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This, in all certainty, is by far the most important comparison test we’ve done in recent times. Carrying far more weightage than a mere punch up between a couple of city cars, this battle pits two small car producing giants as well as their engineering and design philosophies. And the repercussions of this head to head clash run deeper.
This, simply put, is nothing less than a battle for supremacy. Has Maruti’s new A-star, engineered with literally decades of experience in the market, got what it takes to dethrone 2008’s Car of the Year? Does it have the necessary appeal and technical sophistication to dethrone Hyundai, which has been finishing top of the small car pile since it introduced the Santro over a decade ago? Critically, which is the better car, the one that deserves pride of place in your driveway?
STYLE FILE
Both cars share the same basic function of city runabouts, but they differ in their approach. While the i10 is a less radical version of the Santro’s tall boy design philosophy, the new A-star is less practical. More from the ‘style and attitude is vital’ school of Suzuki Swift design, the funky looking A-star wears its heart on its sleeve. It’s low slung compared to the i10; the profile of the roof and the manner in which it tapers to the rear clearly mark this out to be a car where function follows form. And the form is pretty impressive.
INSIDE STORY
Sit down in the A-star and you’re greeted by a modern-looking cabin, on which Suzuki designers seem to have spent lots of time. Blending fresh shapes with multiple colours, the cabin and especially the central console are like no other. The high-mounted vents might restrict vision and are in your face, but they allow for a high-mounted music system, an illuminated shelf and a large storage area at the base. Swift and SX4 bits like the steering wheel, gear lever and vents abound adding to the overall ambience. However, cheap plastic bits and ill-fitting panels seriously detract from the quality of the interior.
The i10 feels better built on the inside and more grown up. The design of the dash merges with that of the doorpads and there’s a nice flow and maturity to it. You don’t get the feeling that you are inside a basic econo box, which is primarily down to the design, colours and material used.
UNDER THE HOOD
The K10B that powers the new A-star is a new high-tech motor. Very compact but bristling with modern technology, this three-cylinder engine not only has four valves per cylinder, but also features twin overhead camshafts for better valve control. Despite being 90cc and one cylinder down on the Hyundai, it still makes a similar 66bhp. Suzuki has also managed to keep the weight of this DOHC head down as no rocker arms are used. The long-stroke pistons have short skirts to improve efficiency and reduce mass and the motor runs a high 10:1 compression ratio.
The first thing you realise when you set off in traffic is that this motor is very free-revving, constantly urging you to get a move on. It makes the A-star feel agile to drive. The car displays a good turn of foot too, revving freely beyond 6000rpm. It can quickly change gait from a canter to a gallop, allowing you to surge ahead, and that makes this car fun to drive.
However, the motor isn’t perfect. It does get thrummy after 4000rpm with a certain amount of discordance emitting from the three-cylinder motor. The mid-range isn’t as strong as that of the i10 either. This means you have to downshift more often compared to the i10. There is also some degree of jerkiness when negotiating stop/start traffic as the three-cylinder motor doesn’t run smoothly. The motor has an unsettled idle too that makes the cabin shudder.
DRIVER’S DEAL
The nicest part about the A-star is the manner in which it rides and handles. Taking advantage of the stiffer chassis, wide track and high profile tyres, Maruti seems to have found the ideal setup. Ride quality though is not pillow-soft with some stiffness; however, it’s quite comfortable, even though there are some sharp vertical movements.
In comparison, the i10 has a pliant setup. It’s more comfortable at slower speeds but once speeds build, the relative lack of body control gets irritating. The front suspension is fine, but large undulations in the level of the road cause the rear to bob. Once you’re travelling faster than jogging speeds, the A-star’s superior body control is clearly the more comfortable of the two and you’re not bounced around in the least.
As far as fuel efficiency goes, the A-star was only marginally better in city traffic, with 12.1kpl to the i10’s 12.0kpl. On the highway though, the A-star has a clear advantage and comes out on top.
FINAL VERDICT
The compact A-star with its willing motor, easy handling and agility is a great city car. The cheeky styling and funky interiors give it lots of attitude as well. It’s superbly equipped with safety features not found in other cars in this price bracket. Fuel efficiency is good and being a Maruti, the A-star is easy on the pocket. The rear seats, however, are small and cramped, luggage space is severely compromised, making it a less ideal family car, a role these cars are, more often than not, expected to play.
The i10, though around Rs 35,000 cheaper than the A-star ZXi, is woefully short on equipment and feels like a bare cave in comparison. But begin to drive the Hyundai and it’s clearly the more practical of the two cars. It has a strong and smooth motor, better interiors and crucially offers more space and comfort. It comes out as the more complete car to win this test.
MARUTI A-STAR
Price: Rs 4.62 lakh (On-road Mumbai)
L/W/H: 3500/1600/ 1490mm
Wheelbase: 2360mm
Turning circle: 9m
Kerb weight: 880kg
Engine: 3 cyls inline, 998cc, petrol
Power: 66bhp at 6200rpm
Torque: 9.17kgm at 3500rpm
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs/ drums
HYUNDAI i10
Price: Rs 4.27 lakh (On-road Mumbai)
L/W/H: 3565/1595/ 1550mm
Wheelbase: 2380mm
Turning circle: 9.5m
Kerb weight: 860kg
Engine: 4 cyls inline, 1086cc, petrol
Power: 66bhp at 5500rpm
Torque: 10.1kgm at 2800rpm
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs/ drums
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