Maruti Suzuki Ignis

The Maruti Ignis has been launched in India and the new urban compact car aims at changing the concept of compact cars in the Indian market. The Ignis, which comes from the parent car manufacturer Suzuki, was first showcased as the Suzuki iM-4 concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and later unveiled at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.

The minimalist body consists of plain surfaces and round roof with straight lines that give it a distinctive stance. The proportionate tyres jutting out at the four corners firmly support the body and hint at the car's muscular look. Dramatic features such as the front fascia with its sunglass-clad look, the shell-like roof, and the attractive slits on the C-pillar accentuate its exterior. The Maruti Ignis measures 3,700mm in length, 1,660mm in width, 1,595mm in height, 2435mm in wheelbase and feature 180mm of ground clearance. The car will also get LED daytime running lights.

The Ignis gets typical Maruti Suzuki black interiors with silver accents. The interior quality is good and the top-spec car gets automatic climate control, a modern touchscreen SmartPlay infotainment system equipped with USB and BlueTooth connectivity, reverse parking sensors and a multifunction steering wheel.

The Ignis is available in four trims – Sigma, Delta, Zeta and Alpha. It gets six colour options for the exterior with three options for the roof colour on the top-spec trims. You also have options for the interior trims. Just like the Brezza, you can customise your Ignis with a wide range of decals, trims and accessories. Dual front airbags with ABS and EBD are standard safety equipment on the Ignis.

The Ignis gets the 1.2-litre K-Series petrol engine and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The petrol engine makes 83bhp and 115Nm of torque while the diesel makes 74bhp and 190Nm of torque in the Swift. The Ignis is also offered with a five-speed AMT gearbox for both the petrol and the diesel engines.

The Ignis pits itself against the entry-level B-segment hatches to start with and which include the Ford Figo, Tata Bolt, Hyundai Grand i10 and the Mahindra KUV100. The top trims are quite expensive and you can opt for compact sedans like the Dzire, Amaze or the Xcent which offer you much more space and similar equipment.