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Three is not company Tata Indigo, Mahindra Logan and Maruti Swift Dzire

Starting with the Maruti, the transition from Swift to Dzire was done completely in-house by Maruti. The Dzire looks tail-heavy and awkward, and this is despite a longer, new rear door. There is a new grille and bumper at the front and the car gets six-spoke alloys.

The Indigo has quite a few visual cues to distinguish it from the Indica. The grille, bumpers and headlights are different and they do look quite attractive. Again, the boot looks pasted on and it lacks the Indica’s clean, balanced look.

In sharp contrast to the curves of the Maruti and Tata is the Logan’s square rear end. This square shape hides the biggest boot of the trio. At 510 litres, it is considerably bigger than the Indigo’s 450 litres and the Dzire’s 440-litre boot. The Logan is the longest and widest car here.

The Dzire comes with an integrated audio system with steering-mounted controls and a climate control system. It boasts of the best dashboard plastics and switchgear in this group. The front seats are the most comfortable when compared to the other two. With the adjustable seat and steering wheel, it is easy to find a comfortable driving position. However, the rear seat is the least comfortable for seating three abreast.

The Logan has the most rear seat space. It can seat three in supreme comfort and there’s plenty of legroom. However, the uncontoured rear seats feel a tad flat and unsupportive. This is true of the front seats as well. From the driver’s seat, the Logan feels a bit downmarket. The dashboard design is bare-basic but all the plastics have a long-lasting feel to them.

The Tata lacks good ergonomics. The seats are high and easy to access, but the sitting position in relation to the pedals and the steering wheel is awkward. Dashboard quality has improved marginally over the years, but still lags behind the others. The front seats are well bolstered and the leather-wrapped steering wheel feels nice to hold. The rear seats come close to being the best in this group and are the only ones here that split and fold for extra boot space.

The Fiat multi-jet engine in the Dzire has the smallest displacement, but it makes the most power at 75bhp. This engine-gearbox combo is also the most refined here. The Dzire takes 14.3 seconds to get to 100kph. There is a bit of throttle lag but past 2000rpm, there’s a strong tug as the turbocharger spools up.

The Logan may be 10bhp down on the Dzire, but its power delivery is far more linear. It takes a comparatively long 17.1 seconds to get to 100kph, but the engine’s linear power delivery helps disguise this deficit to some extent, especially in city traffic.

The Indigo’s DiCOR engine puts out 70bhp. Thanks to its shorter first, second and third gears, it is a respectable half a second behind the Dzire at the 100kph mark. But it is the least refined here. Even at cruising speeds, where most diesels drop a few decibels, the DiCOR motor still drones on.

The Maruti’s brakes have ABS with electronic brake force distribution bringing it to a halt from 80kph in 27.6 metres, the best here, and the brake pedal has the best feel too. The Logan’s brakes have decent feel, stopping power is good and they generally will not give you any stress. The Indigo brakes get the job done, but that is about it.

The softer rear suspension of the Dzire is an indication that Maruti is targeting chauffeur-driven owners. However, the Dzire does not feel as sharp as the Swift hatchback, the soft rear suspension makes it feel a little loose, especially when changing direction. Thankfully, brilliant steering, progressive brakes and good weight distribution mean that you can still have some fun behind the wheel.

The Logan has the c best ride here. The low-speed ride is absorbent but sharp bumps filter through. But as speeds increase, the suspension simply dispatches bumps with muted thuds and you will rarely slow down for bad patches of road. Straight-line stability is the best in this group and the steering is linear as well. The handling is not as sharp as the Dzire’s. The slow steering feels like a lot of hard work on a twisting road.

The Indigo is outclassed in this company. There is a fair amount of body roll and grip from the tyres is not great either. Add to this the vague steering and you get a car that prefers sedate motoring and not corner-carving. The ride is firm at lower speeds and the suspension is clunky so bumps feel worse than they actually are.

All the cars here are fuel-efficient, though in varying degrees. The Logan is the most economical giving 13.6kpl in the city and 19.3kpl on the highway. The Dzire is a close second, giving 13.5kpl in the city and 18.9kpl on the highway. The Indigo comes in last with 12.7kpl in the city and 16.7kpl on the highway, but this is not bad either.

The price-to-size ratio is the Indigo’s selling point. It is the maximum car you can get for your money. But it is unrefined. The Logan is the car you need – spacious, frugal and refined. But it lacks style. The Swift Dzire, though short on rear seat space, is the most attractive package on offer here. Well-equipped, refined, and frugal, it is the pick of this lot.

Price – Rs 6.91 lakh

0-60kph: 5.60sec

0-100kph: 14.32sec

Top speed: 156kph

Kpl(overall): 16.2kpl

For: Equipment, interior quality

Against: Cramped rear seat

Price: Rs 6.87 lakh

0-60kph: 6.07sec

0-100kph: 17.15sec

Top speed: 144kph

Kpl(overall): 16.45kpl

For: Space, ride quality

Against: Looks, basic interiors

Price: – Rs 6.04 lakh

0-60kph: 6.03sec

0-100kph: 14.90sec

Top speed: 158kph

Kpl(overall): 14.7kpl

For: Price, space

Against: Refinement, fit and finish

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