Selecting a hatchback in India these days can be quite a hassle for all. Various car makers try and woo customers in various ways. Obviously I faced a similar dilemma especially coz I was about to book a car just before Diwali.
The car which comes closest in competition to the Ritz apart from the Swift considering the price band of 5 lacs is the Ford Figo. I almost zeroed in on the Figo because it is smartly priced and offers the same features as the Ritz. I decided against it as my gut feeling told me to trust Maruti Suzuki for my first buy and parents found getting in and out of the Figo very difficult(my dad has arthritis).
For all those who are confused between the Swift and the Ritz, following are some points that set the two cars apart.
1) Engine: Ritz has a K12 85 bhp engine which generates 114 NM of torque at 4500 RPM whereas the Swift features a 1200 cc, 87 bhp engine that generates 113 NM of torque at 4500 RPM. the overall mileage on the highway is about 19 kmpl and cities is 13-14 kmpl(with a/c on).
2) Looks: I agree that the Swift looks excellent but the Ritz does bring some freshness as far as looks are concerned. You can still find a lot of Swifts on the road so you will definitely not trun any heads. Personally I love the stance of the Ritz as compared to other hatchbacks.
3) Space Inside: This is the main reason why I chose to buy this car. Because of its height and high seating, getting in and out of the car is like a breeze especially for older people. Fitting 3 tall people in the back seat is no issue and because of its height the shorter ones will not feel claustrophobic. The boot space is a few liters smaller than the Swift but it does not make any significant difference in a larger scheme of things. The ZXI comes with adjustable steering which is really useful and a height adjustable seat. Finding the right driving position is very easy.
Even after driving continuously for four hours from Mumbai to Srivardhan I did not feel tired at all. The under thigh support on the back seats is excellent, something I considered very important.
4) Performance and Drive Quality: I loved the performance of the Ritz. It touches 80 kph in second gear in 6.5 seconds. Also because of the extra hp, overtaking on the highway becomes a lot easier. I realized this while driving to Khed on the NH 17. The brakes are excellent and I say this coz there are a few invisible speed breakers after Panvel on the NH 17 where I had to brake from 80 kph to bring the car down to 10 kph. The braking was assured and the car never seemed to go out of control. On a few slopes in Konkan, I did feel the need for more Torque(pulling power) but things are ok if you keep the car close to 4000 rpm in the first gear on steep slopes.
Driving in the city is also very pleasurable as you can pick the car up from 20 kph on 3rd without having to press the clutch. The suspension is harder than most of the other hatches but this is expected given the height of the car and improving road conditions in India.
There is a body roll on curves but after driving for a while one gets used to it.
I bought the Ritz zxi since most of the times I drive on highways so having ABS and Airbags is a must. Also with the zxi you do not have to worry about buying accessories, music system etc since it is fully loaded. The music system comes with a AUX port and a 3 band radio. The on road price in Mumbai is about 5.6 Lacs.
I bought my car from Spectra and now I know why Maruti Suzuki is greatly respected for its Sales and Service. Absolutely no problems whatsoever with buying, delivery and first service.
Overall, I think it is great value for money and another brilliant car from Suzuki’s stable.