Competition Check - Maruti Suzuki Ignis Vs Mahindra KUV100

The Ignis from Maruti Suzuki would easily feature among the top three in a list of most-awaited car launches in India. This car sports SUV-like styling with the footprint of a hatchback. Hence, the Ignis will certainly click with a lot of prospective urban buyers. However, it will face off against the Mahindra KUV100, another hatchback with SUV-like looks. If you fancy buying the Ignis and want to know how it compares against the KUV100, we have some good news Read on to find out which one is a better buy for your buck.

In terms of dimensions, the KUV100 measures 3675mm in length, 1715mm in breadth and 1655mm in height. The Ignis' will be 3700mm long, 1690mm wide and 1595mm high. At 2435mm, the Ignis will have a longer wheelbase than KUV100's 2385mm. This should translate to more space inside the Maruti Suzuki car. The Ignis has 180mm of ground clearance which is 10mm higher than the KUV100's 170mm. In terms of overall dimensions like length and wheelbase, the Ignis has an edge over the KUV100.

Engines:

As far as engine and drivetrain details are concerned, the KUV100 comes with petrol and diesel engines, both are three-cylinder 1.2 litre motors. The petrol motor makes 82PS of power and 115Nm of torque. The diesel churns out 77PS of power and 190Nm of torque. The Ignis, on the other hand, is expected to come with four-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol and 1.3-litre diesel engines. The petrol motor is expected to make 83PS of power and 113Nm of torque, while the diesel pot is expected to churn out 75PS of power and 190Nm of torque. While power and torque figures are closely matched, the Ignis’s 4-cylinder engines should give it an advantage in terms of drivability, refinement and smoothness.

Transmission:

Both these wannabe-SUVs use the simple and efficient front-engine front-wheel-drive architecture. The KUV100’s engines come paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox as the only transmission offering across its variants. The Ignis, however, will be offered  with a 5-speed manual as well as an AMT as transmission option upon launch. While the Ignis may not get a new engine lineup, the fact that it offers an automatic gearbox option, even if it is an AMT, increases its appeal manifold. The Indian Ignis will not be offered with all-wheel drive, unlike its Japanese and European siblings.

When it comes to unique features, the KUV100 offers a seating arrangement for six, has micro hybrid technology, different driving modes (Power and ECO), storage space under co-driver's seat as some of its unique features. The driving modes enhance or dull the engine’s response to the driver’s throttle input, making the car feel faster in Power mode or slower (for more fuel economy) in ECO mode.  The one that stands out though is its compatibility with Mahindra Blue Sense App. This helps the car display crucial information like vehicle alerts and lets owners control the infotainment unit of the car through their smartphone. Packed with features from cars that sit above its segment, the Ignis is expected to sport projector headlamps with LED DRLs, and a touchscreen music system with Apple CarPlay, dual front airabgs with ABS as standard across all variants. Moreover, the Ignis is also covered under iCreate program, enabling customers to customise their car according to their preferences, both inside and out.

Based on the reports and the leaked brochure, the Ignis seems to have a clear lead over the KUV100 even before it has been launched. Needless to say, we eagerly await Ignis' launch to see how it is priced. Maruti Suzuki will offer the Ignis through its Nexa dealerships and has already added the car on the Nexa website. For all the latest news and updates on the Ignis, stay tuned to ZigWheels.