What are they like to live with?
From the driver’s seat
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Bold design and lots of equipment too
Skoda Laura
Practical but doesn’t have the flair of Kizashi
You expect A swanky new luxury saloon to be chock full of features and the new Kizashi will delight you. It comes with a handsome list of features including a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, along with safety kit like ABS with EBD, ESP and multiple airbags. The plethora of buttons on the centre console can confuse the first-time user. The Kizashi’s front seats have ample leg-, shoulder and headroom but could be more supportive. Both seats have power adjustment and finding a comfortable driving position is easy. The Kizashi’s cabin scores on style but some switchgear don’t match up to segment rivals. The power window buttons and some other switches are similar to the ones on the Swift/SX4 and do not help the Kizashi’s claim of being a class-leading luxury saloon. That said, the plastic quality on the centre console is decent and the buttons function with a quality feel. Storage space is adequate with a medium-sized glovebox, a few cubbyholes and door pockets large enough to hold a bottle. Adding to the touch of luxury is the push-button start/stop, a first on a Maruti.
The Skoda Laura’s simplistic exterior design is replicated inside. The cabin is styled for function to follow form. Masses of adjustment for the steering wheel and driver’s seat allow people of all sizes to get comfortable. The seats are supportive too but, unlike the Kizashi, there is no power adjustment, even as an option, so you will have to do things manually. The dashboard design is simplicity itself, which means it lacks design flair but makes up for that with its ease of operation; all controls are easy to locate and operate. The stereo screen also doubles up as the reverse parking sensors. The green backlit gauges are clear to read. All-round visibility is good. The cabin shouts quality and every switch has a nice tactile feel to it. The materials used are all first rate. The beige/black combination works well. Though overall equipment is decent, you miss some goodies like steering-mounted controls and a USB drive for the stereo, which the Kizashi offers as standard.
SPACE AND PRACTICALITY
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Decent space all round, rear seats lack support
Skoda Laura
Comfortable seats and huge boot
THERE’S NO POINT in ferrying your colleagues between meetings if you all arrive cramped to do business. There is good all-round space in the Suzuki Kizashi. The front seats have enough legroom with good seat travel. The rear seats have decent room as well. While they are well shaped, a bit more under-thigh support would have made them even better. The high central tunnel in the rear though means that sitting three abreast at the rear will be a cause for complaint for occupants. There are multiple storage options in the cabin like the twin glovebox, cubbyholders in the centre console and big storage pockets in the doors. The boot at 461 litres is adequate rather than generous when you look at the large dimensions of the car (the SX4’s boot is 505 litres).
Move over to the Laura and you’ll find the front seats are spacious with good seat travel. But it’s the rear seat where the Laura lags behind its Japanese rival. Six-foot adults can just about sit behind similar-sized front occupants. One of the Laura’s trump cards is its cavernous 560-litre boot. The hatch opening adds practicality and tipping the seats forward creates a stupendous 1,420 litres of storage space. However, when the rear seats are tipped forward, there’s a step in the floor. The Laura’s rear seats are good only for two abreast since the central tunnel is obtrusive for the third passenger. There are a decent number of storage bins such as four average-sized door pockets, a big glovebox, cup- and bottleholders, a dashtop box and central storage cubbyhole on offer.
What are they like to drive?
Performance, Refinement
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Strong, if not as lively as the Laura
Skoda Laura
Flexible engine provides plenty of go
The Kizashi is powered by a 2.4-litre petrol engine. It is the same engine as the one found on the Vitara SUV. The motor puts out a healthy 176bhp of power, which is a full 16bhp more than the Laura’s 160bhp. But the Laura’s maximum torque (pulling power) at 25.5kgm is much better than the Kizashi’s 23.45kgm. Both cars come with a six-speed gearbox, which makes better use of their engines’ power. The Kizashi also gets a six-speed automatic as an option. The Laura uses a turbocharger to boost power from a relatively compact motor. This gives the 1.8-litre engine enough muscle to send you hurtling into the next pincode zone even before you know it. The engine loves to rev and remains smooth and refined even when nearing its redline.
Engine responses are typically of a turbo-charged unit, which means that there is a strong surge of power in the mid-range and the Laura needs to be revved to get the best out of it. The surge of power pushes you into the back of your seat. The six-speed gearbox, which is crisp and smooth to operate, is easily one of the best units around. The additional sixth gear means that the engine has greater flexibility when out on an open road. For a quick overtaking manoeuvre on the highway, all you need to do is tap the accelerator and push into a lower gear. Zero to 100kph comes up in a blisteringly quick 8.17 seconds. In-gear times though are good too?9.47sec for 20-80kph and 10.79sec for 40-100kph.
The Kizashi’s 2.4-litre engine is no slouch either but clearly feels slower than the Laura. Its in-gear times are respectable?10.37sec for 20-80kph and 14.02sec for 40-100kph, but it just doesn’t display the urgency of the Laura’s refined unit and there is a slight delay between putting your foot down and the engine getting into its stride. That’s because it doesn’t deliver peak torque until 4,000rpm, whereas the Laura delivers it from a low 1,500rpm. This lack of low end grunt means that you have to rev the Kizashi to get it going. The good thing is that the engine spins effortlessly to 6,500rpm. Once on song though, the Kizashi feels as quick as the Laura. But what blunts the performance of the engine is the gear ratios, which Suzuki has chosen in the interest of economy and emission rather than outright pace. The car also comes in a CVT-automatic version, but if you love driving we’d advise you stick with the manual. The Kizashi’s engine also tends to become noisy as the revs mount. The six-speed gearbox isn’t the slickest we’ve seen and though the shift action is positive, the throw is a bit long and feels rubbery as well.
RIDE and HANDLING
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Smooth yet sporty, an excellent compromise
Skoda Laura
Handles well, ride is a bit harsh
The 195/65 R15 tyres grip well and the body controls are tight. The car feels surefooted while driving through a series of corners and the steering weights up accurately but a little more communication would have been welcome. If it’s fun that you are after, then the Laura will not disappoint you. But in the quest for sporty handling, Skoda has traded a little bit in the comfort department. The Laura’s low speed ride is a bit harsh and you can hear the suspension make a strong ‘thump’ sound everytime you hit a big crevice on the road. The relatively firm suspension set-up can send some shudders in through the car’s body over sharp bumps and potholes in town. Things improve significantly as you gain speed, the car delivering a comfortable ride and taking the sting out of most road undulations.
While the Laura feels its size, the Kizashi tends to shrink around you, making it a very good car for town travel while manouvering through traffic. The steering reacts quickly to driver inputs. However, it is a touch too light and there is a lack of consistency about the way it weights up as well around the dead zone of the straight-ahead position, which somewhat detracts from driver involvement. Grip from the large 215/55 R17 tyres is brilliant and gives you great confidence as you build speeds and tackle corners. The Kizashi simply coasts over bumps with the suspension working brilliantly and silently. Over a set of corners, the Kizashi feels agile and body roll is under control. It remains quite surefooted as speeds increase too. What Suzuki has got spot-on is the low-speed ride comfort. The relatively soft suspension functions silently, bump absorption is first rate and the Kizashi glides over rough patches, and doesn’t get greatly unsettled over bumps at speed either.
Will they break the bank
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
Expensive but better equipped
Skoda Laura
Cheaper to buy but spares are expensive
The Laura AMBIENTE costs Rs 13.34 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) and comes equipped with features like dual zone climate control, rear AC vents, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, headlight washers, and cruise control among other things. It delivers a fuel economy of 9.8kpl in the city and 14kpl on the highway?respectable considering its size. The Laura comes with a two-year/50,000km standard warranty. There is also a ‘Skoda shield’ extended warranty package available that has a four-year/1,00,000km warranty and includes insurance for the first year and a four-year free roadside assistance facility. But resale values of Skoda’s petrol versions have been poorer to diesel versions.
The Kizashi, which costs Rs 16.50 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), has features like a multi-information display, projector headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 10-way adjustable power driver’s seat, keyless-push button start. It comes with a two-year/40,000km warranty that cannot be extended. Maruti’s aftersales is still second to none.
The range round-up
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
List price Rs 16,50,000
For: Style, equipment, ride comfort
Against: Price, some low-rent cabin trim
Verdict: Able all-rounder but fails to sparkle in any particular area
Unlike most MARUTIs which come in LXi, VXi and ZXi versions, the Kizashi has only one fully-loaded version on sale with a 2.4-litre petrol engine borrowed from the Vitara but with variable valve timing technology.
The only option to choose is a manual and automatic gearbox. Both come with six-speed gearboxes. The automatic is a continuous-variable transmission (CVT) and gets paddle shifts behind the steering wheel to change gears manually and is added fun. In terms of features, you get all the bells and whistles. An integrated stereo, steering- mounted audio controls, multi-function steering wheel, cruise control and power adjustment for both front seats. The Kizashi also gets a start/stop button, a dual-zone and an automatic climate control. The big Suzuki has plenty of safety features too. There is ABS, EBD, ESP, hill assist, pre-tensioner seatbelts, engine immobiliser, lane change indicators, and a total of eight airbags. The seats are leather and beige in colour. The Kizashi’s engine produces 176bhp. The manual variant is priced at Rs 16.5 lakh, while the CVT is for Rs 17.5 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).
The range round-up
Skoda Laura
List price Rs 13,34,714
For: Pace, solid build, lower price tag
Against: Some equipment missing
Verdict: Good blend of value and driver appeal give it the edge
The Skoda Laura has a wide range of variants, which includes a petrol and diesel engine. The diesel versions can be chosen in automatic or manual versions. The range starts with the recently launched Classic in petrol version, which gets only driver’s side seat adjust, AC and power steering as useful features. It retails for Rs 11.99 lakh. This is followed by the 1.8TSi Ambiente model which retails at Rs 13.34 lakh. The rest of the range comprises the 2-litre TDi diesel motor. The diesel range also has an Ambiente trim level, then there is the Elegance model and finally the top-of-the range L&K model. The manual diesels produce 110bhp, while the automatics produce 138bhp. All come with basic features. The Elegance model comes with dual-zone climate control and auto folding mirrors as extra. The top-of-the- line L&K comes with leather seats, touch-screen display, and six airbags. The diesel Ambiente will set you back by Rs 13.79 lakh, while the Automatic Ambiente diesel is for Rs 14.89 lakh. The Elegance costs you Rs 15.26 lakh for the manual version and 16.25 lakh for the automatic version. The L&K is available only as an automatic and is priced at Rs 18.01 lakh.
