Car Comparison : Maruti Dzire vs Hyundai Aura

Hyundai had launched its Aura at the starting of this year and it was a welcome return to the compact sedan segment- a space it has that it had vacated some time back. The intention was clear as it had fought the Maruti Dzire and had a market share in this segment.

You all know the Maruti Dzire and the kind of effect it has had on this space. It is one of the highest selling cars in India and outsells its rivals three or four times. Thus it would not be easy for Hyundai to even try to fight this battle but it has come well armed as our exclusive battle between the two cars showed. Read on.

Design

 

Both are compact sedans and by that we mean both are under 4metres in length. This poses a challenge as to how can you make a sedan fit under this? However, both these two cars look proper sedans and not awkward.

The Dzire has been around for a while but has aged very well with the smooth sedan shape along with the big grille. It still looks good even after some time from its launch.

The Aura however is clearly the show-stopper with the even bigger grille and the sharper headlamps. The shape of the alloys to the large plus quite attractive tail-lamps along with the blackened C-pillar gets your attention. It clearly wins the design contest however in terms of dimensions, while both are of the same length, the Dzire is wider and the Aura slightly is taller.

 

Interior

Both maybe compact sedans but the design and feature list nearly matches the much bigger sedans. Both do a good job of looking premium with very good quality. The Dzire has a more traditional looking cabin with the wood finish and the beige colour plus the flat-bottom steering looks good.

The Hyundai is far sportier and does not use traditional beige while there is a more futuristic look with the centre console plus instrument cluster being joined and yes, those unique air vents along with the colour accents given on the dash looks great too!

In terms of space however the Dzire wins and that is mainly due to the width plus the rear seat having more headroom/legroom. The Dzire cabin feels airier too. The Aura though not bad feels a bit small inside compared to the Dzire. However in terms of boot space, the Aura has more over the Dzire (402 vs 378l).

 

Features

 

Make no mistake both these two cars offer you pretty much everything with a touch-screen, rear camera plus sensors, climate control, push button start, steering controls, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, electronically foldable ORVM etc plus all the usual safety features like 2 airbags/ ABS with EBD.

There are some minor differences where the Hyundai edges ahead. It has a bigger touch-screen and is better to use while even the screen quality is brilliant. It also has a wireless charger while it even has projector fog-lamps.

 

Engines

In terms of sheer engine choices it is advantage Hyundai with more options. You have a 1.2l petrol plus also a 1.0 turbo unit while there is also a 1.2l diesel. All are BS6 of course. The Dzire has just one option and that is the BS6 1.2l petrol with the diesel 1.3l expected to be stopped soon. Both have a manual as standard while an AMT is being offered too.

In terms of the 1.2l petrol the Dzire has the better engine though the power figures are the same. The Dzire motor is more rev happy and is fun plus has better efficiency too. However the Aura has a better and smoother AMT than the Dzire while the Dzire has a better manual gearbox.

But do not forget that the Aura has the super 1.0 turbo petrol from the Venue and that really gives it a lot of performance and makes it the more fun choice. The fact that you can also get a BS6 diesel is also an advantage.

We will add that the Dzire rides a bit more smoothly while the Aura is slightly more firm but the Aura has more agility plus feels lighter. 

 

Verdict

The Dzire starts from Rs 5.8 lakh to Rs 8.7 lakh for the top-end AMT petrol. The diesel version is expected to be stopped soon as Maruti will only make petrol’s post April 1st. The Aura meanwhile starts at Rs 5.8 lakh for the base petrol to Rs 9.2 lakh for the diesel top-end AMT.

It is clear that if you want space/comfort/efficiency plus the sales/service reach that a Maruti has, then the Dzire is for you. However the Aura looks and feels more premium plus has more features and more choice in terms of engine options. It is clear that Hyundai finally has a credible compact sedan and it is our choice.