The Swift has been an immensely popular hatchback in India, and the brand is so strong, that even it did have some shortcomings, customers would still flock to showrooms to buy one. It may not be the most comfortable, but this third-generation model has a lot riding on it. It also gets an automatic gearbox. We pit it against Ford's crossover, the Freestyle, to see if it can get away with being the better car.
Design
The Swift is undoubtedly a good-looking hatchback with that sporty grille, the 'smiling' bumper, and the sweptback headlights. The Maruti Suzuki cars look like the Dzire to an extent, after which the Dzire gets its own identity. The rear door handle is placed in the C-pillar, giving it the look of a three-door hatchback. At the rear, the car keeps it simple with squared-off taillights and a flat boot section.
The Freestyle too looks good and sports the updated look. The trapezoid grille is blacked out and is flanked by stylish headlights that get a smoked-out look. The side profile includes black cladding and bold lines that give it the stance of a crossover. We also like the sharp beltline that runs along the sides. The taillights remain the same, but the bumper has been reworked.
Interiors
The cabin of the Freestyle gets a two-tone color theme that includes black and chocolate brown. The instrument cluster, AC vents, and dashboard look very familiar. The quality of materials isn't bad at all. The design of the central console looks similar to the one on the EcoSport and looks less cluttered. It gets Ford's latest SYNC3 infotainment touchscreen system. There's good space at the front and the seats are wide and comfortable. The headroom at the rear could've been better. Boot space at 257 liters, is the same as the Figo's.
The dashboard looks the same as seen on the Dzire, albeit with a few minor tweaks. The all-black cabin looks sporty and circular central vents and AC controls. You will also notice silver accents on the dashboard. The dashboard looks good and gets a big touchscreen infotainment system. The levels of fit and finish on the insides are decent. The seats at the front are nice and supportive, and surprisingly, the rear has better space on offer. The cabin is also wider, but we wish the cushioning was a bit firm. There are lots of storage spaces around too and boot space, at 268 liters, is slightly better than the Freestyles.
Features
The Freestyle comes packed with features like 15-inch alloy wheels, follow-me-home headlamps, keyless entry and go, power-folding wing mirrors, 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite navigation, illuminated glove box, side and curtain airbags, front fog lamps, rear washer and wiper, rear defogger, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and auto climate control.
In the Swift, you get equipment like LED projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, reverse parking camera, Smartplay touchscreen infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto compatibility, auto headlamps with follow me home feature, leather-wrapped steering wheel, reverse parking sensors, two tweeters, front fog lamps, smart key with push-button start, automatic climate control, electrically retractable outside rearview mirrors, rear defogger, rear wiper and washer, adjustable rear seat headrests, 60:40 split rear seat and boot lamp.
Performance & Handling
The Freestyle is powered by a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 94bhp and 120Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. It can also be had with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 99bhp and 215Nm of torque. The petrol engine does produce a typical thrum at idle but has a lively character to it. Torque is quite accessible in the low end, making it easy to drive in the city. The clutch is light too. The car cruises comfortably at three-digit speeds, and can overtake well too, but the engine gets vocal when strained. It even rides over the rough stuff without any fuss and maintains its composure. Body roll is well controlled around corners.
The Swift is powered by a 1.2-liter, naturally-aspirated engine that makes 83bhp and 113Nm of torque, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Performance has improved, thanks to the lighter chassis. The engine is responsive and power delivery is linear, and there is no vibration from the engine. The engine loves to rev and sounds quite sporty; the gearbox is quick to use. The light steering doesn't inspire confidence, but the chassis balance is perfect. The ride is flat and consistent.
Opinion
The Freestyle combines rugged looks and a hassle-free ownership experience and comes loaded with features, but the Swift, is a big step forward, and it is hard to ignore its stylish looks, spacious cabin and improved driving dynamics. For the money, we think the Swift is all the car you can ever ask for, making it the winner here.
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