Which is the safest hatchback in India?

Sankar · 22nd February 2007, 00:50

Most of the posts are rooting for Palio but Swift still leads the poll.
Comparing both cars with identical safety features I voted for Swift as it's a newer design and safety would be as good or better than the Palio.

msdivy · 22nd February 2007, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

First of all, both of them are based on sedans (not the vice versa as in the case of U-VA, Palio).

Which sedans are they based on ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

Second, they are priced way too high, and are a niche product in their respective segments.

But both 800 & Swift are in the same list ??

always_dui · 22nd February 2007, 09:29

i would stand for the Indica in comparison to the Palio as my vote indicates.

on our way back from nasik just after the kasara ghat our indica toppled at around 60km/h after hitting a boulder trying to avoid a oncoming tempo

we were shaken no doubt but not injured ,the car was scratched but no major structural damage.

i have seen the palio after a similar accident but the top had peeled of like they show in ice cream ad's

ashutoshb · 22nd February 2007, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy

Which sedans are they based on?

The SRV is based on the Optra and the Fusion is based on the Fiesta.

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy

But both 800 & Swift are in the same list ??

800 is not that cheap my friend...an AC version will cost you around 2.4 lakhs onroad. for that money you can get a good deal on some really good cars.

msdivy · 22nd February 2007, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

800 is not that cheap my friend...an AC version will cost you around 2.4 lakhs onroad. for that money you can get a good deal on some really good cars.

M800 = 2.4
M800 + 3L = Swift
Swift + 3L = SRV !!

My point is safety comes at a price. M800 cannot match the safety of Swift because they is huge price difference between the two.

gunbir · 22nd February 2007, 10:03

When you ask "which is the safest hatchback in India" do you mean active safety or passive safety. A car like the Palio can be called passive safe as it is designed that way from the ground up. This has more to do with design and engineering rather than what gizmos a mfr stuffs into their top variant. I would buy a better handling car that wouldnt land me in a ditch, rather than one that handles poorly, lands in a ditch and then opens up airbags on me. In that sense, I don't consider swift to be that safe at all. The palio and the getz get my vote for well designed cars that have safety built-in to the design.

I really dont get how you guys (the ones that voted for the swift) can vote a car with inherent safety flaws like poor visibility as the safest car in India.

srirambr · 22nd February 2007, 10:50

Palio. And palio it is.

toppled at around 60km/h after hitting a boulder trying to avoid a oncoming tempo

we were shaken no doubt but not injured ,the car was scratched but no major structural damage.

i have seen the palio after a similar accident but the top had peeled of like they show in ice cream ad's

That's because, palios, don't tcrawl at 60's. Try toppling the indica at 90 or 100 ks and then you will know which part of you will resemble an ice cream scoop.

ashutoshb · 22nd February 2007, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by msdivy

M800 = 2.4
M800 + 3L = Swift
Swift + 3L = SRV !!
My point is safety comes at a price. M800 cannot match the safety of Swift because they is huge price difference between the two.

like i said earlier.....a second hand indica is better than 800.

etchemkay · 22nd February 2007, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunbir

I would buy a better handling car that wouldnt land me in a ditch, rather than one that handles poorly, lands in a ditch and then opens up airbags on me.

I really dont get how you guys (the ones that voted for the swift) can vote a car with inherent safety flaws like poor visibility as the safest car in India.

Gunbir, It's like you read my mind and put my thoughts into words, better than I would've.
As far as the safety "feel" of a car goes, Palio (and the Palio family cars) is(are) just plain unbeatable.

pawan_pullarwar · 22nd February 2007, 13:03

Palio's build quality is the best. Swift on the other hand lacks in build. I feel if you dashed Palio you may be safe due to its build quality. Also palio's road grip is much better than swift. I have driven both the car but I feel safe in Palio

grvanand · 22nd February 2007, 13:18

Quote:

I really dont get how you guys (the ones that voted for the swift) can vote a car with inherent safety flaws like poor visibility as the safest car in India.

I own a Palio and have driven both Getz and Swift. As for the visibility, all the three have very thick A Pillars and all of them carry huge blind spots. Well, Swift actually provides bigger mirrors and that is a huge benifit. Palio is a very safe car but Getz and Swift should be on par since they are more modern and do meet Euro regulations.
I have voted for Palio though.

clevermax · 22nd February 2007, 13:23

It is the Palio. Even though Swift Zxi comes with Air bags, I don't think it is a safre car that Palio, 3 reasons:
1) Seat belt is the no. 1 life saver. Airbags comes next.
2) Palio's rock solid build quality can't be compared with any other hatch, and Swift is having thinner guage steel.
3) Presence of ABS does not add any great safety while driving in Indian roads. ABS is good only for heavier cars. I personally had a bad experince with Swift's ABS. The car skidded badly while breaking on a curve.

RX135 · 22nd February 2007, 13:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunbir

I would buy a better handling car that wouldnt land me in a ditch, rather than one that handles poorly, lands in a ditch and then opens up airbags on me. In that sense, I don't consider swift to be that safe at all.

I really dont get how you guys (the ones that voted for the swift) can vote a car with inherent safety flaws like poor visibility as the safest car in India.

I am surprised. If handling is the prime factor for you, Swift should be on the top. It probably is the best handler among the lot. Definitely better than Getz and as good as Palio if not better.

typeOnegative · 22nd February 2007, 13:41

Lots of Palio votes from new members it seems ...

Gunbir,

It might be that the Palio has better handling and scores over the Swift in terms of overall glass area. However, ABS and Airbags are an option which rules in its favor. That being said, if the Palio comes with those it would be top choice no doubt.

To always_dui,

Mate that is a scary nickname. BTW, I have seen Palios in awful conditions but from which the occupants exited from without a scratch. Between the Indica and the Palio, the latter gives more confidence. To me atleast.

To RX,

We seem to be the lone Fiat lover-critics. LOL

22nd February 2007, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by RX135

I am surprised. If handling is the prime factor for you, Swift should be on the top. It probably is the best handler among the lot. Definitely better than Getz and as good as Palio if not better.

Never sir. I have driven both on the same roads and I can vouch for the Palio. Moreover, Swift's steering is vague and tends to oversteer at high speeds.

View Poll Results: Which is the safest hatchback?
Palio	122	49.80%
U-VA	3	1.22%
Santro	3	1.22%
Getz	12	4.90%
800	3	1.22%
Alto	1	0.41%
Estilo	0	0%
Wagon R	0	0%
Swift	85	34.69%
Indica	16	6.53%
Voters: 245. You may not vote on this poll

22nd February 2007, 00:50	#61
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,784 Thanked: 9,251 Times	Most of the posts are rooting for Palio but Swift still leads the poll. Comparing both cars with identical safety features I voted for Swift as it's a newer design and safety would be as good or better than the Palio.
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 09:29	#63
always_dui BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: mumbai Posts: 61 Thanked: Once View My Garage	i would stand for the Indica in comparison to the Palio as my vote indicates. on our way back from nasik just after the kasara ghat our indica toppled at around 60km/h after hitting a boulder trying to avoid a oncoming tempo we were shaken no doubt but not injured ,the car was scratched but no major structural damage. i have seen the palio after a similar accident but the top had peeled of like they show in ice cream ad's
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 10:03	#66
gunbir Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 2,465 Thanked: 33 Times	When you ask "which is the safest hatchback in India" do you mean active safety or passive safety. A car like the Palio can be called passive safe as it is designed that way from the ground up. This has more to do with design and engineering rather than what gizmos a mfr stuffs into their top variant. I would buy a better handling car that wouldnt land me in a ditch, rather than one that handles poorly, lands in a ditch and then opens up airbags on me. In that sense, I don't consider swift to be that safe at all. The palio and the getz get my vote for well designed cars that have safety built-in to the design. I really dont get how you guys (the ones that voted for the swift) can vote a car with inherent safety flaws like poor visibility as the safest car in India. Last edited by gunbir : 22nd February 2007 at 10:08.
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 10:50	#67
srirambr BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 28 Thanked: 3 Times	Palio. And palio it is. toppled at around 60km/h after hitting a boulder trying to avoid a oncoming tempo we were shaken no doubt but not injured ,the car was scratched but no major structural damage. i have seen the palio after a similar accident but the top had peeled of like they show in ice cream ad's That's because, palios, don't tcrawl at 60's. Try toppling the indica at 90 or 100 ks and then you will know which part of you will resemble an ice cream scoop.
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 13:03	#70
pawan_pullarwar BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pune - Now in Munich, Germany Posts: 778 Thanked: 130 Times	Palio's build quality is the best. Swift on the other hand lacks in build. I feel if you dashed Palio you may be safe due to its build quality. Also palio's road grip is much better than swift. I have driven both the car but I feel safe in Palio
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 13:23	#72
clevermax Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tvm/Amsterdam Posts: 2,112 Thanked: 2,897 Times View My Garage	It is the Palio. Even though Swift Zxi comes with Air bags, I don't think it is a safre car that Palio, 3 reasons: 1) Seat belt is the no. 1 life saver. Airbags comes next. 2) Palio's rock solid build quality can't be compared with any other hatch, and Swift is having thinner guage steel. 3) Presence of ABS does not add any great safety while driving in Indian roads. ABS is good only for heavier cars. I personally had a bad experince with Swift's ABS. The car skidded badly while breaking on a curve.
	() Thanks

22nd February 2007, 13:41	#74
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,502 Thanked: 28 Times	Lots of Palio votes from new members it seems ... Gunbir, It might be that the Palio has better handling and scores over the Swift in terms of overall glass area. However, ABS and Airbags are an option which rules in its favor. That being said, if the Palio comes with those it would be top choice no doubt. To always_dui, Mate that is a scary nickname. BTW, I have seen Palios in awful conditions but from which the occupants exited from without a scratch. Between the Indica and the Palio, the latter gives more confidence. To me atleast. To RX, We seem to be the lone Fiat lover-critics. LOL Last edited by typeOnegative : 22nd February 2007 at 13:44.
	() Thanks