It is quite some time that the Maruti Swift has been launched. A success, says the company, but a failure as few people are buying this frog-like offering from Maruti. It is not widely seen, and a Swift is a rarity on the roads. Accepted, not as rare as the Hyundai Getz, but rare nevertheless. The company was forced to discontinue its best selling car, Zen, in order to boost the sales of its frog, pointing to the fact that the Swift is not selling as well as its PR machinery claims.
The trouble with Swift is that it is not all that swift. It has a bulky, round design that gives the look of a steel box. It sits almost like a bulldog. Then the front lights gives it a froggy look. I for one would not like to be seen driving a frog. Then the mileage – the claim of 14 km/l is not met. In the city, it gives close to just 10 km/l. Why not buy a bigger car then?
The Zen almost developed a following. It made a style statement. Mostly it is used by professionals who do not want petrol guzzlers. Zen drivers are mostly salaried, gentle people. With the Swift, no such statement can be made. It is neither a big car that says “I’m rich” nor is it a small car that says “I’m sensible.”
At a red light, the smaller car is able to zip ahead of the Swift, so I doubt its pick-up too.
Maybe I don’t understand these marketing guys. But trying to sell Swift at the cost of Zen, I would say, is a mistake. I would stick to the Zen and if I have to move to a bigger car, I would certainly not prefer Swift.