Comparison of Maruti Suzuki Celerio vs Datsun GO vs Hyundai i10

Hatchbacks, probably one of the most demanding segments in India is on cloud nine this time due to many exciting launches by brands like Maruti, newly introduced Datsun etc. While India’s most reliable brand Maruti Suzuki revealed its trendy top-class Celerio hatch this year, one more brand named Datsun has entered into the Indian automobile industry with the support of Nissan and brings its GO which also falls under same category.

But what’s interesting here is that both these cars are being highly appreciated by customers and has carried a recorded sales figure in their respective accounts. Therefore, for our beloved buyers who are still thinking which one to chose, we bring them a most demanding detailed comparison of India’s three popular hatchbacks, out of which two are newly launched Maruti’s Celerio and Datsun GO while the third-one is Hyundai’s ongoing & admirable i10 which has run successfully but now facing a quite tough competition by these new rivals. Let’s have a look.

Also See : Visit Our Maruti Celerio  FAQ section containing all small-yet-useful info altogether for your convenience

Price:

Our this competitive journey started with the price tags of these classy hatchbacks where we found a clear winner by having such a great affordable price. Let’s move further to know which one it is.

While the Datsun GO is available only with petrol fuel unit, Hyundai i10 gets LPG too along with petrol. Meanwhile, Maruti Celerio also gets CNG along with petrol.

Celerio petrol comes within the range of 3.76-4.78 lakhs while i10 here is giving it a rub shoulder fight by getting price tags between 3.87-4.35 lakhs. GO on the other side doesn’t giving a fight to their rivals here but wins with its most affordable prices of 3.12-3.69 lakhs.

Contrary, if you want to equip LPG fuel in Hyundai i10 then the model will be priced at 4.34-4.62 lakhs and if you want Celerio Green (CNG) then its cost is 4.68 lakhs.

Overall, by considering the petrol fuel units of all three and GO’s affordability in that, we give it one point extra here.

Price Scores:

Engine details:

Coming to under hood where Maruti equipped its family K10B engine in its Celerio which also marks its presence in other Maruti’s models. It is powered by 998cc, 1.0 litre 3-cyl petrol mill which develops max power of 67bhp and 90Nm of max power and peak torque and mated to a 5-speed manual along with optional AMT (automated-manual transmission) gearbox.

Contrary, it’s Datsun GO which seems to have a comparatively bigger engine of 1198cc, 1.2 litre petrol but it produces similar 67bhp of power and slightly more torque of 104Nm. The engine is getting a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox while automatic is missing here.

The third model here in the queue is i10 which is equipped by 1086cc, 1.1 litre petrol unit good for churning 68bhp of power and 99Nm of toque which is almost similar to the other two. Here again, just a 5-speed manual transmission is available while automatic is not.

Well, in engine availability on paper, our all three cars are almost similar but Celerio definitely has taken the cake away by having the auto gearbox in it. Now let’s move towards the fuel efficiency and here again Celerio seems to score more coz of being most fuel efficient among three. Maruti’s this classy hatch Celerio offers claimed mileage of around 22.0-23.1 km/l over the GO’s 20.6 km/l and i10’s 19.8 km/l.

Also See : Visit Our Datsun GO FAQ section containing all small-yet-useful info altogether for your convenience

Engine Scores:

Performance:

As we told earlier that Celerio is getting same familiar K10 engine but company has really improved it for making it of the new-gen model. The engine has become more responsive, easy to accelerate and easy to drive as well. Talking about its newly equipped auto gearbox, it works properly like the usual one. Company mentioned that its new AMT (automated-manual transmission) which is slightly different from the regular one and also shares basics with manual gearbox to keep the car’s cost down. If compares to any normal auto gearbox then the only difference one will feel in it that the gearshifts from one to another can be felt easily but that’s kind of okay with us. The gearshifts are quick and hence provide better fuel efficiency. Overall, it’s very impressive and practical auto gearbox which offers smooth ride and decent handling and definitely sets Celerio on the top here. Manual Celerio also works well and doesn’t let you down. It’s responsive and easy to handle. Overall, a practical and fuel efficient car for the city. It’s needless to mention here that we surely are impressed with this Maruti’s beauty.

And then it comes another newly launched Datsun GO which is light weighted and easy to accelerate. First of all we missed the auto gearbox in this hatch which later seemed okay by thinking about its price range. The manual gearbox in this GO works well; it is light and shifts very easily from one to another. Its engine seems like a nice on-road performer but becomes heavy till reach 4000 rpm. GO’s this petrol engine makes little bit noise as well but it didn’t bother us much. The steering wheel is light making the handling flexible and drivability better. Overall, if we ignore the auto gearbox, GO provides neck-to-neck performance like Celerio.

The Hyundai i10 gets a pretty refined engine but still not as much refined as the other two new models. Comparatively, i10 seems to have a bit less-modern engine but if drive alone then one will not get that out-dated feeling. The i10 offers a decent handling, nice ride quality and proper brake balance. The engine becomes audible on the high speed bumps but in city roads accelerates very smoothly. The steering is light and one will surely enjoy its riding.

So, while all three models provide a relaxing comfortable drive, we are giving half point extra to Celerio and GO over the i10 just for their more advanced technology, comparatively.

Performance Scores:

Space & Dimension:

Coming to the car’s dimension where Datsun’s hatch GO proves to be the longest and widest among three while Celerio is the tallest one. The GO is 3785mm in length 1635mm in width and 1485mm in height while Celerio on the other hand carries length, width and height of 3600mm, 1600mm and 1560mm respectively. Hyundai i10 on the last is comparatively smallest with the length of 3585mm, less-widest with the width of 1595mm, its height of 1550mm makes it second tallest among three, though.

The GO also carries longest wheelbase of 2450mm which provides it enough legroom at the rear row, Celerio’s 2425mm of wheelbase is less than GO but still an enough amount of space for rear legroom is available in this hatchback. I10 on the last gets least wheelbase length of 2380mm which surely affects the space availability of Hyundai’s this car.

Must say, Datsun really has done a great job by smartly designing its most affordable GO which makes it better in almost every section. The GO gets very impressive boot space of 265 liters which is far better than Celerio’s 235 liters and i10’s 225 liters. However, the minimum turning radius of all three cars is almost same and provides them a better turn on the cornering even in congested city roads. The Celerio and i10 both have min turning radius of 4.7 m over the 4.6m of GO.

Due to its tallest height, Celerio does offer best-among-three headroom as well while legroom at the rear also is sufficient and gives you a relaxing feel, the width the rear row somehow seems less for the three adults though but it’s manageable and tolerable with ease. While GO is not sitting behind as well, it does offer lot of legroom and headroom inside the cabin and the rear row can also easily fit three adults in it. Datsun has done one change in its front seats by connecting them where middle space can now used for storing your bag, papers etc. I10 due to its not updated nature lacks here again as well in space but we will say again that you will find i10 less spacious only if you compare it with the other two otherwise it’s a good package on the grounds of space.

And here, coz of GO’s wonderful boot space and slightly more spacious cabin comparatively, we give it half point extra.

Space & Dimension Scores:

Interior:

From the beginning you must be surprised how Datsun priced its hatch at so less price, right? Well, here is the answer of that. At the moment you enter the inside of cabin, you will realize that there is lot-lot of cost cutting can be seen. Though, material quality is good but equipments used in it are very basic. Dashboard layout is very simple, doors seems of light quality, grab handle to hold is missing from the co-passengers head side, uncovered glove box, very simple fabric seat covers, just a single wiper at front while no rear wiper at all, manual side mirrors which you’ll have to even adjust by your hand, no audio system etc. hence, now it seems justified why Datsun GO is most affordable one here.

Though there are few positive points too in this GO which is equipment of a universal mobile docket to place your mobile instead of music system/radio-you can keep your mobile there, listen to music, use it as navigation system etc, the other things in positive sides are digital tachometer showing average fuel economy, distance to empty etc, there is an amplifier, aux-in and USB port, this USB port can be only used for charging your mobile, though. Other than that GO is designed with AC with filter & heater, front power windows, dual front speakers, closable AC vents, central locking etc. The company also introduced few accessory packages with this GO hatch containing many required equipments in it but we are not including that here as one will have to pay extra money to avail them.

Maruti on the other side made its Celerio classy with the dual tone interior with nice material quality giving the cabin a plush feel, attractive dashboard and a plenty of more features in comparison to GO hatch which are justifying Celerio’s more price. It is designed with features like vanity mirrors for co-passenger, day night IRVM, 3-positioned cabin lights, manual AC with heater, audio system with radio, CD, USB, AUX-in & bluetooth, four speakers, keyless entry, central locking, power windows, power steering having audio controls, electrically adjustable outside mirror in top end variant while inside manual outside mirrors in mid-variant and many more which surely make the Celerio far better than the GO.

On the grounds of interior features, i10 gets many required features in it which are missing in GO while available in Celerio. The material quality used in i10 is good and it is equipped by features like cabin in 2-tone beige & brown key color, chrome finish side AC vent, tachometer, digital clock on audio display, low fuel warning lamp, digital odometer & trip-meter, air conditioner with heater, power steering with tilt, internally adjustable outside mirror, power window at front & rear, 2 din radio with CD, MP3, Aux-in, USB ports, 4 speakers, central locking, day & night inside rear view mirror, keyless entry etc.

Interior Scores:

Exterior:

This is the section where we liked all the three hatchbacks, these are not the top-most stylish but not untrendy as well. Celerio poses an attractive exterior profile and thanks to Maruti that it didn’t give it a square outside like its other hatch Wagon-R. Its newly designed material/chrome grille with Suzuki logo on it, wrapped headlamps and body colored bumper definitely looks classy and trendy.

GO on the other side doesn’t disappoint you as well with its smartly designed profile along with halogen headlamp, chrome radiator angular-shaped grille, clear tail lamps and body colored bumpers etc make the car worth to watch. Though, its 155/70R13 sized tyres looks too thin as per its size while Maruti Celerio gets 155/80R13 sized tyres in its base variant and 165/70R14 in its two top-end ones. However, Hyundai’s i10 also has 155/80R13 sized tyres as standard.

Hyundai i10 but still is a popular model which is running successfully across the world since its launch and one of the main reasons behind its success is its smart outside profile. Its 2-tone chrome radiator grille, clear headlamps & rear combination lamps, body colored bumper etc gives it a trendy profile like the other two.

Exterior Scores:

Safety:

And then it’s about safety now where Datsun GO again showing so much cost cutting by not providing the required safety devices like airbags, ABS, EBD….nothing, not even in its top end variant. However, company at the time of launch gave many excuses behind not equipping these devices but we are not satisfied at all. On the name of safety, Datsun GO gets just a child lock and immobilizer.

Even Hyundai is not any different here. Like the GO, i10 also gets only immobilizer as the safety equipment.

But Maruti really did a good job here by equipping dual front airbags and Anti-lock braking system (ABS) in its Celerio along with the immobilizer, child proof rear door locks etc. They say that features like airbags, ABS doesn’t matter that much and omission of these features doesn’t change anything, but for us it really does matter unless you are a reliable brand like Toyota who can make its vehicle safest even without these features.

Safety Scores:

Final Verdict:

As per the above detailed discussion, while we find Celerio very smartly designed and priced as well, GO is a fair package too but only if you are ready to compromise on interior and safety features. Contrary, i10 is a good vehicle and a strong competitor too but it needs an update now to make bang in competitive market. Celerio also has plus point that is its brand Maruti which is famous for its trustworthy image and wonderful after sales services while Hyundai and Datsun have way to go yet in this manner.

Final Scores:

Sandeep Singh