Photographs by Abhijeet Anand

The Ritz and the Swift are the highest-specced petrols that Maruti offers. With integrated audio systems, two airbags, ABS, alloy wheels and power windows they have everything you would want in a small car. What truly separates them are their respective personalities. The Ritz is designed for those who want practicality and comfort, the Swift, for the younger and sportier at heart. The aim of this test is simple — clear up all confusion.

STYLE FILE

RITZ: Form follows function in the Ritz. The Ritz is taller by 90mm and has a shorter wheelbase than the Swift, but it utilises the limited space more efficiently. It’s a contemporary city car with a steeply raked windscreen, sloping roof, prominent wheel arches and boomerang tail-lights. The front-end styling is generic, with only the Audi-like split grille standing out. The design is more monospace.

SWIFT: Function follows form in Swift. The Swift is marked out by its width — at 1690mm, it’s wider than the Ritz. Its blend of muscular and cute looks makes it a lot more appealing than the Ritz. Its classic good looks resemble that of the iconic Mini, especially around the intersection of the Swift’s A-pillar and roofline and the wraparound glass. The Swift’s design is distinctly two-box.

Common grounds: These two cars share the same platform; similar underpinnings, monocoque construction, space-saving and cost-effective suspensions (the only difference being in their suspension settings) and identical brakes. The front and rear tracks are also identical and the similarities carry over to the wheels and tyres as well.

INSIDE STORY

RITZ: The newer Maruti looks classy on the inside with high-set seats. The generous glass area makes for a bright and cheerful cabin. The controls are well-laid out, gear lever is easily reachable and forward visibility is good. It has a practical cabin with numerous storage spaces like the deep slot above glovebox. The Ritz easily sits two adults in the rear. But the boot is too small.

SWIFT: The Swift has ample head and shoulder-room up front. There’s less space for rear passengers, but driving position is one of the best in this segment with snug and sporty seats. Forward visibility isn’t great with thick A-pillars. C-pillars hinder rear view. Boot space is better than the Ritz, but the rear seats don’t split.

UNDER THE HOOD

RITZ: The Ritz has a K12M engine, unique for India. Indian engines get a reduction in bore and stroke to bring it to a tax-benefit-friendly 1197cc. It comes with an all-aluminium, twin-cam motor, breathing through 16 valves. The Ritz’s engine noses ahead of the Swift. Quiet at idle and smooth when revving, the responsive motor feels as quick as the Swift in part-throttle and cruises well. The engine is drowned out by the wind and excessive tyre noise.

SWIFT: The Swift comes with the ageing G-series motor — the old Esteem motor with a few tweaks. It’s buzzy and not entirely smooth and feels older than the Ritz’s. But don’t doubt the muscle it commands when revved hard. Though it has got more horsepower than the Ritz and matches the newer car’s torque, the Swift feels like it has got much more than that. At the 100kph mark, it’s two seconds ahead of Ritz.

Common grounds: Both cars send power to the wheels via five-speed gearboxes, but the Ritz’s gearbox requires slightly less effort.

DRIVER’S DEAL

RITZ: The Ritz has a direct steering and good grip. However, the tall body leans over quite a bit and the softer rear suspension set-up means it’s not as surefooted as its older brother. The rear tends to pitch on undulating surfaces and the tall profile means crosswinds affect it on highways. On slippery surfaces, the poorly calibrated ABS cuts in too early, barely slowing the car down. But at slower speeds the Ritz catches up on handling and betters the Swift’s ride. More manoeuvrable in the city, it feels nimble and has a comfy gait, absorbing most bumps well. Good visibility makes it easier to place and pull out of tight spots.

SWIFT: The Swift’s handling is tight. The steering has some slack in the straight-ahead zone but it’s eager to dive into corners. The stiff suspension means it’s quite composed and the neutral handling makes it a hoot to drive. But at low speeds, the Swift’s stiff suspension makes for a choppy ride, especially at the rear.

Common grounds: There’s not much difference between the two in terms of fuel efficiency. The Ritz, with a smaller engine and shorter gearing gave 11.8kpl in the city versus the Swift’s 11.5kpl. On the highway, despite the Ritz’s more modern engine, the gap was small.

FINAL VERDICT

RITZ: If, for a moment, you can ignore the small boot, you’ll find a car with generous passenger space, a smooth engine and a pliant ride. Yes, the Ritz’s high-speed stability is not the best but unless you do a lot of highway driving, this won’t be too bothersome. Well-equipped, brilliantly priced, better built and with a new-generation engine, it makes for the sensible choice.

SWIFT: The Swift, with its strong performance, fun handling and cheeky looks is the one to buy if you love driving. It’s priced reasonably, has good equipment and the best front seats in this class. But its firmer ride and black interiors won’t appeal to someone looking for practicality over cornering speeds.

SPec check

Maruti Swift ZXi

Price: (on-road, Mumbai) Rs 5.97 lakh
Top speed: 174kph
Engine: Petrol/ 4 cyls in-line, 1298cc/ front, transverse/ multi-point fuel injection
Maximum power: 87.5bhp at 6000rpm
Maximum torque: 11.52kgm at 4500rpm
Transmission: Front-wheel drive
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Tyres: 185/70 R14, tubeless
Suspension: (F/R): Independent, MacPherson struts/ non-independent, torsion beam, coil spring
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs/ drums

Maruti Ritz ZXi

Price: Rs 5.58 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)
Top speed: 160kph
Engine: Petrol/ 4-cyls in-line, 1197cc/ front, transverse/ multi-point fuel injection
Maximum power: 84bhp at 6000rpm
Maximum torque: 11.5kgm at 4500rpm
Transmission: Front-wheel drive
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Tyres: 185/70 R14, tubeless
Suspension (F/R): Independent, MacPherson struts/ non-independent, torsion beam, coil spring
Brakes (F/R): Ventilated discs/ drums