The hatchback segment in the Indian automobile market is the most popular among car buyers owing to the affordable pricing and compact size of the hatches. Recently on April 6, we witnessed the launch of Tata Tiago, which has led to a lot of speculation.

This fresh arrival is either going to affect or to be affected by the performance of Ford Figo that came up with its latest version in September 2015 and the Hyundai Grand i10, which is counted among the top 10 best selling cars in its segment.

Hence, we would like to compare all the three of them so as to analyse, which one among the lot is the superior one. Let’s take a look at the Tata Tiago vs Ford Figo vs Hyundai Grand i10 comparison below:

Style and Design

Tata Tiago is an all new car based on the XO platform and is believed to change the fate of Tata Motors in the next coming months. It also gets sharp creases running along the sides that finish into the wrap-around tail lamps. There is an extensive use of Black shade in the form of B pillars, lower bumper and even the spats on the integrated spoiler are painted in black. Interior flaunts a black and grey theme, which looks soothing and the centre console gets a piano black finish. Storage spaces and comfort are also well addressed.

Ford Figo has shed the old ‘boring’ look and with its latest version, every inch of its body is just wow. The first thing that we notice is its Aston Martin inspired grille, then the swept-back headlamps, fog lamps and air dam complete the whole package. The rear portion gets a spoiler and the tail lamps are integrated with fog lights. The cabin gets an all black interior and to avoid any monotony the centre console is finished in silver along with chrome accents at certain portions. The space is decent, but the seats could have been made more comfortable.

Hyundai Grand i10 is based on the brand’s signature fluidic design language and is targeted to attract the youth. It has well sculptured body-lines that render a strong character and there are sharp creases that run across the length of the car. Further, black mouldings on the sides, hexagonal grille, swept back headlamps and wrap around tail lamps are some attractive elements. Inside, there is a dual tone ambiance covered in Beige & Black and the seats are very well-cushioned. There are a lot of features for ensuring occupants’ comfort as well as sufficient amount of legroom and knee room.

Handling and Performance

Tata Tiago is fitted with an 1199 cc and a 1047 cc unit for the petrol and diesel variants respectively. Transmission duties are performed by a 5-speed manual gearbox while a manual tranny is given a miss. The steering wheel is fairly light and the petrol model gets a nice suspension setup. The diesel one is heavier in weight as a result of which stiffer springs and dampers have been used. Even at high speed the ride doesn’t feel bouncy like that of Grand i10.

Ford Figo is offered with both diesel and petrol powertrain fitted with a 1498 cc and an 1499 cc unit respectively. These motors are combined with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed DCT facility. In terms of suspension, the hatch gets disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. The steering feels too light and not as much good as the one found in the earlier version of Figo. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, the ride is smooth, but at high speed it does not impress much.

Hyundai Grand i10 is available with an 1197 cc petrol and an 1186 cc diesel motor under its hood and the transmission facility includes a choice between 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Further, the front axle is coupled with McPherson strut, while the rear gets torsion beam for suspension. The occupants will get a nice riding comfort, but handling is neither bad nor impressive. Some may not find the handling part very pleasing as compared to other cars like Figo and Swift.

Engine and Power Specifications

Tiago has been rolled out with a 1.05 litre Revotorq motor for the diesel category (derived from Indica) and a 1.2 litre Revotron (all new) unit packed with the petrol one. The former is capable of generating 69Bhp at 4000rpm and 140Nm between 1800-3000rpm. The ARAI rated fuel efficiency is measured at 27.28 km/l. Moving on to the latter, it has the calibre to pump out 84Bhp at 6000rpm along with a peak torque of 114Nm at 3500 rpm. The mileage claimed by this setup is said to be around 23.84 km/l.

Moving to Figo, it is available with the choice of two petrol options and one diesel motor. In the former category, there is a 1.2 litre unit with 86.8Bhp/112Nm of maximum output. Whereas the latter gets powered by a 1.5 litre Ti-VCT engine that makes 99Bhp at 3750rpm and 215Nm at 1750-2250rpm. Customers have an option to choose even within the petrol models and then also between a 5-speed manual and 6-speed DCT, depending upon their needs.

Also Check – Is Tata Tiago Worth to Buy? – A Quick Review

The Grand i10 is packed under the hood with a tried and tested 1.2 litre Kappa Dual VTVT petrol motor along with the all new 1.1 litre unit for the diesel models. The former makes 82Bhp at 6000rpm and 114Nm at 4000rpm, while latter makes 70Bhp at 4000rpm and 160Nm at 1500-2750 rpm. The ARAI rated fuel efficiency is claimed to be around 24 km/l for the diesel one.

Features

The top most variant of Tata Tiago is adorned with a wide variety of comfort features including power steering, remote fuel lid opener, navigation, low fuel warning light, integrated 2DIN audio system accompanied by Bluetooth and USB connectivity, multi-function steering wheel, glove box cooling, etc. For safety, it has rear parking sensors, ABS, EBD, central locking, seatbelt warning, dual front airbags, door ajar warning, power door locks, child safety locks, day/night rear view mirror, side & front impact beams and much more.

If we talk about the Figo’s top end variant, it is equipped with power steering, accessory power outlet, fabric upholstery, integrated 2DIN audio, voice control, air quality control and automatic climate control. However features like remote fuel lid opener and navigation are not found inside. In terms of safety components it is superior than Tiago as it carries components like dual front airbags, side airbags (front & rear), anti-theft alarm, smart car access entry, height adjustable driver’s seatbelt, etc. However, rear parking sensors are not present with Figo unlike Tiago.

Hyundai Grand i10 top ranging model doesn’t get remote fuel lid opener, navigation, voice control and automatic climate control. But it is fitted with rear AC vents and engine start/stop button (not present in the above two) alongside multifunction power steering, glove box cooling, fabric upholstery, 2DIN audio with Bluetooth & USB, and low fuel warning light. It is devoid of side airbags, anti-theft alarm, height adjustable driver’s seatbelt. However, it still carries other prominent features like rear parking sensors, central locking, dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, door ajar warning, rear seatbelt, seatbelt warning and engine immobilizer.

Pricing and Color

Tata Tiago has been rolled out with 8 diesel and 8 petrol variants across the range, whereby the base variant is priced at INR 3.3 Lacs (ex-showroom) and the top end model carries the tag of INR 5.7 Lacs (ex-showroom). It is available in 6 different shades mentioned below:

• Platinum Silver

• Pearlescent White

• Striker Blue

• Espresso Brown

• Berry Red

• Sunburst Orange

Ford Figo is offered with 5 diesel and 6 petrol trims across the lineup with the base price tagged at INR 4.6 Lacs (ex-showroom) that goes up to INR 7.8 Lacs (ex-showroom) for the top end trim. Its color options are as follows:

• Sparkling Gold

• Smoke Grey

• Deep Impact Blue

• Oxford White

• Ingot Silver

• Ruby Red

• Tuxedo Black

The Grand i10 lineup contains 10 variants spread across 4 diesel and 6 petrol trims. The price starts at INR 4.9 Lacs (ex-showroom) and reaches to INR 7.1 Lacs (ex-showroom) for the top end trim. Buyers have to choose among following colors:

• Golden Orange

• Pure White

• Wine Red

• Twilight Blue

• Sleek Silver Stardust

Verdict

Since Tiago is a fresh arrival, buyers could go for it as they will be able to enjoy something new. The price range is quite affordable and its strongest aspect is the ride and handling. The number of features for comfort and safety are perfectly placed in accordance with the price range and even if you go for the top ranging model, the amount isn’t too much when you consider the features that you will be getting. However, the absence of an automatic transmission facility can be counted as a disadvantage for the hatch.

Figo has been offered with a wide range of powertrain options and there is an automatic transmission facility as well. Moreover, the variety of comfort and safety features equipped in the top end variant is also quite nice and satisfying. But a major drawback with Figo is that the price range is way too much when we compare it to Tiago and Grand i10. This means that in order to get the best features across the range, one will have to pay INR 7.8 Lacs (ex-showroom), which doesn’t seem to be a feasible option. Also, the ride and handling are not up to the mark unlike the Tiago.

Grand i10 is one of the best selling hatchbacks and obviously it has a decent fan following. The range of engine options is fair enough and the pricing also seems to be reasonable for the number of features it is offering. Talking about the negative points, it has dual front airbags only with the top variants and the handling isn’t much impressive, particularly at high speeds.

After undertaking a comparative analysis of all the three hatchbacks, it is quite clear that Figo is not an ideal choice for those who are looking for a reasonably priced model. On the other hand, Grand i10 is already a best seller and hence we can’t find much flaws in it. Having said that, we can’t simply ignore that Tiago seems to be a potential threat for the other two models and it can certainly do wonders in the upcoming days.