The budget end of the Australian automotive market is an interesting and colorful place at the moment.
Where it was once filled exclusively with bland, no-frills items that lacked even the most basic conveniences, let alone advanced safety systems, first-time new car buyers are now offered a wider choice with plenty of modern conveniences and state-of-the-art driving aids.
Like these two: the chunky and edgy Mahindra XUV 3XO – the Indian brand’s first city SUV – and the latest generation of the venerable Suzuki Swift hatchback, now available in a hybrid-only range.
Both come with standard equipment that dwarfs their sub-$25,000 price tag and are affordable to own thanks to fuel-efficient powertrains and affordable maintenance programs.
But which one is the best? Let’s take a look and find out…
How much?
The Mahindra
There is of course a higher-end AX7L variant that costs $3,000 extra and comes with more features and the option of a two-tone color scheme.
It doesn’t take much more money to get into the entry-level variant of the three-level Suzuki Swift range, which costs $24,990 with the five-speed manual and $27,490 with the CVT automatic.
The mid-range Swift Plus and top-of-the-range GLX come standard with the self-shifting transmission and require an additional $4,000 and $6,000, respectively.
So it’s a first win for the Mahindra when it comes to sticker price, but let’s see if the value continues to increase in terms of features.
What do you get?
As mentioned above, it wasn’t that long ago that cars in this market segment had manual windows, a basic radio and only the essential safety equipment to meet local design regulations and keep costs down.
You literally got what you paid for – the convenience of mobility, but not much else.
But the XUV 3XO and Swift represent a new era of budget driving with generous standard features including:
- Keyless entry with push button start
- Fabric seat cover
- Air conditioning
- Touchscreen infotainment display
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Embedded satellite navigation
However, the Mahindra goes further: it has larger 16-inch alloy wheels compared to the Swift’s 15-inch steelies with hubcaps. It also has dual-zone automatic climate control with rear vents and a cooled glovebox, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, USB power outlets, a sunroof and a six-speaker audio system (the entry-level Swift only has two speakers).
Are you sure?
Both vehicles are equipped with a full range of advanced safety systems and driver assistance systems and have undergone an independent assessment by ANCAP, receiving a three-star rating under the latest and most stringent protocols.
Both the XUV 3XO and Swift have the following safety features:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane keeping assistant
- Traffic sign recognition
- Rear view camera with rear parking sensors
- Six airbags
Here too, the Mahindra offers even more with tire pressure monitoring, blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree parking display.
How are they inside?
And something else surprising about these two cars: They may be small on the outside, but they are surprisingly practical on the inside, because both cars offer more space than you can imagine.
Slightly larger than the Swift in all key dimensions, the Mahindra
In comparison, the Swift is 3860mm long and has a wheelbase of 2450mm.
Both are five-seaters with enough headroom and legroom in the rear so that two adults or three small children can travel comfortably on the bench seat.
The fact that the Mahindra has rear air vents, a USB port and a fold-down center armrest makes it even more enjoyable. And the standard sunroof also brings more light into the interior, making it appear even more spacious.
Additionally, the XUV 3XO has significantly more cargo capacity in the trunk, which has a total volume of 364 liters compared to 265 liters of the Swift hatchback.
And for those sitting in the front, both cars have comfortable seats with good support, numerous adjustment options, good visibility and a number of practical solutions for storing small items.
The Mahindra’s largely black color palette is offset somewhat by the light coming in via the standard sunroof, while the Swift has a softer and lighter tone with a mix of gray and white in the center of the dashboard, separated by black accents on the center console.
Both have high-mounted infotainment touchscreens with easy-to-navigate menu structures, but the Mahindra is slightly larger and the digital instrument cluster also adds a more modern touch.
What’s under the hood?
Both cars are powered by 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engines driving the front wheels, but that’s where the similarities end.
The Mahindra
The Suzuki Swift, on the other hand, has a naturally aspirated three-piston engine connected to a 12V mild hybrid system that adds electric assistance during initial acceleration and switches off the engine when the vehicle is stationary to save fuel.
It produces just 61kW of power and 112Nm of torque, but uses around 30 percent less fuel with a claimed average of just 3.8L/100km in manual mode (4.0L/100km with the CVT). In comparison, Mahindra claims an average fuel consumption of 6.5L/100km for the XUV 3XO
Operating costs
The Mahindra offers more when it comes to long-term ownership as the XUV 3XO is covered by a seven-year/150,000km warranty with roadside assistance and six years of service at top prices.
Regular maintenance is required every 12 months or 15,000km and costs a total of $1994 for the first six years.
In comparison, the Swift is covered by a five-year/unlimited mileage warranty with roadside assistance and a maintenance price cap for the same period.
Like the Mahindra, service intervals are 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first), and maintenance costs are $1,955 for the first five years.
The choice of Daily Sparkz
The biggest winner here is consumers – whether they’re buying a new car for the first time, living empty-handed or on a tight budget – because these two relatively recent newcomers prove that the lower end of the automotive market has never been more competitive and entry-level models have never been more substantial.
The Suzuki Swift is a solid choice with excellent build quality, good driving dynamics and a mild-hybrid powertrain that will save you money on petrol.
But especially with an automatic transmission, the Swift costs significantly more than the
MORE: Explore the Mahindra XUV 3XO showroom
MORE: Explore the Suzuki Swift showroom
