SWIFT versus PUNTO - Decision made simpler !!

After nearly two months of reading and test driving all possible hatchbacks in Indian market, I was down to two choices - the SWIFT VDI or the PUNTO-1.3 Multijet Dynamic -diesel.

Both are the middle versions of their respective ranges and are priced almost identically in Bangalore. But once I had a look at the Punto and taken the test drive and compared their respective features, I was very clear with the decision ..
It had to be the PUNTO for me !!!! So, now I own a Oceanic Blue PUNTO 1.3 Multijet Diesel -Dynamic.

Below are listed some of the features that are a big plus for PUNTO and made the balance tilt in favor.
All the below features are in PUNTO and missing in SWIFT VDI :

• LOOKS !! WOW !! I was so hooked by the curvy design .. I fell in love with it .. Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro (Named as car designer of the century !!), its design is timeless and is a head turner and the options of such beautiful colors .. I wish I could own them all ..
•  ABS
• Integrated Music system. (The speakers are crap, but its free !!)
• Multi function display (has all sorts of info, like Range, Mileage indicator, temperature, date/time etc.
• Rear-defogger and rear wiper
• Height adjustable driver seats
• Adjustable steering wheel
• Desmodonic foldable key - cute one this 
• Rear AC vents.
• All four windows auto-down feature and driver window even has an auto-up feature as well
• Higher ground clearance
• Other tiny features but which are so impressive and shows the amount of thought put into details
• It tells you which door is exactly open, like front-right,left rear etc. so you know exactly
• You stop and remove your keys and remember you have not put the windows up, you can still do it without having to insert the keys, until you open the door or till 10 seconds.
• The rear view mirrors fold forwards also, so that the mirrors do not break if someone trying to overtake you in heavy traffic hits it.
• Boot lamp glows when you open the boot. 
•  The doors open in three steps.
• 
  

And to top it all off, is the build quality of the PUNTO.
The doors are so strong and heavy, its almost like a tank, gives superb stability at high speeds and feels safe ..

And last but not the least, is the waiting period to own your car .. I found waiting for about 6 months for a SWIFT VDI as absolutely ridiculous .. I got my PUNTO in three weeks .. Thats as long I can wait to lay my hands on my own car ..


But the swift is not the highest selling car in India for nothing .. It will be  a very biased review if i do not rate the pros of the SWIFT ..

• Its a driver's car .. very enjoyable and peppy drive .. Both share similar engines, but the PUNTO being ~200 kgs heavier does not have the same feel as the SWIFT at lower gears ..
• Mileage -- higher than the PUNTO by ~3-4 kms to the litre .. Although my PUNTO has given me ~23 on highways without A/C at times.
• After sales and service of Maruti better than FIAT any day.
• Re-sale value.. If its a SWIFT, people will lap it up, the moment u want to sell it .. Not so sure about the PUNTO on this front ..

Judging on the above points, and doing all my excel/logical calcs and my emotional ones on top of that, I decided that the PUNTO is the one for me .. Too many goodies at the same price .. Looks and no long waiting period made the PUNTO a clear winner ..

Hope this review helps any potential buyers out there .. Set your priorities first and see which comes out the winner among the two ! :-)



Here are a couple of pics of my car ..