The Car of the Year Award received by Maruti Suzuki Swift by Overdrive

Maruti Suzuki Swift was presented as the King of the Road award by Overdrive and again Maruti earned another feather into the cap. As a host of big names in the auto industry were intensely competing to grab awards in 13 categories, India largest car company and a strong contender presently overshadowed the others. Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car company earned yet another laurel as its ace hatchback, Swift was presented with the King of the Road award by Overdrive.

In New Delhi there was an event held wherein the CNBC-TV18 Overdrive Awards were given away to the auto industry players for various categories. Adjudging Maruti Swift as the recipient for the biggest prize of all was always on the cards, albeit some of the largest auto brands were a part of the competition.

Brands like Hyundai Sonata Embera, Ford Fiesta and Skoda Laura were included among the contenders. However, irrespective of the strong line-up, the most coveted award of Car of the Year was handed out to Maruti Swift.

The top ranking cars went through a host of stringent tests and were invigilated by a panel of car experts including Auto Designer Dilip Chabria, Editor Autocar India Hormazd Sorabjee and Associate Editor Autocar India Shapur Kotwal. In addition, National Rally Champion Naren Kumar, Auto Historian Manvendra Singh and former Rally Champion Renuka Kirpalani were a part of the panel.

While judging two things were taken into account eligibility and criteria most focused upon aspects while various vehicles were ranked on agility, role played in the Indian markets, price, style, design, interiors, transmission, riding experience, fuel economy, safety and handling.

Maruti Swift managed to tick the sales figures to 140,000 units, allowing it to subjugate 32 per cent of the market last year. Following the high-end performance, the popular hatchback held the 4th spot among the largest selling cars in the industry. The top three positions have been acquired by Maruti Alto, Hyundai i10 and Wagon R. 

However, going deeper into the statistics, one can realize that the past two years journey has not been plain for the leader of the hatchback. It is because few highly competent forces have made their way to the hatchback segment in the recent past. Ford, which brought in the Figo last year, planned to use price as its primary tool by offering the vehicle at an aggressive price of Rs. 3.69 lacs.

Moreover, it is irrefutably the cheapest car in the hatchback category of the Indian auto market. Also, it comes out to be at least Rs. 40,000 cheaper as against the price of Maruti Swift. It is important to note that the approach adopted by Ford worked wonders for the company. Figo has already taken 15 per cent of the market share in this segment under its belt. The Volkswagen’s Polo, rolled-out in February last year, also proved its mettle in the market by selling-off 3,000 units every month and ruling over 7 per cent market.