Maruti Vs Hyundai: Which Car Brand is Better?

Maruti Suzuki is a joint venture of an Indian Company and a Japanese corporation

Hyundai, a South Korean carmaker, entered the Indian Market in 1996

Both brands are improving themselves in terms of safety

August 14, 2024 Kritika Dadhich

The moment one thinks of buying a car in India, two names pop into the minds, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. Multiple options from Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai usually become tricky to choose from, especially with their wide range and decent market presence. Both are reliable and stylish and come up with good performances. However, there could be a few things that matter in your choice. In this blog, we will run through the company overview, vehicle segment, specific models, safety features, and after-sales service to help you make an informed choice.

Overview of Hyundai

Hyundai, a South Korean carmaker, has been making waves in the global car market since its start in 1967. This Korean company has managed to stand out in the automobile industry with its stylish design and advanced technology, coupled with value-for-money vehicles. Hyundai entered the Indian market in 1996. Most of their cars boast pretty modern features that are known to possess good build quality, thereby positioning them in India as one of the essential companies.

Overview of Maruti Suzuki

Maruti Suzuki is a joint venture between the Indian company Maruti Udyog Limited and the Japanese Suzuki Motor Corporation. The company has been the leader in the Indian car market since the 1980s. Its brand image for affordability and reliability wraps it up with its huge service network. All Maruti Suzuki vehicles have the common brand image of being fuel-efficient and low on maintenance costs.

Segment Comparison: Hyundai vs. Maruti Suzuki

Basis	Maruti Suzuki	Hyundai
Hatchback	Swift, Baleno, Wagon R, Alto K10, Celerio, Ignis, S-Presso, Wagon R tour, Alto 800 tour	i20, Grand i10 Nios, i20 N-Line
Sedan	Desire, Ciaz, and Swift Dezire Tour	Verna, Aura
MUV	Ertiga, XL6, Invicto, and Ertiga Tour	-
SUV	Brezza, Fronx, Jimmy, and Grand Vitara	Creta, Venue, Exter, Alcazar, Tuscon, Creta N-Line, Venue N-Line
Electric	-	Kona Electric, IONIQ 5
Pickup Trucks & Mini Vans	Super Carry, Eeco, and Eeco Cargo	-

Now, if one compares Maruti Suzuki with Hyundai, vehicle offerings differ across categories. Maruti Suzuki offers hatchbacks such as Swift, Baleno, Wagon R, Alto K10, Celerio, Ignis, S-Presso, Wagon R Tour, and Alto 800 Tour. At the same time, Hyundai has the i20, Grand i10 Nios, and Sporty i20 N-Line. Under sedans, Maruti Suzuki offers the Dzire, Ciaz, and Swift Dzire Tour. On the other hand, in its portfolio, Hyundai has Verna and Aura.

In the line-up of Maruti Suzuki, MUVs include the Ertiga, XL6, Invicto, and Ertiga Tour. There are no MUV offerings in the Hyundai model lineup. Maruti Suzuki sells models in this category, including the Brezza, Fronx, Jimny, and Grand Vitara, while Hyundai has a more diversified offering via the Creta, Venue, Exter, Alcazar, Tucson, and N-Line variants.

Added to this, Maruti Suzuki does not have, as of now, electric vehicles across its platform, while Hyundai has Kona Electric and IONIQ 5. Last but not least, pickup trucks or minivans like the Super Carry, Eeco, and Eeco Cargo are also offered by Maruti Suzuki, this is an area Hyundai has no offering.

Safety Features

Hyundai	Maruti Suzuki
Standard Airbags	Standard Airbags
Electronic Stability Control	ISOFIX
Hill Start Assist Control	ABS with EBD
Tyre Pressure Monitor System	Electronic Stability Program
ADAS in Venue	Traction Control
Lane Change Assist	Hill Hold Assist and Hill Descent Control
Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert	360-Degree View Camera
Smart Cruise Control with Stop/Start Capability	Tyre Pressure Monitor System

Safety is one of the prime reasons for choosing a car, and both Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki have shown improvement in this respect.

The base variants of Hyundai cars usually come with basic features, but more expensive models come equipped with more advanced feature lists as standard. Safety features mainly comprise multiple airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and advanced driver assistance systems available on newer models.

The Maruti Suzuki is improving itself in terms of safety. The basic ones may come with the most basic features, like airbags and ABS. More safety features are fitted into higher trims. Maruti Suzuki has gradually increased the safety features of its fleet, like ABS with EBD, traction control, hill hold assist, ISOFIX, crumple zone, and more.

After-Sales Services and Support

Both of these car brands have decent after-sales support. Hyundai is known for its comprehensive warranty packages and decent customer service. The service network of Hyundai is expanding and generally efficient with support. They have a large number of authorized service centers at their disposal.

Maruti Suzuki, with the largest service network across India, found that after-sales support happened to be very accessible. Their large network also translated to quicker servicing and lower maintenance costs.

Conclusion

This is between Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai as the last pick, and it is on preference grounds that you hold. The Maruti Suzuki price range starts from Rs. 4.45 lakh to Rs. 29.09 lakh, from the cheapest model to the top model. The Hyundai price range starts from Rs. 5.92 lakh to Rs. 46.05 lakh, base model to top model. If budget-friendly, trustworthy, and economical cars are what you are looking for, then it will be the car brand of Maruti Suzuki. Looking for trendy designs, next-generation features, and a feel of premiums, it shall be Hyundai. Both have their strengths and are aimed at different needs. Your choice should be aligned with the best car for you.