Compared: 4 big hatchbacks

Sometimes we consider a hell of a lot of opinions and take ages to arrive at certain decisions. Like some people do when purchasing a new car. We browse the car reviews on various websites, speak to family, friends and friends of friends. So, if you are looking to buy a higher-displacement petrol hatchback in the B segment (having a 1.2 litre engine instead of 1 litre), it is time to stop scratching your head. We shortlist four such cars to help you hatch your answer:

Exterior
As we all know, looks are subjective and it holds true here too. There are certain designs which some people like that others detest.

These days, most automakers follow a certain design philosophy - by retaining their family look across the entire portfolio of cars. The i10, when refreshed, got the new Hyundai fascia and an aggressive stance over the previous model. The Nissan Micra continued with its curvy-design even on the new-generation that has made its way into India. And the boomerang excavation on the Micra roof is worth a mention. The Honda Brio has the typical aggressive Japanese warrior-kind of styling while the Maruti Ritz gets an almost practical design.

Interior
Similar is the story inside. The Micra continues with its curvy theme with door handles, tachometer, air-con vents and the centre console round in shape. With the Micra, you can cash-in on features such as keyless entry, push button start and electrically folding rear-view mirrors, which are first-in segment. Micra categorises in the B+ segment, which is why it is more expensive and premium than the lot.

All these cars have sufficient head room and leg room for the front and rear passengers. With the Ritz’s being a tall boy design, it offers the best headspace. The boot is sufficient on all except the Brio, which has the smallest one, and also misses out on a rear defogger and wiper even in the top model. Hence, there isn’t much to differentiate between these cars when it comes to interior space, styling and other bells and whistles.

Performance
The Honda Brio is the latest entrant and the most powerful engine in its class. It gets the 1.2-litre i-VTEC mill — this one also powers the Jazz — which produces 88PS of power and 109Nm of peak torque. This engine is so well-refined that it feels like Honda engineers have scrupulously tuned it. The snort at low speeds turns into a sweet exhaust note as the revs climb up. The Brio doesn’t share the same gearing with the Jazz, and rather has taller ratios for better efficiency.  So, even though the power delivery is linear, one need to downshift for quick overtaking. The gearshifts on the Brio are slick and seamless.

Hyundai offers the i10 with 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engine options. The 1.1-litre engine is the one that powers the Santro, whereas the 1.2’s get the same block like the i20. The i10’s 1.2-litre mill is the new Kappa2 engine that has variable-valve timing to improve performance and efficiency. Power ratings of the Kappa2 are good on paper and even in the real world. With high refinement levels and the sort of performance one gets, the fuel efficiency figure does exceed one’s expectation. One may not have to downshift to overtake, and can easily potter around in city even in a higher cog.

Nissan is another recent entrant that introduced the Micra for the Indian car market. The Micra has a three-pot 1.2-litre petrol engine with 75 bhp and 104 Nm under its belt.  The engine has low NVH levels and it pulls seamlessly once the tachometer needle crosses 2000 rpm. If you are the more attuned type, you would notice that the engine shows a slight hesitation before the revs rise, even though it is quite imperceptible. The gear shifts are a tad rubbery. The engine doesn’t show any sign of strain when you lug it in a high gear. Overtaking in Micra is a breeze.

As i10 was refreshed in late 2010, the Ritz is the oldest among the lot. The Ritz gets the recently developed K-Series 1.2-litre petrol motor, which is refined but is a bit languorous as one has to work through, to extract performance. The gear lever of the Ritz is short and the shifts are positive. The engine doesn’t pant at low speeds as there is sufficient torque even when you drive it in a higher gear.

Ride and handling
The powertrains on all the four hatchbacks are similar if not the same. It is the driving characteristics that vary. To be more specific, it is more of the handling that differs than the ride quality. All the cars in this segment have a sorted ride as the suspension doesn’t jiggle and disturb the peace of the occupants. Road undulations are well taken care of by the suspension. The Micra has the best ride suppleness as it underpins the softest suspension set-up that glides over potholes.

Handling is the only aspect which differs from car to car among the four models. The suspension set-up is softer on the Micra and Ritz. Drive it quickly around a bend and you would notice body roll as these hatchbacks lack the dynamism that other competition possesses. Handling of the i10 is decent, but the skinny tyres reduce confidence as they run out of grip and often understeer. On the other hand, the Brio is the pick of the lot when it comes to the response of the chassis and suspension set-up. Though the light steering wheel may feel artificial to many, the chassis has been well tweaked to be driven flat-out around bends and tight hairpins. The alacrity of the Honda engine does make it a joy to drive it around hills or twisty roads. 

Verdict
All the four hatchbacks under review are similar in terms of space and even performance, as the engines are more or less similar on paper and power delivery. Hence, buying any of these four will be a wise decision. But when you compare apple to apple, the i10 is the best offering. It is stylish, spacious, feature-loaded, economical to drive and own, even though the Micra impressed us with its gadgetry, while the Brio’s design and driving dynamics won our hearts.