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The Honda Brio is up against the Maruti Suzuki Swift, whose previous generation ruled the Indian market. We fi nd out if the new entrant has the potential to dethrone the reigning king
The Maruti Suzuki Swift haS been one of the most favourite hatchbacks in the indian market for some years now. it succeeded in casting a spell on the customers with its sporty styling, good performance, decent handling and its highly fuel-efficient engine. there is no denying that the new Swift carries forward the genes from its previous generation with improved styling, a little more space and a few additional gizmos in the cabin.
Just when we thought that the good Swift had got better, honda brought in the Brio to compete against the best in this highly competitive market, which is growing by leaps and bounds. in a situation where survival is determined mainly by the value-for-money factor, there is no doubt that a huge task confronts the Brio – to prove its potential while being extremely cost-effective.
To see how the Brio fares against the best in the segment, we put it against the Swift through a number of tests, the results of which were rather surprising!
Design And Styling
The Swift's curvaceous body took some time to gel with the Indian mindset. However, once it did, it swiftly became a favourite, especially amongst the youth. With its new, sharper headlights and tail-lights, new front grille and the sharply sliced boot-lid, the Swift took a step forward to keep up with modern day design lines. Though most of the styling has fallen in place by now, we still have our reservations about the boot-lid, which looks as if it has been cut short very abruptly.
On the other hand, we have the Brio, which brings with it a completely fresh design and styling. It is shorter than the Swift, but almost the same in length and width. The Brio takes cues from the Jazz for its front-end design. But the real eye-catcher is the rear end. The boot-lid is a completely frameless glass. So when you need to open the hatch, you actually open the glass and load or unload your stuff from the boot. Reminds you of the old Maruti 800, doesn’t it? But this one is prettier and, as Honda claim, stronger too, because the glass used here is tougher than ordinary glass, so that it can take all the openings and closings without a grumble. From the rear, this car looks wide at the bottom and tapers towards the top. Its round lights, huge glass and the tapering shape give the Brio a unique look for sure. Overall, we find this Honda to be a cute little car, which will appeal to one and all with its fresh styling and unique design elements.
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