Aiding the visibility are the lean and inclined A-pillars, which are a bit of a hindrance in the Manza. The Tata also has the heaviest steering and does not offer adequate feedback. The steering on the Etios requires the least effort and has a fabulously tight turning radius.
Coming to the Dzire, it has a more neutral steering feel, which is why it has been so popular, at least until now, among the enthusiasts. Like most Marutis the Dzire has a suspension set-up that is on the harder side and opens up after every deep ditch with an unpleasant thud. On the other hand, the Manza’s suspension has been tuned to absorb the unforgiving speed-breakers, due to which it sways like a boat at times. 
The low weight and linear torque help the Toyota achieve an impressive average fuel economy of over 18 kpl. While the Maruti was a close second with a decent 17 kpl, the Tata lagged far behind at 13.5 kpl. Since the Etios is priced competitively, there are visible cost-cutting measures like the fixed headrest, single front-windscreen wiper and, as mentioned before, a manually adjustable ORVM and the missing automatic climate control. Otherwise, all the three cars have reasonably good equipment levels with ABS, dual airbags, keyless entry and central locking. The Toyota also offers EBD.
Which one of these emerges victorious is a good Rs 7-lakh question and the answer to it depends wholly upon what one’s priorities are in a car. The Manza is the best sedan in the entire Tata universe and does shake up competition with its good looking interior, comfortable rear seats and its big car feel. 
However, it falls behind in fuel efficiency, driving appeal, reliability and does not have the best after-sales record. This is where the Dzire scores. Nothing comes close to the Maruti so far as their sales and service network goes, but the car desperately needs an upgrade to maintain the appeal, as the competition seems better looking. So, we’ll need to have a similar shootout again once the 2011 Swift Dzire is rolled out in India. But for now, we have to admit that the Etios excelled in vital areas like comfort, effortless driving, fuel efficiency and space. The added advantage is Toyota’s brand image and unmatched reliability, making the Etios the easy pick of this lot.
CAPTIONS:
1. The Eitios has one of the largest glove-boxes in the segment and also has an a-c vent to keep the contents cool
2. The front looks subtle with the sharply arched grille, staying true to typical Toyota design
3. The Etios’ light weight and torquey mill give it amazing driveability and performance
4. On the left is the unconventional knob that releases the bonnet
5.There are over half a dozen cup and bottle holders, that endorse great utilization of interior space
The Dzire is sheduled for an upgrade and the main distinction would be larger overall dimensions and headlamps
This Tata has the best interior and even a DC socket for rear-seat passengers
1. The Etios’ smooth 1.5-litre motor is the largest that churns out a massive 132 Nm of torque and is also the most fuel-efficient
2. The Manza’s 1.4-litre Safire mill has good punch, but its low fuel-efficiency can put one off
3. The Maruti’s 1.2-litre K-series motor is peppy, reliable and fuel -efficient too
4. The Etios VX has dual colour seats which are flat and comfortable, but do not have a rear centre armrest
5. The Manza’s rear seats are wide and contoured. The centre armrest has cup-holders, which is a good touch
6. The Dzire offers the least space and it becomes uncomfortable to fit three adults on the rear bench
7. The Dzire has the smallest boot with 440 litres of space
8. The Manza’s offers 460 litres of boot space, but the intrusion of the C-pillars looks akward
9. The roomy 595-litre boot of the Etios is unheard of in this segment
10.This Toyota’s interior design is radical with the central a-c vents vertically stacked
11. The dual tone interior of the Manza looks upmarket
12.The Maruti’s dashboard and console look neat but a face-lift would be welcome
