The Indian car market, it can be safely said, will always remember the year 2013 for a long time. And it is not just one particular event or happening that has made 2013 one of the most eventful in recent times. Be it continuously dropping sales, success of luxury car makers or controversies, 2013 can be termed as a year to remember till now. However, if there is one thing that has stood out among all these developments, it is the rise of the compact Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) in India. The compact SUV segment has really come into its own in 2013 as some models have enjoyed unprecedented levels of success. It was Renault Duster that kick started this trend with the model, literally, staging a turnaround for the French auto maker. Critics and buyers, both, appreciated Duster for its muscular looks, superior engine and affordability.
However, things really took off when American auto maker Ford launched the EcoSport in the month of June. A lot had already been spoken about the EcoSport, much before its introduction in the Indian car market. Analysts had already predicted that this compact SUV from Ford would do well in India. The launch of Ford EcoSport was a much hyped event and it ended up changing the fortunes of the American car maker in India. Incredibly, this utility vehicle received 30000 bookings in just a span of 17 days. This car got widespread appreciation for its modern styling, refined performance, suitability for city conditions and fuel efficiency. The biggest reason for the success of EcoSport, according to some experts, is the aggressive pricing strategy adopted by Ford, which has turned out to be a key component in determining its success. The performance of EcoSport directly affected sales of Renault Duster and since then, these models have been competing for the top spot in the compact SUV segment. Apart from these two, Mahindra Quanto is another model in this segment, which has also managed reasonable success.
Mahindra & Mahindra, the Indian auto maker, is known for its pedigree in the utility vehicle segment, which can be seen by the success of models like Scorpio, XUV500 and Xylo. Mahindra Quanto is fitted with an mCR100 diesel engine that has a displacement of 1493 cc and is capable of producing an output of around 100 bhp along with peak torque of 240 Nm. According to company claims, Mahindra Quanto delivers a mileage of around 17.2 kmpl. This engine is powered the twin stage turbocharging technology, which helps in attaining optimum fuel economy and a superior performance. Some of the highlights of the Mahindra Quanto is the signature grille, blackened pillars, stylish rear stepney and sporty roof rails. Convenience features of Mahindra Quanto are tilt steering, footsteps with puddle stamps, rear window demister and two DIN audio system.
Renault Duster, on the other hand, comes in both petrol and diesel versions. The petrol version of the Duster runs on a 1.6-litre K4M engine, which generates an output of 102 bhp and peak torque of 145 Nm. The diesel variant of Renault Duster comes in two output levels, which produce 108 bhp and 83 bhp of power. This version is equipped with a 1.5-litre dCi K9K THP engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Ford EcoSport comes in three engine variants including two petrol and one diesel. One petrol variant of the EcoSport that runs on 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine, which generates an output of around 123 bhp and top torque of 170 Nm. The other petrol version is fitted with a 1.5-litre engine that delivers an output of 110 bhp. EcoSport diesel runs on a 1.5-litre engine that churns out 89 bhp of power and 204 Nm of peak torque.
It is quite clear from figures and features that Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport are ahead of Mahindra Quanto. Both these compact SUVs have better styling and interiors, which has helped them capture the market. However, Mahindra Quanto has a refined engine, is muscular and offers an excellent performance.
