Maruti has, of late, been on a roll with almost every other car of theirs hitting the market turning into an instant blockbuster. Although the entire demonetisation episode had a negative effect on their sales, Maruti claims to be back on track with substantial growth in both domestic sales as well as exports.
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Maruti recently launched the Ignis, which marks the carmaker’s entry into the sub-4 metre crossover segment. Ignis is a part of Maruti’s premium range of cars and is exclusively available at Nexa dealerships at an affordable price (between Rs. 4.59 lakhs and Rs. 7.80 lakhs).
If you’re planning on buying the Ignis, we have some fantastic Car Loan offers to choose from that will get you behind the wheel in no time.
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Here’s our two cents on the Maruti Suzuki Ignis:
What We Like:
Tons Of Features
The Ignis packs a raft of features, although most are only available in the top variants. Some of the noteworthy features include plush interiors, segment-first full LED headlamps, rear parking sensors, keyless entry, push-button start/stop, reverse camera, 15-inch alloy wheels, a 260-litre boot and a touchscreen media-navigation system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Also, this Maruti offspring doesn’t compromise on safety. ABS (with EBD) and dual airbags are standard across all variants of the car.
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Fuel Economy And Transmission
This Maruti vehicle is extremely fuel-efficient, with the petrol variant boasting up to 20.89 kmpl and the diesel variant claiming up to 26.80 kmpl. The petrol and diesel engines used in the Ignis are the same ones used in most of Maruti’s line-up, including the Swift and the Baleno.
As far as transmission is concerned, the Maruti Suzuki Ignis offers two choices – the five-speed manual unit and the automated manual transmission (AMT) gearbox. The availability of the AMT gearbox gives the Ignis an edge over its only competition, the KUV100, which unfortunately comes with the manual unit only.
Exterior And Interior Styling
The unconventional design of the Ignis is something that will grab your attention at first glance. The exterior design has a sporty touch, which gives a rugged look to this ‘premium urban compact’ (that’s what Maruti calls this crossover).
The rear, however, isn’t as pleasing as the front, which sports a quirky look just like the rest of the car. Two words easily define the exteriors of the Ignis – fresh and funky.
The funky design of the exterior extends to the interior of the Ignis as well. This vehicle boasts a sporty dashboard and a variety of in-cabin tech (depending on the variant you opt for). The two-tone black and off-white interior also adds to the funk quotient of the Ignis.
What We Didn’t Like:
The Hatchback Look
Despite Maruti’s design efforts to make the Maruti Suzuki Ignis look like a premium crossover, the car still looks like a hatchback. Of course, we love the design, but the car could easily be mistaken for a hatchback.
Blame it on the small dimensions and low ground clearance, but the Ignis misses out on the butch look that would have given it a more SUV-like appearance.
Limited Availability
Since the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is retailed through Nexa dealerships, the car will not be able to meet high demands. Unlike the regular Maruti dealership, Nexa dealership has a limited network.
The dealership doesn’t extend to smaller cities and rural parts of the country so the Ignis will not be available to those residing there. And unfortunately, the majority of Maruti’s sales come from these areas.
Space Issues
The overall design makes the Ignis seem like a spacious car, but in reality, it isn’t very roomy.
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All in all, the Ignis is indeed a funky crossover that’s a blend of cool, retro and chic, which will appeal to those looking for a non-conventional design. Maruti has definitely hit the bullseye as far as the price tag is concerned as well. So, for us, it’s definitely worth a buy.
If you’re planning to buy the Ignis, we have attractive Car Loan offers from different banks that you could check out.