzire`s interiors are nice, the Xcent`s takes things a few notches higher when it comes to premium feel. The leather on the steering, the knurl finish on the rotary knobs on the dashboard, the finely crafted gear lever, and all the buttons in general exude a level of quality from a segment above. The front seats, however a bit narrow, are nice and comfy but the integrated neck restraints for the rear passengers are a bit of a downer; they`re a safety hazard for tall occupants. Also, in comparison to the Dzire`s sporty dials, the Xcent`s instrument cluster now seems a bit abate. Overall visibility from the driver`s seat, however, is slightly better here than the Dzire, especially rearward.
The backseat of the Dzire offers slew of space. It is much broader, has the better knee- and legroom, and even the angle of the backseat is better, but, taller passengers will be left wanting for headroom. What`s nice is that both cars come with an armrest, a rear air-con vent and a power socket. In terms of sheer boot capacity, the Xcent has the upper mitt. Its boot can hold four hundred seven litres of luggage, while the Dzire`s boot, at three hundred seventy eight litres, isn`t too far behind.
Creature Comforts There was a time when Hyundais used to be the most feature-packed in their segments, but this time around, it`s the Maruti that packs in a bit more equipment. Both cars get auto climate control, daytime running lamps (DRLs), touchscreen infotainment systems with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera and sensors, engine embark/stop button and keyless entry, rear air con vents and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Dzire also gets segment-first automatic LED projector headlamps, part-LED tail-lamps and navigation.
With its latest launches, Hyundai has truly upped its game when it comes to quality, features and refinement, and the Xcent facelift is proof of just that. It gets fresh fresh styling, a long list of equipment and a bit more power than before. It`s effortless to drive with light controls, is spacious and comfy enough to be chauffeured around in and has a large, practical boot. Quality, fit and finish of the interiors too has taken a big leap forward, which truly elevates the ambience of its interior.
