Chevrolet Sail Competition Check

The recently launched Chevrolet Sail slotted in the entry-level sedan segment has been priced quite competitively with introductory prices ranging between Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 7.52 lakh (ex-showroom) Delhi. 

The entry-level sedan segment consists of the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Ford Classic, Tata Manza, Toyota Etios and the Mahindra Verito. The Swift DZire is the closest competition to the new Chevrolet Sail in terms of price. 

Without further ado let’s take a look at how the new Chevrolet Sail compares to its rivals in the segment:

Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire – (Rs 4.92 lakh to Rs 7.50 lakh ex-showroom Delhi)

Both the Swift DZire and the Sail are based on their hatchback siblings, both come with similarly specced diesel and petrol engines, both cars can seat five people in comfort and both cars get dual-tone interiors. The only difference is that the Swift DZire measures in under four meters in length allowing it to avail of tax breaks while the Sail is over four meters in length. This means that the Sail has a bigger boot (370 litres) compared to the Swift DZire’s that has a capacity of (315 litres). 

Another difference is that despite being available within the same price bracket the Sail is available in four petrol variants and four diesel variants while the Swift DZire is available in three variants of petrol and three diesel variants diesel. 

The basic Sail petrol/diesel comes with front power windows, anti-glare interior rear view mirror, air-conditioning and power steering while the Swift DZire LXi/LDi gets air-con and power steering but no power windows and an anti-glare interior rear view mirror is absent. 

The top-of-the-line Sail LT ABS petrol/diesel comes loaded with a Bluetooth enabled stereo, four power windows, electric ORVMs, remote central locking, alloy wheels, rear defogger, ABS, EBD and front airbags. 

The top-of-the-line Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire ZXi/ZDi comes loaded with a stereo with USB connectivity, steering mounted audio controls, power windows all around, climate control, chrome interior detailing, anti-glare interior rear view mirror, remote central locking, electric ORVMs, alloy wheels, rear defogger, ABS, EBD and front airbags. 

All in all, the interiors of the Swift DZire are a little more attractive than that of the Sail’s. 

It would also be worth mentioning that the Swift DZire is the only entry-level sedan with the option of an automatic gearbox. The Swift DZire AT is available with the middle-of-the line VXi petrol model that is equipped with power windows all around, an anti-glare interior rear view mirror, a stereo with USB connectivity, remote central locking, air-conditioning, power steering, ABS and EBD.

The Chevrolet Sail comes with an option of a 1.2 litre petrol engine that generates 86PS of power and 113Nm of torque, the 1.3 litre diesel engine option develops 78PS of power and 205Nm of torque. 

The Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire is available with a 1.2 litre petrol engine that develops 87PS of power and 114Nm of torque while the 1.3 litre diesel engine option develops 75PS of power and 190Nm of torque. 

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Toyota Etios (Rs 5.46 lakh to Rs 8.40 lakh ex-showroom Delhi)

The Toyota Etios is available with a choice of six petrol variants and five diesel variants.

The basic Etios J petrol model is completely stripped out and does not even get power steering, power windows are also absent while an anti-glare interior rear view mirror is standard. Thankfully the basic Etios GD diesel model gets power steering and power windows all around.

The top-of-the-line petrol and diesel models of the Etios are equipped with a stereo, power windows, remote central locking, rear defogger, fog lamps, ABS, EBD, front airbags and alloy wheels. 

The interiors of the Etios are a bit low rent with poor quality plastics and finished in a dull black shade. However, the interior space is exceptional and it has a capacious boot with 595 litres of space. 

Engine options include a 1.5 litre petrol engine developing 90PS of power and 113Nm of torque while the other option is 1.4 litre diesel engine developing 68PS of power and 170Nm of torque

Tata Manza Club Class (Rs 5.70 to Rs 8.84 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi) 

Tata offers a lot of car for the money with the Manza Club Class. The Manza is very spacious, quality of trim materials are average, and even the basic models come with power windows all around, an anti glare interior rear view mirror, power steering and dual tone interiors. 

The top-end models come loaded with leather upholstery, automatic climate control, a touch-screen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, steering mounted audio and phone controls, remote central locking, a contrasting roof shade, fog lamps, rear defogger, electric ORVMs, ABS, EDB, front airbags and alloy wheels. 

Engine options include a 1.4 litre petrol unit that develops 90PS of power and 116Nm of torque and a 1.3 litre diesel unit which develops 90PS of power and 200Nm of torque. 

It has to be said that with its spacious and inviting cabin, fairly commodious boot with 460 litres of space and a decent equipment list the Tata Manza Club Class top-end diesel is an attractive proposition for Rs 8.84 lakh. 

Mahindra Verito (Rs 5.32 lakh to Rs 7.75 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi) 

The Mahindra Verito is another value for money contender in the entry-level sedan segment. With its spacious cabin that can easily accommodate five people, a boot with 510 litres of space and its frugal diesel engine the Verito makes a lot of economic sense.

However, it’s dated boxy design and lack of even power windows for the basic models may have taken the ‘value for money’ quotient a step too far.

Still, the new top-of-the-line Mahindra Verito Executive edition is loaded with equipment and features such as Bluetooth-enabled stereo, touchscreen navigation system, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel with matching door inserts and blue vision headlamps. Other standard features for the Executive edition Verito include power windows, alloy wheels, fog lamps, alloy wheels, remote central locking, electric ORVMs, ABS, EBD and front airbags.

Engine options include a 1.4 litre petrol engine that develops 75PS of power and 110Nm of torque and a 1.5 litre diesel engine which develops a modest 65PS of power and 160Nm of torque. 

Priced attractively at Rs 7.75 lakh the Verito Executive edition is a top-of-the-line entry-level diesel saloon that packs in a lot of kit for the money. 

Ford Classic (Rs 5.58 lakh to Rs 7.87 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi)

The Ford Classic is one of the most attractive entry-level sedans on the market. A well built vehicle with great drive dynamics, quality interiors and well equipped variants at attractive prices puts the Ford Classic in a class of its own. As far as drawbacks go, its somewhat limited boot space of 430 litres is the only chink in its armour. 

Engine options include a lively 1.6 litre petrol motor that generates 101PS of power and 146Nm of torque and an economical 1.4 litre diesel unit that develops 68PS of power and 160Nm of torque. 

The Ford Classic has been on sale in our market since 2005 and has been on sale the longest amongst its competition. Swapping the ‘Fiesta’ name for the Classic dropped the price of the car significantly as it was replaced by the new Fiesta, making it incredible value for money.

The base variants of the Classic are decently equipped with dual tone interiors with fabric inserts, power windows, power steering, manual central locking, an anti-glare interior rear view mirror, and air conditioning. 

The top-of-the-line Titanium variants available in both petrol and diesel versions of the Classic pack in a Bluetooth enabled double-din stereo with six speakers, electric ORVMs, remote central locking, rear defogger, fog lamps, alloy wheels, ABS, EBD and front airbags. 

The Ford Classic can seat five people in comfort, has a decent cabin with great plastic quality and with its attractive price tag across variants makes a strong case of itself in the segment.