How does the Maruti S-Cross stack up against the competition? Find out here
The competition in the small SUV segment will get more intense come July with the launch of Hyundai‘s highly-anticipated Creta SUV. Aimed at the Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport, the Creta will be Hyundai’s first offering in the sub-10 lakh SUV space currently dominated by the cars mentioned above. And it Creta also has to contend with Maruti’s S-Cross. First impressions suggest the Creta or, as it is known internationally the ix25, will get typical Hyundai traits like good looks and a feature-rich, high-quality cabin. The Hyundai Creta will be launching in July this year which leads us to the all-important question- Is it better than the Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster and Maruti S-Cross? Find out here in the Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti S-Cross comparison story.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta First Drive Review[/box]
Design
The cars in this segment are generally good looking and have been well received by the Indian audience. The Hyundai Creta is no different. Based on Hyundai’s Fluidic Design 2.0 language, the Creta gets enough muscle and style which make it a very attractive proposition. There are sharp headlamps up front flanking the large hexagonal grille which is very Santa Fe-like. Higher level trims are likely to get projector units and LED daytime running lights which will lend the front a very premium look. The side is characterised by a rising shoulder line and a thick C-Pillar giving the car a very aggressive stance. At the back, Hyundai has kept things simple with neat, rectangular tail lamps. The design works very well overall and should please most Indian car buyers.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See- Hyundai Creta vs Maruti S-Cross[/box]
The Renault Duster and Ford Ecosport have been around for quite some time now and their popularity suggests the design is generally well accepted and liked by most. The Ford has a slightly oversized front grille though and the small tires on a car with a tall stance spoil the look a little. The Renault Duster is much better in terms of design with muscular wheel arched and a wide stance. The only real problem these two will face once the Hyundai Creta is officially launched will be the fact that that will be a much fresher face and will appeal a little more to car buyers, at least, initially. The Maruti S-Cross is a totally different vehicle in terms of design with its hatchback crossover looks. The S-Cross looks smart overall with a neat design, especially the rear. However, the headlamps are a tad too big and most Indian buyers will place it in the Hyundai i20 Active’s segment rather than the small SUV category which could hurt sales.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta SUV Pre-Launch Report[/box]
Based on the sketches released by Hyundai and the model sold internationally, the interiors of the Creta will boast of very impressive levels of quality and equipment, typical of Hyundais these days. The dashboard is nice and flowing and could come in a black and beige combo with silver accents. Top of the line variants are expected to feature a touchscreen infotainment system as well, although that might not be the case considering the Elite i20 does not get one.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta vs Rivals: Duster, EcoSport, Scorpio, S-Cross[/box]
Space will be at par with the competition so do not expect massive legroom and a third row of seats. As far as the competition is concerned, while the Ford EcoSport is good in terms of interior quality in design, the Renault Duster feels like a budget car with low-rent interiors. Although the manufacturer has made improvements and it now comes with steering mounted controls and a touchscreen infotainment system, it still feels a notch below the rest. The S-Cross’ interiors feel very premium and upmarket. The all-black colour scheme looks classy and the simple design makes the interiors very appealing. The Ford EcoSport could very well turn out to be the smallest of the lot with the least amount of interior space.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta – All You Need to Know![/box]
[box type=”success” ]Hyundai Creta has the upper hand thanks to smart styling and fresh face. Customers are likely to find it more attractive than the Ford Ecosport, Renault Duster and Maruti S-Cross.[/box]
Features
On paper, all cars are almost equally matched with all the basics one would expect from a car belonging to this segment. But there are still a few features that are present in one and not the other. The Maruti S-Cross, Renault Duster and the Hyundai Creta feature a touchscreen infotainment system with in-built GPS navigation. But the Duster misses out on other features such as push button start and keyless entry, both of which are available on the Ford Ecosport, Maruti S-Cross and the Creta as well. In terms of safety equipment, all cars feature dual front airbags and ABS, but the top of line Ecosport and Hyundai Creta get 6 airbags for occupants. One of the biggest omissions on the Duster’s equipment list, the Automatic Climate Control, is featured on the other two, the S-Cross getting a dual-zone climate control. Additionally, the Hyundai Creta and Maruti S-Cross also come with projector headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
[box type=”shadow” ]Also See – Hyundai Creta – Overview[/box]
[box type=”success” ]The Hyundai Creta, Maruti S-Cross and Ford Ecosport are likely to be equally matched in terms of equipment. The Renault Duster lags behind slightly.[/box]
Specification
The upcoming Creta compact SUV is underpinned by the same platform as the new i20. The Creta will get the same 1.6-litre Dual VTVT petrol and U2 1.4 CRDi and 1.6 U2 CRDI VGT engines that power the Verna. The Creta also gets 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. While the Creta gets a 4wd option in various international markets, the same will NOT be offered to Indian customers.
Petrol
| Hyundia Creta | Ford EcoSport | Renault Duster | ||
| Type | 1.6 L Petrol | 1.5 L Petrol | 1.0 L Petrol | 1.6 L Diesel |
| Displacement | 1,591 cc | 1,499 cc | 999cc | 1,598 cc |
| Power | 121 bhp | 109 bhp | 123 bhp | 102 bhp |
| Torque | 155 Nm | 120 Nm | 170 Nm | 145 nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual | 5-speed manual/6-speed auto | 5-speed manual | 5-speed manual |
| Mileage | 15.29 kpl | 15.8 kpl/16.5 kpl | 18.9 kpl | 13.05 kpl |
Diesel
| Hyundia Creta | Ford EcoSport | Renault Duster | Maruti S-Cross | ||||
| Type | 1.4 L Diesel | 1.6 L Diesel | 1.5 L Diesel | 1.5 L Diesel | 1.3 L Diesel | 1.6 L Diesel | |
| Displacement | 1,396 cc | 1,582cc | 1,498 cc | 1,461cc | 1,248 cc | 1,596cc | |
| Power | 89 bhp | 126 bhp | 89 bhp | 84/108 bhp | 89 bhp | 118 bhp | |
| Torque | 224 Nm | 259 Nm | 204 Nm | 200/248 Nm | 200 nm | 320 Nm | |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual | 6-speed MT/ 6-speed AT | 5-speed manual | 5-speed/6-speed MT | 5-speed manual | 6-speed manual | |
| Mileage | 21.38 kpl | 19.67/17.01 kpl | 22.7 kpl | 19.87/19.64 kpl | 17.19 kpl | 22.7 kpl | |
While all three cars are available with the petrol engine option, the EcoSport is miles ahead with the brilliant 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine. There is also a 1.5-litre unit mated to a 6-speed dual clutch automatic. The Duster is majorly sold in the diesel variant with barely any demand for the petrol and it does not get an optional automatic transmission either. However, it is the only car here to come with an optional AWD system. The Maruti S-Cross gets only two diesel engine options and no petrol. A 1.6-litre diesel which produces 120 PS power and 320 Nm torque and a 1.3 litre diesel which produces 90 PS and 200 Nm torque. While the 1.6 L is mated to a 6-speed manual, the latter only gets a 5-speed manual. The Renault Duster is the only SUV which gets an AWD option.
[box type=”success” ]The Ford EcoSport with its optional EcoBoost engine and 6-speed dual clutch automatic offers the most number of options. The Creta is the only SUV which features a diesel automatic. The Duster is the only SUV which gets an AWD option.[/box]
Price
The Ford EcoSport is the cheapest car in its class. The pricing of the Creta is in the range of INR 8.59-13.57 lakhs (ex-showroom) while the Ford EcoSport can be had for anything in the range of INR 6.75-10.20 lakhs (ex-showroom). The prices of the Maruti S-Cross will be announced shortly, but it is expected to cost anywhere between INR 8 to 10 lakhs. The Renault Duster is is similar in terms of price to the Hyundai Creta with a price range of INR 8.3-13.55 lakhs. (ex-showroom). Having said that, it will also be the largest SUV among the three.
[box type=”success” ]Despite being the cheapest, the Ford EcoSport will also be the smallest. The Hyundai Creta is a tad too expensive especially the higher spec diesel trims. Final word only when the S-Cross’ prices are announced[/box]
Verdict
Initial impressions suggest the car would be very impressive in all departments and could turn out to be the pick of the lot among the four. As for the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster, it boils down to specific requirements and budgets. The former is more of a hatchback on stilts rather than an SUV while the latter is more of an SUV and significantly bigger. The Duster also has the best ride and handling of the lot and Hyundai will find it hard to match. Some might complain about the lack of features and premium feel, something the Ford EcoSport does not suffer from and does not plague the Hyundai Creta either. The Maruti S-Cross is a slightly different product than these three. Although all of these vehicles are crossovers, the S-Cross looks more of a hatchback which could keep buyers looking for SUVs away.
[box type=”success” ]Final judgement rests on the official announcement of prices of the Maruti S-Cross, but it sure looks like Hyundai’s got another winner on its hands good enough to beat the Maruti S-Cross, Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster.[/box]
Stay tuned to Car Blog India for more comparisons like the Hyundai Creta vs Renault Duster vs Ford EcoSport vs Maruti S-Cross and other automotive news.
