A Masterpiece !

A Masterpiece !

I have always liked hatchbacks because of their compactness and easy maneuverability and when I was in the market for buying one, I was quite keen on the Ignis. Finally, I decided to get one due to various factors like a short waiting period, funky styling, great features, peppy performance and plus the ease of owning a Maruti. I have never regretted my decision. After owning this car for 8 months, I have written a review about it: Exteriors: (4.5/5) The Ignis has a funky and a cool design that looks unique. It has neo-retro design reminiscent of older cars. However, its design doesn't appeal to all but looks are an individual liking. As for me, I quite liked the design of the car. It has an upright stance and its overall design is quite SUV-ish. It also comes with projector headlamps and fog lamps which helps in overcoming night driving constraints but they are offered only in the higher variants. Its black colored alloys make the car look sporty. It is a tall car but doesn't look boxy. It also comes in dual tone colors and there are lot of customization options for this car. Interiors: (4/5) the car feels quite plush. I liked the feeling and quality of buttons for the climate control and steering mounted audio controls. The quality of other plastics in the car however is not that great and they become full of scratches with time. All controls are placed with arm's reach and finding them is not an issue even at night. The interior comes in a black and white theme which brightens up the cabin although white being a light shade becomes dirty very quickly and needs regular cleaning. The AC cools well and is quite fast in cooling. The instrument cluster is easy to read and informative giving all relevant information like time, temperature, range, mileage, distance to empty etc. My Alpha variant comes with a touchscreen infotainment system which is easy to operate and offers a lot of features and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which enables one to connect their iPhone or Android phone and use it on the infotainment system's screen. Using it in bright sunshine however is not easy as the screen is reflective. Comfort: (4.5/5) In terms of comfort, the car scores quite high. It gets a tilt adjustable steering wheel and the height of the driver seat can also be adjusted. The visibility of the car is very good thanks to the high-set seat and slim pillars. The front seats are nice and supportive with good side bolstering. It has tall headrests which is good for tall drivers. There is good amount of legroom at the rear, lots of headroom but the seats lack a bit of thigh support. Seating 3 at the rear would be a tight but otherwise the seats are very comfortable even for long journeys. It would actually be nice if Maruti gives rear ac vents in this car. Practicality: (5/5) The storage places are aplenty. Various bottle holders and cup holders can be found on the doors and the centre console. The glove box is large so keeping things wouldn't be of an issue. At 260 liters the boot is sized adequately and can accommodate a decent amount of luggage. Ride and Performance: (4.5/5) The Ignis is powered by a peppy 1.2 litre VVT petrol engine which however tends to be noisy at high speeds. Cruising on bad roads jerk-free because of its high ground clearance of 180 mm and the well-built suspension. Its low turning radius and light steering wheel make it easy to turn the car. It has a good pickup and it?s brakes have a nice bite. The clutch is light and gear shifting (manual transmission) is slick. On an average, I get a mileage of 16-17 kmpl in city driving and 18-19 kmpl for on a highway which is really impressive. The fuel tank is a disappointment though as it just has a capacity of 32 litres. Safety Equipment: (5/5) The car comes with ISOFIX child seat anchors (for attaching child seats), ABS (for a skid-free drive), the EBD (for sharp turns) and two airbags. All these features are standard across all variants making the car very safe. Service: (5/5) Being a Maruti, the ownership of this car is hassle-free. There are service centre in every corner of the country with good roadside assistance. The service and replacement costs are minimal and I have always had a good experience during my car?s service. The car can be serviced at both Nexa and Maruti service centres. Overall Verdict: (4/5) On the whole, I can say that the Ignis offers almost everything for what you pay. It is a great car especially for first time car buyers. If you are looking for an all-round hatchback but can compromise a bit for space, your search ends here.