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Make a swift choice

COUNT THE FEATURES Both cars have a striking resemblance to each other

Hatchbacks are growing up and are no longer viewed as cheap and basic transport. Big and stylish hatches are gaining popularity in India, a sure sign of a maturing market. You're spoilt for choice now, but two cars stand out from the pack -- Maruti Swift and Skoda Fabia.

Both cars have a striking resemblance to each other and what immediately comes across is the `cockpit-effect' glass house of both. Curved windscreens, blacked out A-pillars, tapering roofs and a high waist are common design elements on both. It's in the dimensions that the two differ. The Fabia is a good foot longer than the Swift and is taller too. The Swift however is wider, a fact made noticeable by its prominent haunches. But while the Swift manages to look sporty, and even a bit funky, the Fabia is more sober.

Interiors

The driver's seat is the best place to be in the Swift. The generous front seats are supremely comfortable even for six-footers and it's easy to find an ideal driving position. The pedals are well-placed, the chunky steering wheel is the perfect size and the gearshift too feels good to hold. You sit reasonably high up courtesy the height-adjustable seats but the thick A-pillar seriously obstructs your vision.

Even though the Ambiente trim of the Fabia 1.2 doesn't have the same richness of the top-of-the-range Elegance spec, everything looks and feels like you're inside an Octavia - not surprising since lots of the parts come from the same bin. The wide range of adjustments makes it easy to find a good driving position, but the seats aren't as comfortable as the Swift's. Another minor irritant is the centre console.

The Swift set a new standard by offering features never seen before on a hatchback. You get a lot of kit for the money - climate control, steering mounted audio control, twin air-bags, ABS and alloys. This is a tough act to follow but the Fabia has its own set of bells and whistles like electrically operated mirrors (the driver's side being heated), input for your iPod and a cooled glove box. Special mention must be made of the big audio display which lights up in a cool green. But we're not sure if these small touches make up for the absence of rear speakers and no remote opening for the fuel lid.

The boot

Fabia wins the practicality round. It has lots of storage space and two glove boxes. The Swift's smooth dash has no recess to hold stuff and besides the large cubby hole at the base of the centre console there's not much storage either. Pop open the hatch and the Fabia's wellshaped 300-litre boot can swallow more luggage than the Swift's which can't hold more than a couple of small bags. This could be a crucial difference. Don't let the 240kph speedometer in the Fabia fool you. The 1.2 litre, three-cylinder 69bhp motor simply can't keep up with the Swift and takes four seconds longer in the sprint to 100kph. But for sedate, everyday driving, the Fabia doesn't feel as slow as its figures suggest and in fact, is surprisingly sprightly about town. Beyond the good low-end poke though, this engine is disappointing. Drive with any sense of urgency and this motor feels strained and an abrupt rev limiter cuts in as early as 6000rpm. The engine isn't as refined as we would have liked either. The Fabia's gearbox is one of the best around, with a light, accurate throw which slots into each gear with a delicious click.

The Swift is armed with Suzuki's legendary 1.3-litre G-series engine which complements the car's character. It's a buzzy, revhappy motor and though it doesn't have the low-end pulling power of the Fabia, you can instantly feel how eager this motor is. Unlike the Fabia in which it's best to amble along, the Swift inspires you to drive it enthusiastically. The taut shift action adds to your driving pleasure and visits to the 6,800rpm, redline are quite frequent. Unlike the Fabia, which is truly hard work on the highway, the Swift's long legs and ample power make overtaking and cruising a breeze.

Fuel economy

Get to a twisty section and the roles are reversed. The Fabia handles far better than the Swift. The stiff chassis feels like nothing short of a tsunami would unsettle it and the electro- hydraulic-assisted steering wheel, though a little light, has a consistent feel. Even better is the ride - exemplary for such a small car. At low-speeds, the 185/60-profile tyres give it a hard edge but up the pace and the Fabia swamps everything in its path. This inspires confidence not only for the driver but ultimately makes life more comfortable for rear seat passengers as well.

The Swift on the other hand has an edgier ride. Apart from absorbing low-speed bumps, the Swift rarely settles down on any surface that is less than perfect. However, it's a nippy handler, more agile than the Fabia, always eager to dart into a corner. But the electric steering is not as fluent as the Fabia's and it feels curiously dead as soon as you apply lock.

We've saved the best for last - the critical `average kya hai?'. The Swift wins this one, despite its bigger motor. It returns 11.5kpl n the city and 16.2kpl on the highway as compared to 9.7kpl in the city and 15.2kpl on the highway for the Fabia. The Fabia's fuel efficiency is blunted by an engine that, despite its optimised gearing, has to work hard.

At Rs 6.78 lakh on-road, the Fabia costs Rs 70,000 more than the Swift, which is a substantial price difference in this segment. The Fabia's service costs are also far higher and spares, which are mostly imported, are expected to be pricey too. There is an alternative in the Classic trim option with the Fabia though, which matches the Swift ZXi on price. It loses a few more features in the bargain, and you don't get alloy wheels, ABS, height-adjustable seats or electrically- operated mirrors.

What the Fabia can't match is the hassle-free ownership that a Maruti product offers. The Swift may not have the durability of the Fabia but it will be much lighter on the wallet in the long run. The Fabia is packed with neat touches. Though the Swift is behind it in many areas it still is a terrific car. It looks great, is well-equipped, well-made and super-reliable. Ultimately, it gives you tremendous pleasure behind the wheel and the price just seals the deal.

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