Introduction:-
The burgeoning compact SUV segment is one of the hottest places in the Indian car market today. Nearly every major player today has a participant or will have one by next year. Wanting to take advantage of both its SUV maker image and the fact that the segment is still growing, Mahindra has introduced its second player in the fight.
Dubbed the NuvoSport, it is being offered as a more urban option to the TUV300 that was launched in 2015. Despite it pretty much being the same car as the TUV, we have decided to see how it stands up to its rivals the EcoSport and Vitara Brezza in a spec comparison test. Read on to find out more….
Dimensions:-
The specific rules of the compact vehicle segment have been exploited to create cars that match their criteria but also our sudden demand for crossovers. All three cars in this fray measure in at over 3.95 meters but vary in terms of the wheelbase. The NuvoSport is the largest at 2.76 metres while the Vitara Brezza is the smallest at 2.50 metres. However, the NuvoSport is only one offered with seven-seats, though there are no seat belts for row 3.
The SUV identifying ground clearance is the lowest in the NuvoSport at 180mm while the EcoSport and Vitara Brezza are evenly matched at 200mm and 198mm respectively. Maruti’s Vitara Brezza looks to be the most contemporary thanks to its sporty styling. The Ford EcoSport appears to be a really large vehicle but is much smaller than it actually looks. The NuvoSport looks aggressive from the front, but is not really able to hide its MPV origins when viewed from the side or rear.
Equipment:-
Firstly, the Ford EcoSport gets a grey and black cabin while the Vitara Brezza is an all-black affair. The NuvoSport too gets a black and grey interior combination with the dashboard being in the latter while the seats are a mix of both.
In terms of basic requirements, all three cars that we have compared are top-spec models and match each other. Their standard features include power windows, electrically adjustable OVRMs, seat covers and a plethora of cubby holes. The Brezza and EcoSport have climate control while the NuvoSport and former are equipped with a touchscreen infotainment system.
It is when you start looking into the smaller things that you notice the differences. The NuvoSport for example gets cruise control, leather seats and a reclining second row. The Vitara Brezza gets a reverse camera, retractable OVRMs, rain sensing wipers as well as telescope adjustment for the steering wheel. The EcoSport is down on features as compared to the other two but gets lumbar support for the driver as well as anchor points for a child seat.
On the safety front, all three cars get two airbags and ABS with EBD. However, the Vitara Brezza is the only one where there is an airbag present even in the base model. This is not the case in the EcoSport or NuvoSport.
Engine and gearbox:-
The NuvoSport is offered with a 1.5-litre mHawk100 diesel engine that produces 100bhp/240Nm while the EcoSport also gets a 1.5-litre diesel that produces 100bhp/205Nm. The Vitara Brezza is powered by the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel that produces 89bhp/200Nm. A five-speed manual is standard across all three models. The NuvoSport also gets the option of a five-speed AMT while the EcoSport is only one that offers the option of petrol engines which in this case also includes the 1.0-litre EcoBoost motor.
Price (Ex-showroom Delhi):-
The NuvoSport’s range starts at Rs 7.42 lakh and goes all the way till Rs 9.87 lakh for the top-of-the-line diesel model while the Vitara Brezza is in the range of 6.99 lakh to Rs 9.54 lakh. Finally, the EcoSport, which also has petrol models in its range, is priced in the range of 6.99 lakh to Rs 9.75 lakh.
If you are looking for a petrol car then the EcoSport is your only option while the NuvoSport and its sibling the TUV300 are the only offerings in the case of a diesel AT. However, considering everything, these will not be factors that will hinder the Vitara Brezza from achieving its numbers in the overall scheme of things.
