Ford Figo has competition!

Ford has intensified the competition between small-car makers by pricing its Ford Figo at Rs 3.5 lakh. So, now Maruti Suzuki, General Motors, Volkswagen and Hyundai would be slugging it out for a piece of the lucrative market. And they would soon have Nissan and Toyota for company as the two carmakers plan to launch cars priced around Rs 4-lakh. Here is an overview of some of the options available in the small cars segment:

Ford Figo is headed to grab the small car segment that accounts for about 70 per cent of the total cars sold in India. Ford Figo petrol 1.2 liter is capable of 71ps and a torque of 102nm at 4000rpm. As for the diesel 1.4 liters, it produces 69PS and 160Nm torque at 2000rpm.

One of Figo’s close competitors is the Chevrolet Beat available only in petrol engine priced between Rs 3.42 lakh and 4.44 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Beat’s 1.2 liter engine produces 80.5PS and 108Nm torque. Chevrolet has worked hard on the car’s styling and thus it is finding more young takers. However, a missing diesel variant is a slight dampener.

Another car falling in the same category as the Ford Figo is Maruti Ritz. It is available in both petrol and diesel options and costs Rs 3.98-5.27 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The 1197cc petrol generates 85PS and 113Nm torque at 4500rpm. As for the 1248cc diesel, it generates 75PS with a torque of 190nm at 2000rpm. Ritz also boasts of unique styling.

Hyundai i10 with its Kappa 1.2 liter engine produces 80PS and 114Nm torque at 4000rpm and comes for Rs 4.04 – 5.54 lakh. The car looks average and is both subtle and sporty thus drawing buyers in all age groups.

Next in line is the Fiat Punto at Rs 4.26 lakh for the 1.2 litre but the car company needs to work on the image it has in the minds of Indian consumers. However, Maruti Suzuki has no such problems and its recently 1.2 litre K-Series engine for Maruti Swift is being received well.

The engine meets the Euro-IV emission norms. Same can be said for Indica V2’s successor. Priced between Rs 3.52 – 5.45 lakhs Vista is good value for money. The 1172cc petrol engine produces 65PS and 96Nm torque at 3000 rpm. Launched just ahead of the Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo leaves a strong first impression. Priced between Rs 4.34 lakhs and 6.70 lakhs this three cylinder 1.2 litre petrol develops 75ps and 110nm torque at 3750rpm. The 1.2 litre diesel has a higher torque of 180nm at 2000rpm.