Maruti zooms ahead in small car segment

Chennai, Jan 8 (UNI) Maruti continues to remain India's most popular brand in the small car segment, according to the CNBC Awaaz Auto Satisfaction Index.

While Chevrolet Optra bagged the honour in the mid-size segment, Toyota Corolla emerged the winner in the large car segment, according to a release here today.

The index, compiled by Synovate India, had been drawn up by India's first dedicated business and consumer channel as part of its ongoing Auto Evolution Series, presented by ICICI Bank Car Loans.

In the small car segment, Maruti Wagon R emerged top, followed closely by Maruti Swift. Maruti Alto and Maruti 800 came a joint third.

Others in the fray, including Hyundai Santro and Tata Indica V2, flatter to deceive, even as Tata Indica outscored both Maruti Swift and Hyundai Santro on the 'driving pleasure' parameter.

In the mid-size segment, Honda City and Chevrolet Optra were locked in a tie for the first spot on the composite customer satisfaction index. However, Chevrolet Optra zoomed ahead on the individual performance touch points.

Brushing aside formidable competition from Maruti Esteem, Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Getz, Honda City, Tata Indigo and Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Optra had been rated as the best on six key performance touch points -- Purchase Experience, Dealer Salesperson, Vehicle Appeal, Vehicle Performance, Driving Pleasure, Maintenance and Running Cost.

On the seventh performance touch point of After Sales Service, Chevrolet Optra was not far from the lead, bagging the second position, behind Hyundai Accent.

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