Maruti Ignis vs Grand i10 vs KUV 100 diesel comparison

Inside lines

Open these cars’ doors and you’ll find a) the Ignis is unique on the inside too b) the KUV’s cabin is unexpectedly restrained in styling and c) there’s more of the neat and clean look in the Grand i10. The Ignis’ cabin is chic and, again, looks unlike any other Maruti’s. The upright dash with its high-set ‘floating’ touchscreen, the use of toggle switches for the distinctive climate control pod and the body-coloured panels on the base of the centre console and door handles, all come together really well. But even if it may not look it, this still feels like a Maruti cabin. Quality levels are good but not great, and existing Maruti owners are sure to notice familiar bits like the power window switches that have their roots in the first-gen Swift. Just wish the Ignis also borrowed the Baleno’s colour multi-info display in the instrument’s binnacle; the old-school dot-matrix display looks out of place in the otherwise modern-looking cabin. The front seats could have been a tad firmer too, but they are well contoured and hold occupants well.

While on the topic of front seats, there’s a lot to talk about the KUV. You see, Mahindra sells the KUV in five- and six-seat versions – the former features two individual chairs up front, while the latter uses a front bench seat arrangement. Sure, it’s possible to sit three abreast on the bench seat, but middle passengers get limited legroom and there’s the bigger concern about safety; would you want to be seated so close to the gear lever? Were it up to us, we’d opt for the conventional five-seat layout whose shapelier front seats offer superior comfort too. Whatever be the seating configuration, you sit high up and get a good view out, though some might find the ‘bowed’ dashboard that rises at the centre hampers visibility to some extent. The dash is smart in design and thankfully free from the overdone stylistic flourishes of the exteriors. What is unique is the positioning of the gear lever and handbrake on the centre console itself; done so to make space for the front middle seat. While the gear lever falls easily to hand and is really nice to use, the pull-type handbrake is cumbersome to operate and simply feels outdated. Also, not doing the KUV any favours is the small monochrome infotainment display. Quality levels are a mixed bag too. The textured finish on the dash top feels rich but the plastics lower down aren’t quite as nice.

If there’s one area where the Grand i10 is clearly superior to the other two, it has to be in cabin quality. The Hyundai is easily the best put together and quality levels are at par with cars from a class or two above; feel-good bits, like the leather-wrapped steering, just enhance the ambience. As before, the Grand i10’s dash is smart and well laid-out, while the new 7.0-inch touchscreen and auto climate control introduced with this facelift have done their bit to bring the cabin up to speed. However, the front seats aren’t as generous in size as the other cars’ and the fixed front headrests should have been more accommodating for taller occupants.  
Shifting focus to the rear section of the cabins, all three cars offer surprisingly good legroom for their small footprints, and each gives rear occupants plenty of headroom too. Still, it’s only the KUV that’s really wide enough to seat three adults in reasonable comfort. Further aiding middle passenger comfort is the Mahindra’s flat (but comfortable) rear seat and flat floor. The KUV is also the only car here with a rear centre armrest and the safety of adjustable headrests for each of the three rear seats. Unfortunately, while you do sit high up, outside visibility is hampered by the plastic panel beside the rear windows that’s there to hide the mechanism for the Chevy Beat-like high-set external door release.

Tall passengers might have their own visibility-related issues from the Ignis’ rear seat as well. Those taller than 6ft will find that the top of the rear windows is below eye level, effectively forcing them to sit slightly crouched down to get a good view out. And that the rear seat backrest being quite upright doesn’t help matters.

Rear passengers sit relatively low in the Grand i10 but the large windows offer good visibility. Other things to like include the nicely reclined backrest, the inclusion of a dedicated rear air con vent and the more than sufficient legroom which is second only to the KUV’s. Sadly, though, the seat base isn’t as supportive as it should be. 

All cars offer plenty of in-cabin storage but it’s the KUV that goes one up on the others with a unique concealed recess that’s built into the rear floor. The six-seat KUV also features a hidden tray under the co-passenger’s seat. Amongst the KUVs, it’s the five-seater that offers more space for smaller items thanks to its large central shelf between the front seats. In terms of space for larger luggage, it’s the Ignis and Grand i10 that are closely matched for space and convenience. The KUV’s luggage bay is sizeable too but the loading lip is high and the sill is narrow. Folding rear seatbacks help increase luggage space in all three cars but only the Ignis’ seats split 60:40.