Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Volkswagen Polo

In spite of being in the market for a while, the Swift VDI has been a best seller in the hatchback segment. It has gained the trust of the majority of consumers.

However, the Polo with a TDI engine is a potent competitor. So should one still buy the Swift? Or should one move on to the Volkswagen instead? We fi nd out.

Swift handles very well and feels good under cornering. Steering though fails to compliment the sporty drive.

The Swift, to begin with, is now looking dated. Sure, the short overhangs and stout bum were a rage when launched. But next to the Polo's elegant lines the Swift shows its age.

However it will be wrong to say that the Swift is bad to look at. Adding some nice alloys and fatter tyres will certainly help ring back some appeal. The Polo on the other hand looks younger and sports a modern design. The arge air dam in front gives it a sporty hue and so does the new generation Volkswagen face.

In profile too the Polo looks smarter, especially the flared wheel arches and its pronounced lines. At the back clean lines and the large VW badge compliment each other well. Not to forget the tail lamps, which look brilliant when lit.

Close the door of the Polo and you will love the solid feel, which continues inside as well. The dash looks classy and the beige and black two-tone treatment brightens up the interiors. The steering is nice to hold and has a soft touch feel to it as well. There's plenty of stowage area in front as well with deep cupholders and door pockets. However there's a complete absence of stowage for rear occupants. The seats though are large and comfortable to sit in.

Bright interiors looks good.

The Polo sports a better handling package and that transfers into a positive feel under cornering. It offers a better ride quality as well

The Swift meanwhile feels not so well built. It does not sport the immaculate shut lines the Polo has and also lacks the former's snug feel. Moreover the all black interiors make it slightly claustrophobic. To its credit the Swift offers better kneeroom and shoulder room while the Polo fi ghts back with better headroom.

On the move the Polo takes the edge over the Swift. It is a lot more composed on the road and very little of undulations from the road is transferred into the cabin. Even high speed lane changes are dealt with in a composed manner. Adding to this package is the electro-mechanical power steering on the Polo. It offers good feedback and at the same time is light which makes it easy to manoeuvre in crowded city conditions.

The Swift too handles well, but feels twitchy in comparison. Nonetheless it remains a fun to drive car. But the ride quality isn't as good as the Polo's. It tends to crash into large potholes and is also bouncy at higher speeds. However as the speed comes down, the comfort levels within the cabin increase. The steering of the Swift is quick, but lacks feel. It also feels artifi cially weighed round dead centre at slow speeds even though it does lighten up thereafter. But as speeds increase, it gets vague.

Maruti Suzuki Swift Swift's is a 4-cylinder.

Both the Polo and Swift have engines closely matched on paper. While the power ratings of both remain similar, despite of he Polo being a 3-cylinder 1.2-litre motor, the Swift offers 10Nm more torque from it's 1.3-litre 4-cylinder engine.

Start up the Polo and it emits a rather agricultural note, before it settles down with minimal vibrations, despite being a 3-cylinder engine. The Swift on the other hand feels more refi ned and rev happy than the Polo's. Depth max 530mm Height max 555mm Width 1200mm Depth min 680mm Depth max 1280mm Height max 560mm Width 970mm Both engines have a prominent diesel clatter though.

Slot the gearbox of the Polo into fi rst and you are bound to notice a squishy feel to it. The Swift meanwhile possesses a reasonably short throw 'box but feels notchy. However the quality of shift is better in the Swift.

Volkswagen Polo While the Polo gets a 3-cylinder engine.

On the move, the Polo demonstrates a prominent lag till you hit the 2000rpm mark. However in everyday city driving, one would not feel a difference until a certain urgency arises to overtake wherein a downshift is required and that's particularly because the Polo's engine offers very good mid-range performance. What the Polo can comfortably do however is cruise all day long at a relatively high top speed.

The Swift also demonstrates a lag just like the Polo. But once the turbo gets into action, the result feels a lot more violent. Unsurprisingly, the Swift will do a sprint to 100kmph faster than the Polo.

Maruti Suzuki Swift- The Swift offers a lot more resale value and is cheaper to buy and also has ABS to offer.

Volkswagen Polo- Better dynamics along with a more comfortable ride and better quality has resulted in the Polo winning here.

Scorecard

Body: Both cars are equally matched on space. While the Polo boasts of a better headroom at the back, the Swift offers better kneeroom and shoulder room. Both have more or less similar sized boots, but the Polo offers a wider opening, leading to better useability. Quality inside the cabin too is better in the Polo but the Swift scores more for safety, thanks to ABS.

Drive: The Swift gets a larger engine, but both offer equal power. However the Swift scores on acceleration where it is faster than the Polo. The engine too sounds a little more refined than the Polo's. Gearboxes in both cars are on par. While the Swift has a notch, the Polo's 'box feels a bit squishy. But when it comes to fuel economy, the Polo fights back with higher figures.

Comfort: When it comes to ride quality, the Polo is a clear winner. It is more composed than the Swift. However both cars feature similar handling characteristics and are both fun to drive. As far as comfort equipment comes, the Polo once again offers a few more gadgets, including outside temperature gauge and a service interval reminder.

Dynamics: Polo's steering feels better than the Swift's. It is light and offers good feedback at the same time. The steering of the Swift on the other hand is quick, but lacks feel. But the Swift offers ABS in the Vdi variant and that is a fine safety feature to have. As a result it feels more confi dent whilst braking and there is no fear of wheel lockup.

Cost: The Swift to start with is cheaper than the Polo Comfortline and that helps it gain hefty points here. Adding to its laurels is the better resale value that most Maruti Suzukis command in India. But where it loses out is warranty where the Volkswagen gains signifi cantly more points.

Verdict

The Polo just about pips the Swift, thanks to its better ride quality, better fuel efficiency and build quality. The Swift does offer ABS, which is a must have in today's time, but at the end of the day, the Volkswagen is the newer car in the market, looks modern and also sports a premium badge.