Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta – Mega Comparison

Compact SUVs are the flavour of the times. Almost every new car buyer has his eyes set on buying a compact SUV. This segment has seen an advent of buyers from the hatchback and also sedan segments A beefy look and higher ground clearance are the major reasons why people are preferring compact SUVs over other vehicles, in a similar price range. The Tata Nexon, which will be launched shortly will also compete in this segment, We pit it against some best selling compact SUVs and find out which one is the best for you. Read on further in our Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Mega Comparison.

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Exteriors

Design is a subjective aspect, hence, the evaluations are not based on the looks of these SUVs.  All of these vehicles are good looking and do not look like oddballs. It really depends upon what kind of look you prefer.

Ford Ecosport

The Ford EcoSport is the oldest SUV here. It carries a proper boxy SUV styling with a very aggressive looking front end. The styling of the Ecosport is one of its biggest USPs and the reason why it went on to become so popular.It is well proportioned and has a raised look with enough muscular appeal. The rear and the side also compliment the front. It comes with 16-inch alloy wheels and looks tough.

Maruti Vitara Brezza

The Maruti Vitara Brezza is also a boxy looking SUV that is quite traditional. It has been styled to look attractive with the front end having a thick chrome grille. The side is squarish in appearance and there’s a quarter window at the rear. The two-tone colour lends it some flavour. The rear is simple and not very attractive. This also comes with 16-inch alloy wheels.

Honda WRV

The Honda WRV is Honda’s first attempt at a compact SUV. Technically based on the Jazz, it has similar proportions inside-out, however, the WRV gets very different styling that makes it look aggressive and mean.  The front end is spruced up with a lot of cladding and thick chrome bar in the grille. There is cladding all over and the tail lamps are C-shaped ones that differentiate it from the Jazz. In fact, its overall styling differentiates it from the Jazz in a big way and it looks good.

Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta, though from a segment above, is a part of this comparo because of a lot of enquiries that we got about comparing it to the rest of the compact SUVs. The Creta is a good looking vehicle based on Hyundai’s Fluidic design language, though it has traditional SUV looks and proportions. It is specifically designed to look more urban and less rugged or in-the-face.

Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is the new kid on the block here and takes a very different route as far as design and styling go. The design is more like a crossover than a traditional SUV and follows the IMPACT design language of Tata Motors. It gets a wide front grille that extends upto the headlamps. From the side it looks like crossover and has interesting styling elements that include combination of three colours. The rear is also stylish with attractive tail lamps. Out and out it is a head turner and looks different from the rest of the pack. As far as looks go it’s entirely a personal choice and you may choose one which you prefer.

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Video Comparison

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Interiors

Interiors are very important as this is a place where you will spend most of the time with the vehicle. What one looks for is comfort mainly and utility along with is ease of operation.

Ford Ecosport

The Ecosport interiors are attractive and towards the funky side. The Ecosport is the oldest of the lot and though the interiors feel good, they have now started to appear dated compared to the rest. It gets a lot of buttons and it also has a touchscreen system now. The dashboard resembles the Fiesta which has been discontinued. A new Ecosport is expected to be launched next year, which will have all new interiors. EcoSport is a comfortable vehicle and the seats are very supportive. It’s a good place to be in, because you can achieve a good desired driving position ,not only because of the seat height adjustment but also because the steering can adjust for rake and reach as well.

The build quality also could have been a little better, when we talk about touch and feel. At the rear the EcoSport is comfortable and the seats offer good support. The highlight is that the backrest can tilt to offer enhanced comfort. The leg room is pretty adequate, however where it lacks is that this is strictly a four seater. Five adults are difficult to fit into this car because the width of the Ecosport is the least amongst all the other SUVs. The boot is adequately big and the boot lid swings out instead of lifting up and hence this allows for easy luggage loading, due to the loading lip being low as well.

Maruti Vitara Brezza

The Maruti Vitara Brezza gets all black interiors that looks sporty. The fit and finish of materials is also good however, the quality could have been better as it feels a bit flimsy in certain areas. The dashboard layout is quite convenient and you have things falling in the right places. The touchscreen is located conveniently and tilted slightly towards the driver. The steering has good amount of controls and the instrument cluster is easy to read. The steering wheel is the same which is found on a range of Maruti cars so this doesn’t feel different. The seats would have been more supportive and they are very average. The armrest is very small and not very comfortable however,  the good part is that you sit high in the vehicle and it gives you a commanding view of the road.

The C- pillars are thick so that intrudes in all round visibility but if you buy the top and variant, you get a very good reverse camera and it helps you in parking. Storage spaces are also plenty in the Brezza –  bottle holders ,cup holders you also get two glove box compartments, one out of which is a cooled one. The rear seats of the Brezza are decently spacious however they are not very comfortable. Knee room also pretty fine and three adults can just fit in, but they will not be very comfortable. The rear headrests are adjustable and it also gets an armrest. the seats split 60:40 which is convenient but it lacks a rear AC vent and also power charging sockets. The boot of the Vitara Brezza has only 320 litres of space which is the smallest in this comparo.

Honda WRV

The Honda WRV is derived from the Jazz and for the interiors this is a boon. Though the interior layout is similar, it gets some new features like a touchscreen, which in your opinion is good to use. It also gets a sunroof which many customers nowadays prefer and the WRV is higher than the Jazz ,hence, while driving you do get an SUV kind of a feel. The dashboard layout is quite simple. There is a touch based automatic climate control system, the dials are easy to read in the instrument cluster and the steering is nice to hold and gets controls for audio and also cruise control, which is available only on the diesel.

The seats are very comfortable just like other Hondas, however the highlight of the WRV is its all round visibility, which is amongst the best. It has the largest glass area so it feels more airy as well. There is good amount of storage space available, you have big cup holders, the door pads also can take 1 litre bottles, there’s a cup holder next to the AC vent, which helps you keep your drink cool. The rear has got lots of space but it is not as comfortable. It gets fixed headrests, the thigh support could have been much better.

The WRV also misses out on the magic seats that are available in the Jazz and the back rest also does not recline. Three people can sit in the WRV as the width is good, but it lacks that comfort, clearly the focus is on the front passengers. It doesn’t even get 60:40 split for the rear seats. The boot space is 363 litres and it has got a low loading lip, so this is one of the best boots the segment.

Hyundai Creta

Coming to the Hyundai Creta, it is more than 4 metres in length, hence cannot directly compete with the rest of the SUVs which are smaller and also because it costs higher. But as SUV buyers also consider Creta in their probable  list, we have included this one in the comparo. We have only considered the 1.4 litre Creta, as it is cheaper than the 1.6 version however, it also gets less number of features. To start with it does not get push button start and also comes only with a manual AC. It does get a touchscreen system and steering mounted audio controls. The dashboard layout is also clean and uncluttered. The seats are wide enough, however the lumbar support and thigh support could have been much better.

The Creta also is high on storage spaces. The floor console has cup holders and a storage space in the armrest. The door pockets are also big enough and a glove box also is pretty large. You sit pretty high in the Creta and it also is the tallest amongst all other compact SUVs. The rear of the Creta is spacious that is primarily because the length.

The rear comfort levels are not bad the angle of the backrest is good. It also gets a rear armrest and  three people can sit but with a little squeeze. There are rear AC vents and also a 12 volts power socket. The middle passenger has an integrated headrest, whereas the other two get adjustable headrests. The boot space is 400 litres, which is a little more than the WRV and easily the biggest one. So in terms of practicality the Creta scores high.

Tata Nexon

Then we come to the Tata Nexon. The interior is a big step up over the Tiago and Tigor. The fit finish and layout of a dashboard is good. It feels sporty and the touch and feel of materials is good. The steering wheel is the same found on other Tata cars and the instrument cluster is shared with the Tiago. The touchscreen system in the Nexon is pretty cool as it gets a floating top touch screen that also falls in line with your vision. The touch screen is good to use and has buttons on the centre console.

However, the camera quality is not so good and could have been better. The seats are nice and soft and provide good comfort. The bolstering is pretty good, not the best though. The armrest is located conveniently and adds on to the comfort, however, the steering adjustment has only got tilt and not a telescopic adjustment. The Nexon has a thick A pillar and when you drive on curvy roads or ghats, you have to adjust yourself for best visibility. In terms of practicality this is one of the best. Storage spaces are plenty. You get cup holders, the door pockets have space for water bottles and also a small umbrella holder, which is not much useful though. The armrest also has got storage space.

Talking of the rear, the Nexon also focuses on the comfort of the rear passengers. There is good amount of space available, the seat angle is also good, sufficient leg room and head room is available. It also gets a centre armrest and adjustable headrests. You also get a rear AC vent and it also has blower control in it. Also, the Nexon is the widest compact SUV, hence three people can sit very comfortable in this one. This is the most impressive feature. The boot has 360 litres of space which is more than sufficient and the seats also have a 60:40 split fold which makes it very convenient. So in terms of rear comfort, practicality and space, Nexon comes out on top.

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Engine

Ford Ecosport

Ford Ecosport is the only vehicle which gets 3 engine options. It gets a 1.5-litre petrol with five- speed manual gearbox and also a six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Then there is a 1.5-litre diesel with 100bhp of power mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. iI also gets a 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol engine which is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. Ecoboost is a turbo petrol and is also expensive, costing almost as much as the diesel.

The petrol 1.5-litre is a decent car to drive in the city, moreso as it also offers the option of a of six-speed dual clutch automatic transmission that makes it very convenient. Howeverm the best package is the 1.5-litre diesel engine which is a very good performer, both in the city and on the highway. It has good driveability too, be it the city or the highway.

Maruti Vitara Brezza

The Maruti Vitara Brezza comes only with one engine option, which is the 1.3-litre diesel engine. It churns out around 90bhp of power. It offers very good performance, especially for the city and the instant response from stand still is also impressive. The Brezza also offers good driveability and you don’t need to shift gears frequently. Highway cruising is also fine at around 120km/h, however brisk overtaking on the highway is not its strength.

Honda WRV

The Honda WRV has two engine options 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel. These are the same engines that are also found on the Jazz, but they get some tweaking, to be able to perform better with the added weight. The petrol engine is very refined and that is its highlight. It has decent power for the city use, but falls short if you are looking for some spirited driving or overtaking at high speeds on the highway.

The diesel engine in the WRV is the more powerful one. It has almost 98bhp of power and comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission. This is it is a brisk performer and is good to use in the city and the highway. The engine is an all aluminium one, hence it is light and is known to be fuel efficient as well. The only drawback is that this engine is very noisy and that disturbs the overall NVH levels inside the car.

Hyundai Creta

The Hyundai Creta 1.4 develops 90 bhp. This engine has decent power but not the best, when compared to the Ecosport, WRV or the Nexon. However, it has driveability and you don’t need to change gears frequently while driving, which is best suited for city driving. It also comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon has two engine options -1.2-litre turbo petrol which has around 108bhp of power and 1.5-litre diesel, which has again 108bhp of power. The petrol engine comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which is the first in the segment. The diesel also has a six-speed manual. Both engines have been derived from the Tiago, but the good thing is that they are pretty silent and the overall NVH levels of the Nexon are the best and has minimal tyre noise.

Petrol has decent performance, though not outrightly powerful, it gets the job done. It drives well on roads and we only had a little issue only on steep inclines or ghats, where the engine felt to struggle a little bit. However, working the gears properly will have it running well. The diesel is the more powerful one out of the two. It comes with good driveability and is responsive to drive.

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Ride and Handling

The Ford Ecosport has been our favourite in the handling department. It is quick to respond to inputs and feels very agile too, thanks to the Fiesta underpinnings. The steering feedback is good too, though being an electric unit. The only issue here with this one is than it has a stiff suspension, so the ride quality is a bit on the harsh side. One will not feel this so much in city, but to long drives, this can get tiring. The clutch action also could have been lighter.

The Maruti Vitara Brezza has a softer ride compared to the Ecosport. Initially it does not feel as planted, but after a while you realise that at high speeds and sharp bends, it actually has better control. This is possibly due the longer wheelbase of the Brezza as compared to the Ecosport. The suspension is well-balanced, despite the high ground clearance. The clutch is also on the lighter side, so there is not much fatigue in city driving. But where the Vitara Brezza loses out is in the steering feedback. I have observed that Maruti has neglected this aspect in most of their vehicles. The steering feels artificial and though the weight is decent, the steering does not auto correct itself. Another downside of the Brezza is its cabin noise. There is a lot of wind and tyre noise that seeps in, along with the engine noise.

The Honda WRV gets a new suspension package as compared to the Jazz and has a pliant ride. On bad roads also it didn’t have much of an issue. The steering feedback of the WRV is the best in the segment. It is very responsive and sensitive to inputs. Even on winding roads, the body roll was well contained. NVH is good in the petrol version , but gets bad in the diesel, primarily because of the noisy diesel engine.

The Hyundai Creta has a decent ride, thought not the best here. It is good on flat roads but does feel a bit unsettled on really bad roads. The handling also is good for city driving and also poses no problem on twisties, however that joy factor and feedback from the road is missing. The steering though is very smooth and light for city driving and it is much improved over some other Hyundai cars. The cabin is quite silent.

The Tata Nexon has impressed us in this department. Like always, Tata offers a great ride eevn in the Nexon. The suspension is well tuned to offer a comfortable ride and even bad roads or deep potholes are soaked up briliantly. The handling also is fine. Steering feedback is good, with proper weight. The steering wheel is also small in size, giving it a sporty feel. NVH is where the Nexon beats the rest of the SUVs here. It has excellent sound damping and there is minimal tyre noise and hardly any wind noise. The diesel engine is audible only at higher revs, which is acceptable.

In terms of ride, the Nexon takes the cake and in handling the WRV, Nexon and Ecosport are the ones too choose.

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Features

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Mileage

Tata Nexon vs Ford Ecosport vs Maruti Vitara Brezza vs Honda WRV vs Hyundai Creta Price

Verdict

The Hyundai Creta 1.4 though not a compact SUV of this segment, has been considered for the comparo due to requests from our readers and also because people do consider having a look at the Creta too, while buying a compact SUV. The Creta 1.4 is a good overall package, considering its offering, but its value falls when you compare the price with others in this segment. It costs approximately ₹ 2 lakhs more that the rest.

The Ford Ecosport is a strong product and ticks many boxes too. It has also been a favourite for many buyers. However, it is priced high and is also not a proper five seater. The base variant gets only one airbag. The starting price point of the Ecosport is higher than the rest as the petrol version is a 1.5-litre unit as opposed to a 1.2-litre in other petrol SUVs of this segment and even the diesel is pricier. Hence the Ecosport loses out as a value for money proposition.

That leaves us with three others which are the Maruti Vitara Brezza, Honda WRV and Tata Nexon.  All three are very good value for money products. There is little to complain in the Vitara Brezza, except for things like NVH levels, steering feedback and rear seat space and comfort, as compared to the WRV and Nexon. It also offers the least warranty, which is 2 years / 40,000 kms as opposed to 3 years offered by the rest.

If you are considering a petrol version, then the WRV marches ahead as it offers a more refined engine with decent performance and mileage and also as an overall package, including features like a better touchscreen, sunroof and the kind of space it offers. But when it comes to diesel, we feel the Tata Nexon beats the rest as it is a brilliant combination of performance, refinement, ride and handling, space and features. The Nexon also has a service interval of 15,000kms (first in the segment), which may bring down maintenance costs. Price of the Nexon is not yet announced, hence this evaluation is based on the hypothesis of the Nexon being even ₹ 50,000 more expensive than the Vitara Brezza or WRV.

Winner:

Petrol – Honda WRV

Diesel – Tata Nexon