Ritz pricing set to woo Swift buyers!

It's here, and it's priced almost inch-perfect in the cut-throat A2 hatchback segment. In Maruti Suzuki's crowded portfolio, one car eating into another's share is unavoidable, but the Ritz is expected to do so in a larger way than has happened before.

**All prices ex-showroom Delhi

Interestingly, the fully-loaded and urban-oriented Zxi petrol has the largest price differential, of almost Rs.35,000 on the ex-showroom price between the two cars. It is not surprising that Maruti Suzuki is positioning this particular variant most aggressively, given its all-new K12M engine that forms the key differentiator between the Ritz and the Swift. On similar lines, the top-end diesel has a Rs 20,000 price difference, again making the Ritz a more attractive buy for urban families between the two diesels.

While the Swift had grown to be the almost default choice for customers wanting a large and efficient hatchback despite its sporty appeal, the Ritz will offer more in terms of space and practicality to families and is expected to take this particular class of customers away from the Swift. While Maruti Suzuki term the prices as introductory ones, in this present economic climate we can't see these being changed in a hurry.

Nevertheless, what the new set of prices do, is in fact help Maruti Suzuki prop itself up very strongly against the competion and in so doing the job becomes a challenge of sorts for rivals like the Hyundai i20 and the Skoda Fabia to stay within striking distance in the hunt for customers in today's market place.

What also comes across quite strongly is that the Tata Indica Vista is a very competent and comprehensive package which is priced very sensibly. However the new Suzuki petrol motor is leagues superior to the rebranded Fiat mill which powers the petrol-engined Indica Vista but overall in the diesel stakes, the Indica Vista is the car which does hold the edge.

Hyundai's petrol offerings are way too pricey and the Korean major does suffer thanks to the lack of a diesel option at the moment even though in Europe oil burner versions of the i20 are big sellers. Manufacturing costs seem be the bugbear of Hyundai for such a diesel at the moment but frankly without a diesel in a large hatch, the company could be foregoing a slice of the action here.

The Skoda Fabia with its range of insipid 1.2-litre petrol engines seems to be outrageously priced but read the word "insipid" and all seems to be loaded in favour of the Ritz with its fine new four-pot mill. Of course strong build and firm ride quality is the strength of the Fabia which however all seems to get muddled with the pricing of its diesel offerings. Is this therefore a proper slot for the Volkswagen Polo to come and slot in as the true mass market offering of the new combine which could be known as Auto Union in the days to come? Watch this space.