Tata Nano GenX vs Maruti Alto 800 vs Hyundai Eon

The Tata Nano was supposed to dethrone the Maruti Alto as the highest selling car in India, but that didn’t quite happen thanks to the ‘cheapest car in the world’ tag and a few technical issues early on. Thus, the ambitious little Nano failed to even find a spot in the top 10. Tata hasn’t given up on it yet and with the recent launch of the Nano GenX they have adopted a slightly different strategy this time around pitching it as a budget  friendly city runabout with decent features and even an optional automatic transmission. It still might find it hard to match the popularity of the Maruti Alto 800, but Tata will be hoping for greater success from the Nano GenX. Here in this comparison we tell you how the new Nano GenX stacks up against the competition; Maruti Alto 800 and Hyundai Eon.

Design

The facelifted Nano GenX builds on the outgoing model with new bumpers, blackened headlamps and a thick black strip housing the Tata logo, all of which add some much needed character the front end. The rear has been redesigned along the lines of the front end with a similar mesh pattern with the ‘infinity’ pattern and a a thick black strip above the rear bumper. The neatly integrated rear lever gives away the open-able hatch that is another new feature on the Nano GenX. The interiors haven’t changed much either except for the centre console finished in black now and a new steering wheel similar to the one seen on the Zest and the Bolt. The new Tata Nano retains the love it or hate it eggshell shape and tiny little wheels, but is a better looking vehicle overall.

The Alto 800 is a familiar face on our roads now. It is a decent looking car with strong lines and good proportions and even though it is bigger than the Nano on the outside, interior space is similar and the headroom is actually less than what the Nano offers. The strong shoulder line continues till the till the rear where it is integrated neatly with the tail lamps. The upright tailgate gets a slight central bulge which is a neat touch. On the inside you will find nicely laid out interiors with all the basic features and decent levels of quality. However, the brown colour scheme can be a little off putting for some.

The Hyundai Eon is definitely the most striking looking car of the three. Hyundai’s Fluidic design language makes for a very good looking entry level hatchback, although some might find it a bit overstyled. The tail lamps, for instance, are a bit to big for a car this size. The rising window line results in claustrophobic rear due to the reduced window area. Also, much like the Tata Nano and Maruti Alto, the puny wheels spoil the look a little. On the inside is where the Eon really shines with its upmarket interiors which look like they belong in a car from a higher segment. The dashboard is better than the rest in terms of design as well as fit and finish. Space is decent for four, but as we said before the rising window line makes the rear a bit claustrophobic.

[box type=”success” ]The Hyundai Eon is definitely the better looking car as compared to the Tata Nano GenX and Maruti Alto 800 thanks to Hyundai’s striking fluidic design language.[/box]

Features

All three cars being entry level hatchbacks get the bare minimum features and are identically equipped. The Tata Nano GenX and Hyundai Eon get an integrated audio system, while the Maruti Alto 800 gets an aftermarket unit. The Nano misses out on airbags which the other two offer, but only for the driver’s side. The Tata Nano GenX is the only car amongst the three to offer bluetooth connectivity for cellphones. Unlike the Hyundai Eon and Maruti Alto 800, the Nano misses out on an internal boot release lever.

[box type=”success” ]It is hard to pick between the three, but it is the top level trim of the Tata Nano GenX offers the most amount of kit.[/box]

Engine and Transmission

The Tata Nano GenX is the only car to come with an optional automatic transmission, but it is also the least powerful of the lot. The Hyundai Eon also comes with an LPG option and the Maruti Alto 800 with a CNG option. The manual version of the Nano gets only a 4-speed transmission and the lack  of power might be felt when the car is fully loaded.

The Tata Nano GenX is well suited for city condition, especially with the AMT. But if your commute includes occasional highway runs then you will be better off with the Hyundai Eon or Maruti Alto 800.

Price

The Tata Nano GenX is easily the cheapest of the lot with even the top ens automatic variant staying below the 3 lakh mark. Spec-for-spec the Hyundai Eon is more expensive than the Maruti Alto 800 by over ₹ 50,000. But it does offer more space and higher levels of quality and feels more upmarket than the other two.

[box type=”success” ]If you’re on a budget then the Tata Nano GenX makes the most amount of sense. If you can a little bit more liberal then the Maruti Alto 800 will fulfill all your requirements at around ₹ 50,000 less than the Hyundai Eon.[/box]

Verdict- Tata Nano GenX VS Maruti Alto 800 VS Hyundai Eon

The refreshed Tata Nano makes a very strong case for itself as it is now much more practical than before thanks to the open-able hatch and larger fuel tank. The AMT adds to the practicality, but it still is the least powerful of the lot and doesn’t really come with any safety equipment. Having said that, it is considerably cheaper than the other two and is still the cheapest and most fuel efficient car money can buy. The Maruti Alto 800 fulfills all the basic requirements of a buyer looking for a entry level hatchback, but it feels very basic and cheap. Something which is taken care of very well by the Hyundai Eon, the car feels premium and more upmarket than the rest. However, it is also the most expensive of the lot.

[box type=”success” ]If your usage is strictly confined to the city environment then the Tata Nano GenX is the best suited to your needs. Otherwise, the Maruti Alto 800 will be just fine.[/box]

What are your thoughts on these three cars? Let us know in the comments section below.