Mahindra KUV100 vs Maruti Suzuki Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10: Specification, price comparison

Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the KUV100 to create a niche segment in the Indian automobile market. Though the company sticks to its utility vehicle DNA and call the KUV100 an SUV, it essentially locks horn with some of the bestselling hatchbacks in the country. As a mini SUV, the KUV100 doesn't have a competitor at preset. But judging by the price and specification we found, the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Grand i10 would be the best rivals for KUV100. Does Mahindra's new compact SUV have the potential to dent the sales of the Swift and the i10?

Engine Specifications

The KUV100's petrol models are powered by an all-new 1,198cc mFalcon G80 engine that develops 82bhp at 5,500rpm and 115Nm of torque at 3,500-3,600rpm. Maruti Suzuki Swift is powered by K-Series 1,197cc unit that develops 83bhp at 6,000rpm and 115Nm of torque at 4,000rpm while the Hyundai Grand i10 is powered by 1,197cc Kappa VTVT unit that develops 82bhp at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of torque at 4,000rpm. All three vehicles are mated to five-speed manual transmission while the Grand i10 also available with four-speed automatic transmission.

The KUV100's diesel unit is also from the mFalcon family. The 1,198cc D75 engine develops 77bhp at 3,750rpm and 190Nm of torque at 1,750-2,250rpm. The Swift comes with the Fiat-sourced 1,248cc DDiS engine that develops 74bhp at 4,000rpm and 190Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. The Grand i10 is powered by a 1,120cc U2 diesel engine that churns out 70bhp at 4,000rpm and 160Nm at 1,500rpm. All of them are mated to five-speed manual transmission.

The KUV100 and Maruti Suzuki Swift are neck and neck in terms of power figures. The KUV100 has an advantage of 3bhp over the Swift in diesel variants. The Hyundai Grand i10 is the only car offered with automatic transmission.

Dimensions and weight

Mahindra KUV100 measures 3,675mm in length, 1,705mm in width, 1,635mm in height and 2,385mm of wheelbase. True to its SUV tag, the KUV100 comes with 170mm ground clearance and 243 litres of fuel tank capacity.

The Swift measures 3,850mm in length, 1,695mm of width, 1,530mm of height with 2,430mm of wheelbase. The hatchback also features 170mm ground clearance. Hyundai Grand i10 comes with 3,765mm length, 1,660mm width, 1,520mm height with wheelbase of 2,425mm.

Fuel efficiency

The KUV100's petrol model returns claimed fuel efficiency of 18.15kmpl while the diesel model returns an impressive 25.32kmpl. According to Mahindra, the KUV100 is the most fuel-efficient SUV in the India now. Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol returns an ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency of 17.37kmpl and the diesel engine returns 23.19kmpl. On the other hand, Hyundai Grand i10 petrol returns 16.54kmpl while the diesel units return 22.64kmpl. In both engine variants, Mahindra KUV100 leading the table.

Price