Spec Comparison: 2018 Tata Tigor vs Maruti Suzuki Dzire

While all the car makers used their B-segment budget hatchbacks to build compact sedans, Tata, the pioneers of the sub-four metre compact sedan segment decided to take another route for the Tigor. They based it on the A segment hatchback, the Tiago and then matched the competition in terms of space and size and played the price game. With the facelift, the Tigor gets more firepower to take on the market leader of the segment, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and we try and find out how it fares.

Looks and Styling

The Tigor continues with Tata’s signature smiley fascia with the honeycomb grille which has gone a little wider. The air dam is now split with a chrome strip which is flanked by chrome-surrounded fog lamps. Because it is a facelift, the shape is the same. But it does get a new set of alloys and the unique clear-lens tail lamps. 

The Dzire also gets a large front grille and swept back headlamps. On the top-spec manual trims that we are comparing, the Dzire offers LED headlamps and DRLs which help the Maruti stand out. Also, the Dzire is a bit wider than the Tigor and hence, should offer more cabin space. The Dzire does look bigger than the Tigor and in the segment where size does matter, the Dzire inches ahead.

Interior and features

The Tata Tigor has successfully demonstrated the quality and the build of the new-gen Tata cars with none of the cars visibly falling apart over the last three-four years, unlike the old Tatas. The interior continues to be simple and clean with the touchscreen audio system, the climate control, auto-folding mirrors et al. Also, the ride quality of the Tata Tigor is quite exceptional, especially on the broken Indian roads.

The Dzire, on the other hand, scores in touch and feel with the wooden insert on the dash offering a more premium cabin. It also gets rear AC vents which have become more or less a segment standard especially with the mercury soaring higher every year. Apart from that, both the cars are evenly matched in terms of features. The Dzire feels superior in terms of ride and handling by virtue of its bigger platform.

Engine and gearbox

The 1.2-litre Revotron mill of the Tata Tigor develops 84bhp of power and 114Nm of torque. The 1.05-litre diesel develops 69bhp of power and 140Nm of torque. Both the engines are mated to five-speed manual gearboxes and offer 23.84kmpl and 27.28kmpl respectively in terms of fuel economy. While the petrol is at par with the completion, the three-cylinder diesel might seem a tad underpowered in the Tigor.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine powering the Dzire develops 82bhp of power and 113Nm of torque while the 1.3-litre diesel develops 74bhp of power and 190Nm of torque. Both the engines get a five-speed manual and deliver 22kmpl and 28.4kmpl in terms of fuel economy. The Dzire, due to its Heartect platform, is lighter and hence feels quite powerful.

Conclusion

The Tata Tigor and the Maruti Suzuki Dzire are rather evenly matched overall in terms of features but the Dzire is clearly ahead when it comes to performance as well as cabin space and ride quality. But, just like we said before, the Tata Tigor plays the price game very strongly, being almost Rs 1.5 lakh cheaper than the Dzire for the top-spec petrol and diesel manual transmission cars which makes for a good choice if you are on a tight budget.