Fiat Linea vs Ford Fiesta vs Hyundai i20 vs Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire vs Skoda Fabia.

In one of our previous issues (Vol 2 Issue No 2) we sorted out the diesel hatchback riddle starring the spirited Hyundai i20 CRDi and the gorgeous Fiat Punto. The former won on account of more room, better fit and finish and better performance and fuel efficiency, eclipsing the Punto’s good ride and handling.

The Swift too had made a special appearance in the test, but if you had the money we suggested you spend it and get yourself the i20.

However, for a similar sum of money one could also buy any of three diesel powered sedans, namely the Fiat Linea,the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and the Ford Fiesta. The former two are of course, in the broad sense, the Punto and the Swift with a boot respectively.

There’s also another hatchback worth considering, the Skoda Fabia. It is after all the car that started this whole premium hatchback segment thing in the country.

So then, if you are an upper middle class office going person who needs a frugal car for the lengthy daily office commute as well as the long weekend drive, which of the five should you choose – the quick and spacious i20 or the frugal and well built Fabia, or maybe one of the booted sedans for their added luggage flexibility?

Read on to find out which of these is the best package

Rear occupants have it better though. The rear seats are almost like sofas and could have been the best here if the guys at Fiat would have got the seat back inclination and height right.

There’s more equipment than the Dzire to be had though. There's a comprehensive trip computer which both the Dzire and i20 lack, and it also upports Bluetooth connectivity for the cell phone. Moreover, this useful feature is exclusive to the Fiat.

Practical three-box option With Maruti's huge service network and superb pricing, it's quite tempting The Dzire is the hottest selling car here and one with the widest service network, but it also has the worst warranty package of the lot. And it doesn’t look too pleasing on the outside.Inside too, even though things are decently put together, the design now has started to show its age. The monotone dash does little to cheer up the insides and the equipment list compared to the competition isn’t exceptional either.

Get behind the wheel however, and the good driving position makes you feel at home right away. The steering and gear shifter fall easily to hand as do the various stalks and buttons one might need to use on the move. The front seats are comfy, but could do with better support, especially for the seat bottom.

The rear seats aren’t too accommodating though. The central armrest takes away from the seating comfort for the third passenger and the seat back inclination is a tad too much for comfort. The Dzire doesn’t have the most practical cabin either. Cubby holes are few, there are just two cup holders for the front occupants and thenarrow door pockets render them useless for anything but thin books.

It's also the rommiest and has a well finished and modern cabin and of course the best safety equipment. The comfort equipment is up there too, though having one touch up and down operation for the power windows, a function which is only available on the Fabia, would have been nice.

But, it loses out on some crucial parameters like comfort and ease of living. Its ride quality at anything over crawling pace is unpredictable and can get uncomfortable. It tends to crash into bumps and potholes and then begins to wallow over undulations. Moreover, it needs better seats. Upfront the seatback offers good support and holds you in place well. But the seat bottom is nearly flat and then folds under the driver’s weight while cornering. It’s a similar story with the rear seats, albeitminus the good seatback support.

Then of course there’s the steering. It’s not too heavy to use at city speeds, and when the going gets quick, it weighs up beautifully leaving youin charge throughout. It’s talkative nature both at slow speeds and highalso instills a lot of confi dence.

It could do with better seats. Upfront, though the back and side support is good, the seat bottom is a tad too flat for our liking. The rear is worse still; the bottom lacks support and so does the seat back. Only solace of sorts is the presence of a usable central armrest which also doubles up as a cupholder. Space again isn’t the Fiesta’s strong point, be it room for the occupants or their luggage in the boot. The latter might seem decent on paper with folding seats, but there are odd intrusions inside which rob it of usable room. At least its interiors are well built and finished.

The cabin is quite user friendly too. There’s a double glovebox for extra storage, bottle holders incorporated in the door pockets, and an easy to navigate comprehensive trip commuter. Italso has the best seats – front and back – with good back and side support. The driving position is good too with the steering and the gear shifter falling naturally to hand.

The engine though isn’t as endearing. It is efficient when driven sedately, but it’s loud and clattery and can get irritating after a while. Once you turn up the music and begin ignoring the engine, there’s good stuff – the ride and handling of the Fabia leaves little to complain about. It rides fi rm but it's always comfortable at slow speed or high. It also has a decently quick steering, which has good feel, and the car itself feels eager to be thrown around bends, adding to the fun factor.

Fiat Linea The engine sports VGT and makes 90bhp

Now being a Fiat, it too sports the same 1.3-litre engine as the Suzuki. But, it gets a variable geometry turbocharger against the fixed vane type on the latter. The result is an additional 15bhp and 10Nm of torque. So is it quicker off the line then? Not really. In fact, both cars post exactly the same 0-100kmph time. But, yes, it does post a higher top speed as well as better roll on times.

Ford FiestaThe engine is efficient.

It runs the acclaimed 1.3-litre Fiat diesel engine which is mated to the slick shifting box. We quite like both these ingredients of the drive train which also make the Dzire quite a fun to drive car. However, the car’s softrear suspension lets it down a bit. It spoils the handling, especially over bumpy corners and over undulations.

Hyundai i20 The best engine in this test – it's refined, packs in good performance and is also efficient

The best handling car It might not have the engine to match its handling, but it's the best compromise. The i20 might have the best engine in this comparison, but the Ford Fiesta is the most fun to drive. Yes, its engine isn’t great; it’s noisy and even after revving the daylights out of it, it will only get to 100kmph from a stand still in a little over 17 seconds, which, frankly, is pretty slow. It does have acceptable drive ability if that’s any consolation.

Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire The engine could do with some more grunt though

But get past the dull engine and there’s a lot to like. The gearbox for instance is a delight; it shifts with swiftness and accuracy and its short throw nature along with the lovely placement of the gear shifter makes the Fiesta one car you can’t help but enjoy around thet wisty stuff.

Skoda Fabia Engine is noisy but efficient

The best deal of the lot. It rides and handles well, is comfortable and plush, and easy to live with. The thing with the Fabia is, it’s not really exceptional in areas that are easily perceivable like its looks, which are well proportioned but don’t have the flair of the Linea, for instance. Inside too, the design is a tad too grown up and it lacks some features like climate control and a multifunctional steering.