Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest passenger car maker, has finally launched its much awaited sedan Ciaz in the Indian auto market, starting Rs. 6.99 lakhs (ex-Showroom, New Delhi). Company experts believe that this model will pose a stiff competition against new Honda City and Skoda Rapid, and therefore, we have done a short analysis of the same.
It must be noted that Ciaz is the least powered car in the trio, but happens to be the most fuel efficient with an ARAI certified figures of 20.7 kmpl. Skoda Rapid comes equipped with a 1.6-litre engine, which churns out a maximum power of 103 bhp, while returning a mileage of 15 kmpl, titled as the least fuel efficient among the trio. On the other hand, Honda City is offered the second spot in terms of mileage as it managed to get an ARAI certified figure of 17.4 kmpl. Interestingly, all the above mentioned cars are offered with an automatic transmission option with their respective petrol engines.
In the diesel engine category, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is again the least powered car, but with a torque figure, similar to that of Honda City at 200 Nm. The diesel engine of Ciaz delivered a fuel economy of 26.2 kmpl, which titles it the most efficient sedan in the Indian auto market. In the comparo, only Skoda Rapid offers an automatic transmission option with the diesel engine. In terms of boot space, Ciaz and City share the numero uno position with 510 litres, while the boot of Rapid just measures 460 litres.
Considering the pricing of all these models, Ciaz struck right chords with the hearts of price sensitive Indian buyers. The base price of petrol Ciaz ranges between Rs. 6.9 lakh and Rs. 9.3 lakh, while it diesel counterpart falls in the bracket of Rs. 8.04 lakh to Rs. 9.8 lakh. Being little heavy on the pocket there comes petrol Honda City with a base price of Rs. 7.2 going till Rs. 10.97 lakh. Its diesel variant has a base price of Rs. 8.38 lakh while top end variant comes for Rs. 11.06 lakh. Last in the league is Skoda Rapid whose petrol variant has a starting price of Rs. 7.2 lakh. The diesel counterpart comes for Rs. 8.39 lakh, going till Rs. 10.97 lakh.
