Competition Check: Ciaz SHVS up against Rivals

Maruti is out with their latest product, Ciaz SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) and the proposition of this car is more mileage by the virtue of hybrid technology. The question is, do a car which already had a mileage of 26.21kmpl needed more? Heck Yeah! And with the launch of this mild hybrid, Maruti has raised the bar, be it by a mere 1.88 kmpl. And then it also becomes the first manufacturer to bring in a hybrid that people can buy without giving second thought to price and service, because it's a Maruti afterall. Let’s see how it compares with rest of its peers, the segment leader Honda City and the others like Hyundai Verna, VW Vento, Skoda Rapid, Ford’s Fiesta and Fiat Linea.

Interiors

It is the underpinnings that Maruti has changed with the all new Ciaz that too in the diesel car alone. The insides are same as before and with the longest wheelbase, it has the most spacious cabin with ample legroom, headroom for all five passengers. On the entertainment front, it gets the SmartPlay touchscreen infotainment system that is very responsive to use and feels upmarket. The top trim is available with leather upholstery, like many others in this segment. Other addition include the standardization of dual airbags, ABS and EBD above the V(O) trim.

Exteriors

There are practically no changes on the exteriors, except for the SHVS badging on the decklid. The car still carries the elegant stance and a long wide body makes it look very prominent on the road. On the downside, it not as sporty as the City or Verna.

Underpinning

The SHVS incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) motor that will work in conjunction with the 1.3 litre DDiS200 engine. The ISG will be doing three basic functions namely; charging the battery, assisting the engine while accelerating and working with the automatic start/stop function. The system also has regenerative braking function that will charge the battery under long distance braking conditions. As far as the competition is concerned, we know that nobody has a hybrid setup in the class so it is exclusively from Maruti as of now.

Watch out the launch video here

Also See: Maruti Suzuki launches Ciaz SHVS Hybrid; priced from Rs. 8.23 Lacs

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