Second Hand Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Punch: Which Used Car to Buy

One of the first decisions you will face when in the market for a used car is narrowing down on the appropriate segment or body type. A good place to start would be to consider options within the most popular segments today — hatchbacks and compact SUVs. 

Hatchbacks like the Maruti Swift and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios have consistently placed among the best selling used hatchbacks in the country. While the Tata Punch is an extremely popular option among compact SUVs, favored for its ground clearance.

Let’s take a closer look at these three cars to see which makes the most sense for a used car buyer. 

Current Resale Value: Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Punch

All three of these cars generally hold their resale value across a similar price range in the used car space. The Swift’s popularity is due to its established reputation, the Grand i10 Nios has an extensive list of premium features to fall back on, and the Tata Punch has its relatively newer age and desirable SUV form factor in its favour.

Maruti Swift

The Maruti Swift has always been a dynamic, fun-to-drive car, and has retained its playful character across all four generations. If enjoying your time in the driver’s seat is your only criterion, look no further. 

Since it has been in production the longest, pre-owned Swifts offer buyers the widest price range in the used car market, as well as the lowest average selling price of ₹ 3.91 lakh among the three cars here. Used Maruti cars are extremely popular as they have a proven reputation for reliability and are backed up by the widespread service network. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Like its predecessors, the i10 and the Grand i10, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios is a popular option in the used car space. It  commands a higher ₹ 5.32 lakh average used selling price than the Swift, with buyers attracted to its attractive styling and upmarket cabin. 

Tata Punch

The Tata Punch was an instant hit when launched in 2020, and has cemented its place as one of the country’s best selling SUVs in recent times. Being the newest of the three cars here, the Punch features the highest average used price of ₹ 6.14 lakh. Other factors that influence its good resale value include the growing demand for SUVs and its higher retail price. 

Note: The used car prices shown are calculated for vehicles MY 2014 and above and with mileage under ₹ 1 lakh kilometres.

A pre owned Tata Punch demands a higher average asking price than either the Swift or the Grand i10 Nios. However, prospective buyers can find new Grand i10 Nios and Swift models for the average price of a used Punch.

Yearly Rate of Depreciation: Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Punch

All three cars here feature relatively low depreciation rates, with hardly any difference between them. Let’s take a closer look at how they stack up year-on-year.

Maruti Swift: As with all cars from the Maruti stable, the Swift holds onto its value quite well year over time. Like most vehicles, it loses most of its value in the first year by 26%, but remains steady by losing only 43% by its fifth year. 

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: Hyundai has built a strong reputation for producing reliable and versatile cars over the years. This is reflected in year-on-year depreciation figures for the Grand i10 Nios that precisely match those of the Maruti Swift, and the Nios also loses up to 43% of its value by its fifth year.

Tata Punch: The Punch has proved itself as a reliable and versatile vehicle since its launch in 2020. This positive image, in addition to its in-demand SUV body style, sees the Tata Punch holding onto its value quite well, with year-on-year depreciation figures on par with the two hatchbacks in this comparison, losing up to 41% of its value in the first four years.

The Swift, Grand i10 Nios, and Punch hold their value well over the years. All three feature low depreciation rates without much to differentiate between them in this regard. 

Engine and Transmission Options: Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Punch

Earlier model years of both, the Maruti Swift and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios were available with both, petrol and diesel engines. The diesel motors, however, were phased out with the advent of the BS6 emission norms, and both cars are now only offered in petrol or petrol-CNG powertrains. 

Maruti discontinued the diesel variant of the Swift in 2020, while the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios dropped the diesel in 2022. Hyundai also offered the Grand i10 Nios with a peppy turbo petrol engine from 2020 to 2022; this is the option to go for if performance is high on your list of priorities. 

Since the Tata Punch was launched after the BS6 emission norms came into effect in 2020, it has only ever been available with the 1.2-litre petrol motor, with the option of a petrol-CNG variant. 

Maruti Swift

- 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT

- 1.3-litre, diesel - 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT

- 1.2-litre, petrol-CNG - 5-speed manual

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

- 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT

- 1.0-litre turbo-petrol - 5-speed manual

- 1.2-litre, diesel - 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT

- 1.2-litre, petrol-CNG - 5-speed manual

Tata Punch

- 1.2-litre, petrol - 5-speed manual/5-speed AMT

- 1.2-litre, petrol-CNG - 5-speed manual

As it stands, if you are looking for more diverse engine options, you’re better off considering a pre owned Hyundai Grand i10 Nios or a Maruti Swift. Both hatchbacks can be found with reliable, fuel-efficient diesel motors in the used car market. However, if you have your heart set on a Tata Punch, you’ll be limited to the 1.2-litre motor in either petrol or petrol-CNG variants. 

Maintenance Cost Comparison: Maruti Swift vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios vs Tata Punch

Service costs over time are an important consideration when deciding on a pre-owned car. Let us take a closer look at how much each of these three cars cost to maintain over 10 years.

Maruti Swift: The Swift is by far the cheapest to maintain of the cars here, with each service costing between ₹ 1,500 and ₹ 3,000.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios: While costs for the first couple of services for the Grand i10 Nios are similar to the Swift, maintenance does get more expensive as time wears on. 

Tata Punch: The Punch is the most expensive car to maintain, even taking into account Tata’s longer 15,000 kilometre service intervals. Service costs can range from about ₹ 3,000 all the way up to ₹ 14,000.

Backed up by an extensive service network and extremely affordable periodic services, the Maruti Swift offers excellent service support with minimal costs. While Hyundai is known to offer a satisfactory service experience, costs are on the higher side when compared to the Swift. 

Servicing the Tata Punch is significantly more expensive than the two hatchbacks, even when you take into account the longer service intervals. Tata’s overall service experience may also not measure up to that of Maruti or Hyundai. 

Conclusion 

The Maruti Swift, the Grand i10 Nios, and the Tata Punch, all offer comparable resale value. With SUVs steadily growing in popularity you could expect the Punch to hold onto its value better as the years progress. The hatchbacks, however, offer used car buyers more choices when it comes to engine options. 

It is when we start to compare long term service costs that the Swift proves to be the most affordable to maintain, and you can’t put a price on Maruti’s fantastic service network. The Swift also features the lowest average used car selling price, making it the clear choice if you’re on a tight budget. 

All three cars mentioned here offer the standard 3 year / 1,00,000 km warranty from their respective manufacturers. Additionally, any car bought through CARS24 comes with a standard 3-month warranty which can be extended to 1 year for a nominal fee.