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Interior Design:
Fiat Punto: 9 /10
Hyundai I 20: 8.5 /10
Maruti Ritz: 7 /10
Clearly, stylistically the punto wins again as the dashboard really wraps around the driver for that "cockpit like effect" at night aided by the black and silver dashboard and integrated audio with HVAC controls.
Amazing Dials and amazing steering wheel design are another stylistic touches.
The Doorpad design also matches the contours of the dashboard with the "tilt and slant" look, very exciting, very italian and the contours of the seats are again almost perfect. The "P" logo looks superb on the front seats.
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The I20 do not do badly as far as design goes, but it lacks any flair of the Punto, especially the old school vertical AC vents. However, the audio controls are intuitive and toggle type-very easy to operate. The beige and brown color scheme of the interior looks good but not to everyone's taste. The glove box is deep and the HVAC controls are superb and easy to use. The seat design is flat and lacks any contours for the under thigh support, same goes for the rear seat. The door pads again are like Verna’s, flat and square but of high quality.
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The ritz also has got a bit of character with the dashboard design looking like a mix of the CR-V (waterfall type central console) and I 10 (gearshift knob), but in VDI it looks pretty dull due to absence of any essential equipment. However, the white speedometer dial mimics that of the mini and the pop-up tachometer looks cool, but is almost difficult to read, same goes for digital fuel gauge, too small. The front seats are superbly designed with sporty counters however, the rear seats are pretty flat same goes for the doorpads, good but dull design. |
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Interior Quality:
Fiat Punto: 6 /10
Hyundai I 20: 9 /10
Maruti Ritz: 7 /10
The punto is clearly outclassed as far as interior quality of plastics are concerned.
Should I say, even the Ritz has pretty better plastics as compared to the Punto. The punto has pretty big panel gaps on the steering column, seat console flimsy enough to break apart, broken rear parcel tray lock. Also there is no complete rubber on the doors as well.
However, the major concern is the lack of precision of interiors being screwed up together. In the demo car barely clocked 575 kms, the screw fastner of the passenger seat fell off mysteriously and that part of the plastic also cracked (shown in the pic). Some plastics are hardwearing no doubt, but these small niggles are simply intolerable in a car costing as much as 6,11,000 in Delhi.
Maruti has made giant strides in improving the interior quality in the ritz and it shows. The fit and finish is miles ahead of Swift and SX4 and the quality has improved by leaps and bounds, especially that of the 2-tone grey and black dashboard and the chunky gear knob. For a car costing 4,99,000, what more could you want?
Yes, it costs more, but it also gives you more bang for your buck. Except for the colors scheme, the interior quality is superb and even some plastics are hardwearing and durable, especially the seat fabric and the upper dashboard panel, which are superbly finished as well as the gear knob, very grippy even though it feels a bit shiny. Nowhere have you got a feeling of cheapness that is present in the Punto. |
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Interior practicality:
Fiat Grande Punto: 7 /10
Hyundai I 20: 8 /10
Maruti Ritz: 6 /10
Again, the I 20 has lots of cupholders, which are deep, deep sized glovebox and twin seat back pockets with added flexibility of 60:40 split seat. The magazine holders are again decent and the parcel tray feels solid.
The punto, too is decent, but is compromised by the size of the storage bins which are too thin and shallow, even for the cupholders. In the lower end versions, the passenger airbag is replaced by an additional glovebox which does add a bit of practicality, but only just.
The Ritz is nowhere in the league. No cupholders, only small storage DIN slot for CDs and a seat under tray are provided. Whats shocking is the absence of parcel tray, not provided in any of the diesel models. The door pockets are OK, better than the punto but not in the same league as that of the I20. |
