India’s one of the most demanding segments- Hatchback, is the most overcrowded-one as well. There are plenty no. of small cars which are making their presence here in this section and somehow confused our buyers to select one among them. Then how the customers choose? Well, answer is simple, while some opt as per their budget, some people on the other side who don’t have any budget issue opt as per car’s other benchmarks like performance, looks, efficiency etc.
In Indian automobile industry, one can find a hatchback in the price range of around 3 lakhs to 10 lakhs with some ups & downs. And today, in this queue, we are here to assist you in your selection and bring a detailed comparison between three mid-range hatchbacks which are Ford Figo, Nissan Micra and Chevrolet Beat. These all three models have tasted the appropriate success but which one is best among these three is still behind the curtain. Let’s find out.
Price:
When it comes to price then Nissan’s Micra seems much expensive here and gives a chance to other two models to take over it very easily.
Nissan Micra carries price range of 5.33-7.05 lakhs for its petrol models while quite costly 5.75-7.47 lakhs for its diesel-ones.
On the other side, Ford Figo and Chevrolet Beat are way affordable than Micra but give a tough fight to each other. While Ford Figo is available at prices of 4.29-6.92 lakhs in petrol and 5.29-7.41 lakhs in diesel, the Chevrolet Beat is expensive with the petrol variant but becomes cheaper in diesel. Beat petrol get the price tags of 4.24-5.45 lakhs and Rs. 5.10-6.32 lakhs.
Hence, while Micra is clearly not in this race with its expensive price, the Figo and Beat is carrying quite similar range with few ups & downs.
Price Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 0/2 |
| Ford Figo | 1.5/2 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 1/2 |
Engine details:
Under the hood, all three gets both petrol and diesel fuels while Chevy Beat has LPG as well. The Beat, on paper, is powered by 1.2 liter 4-cyl petrol engine which produces 79.4bhp of max power and 108Nm of peak torque while its diesel engine is of 1.0 liter good to offer power and torque of 57.7bhp and 150Nm respectively. Both the engines of Beat are mated to 5-speed manual transmission gearbox.
Nissan Micra is equipped with 1.2 liter of petrol engine developing max power of 74.9bhp (manual) & 75.9bhp (CVT) and torque of 104Nm which seems less than Beat petrol’s. Further its diesel engine of 1.5 liter is far bigger comparatively and churning out the max output & torque of 63.1bhp and 160Nm respectively. The good thing here is that Nissan equipped both 5-speed manual & CVT auto gearboxes in its Micra petrol while 5-speed manual in Micra diesel.
The Ford’s Figo on the last is armed with a 1.2 liter petrol unit which comparatively derives max power and torque of 86bhp and 112Nm respectively and mated to 5-speed manual gearbox. Ford has also has also provided a 1.5l Ti-VCT petrol mill, that develops massive 110bhp power@6300rpm and 136Nm of high torque@4250rpm which comes equipped with a 6-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox.
Its diesel engine is of 1.5 liter breathes through 99bhp and 215Nm of power n torque and geared up with 5-speed manual transmission.
Hence, while all three cars carrying petrol trims of 1.2 liter, their outputs n torques differ which makes Ford Figo best among the three on paper. However, Micra’s auto gearbox in petrol raises its standard too. As far as their diesel mill is concerned, while Beat gets tiniest 1.0 liter, it’s the Figo which seems most powerful here with its 1.5 liter size and more impressive power.
On the grounds of fuel efficiency, Beat offers best-in-three claimed figure of 18.6 km/l in petrol and 25.4 km/l in diesel while Micra gives almost similar 18.4 km/l in petrol but lesser23.08 km/l in diesel. Ford Figo here wins the race in one department by offering just 18.16 km/l in its petrol model and 25.83 km/l in diesel making it the most fuel efficient car in its segment.
Engine Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 2/3 |
| Ford Figo | 3/3 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 2/3 |
Performance:
Let’s see, on the road, what their scenario is? As company claims that Micra’s CVT gearbox is fuel efficient and very smooth to use as well. Company also has raised the produced power of petrol engine for this CVT gearbox by 1bhp. Micra petrol’s this CVT version really is its plus point, it offers a hustle free ride in the city traffic, you will find it relaxing to not change gears again & again in the congested areas. But on highways, the ride quality becomes little bit slower with this CVT gearbox. The diesel model of Micra is the refined engine among the three cars mentioned here. There is no turbo lag and torque spreads very easily and engine accelerates quite calmly. There is no noise and no vibration at all which sometimes will make you forget that you are driving a diesel car. We really like Micra’s on road performance with both petrol and diesel.
Ford’s Figo on the other side gives a neck-to-neck fight to Micra on the terms of performance. Its diesel engine is pretty much refined and there is no turbo lag as well which makes the driving in city traffic very easy and comfortable. But here again, it feels lazy on highways. The petrol model gets only 5-speed manual which sometimes can irritate you in the traffic-city-roads, otherwise it’s a well refined engine which provides decent ride quality and amazing handling.
Well, what to say, we are seeing same story all over, even Chevrolet Beat diesel is noiseless and vibration less, the turbo lag is very-very low here as well which assists in driving smoothly in the city roads. Due to its least size engine and least developed power & torque, it gives best mileage too, bingo to the Beat!! As far as its petrol mill is concerned, after driving the Micra, we again missed the auto gearbox here as well, though its riding on the road is very smooth and comfortable and one will enjoy driving the Beat.
Hence, all three cars offers very appealing on-road performance with both petrol and diesel fuel, now it’s up to you which one’s ride you enjoy most. Here, we give Nissan’s Micra half point extra for its CVT gearbox’s amazing city road riding.
Performance Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 1/1 |
| Ford Figo | 1/1 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 0.5/1 |
Space & Dimension:
Dimension wise, on paper, new Figo proves to be the longest, widest and tallest hatch among these three. Figo carries length of 3886mm, width of 1695mmand height of 1525mm, the Micra is 3825mm long, 1665mm wide and its height varies in petrol to diesel models with 1525mm in petrol & 1530mm in diesel. Meanwhile Beat is smallest-one in length & width and gets overall dimension of 3640 x 1595 x 1520 mm.
Being smallest in length, Beat also offers smallest wheelbase length of 2375mm while Micra’s wheelbase is of 2450mm. But what surprises us is the wheelbase length of Figo which is impressive 2489mm and it’s this length gives Figo best-among-three legroom space at rear, no doubt in that.
To provide better protection from speed breakers and other hurdles of rough roads, Ford provides its hatch best ground clearance of 174mm over the Chevy’s 168mm and Micra’s much less 150mm (diesel), 154mm (petrol).
Further, Micra’s long length also doesn’t help it to get better boot space, it gets car boot of 251 liters which still is less than Figo’s boot space of 257mm. But here what disappoints us highly is the space of Beat which is just a tiny portion of 170 liters.
The Figo’s 4.9m, Beat’s 4.8m and Micra’s 4.6m of minimum turning radius makes these cars really comfortable on turns at city traffics.
As far as their inner cabin space on the grounds of legroom, headroom and thigh support etc is concerned, all three cars tried to get their best. While Figo gets brilliantly designed spacious legroom and headroom at its rear row, Micra also shows the same but Beat on the other side probably due to its less dimension fails to match the other two cars in terms of space availability and disappoints a bit.
Space & Dimension Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 1/1 |
| Ford Figo | 1/1 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 0/1 |
Interior:
Coming to the interior equipments and quality level where Chevrolet, Nissan and Ford all has given a premium touch to their respective hatchbacks but we liked Ford’s designing most, Nissan’s Micra also looks pretty well though.
Ford has designed the Figo’s interior very smartly by giving it black seat matching with the exterior color, really comfortable seats, classy dashboard and many more. Overall, Figo gets a nice interior package of quality and premium.
Beat on the other side also gives a not-disappointing feel with its blue colored interior illumination, design inserted semi fabric seat covers, high gloss silver finishing at inside etc.
While we found Micra’s seat fabric comparatively much simpler and less classy and a bit dated but it’s not the complete story, Micra still managed to attract us highly with its piano black finished centre console which gives the car premium and trendier than ever look and Nissan’s this step somehow made us forget about its simple fabric seats and it managed to take half point extra from us.
On the name of interior and comfort equipments, 4.2 inch infotainment system for SYNC and APPLINK with voice control function, MY Ford DOCK in lower variants. The top end trims also include automatic climate control, three pod instrument cluster with MID featuring distance to empty, low fuel warning etc. Other features include keyless entry, electric boot release button, steering mounted controls, electrically adjustable ORVMs, 12V power socket at front, rear parking sensors, audio system with USB, Aux-in and bluetooth connectivity.
Chevy’s Beat is armed with features like Day/Night Rear View Mirror, integrated audio system, AM/FM/CD/MP3 Player, USB, Aux-in, speakers, power steering with mounted audio controls and tilt, rear power windows, manual AC, internally adjustable ORVM, central locking, rear defogger etc, most of these features are available as optional-ones here not as standard, though.
Micra on the last is equipped with power steering with tilt, power window at front & rear, manual/auto AC (depends upon the variants), 2DIN audio with AM/FM, Aux-in, USB, front & rear speakers, hands-free bluetooth, steering wheel with audio & hands-free control, rear window defroster with timer, keyless entry, push button start, rear view camera, reverse camera display, electrically adjustable ORVM with electric park & fold system, central locking, follow-me headlamps and some more.
Here, Micra really impressed us with features like rear & front power window (missing only in Figo), auto AC, reverse camera display, electrically foldable ORVM etc which are missing in other.
Interior Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 0.75/1 |
| Ford Figo | 1/1 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 0.5/1 |
Exterior:
Well, now it’s time to see their public appeal, what impression these three classy hatchbacks give to its customers at first sight i.e. how do they look? Let’s start with Micra then. It was said earlier that Micra is cute looking girly car which will suit only to a college or office going girl. Well, to change this thinking of India’s boys, Nissan really worked a lot and brought its facelift where company has tried to make the Micra a bit boyish as well!! Its newly designed bumper with chrome finished dual part grille holding Nissan logo in between, chrome finished front fog lamps, sharper headlamps and rear LED are making the exterior profile of Micra masculine than ever and looking really attractive.
And then its comes Ford’s classy Figo which has been updated as well, company has give the Figo a new Aston martin grille at front, pull back headlamps, etc. Overall Figo look the best looking hatchback in its segment and we really like it with its material quality and finishing.
Chevrolet’s Beat is really a good looking hatchback which also has been company’s one of the most selling models so far. We really like its outside styling and body work. At outside it gets rear spoiler, body colored bumpers, front grille with chrome finish, silver roof rails and steel wheels as standard while alloy wheels as optional.
Overall, we admire all three hatchbacks for their look and companies for their smart designing and hence we give all three equal scores here.
Exterior Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 0.75/1 |
| Ford Figo | 1/1 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 1/1 |
Safety:
3 point seatbelts for front & rear seats, PATS (passive anti-theft system), ABS (antilock braking system) with EBD (electronic brake-force distribution), ESP, HLA, TCS and six airbags are the safety devices which are marking their presence in Ford Figo and provides it safety on the road while Chevrolet Beat on the other side is equipped with only dual airbags and antilock braking system (ABS) while EBD etc is missing from it. Micra at the last seems the safest among three by having features like dual airbags for driver & co-passenger and side airbags as well, immobilizer with alarm, antilock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), brake assist, speed sensing auto door lock etc.
Safety Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 1/1 |
| Ford Figo | 1/1 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 0.5/1 |
Final Verdict:
Beat Micra and Figo, three cars with three different brands yet quite similar qualities. We are surely impressed. While Nissan and Ford are quite new brands in market comparatively, Chevrolet is one of the senior-ones still if we’ll have to choose one among these three on the basis of their brand image and after sale services, we would like to opt Ford for their hard efforts to provide wonderful services to its customers post buying. And hence, we are giving one point extra to Ford here for its services post buying.
Final Scores:
| Nissan Micra | 6.5/11 |
| Ford Figo | 9.5/11 |
| Chevrolet Beat | 5.5/11 |
