The Indian car market is mad for SUVs and everyone wants one owing to their macho looks and commanding driving position. Thanks to our love for SUVs, OEMs have segregated the 'SUV' term to some accessible prices which aren't exactly SUVs but pretends to be one with high ground clearance and body cladding. Today we have pitched two micro compact SUVs, the Mahindra KUV100 NXT Vs Maruti Ignis to find out which one has an upper hand.
Mahindra KUV100 Vs Maruti Ignis - Design and Dimensions
Mahindra KUV100 NXT has radical looks owing to its sharp cuts and creases and tall hood, it seems less of a car and more of an SUV. On the other hand, Maruti Ignis is soothing to the eyes with its big semi-circular LED DRLs and compact dimensions. In one shot, Ignis looks much better and well proportioned than the KUV100. The Ignis is more feature-laden too sporting LED projectors, 15-inch black alloy wheels and LED taillights.
| Dimensions | Mahindra KUV100 | Maruti Ignis |
| Length | 3700mm | 3700mm |
| Width | 1735mm | 1690mm |
| Height | 1655mm | 1595mm |
| Wheelbase | 2385mm | 2435mm |
| Ground Clearance | 170mm | 180mm |
Despite having an identical length, the Ignis offers longer wheelbase which translates to more horizontal space inside the cabin. However, the KUV100 is wider and taller than the Ignis which could result in a tad more headroom. The KUV100 also comes with a jump seat at the front for the sixth passenger but space is limited for a kid.
Mahindra KUV100 Vs Maruti Ignis - Interior & Features
Mahindra KUV100 gets a very quirky dashboard as even the gear lever is placed within the dashboard and it gets the old-school pull-out emergency brake. All these compromises have been made to liberate some space to occupy the jump seat in the middle. Talking about the features, it has got a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, steering mounted controls, dual barrel headlights with DRLs, smart start/stop function, height-adjustable drivers seat, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt reminders, ISOFIX anchorages and speed sensing auto door lock.
Moving to the Maruti Ignis, it has its own quirks up its sleeves too. The Ignis gets stubby metal-finished door handles and a cool pattern in the footwell area which we also see on the C pillar. Features on offer: a new 7.0-inch touchscreen system which sports both Android Auto and Apple Car Play, automatic AC, steering mounted controls, push-button start with keyless go, dual airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt reminders, ISOFIX anchorages and speed sensing alarm with the auto door lock function.
Mahindra KUV100 Vs Maruti Ignis - Engine and Performance
| Engine | Mahindra KUV100 | Maruti Ignis |
| Displacement | 1.2-litre 3-cyl petrol | 1.2-litre 4-cyl petrol |
| Power | 82 hp | 82 hp |
| Torque | 115 Nm @ 3500-3600 rpm | 113 Nm @ 4200rpm |
| Fuel efficiency | NA, 5-speed manual | 20.89 km/l, 5-speed manual and AMT |
The Ignis here has a clear advantage here with an extra cylinder which helps to get more refinement and highway punch. The 3-cylinder trashiness will be always there in the KUV100 but it offers similar power and torque output. The Ignis also gets an option of 5-speed AMT which also comes as an advantage.
Mahindra KUV100 Vs Maruti Ignis - Prices
| Prices (Ex-showroom) | Mahindra KUV100 | Maruti Ignis |
| Manual | Rs 5.54 - 7.15 lakhs | Rs 4.89 - 6.72 lakhs |
| AT | NA | Rs 6.13 - 7.20 lakhs |
As you can see in the table above, the Ignis is more affordable than the KUV100 despite having more features and a better engine. The Ignis Alpha AMT is priced at Rs 7.20 lakhs which is just Rs 5000 more than the KUV100 K8 manual, for the extra Rs 5000, you are getting the convenience of an automatic gearbox without compromising on fuel economy. Hence, Maruti Ignis is the winner of this comparison.
