Maruti Suzuki S-Presso vs Rivals: Interior Space Compared

Maruti Suzuki has added yet another hatchback to its lineup in the form of the S-Presso. The latest Maruti offering will compete with the Renault Kwid, the current king of the of the mini cross-hatch segment. However, its price tag of Rs 3.69 lakh to Rs 4.91 lakh (ex-showroom) means that the S-Presso is just a whisker away from the Alto K10 (Rs 3.60 lakh to Rs 4.40 lakh, ex-showroom). All three cars here claim to be the perfect small hatchback for the average family. But which one is the most comfortable? We’ve measured the cabin of each car to help you out. 

Before we get into the details, here is a quick refresher on how the S-Presso fares against its rivals in terms of exterior dimensions:

• *With roof rails.
• ~With 14-inch wheels.

The S-Presso is a size smaller than the Kwid while it is a shade larger than the Alto. Does that mean the S-Presso is one of the least spacious cars in this test? 

Rear Seat Experience:

Let’s face the fact, plenty of car owners spend most of their time in the back seat. So let’s see how all three cars perform in the rear-seat department:

*Front seat adjusted for 5'8" to 6' occupants.

Hop on to the back seat of the S-Presso and you’ll notice that it offers a similar amount of headroom as the Alto K10, which is quite surprising since the Alto is the shortest car here. In terms of shoulder room, the S-Presso beats the Kwid by a whisker while the Alto lags behind considerably. 

In terms of knee room, the S-Presso’s numbers reveal that it has the most amount of space. In fact, the S-Presso beats the Kwid and Alto by a huge margin in this department and it is your best bet if you want to place two six footers back to back.

However, the seat base in the S-Presso is the smallest and that can result in poor underthigh support. The Kwid’s seat back is also taller, which means better back support. 

Front Seat Experience:

The numbers on the front half reveal a slightly different story. For starters, the S-Presso, despite being the tallest, has less headroom than the Alto. And despite the newcomer being wider than the Alto, the cabin width is equal to the narrower Maruti. Maruti Suzuki has liberated more width by ensuring that the door pads don't eat into cabin room. This is why the S-Presso offers better shoulder room on the inside compared to the Kwid, that's wider on the outside. Speaking of the Renault, it offers the least amount of headroom and shoulder room of the trio.

The Alto has the edge over the S-Presso and Kwid in terms of minimum kneeroom. However, if you push the seat fully back, the S-Presso beats the two by a fair margin. One should also remember that the Alto is by far the smallest and lowest amongst the three cars here, which makes getting in and out more difficult. 

The seat base length is also better in the Alto and that means better underthigh support. That said, the seatback height is taller in the S-Presso. The Kwid is the smallest in all aspects in the front-seat department. 

Boot Space:

A practical family car should not only be limited to a spacious interior. It should have the capability to carry a good amount of luggage as well. In that case, the S-Presso trails behind the Kwid, which has the largest boot here. The Alto lags behind the other two cars in this department and has the smallest boot.  

Verdict:

Maruti Suzuki has done a good job packaging the S-Presso’s interiors. Despite being one of the smallest here, the S-Presso’s interior numbers reveal a spacious rear seat experience. While it trails behind the Alto’s front seat space and the boot is smaller than the Kwid, the S-Presso offers the perfect balance when it comes to ferrying occupants comfortably while carrying all their luggage.