Volkswagen is teaching a new lesson on “What it takes to be a world leader” to all the automobile manufacturers. They led the development of European market, have been doing great job in China and now they don’t want to miss the Indian Growth story. Products like Phaeton, Touareg and Beetle will boost the aspiration level of owning a VW brand, while products like Polo, Vento and Jetta will ensure that VW is a big volume player in India. And what about German Engineering? They chose Passat to showcase the muscles of German Engineering.
I must say that VW actions are totally aligned to their vision to become Numero Uno by 2017~18.
Like everyone I was amazed by the advertisements of Volkswagen Passat so thought of reviewing the car. I drove the New Volkswagen Passat and was flabbergasted by the features. Here is the test drive review of the new Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion.
Looking at the exteriors, Passat hasn’t changed much. The major changes that I could spot were headlamps, Rear lights and new chrome front grill.
Headlamps are Bi-Xenon with oodles of chrome (Indians love it!). LED lights add upper-class touch to the headlamps. Two sets of lights below - one act as the fog light while the other acts as cornering light. When one takes a turn at a speed of 10 Kmph or less the requisite side fog lamp glows to give more visibility. At higher speed instead of side fog lamps, headlamps turn to give better visibility to the driver. And to top it all, the driver can also wash the headlamps incase he is facing any trouble after driving in mud. Now that’s what is known as German engineering.
Next feature that I noted was Outside Rear View mirror. Setting the outside rear view mirror is always a time consuming task. In Passat one save the required settings and select any of the saved setting anytime. In case of foggy weather these mirrors can be heated to get a clear view and in night the mirror will automatically adjust itself to give a dimmed view to the customer. Ah!!! Another example of German Engineering.
The car is equipped with Low rolling resistance Pirelli tyres which promise positive impact on improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
Overall the car has elegant looks with excellent build quality. The subtle use of chrome adds subdued charm to the car.
Interiors of the car are quite impressive. Luxury is redefined by Napa Leather upholstery (for common man- Napa Leather is best form of leather). Both driver and co-driver seats are 12 way electrically adjustable seats. Air-cooled seats will provide chill to back and thighs in hot Indian summers and in winters same can provide warmth. It is needless to say that seats provide full support to thighs and back.
I was totally impressed by the ambient lighting. VW has used unconventional lighting to highlight its centre console. Red lights are projected on silver centre console giving perfect classy look. White lights behind the wooden garnish on the doors also add perfection to interior lighting.
An analog clock in the centre of dashboard gives “Retro Look” to quite modern and good looking interiors.
The only negative point I spotted was high tunnel height at rear. VW has to do something on this issue or else should brand their cars for four passengers..
The driving experience was amazing as well. The throttle pedal is hinged at floor making it more comfortable to operate. It is made more responsive by the amazing power of the engine. VW brought its most powerful 2.0 Litre engine for Passat. The engine delivers 170 hp power and 350 NM torque which is more as compared to Superb. (same engine family member is in superb as well). 3 digit figure was touched with ease and the maximum that I could touch was 200 kmph and after that I slowed down to reduce my heart beats. The car is equipped with 6 speed Dual Clutch transmission which gives smooth drive across all speed changes. VW has made the feature of cruise control much more usable for the customers.
German engineering has provided many features like Start-Stop, Hill Hold, ABS off, reverse parking sensors to enhance the driving experience.
Reversing the car was experience in itself. A camera is hidden behind the VW logo (just like Bond car). Reverse park assist made me feel as if Ghost was parking my car. After engaging the park assist I just relaxed and tasks like finding parking place and parking in tight location were done by car.
Normally start-stop system that is available in India is in very crude form. One has to press the clutch for 2~3 seconds to restart the vehicle. But this new Passat will start as soon as you release the brake pedal. The car won’t switch off if the battery usage is more than 60%. It just ensures that car will not switch off if there is a requirement of AC.
Normally an AT car will start moving after shifting the gear pedal to drive mode, but this Passat will wait for throttle input to move. It is yet another step to improve driver comfort.
ABS off feature will not stop sporty mood of the driver and henceforth he can try some drifting as well.
I was totally impressed by the German Engineering.
The ride and handling is better as compared to earlier Passat. It is quite good and the vehicle will not loose line on high speed turns. Generally bigger luxury cars are not this stable. Thus there was another reason for me to get impressed.
Ah I guess I wrote entirely about features and am sure that I have missed few. For sure this is a Vehicle of future and is likely to become an extension of the drawing room. It will give all the comfort and convenience and excellent driving pleasure as well. I strongly propose a Test drive to all my readers.
Why Buy: Features, Build quality, excellent NVH, Engine performance
Why Deny: Rear Tunnel, more of self driven car (at this price Indians look towards chauffer driven car)
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Maruti SX4 Diesel
Before starting the review, let me analyze few moves by the market leader in recent past. Maruti launched following models during past 6 months:
Five models with CNG options
Alto with K10 engine
A-Star with Automatic transmission
And today it has launched SX4 with Diesel heart.
Maruti Suzuki is doing exactly what a Market Leader is supposed to do in order to face fierce competition. It is using the potential of 1000 engineers sitting in its R&D office to make quick and yet substantial changes in the existing models. The frequency of these launches can also surprise the FMCG companies. (I can only imagine the mental state of the new entrants in Auto Industry).
I was lucky to test drive brand new SX4 Diesel on the day of its launch, so thought of sharing my experience on the very same day.
From the exterior looks, it is very much same SX4 diesel is very much similar to petrol sibling. The only way to distinguish a Diesel SX4 from Petrol SX4 is VDi/ZDi badge on the boot. Not many appreciate the exterior looks of SX4, but to put on records, it is the only tall boy deign available in Sedans. The muscular looks of SX4 impressed me and I guess diesel engine in Muscular bodied car should impress many more future customers too.
Even the interiors of the car are unchanged. Both SX4 Diesel and Petrol offers same feature pack across their three variants. The most amazing thing was the NVH levels inside a Diesel car. I was expecting some diesel clutter, but was welcomed by a silent cabin cabin. Kudos to great packaging that reduced the noise significantly. The kerb weight of the vehicle is increased by 55 kgs, so the suspensions were re-tuned to offer similar comfort to the passenger.
The engine is same (FIAT) 1.3L multijet engine, but is coupled to an all-new transmission. The same engine powers Fiat Lines, Fiat 500, Grande Punto 90hp and Tata Indigo Manza. Maruti calls is super-turbo engine and it comes with VGT (Variable geometry Turbocharger), which varies the angle of the vanes in order to provide the best possible airflow and efficiency. And for records: This car is also the first one in the country to conform to OBD-2 norms which are set to be introduced in India. OBD stands for ‘On Board Diagnostics’, which tell the driver if there is a problem with the car’s emission control system
The engine tuning is better than Linea or Manza. The engine produces 88.7 bhp@4000 rpm and 20.4 kgm@1750 rpm. The acceleration is quite high, and the car was firmly planted on the road at 130kmph. I felt that the car was perfectly under control at that speed. The max speed that I could touch on the track was 165 kmph, and I guess that is more than any customer would be expecting from SX4.
I compared the ride and handling of Diesel SX4 to Petrol SX4 and was disappointed by the results. The car looses grips in high speed cornering and the body roll is evident. Then I decided to compare with other Diesel cars in this segment and found that the ride and handling is pretty decent. The Rear suspension are soft, so it will give comfort to the passenger during straight stretches, but the body roll might create some trouble for him on curves.
Overall, it’s a good job done by team Maruti. Maruti Suzuki was already selling 1800~2000 SX4 every month. (this is quite good for any other car manufacturer). I feel that this Diesel car will eat some of the share of its Petrol sibling, but the overall sales figure should increase by 50~75%. Lets see how the market reacts to new diesel kid in the block.
Why Buy: Brand, Value for money, Good NVH, Good Engine Performance
Why Deny: Average Ride and Handling, Older Exterior looks (might disappoint some)
Five models with CNG options
Alto with K10 engine
A-Star with Automatic transmission
And today it has launched SX4 with Diesel heart.
Maruti Suzuki is doing exactly what a Market Leader is supposed to do in order to face fierce competition. It is using the potential of 1000 engineers sitting in its R&D office to make quick and yet substantial changes in the existing models. The frequency of these launches can also surprise the FMCG companies. (I can only imagine the mental state of the new entrants in Auto Industry).
I was lucky to test drive brand new SX4 Diesel on the day of its launch, so thought of sharing my experience on the very same day.
From the exterior looks, it is very much same SX4 diesel is very much similar to petrol sibling. The only way to distinguish a Diesel SX4 from Petrol SX4 is VDi/ZDi badge on the boot. Not many appreciate the exterior looks of SX4, but to put on records, it is the only tall boy deign available in Sedans. The muscular looks of SX4 impressed me and I guess diesel engine in Muscular bodied car should impress many more future customers too.
Even the interiors of the car are unchanged. Both SX4 Diesel and Petrol offers same feature pack across their three variants. The most amazing thing was the NVH levels inside a Diesel car. I was expecting some diesel clutter, but was welcomed by a silent cabin cabin. Kudos to great packaging that reduced the noise significantly. The kerb weight of the vehicle is increased by 55 kgs, so the suspensions were re-tuned to offer similar comfort to the passenger.
The engine is same (FIAT) 1.3L multijet engine, but is coupled to an all-new transmission. The same engine powers Fiat Lines, Fiat 500, Grande Punto 90hp and Tata Indigo Manza. Maruti calls is super-turbo engine and it comes with VGT (Variable geometry Turbocharger), which varies the angle of the vanes in order to provide the best possible airflow and efficiency. And for records: This car is also the first one in the country to conform to OBD-2 norms which are set to be introduced in India. OBD stands for ‘On Board Diagnostics’, which tell the driver if there is a problem with the car’s emission control system
The engine tuning is better than Linea or Manza. The engine produces 88.7 bhp@4000 rpm and 20.4 kgm@1750 rpm. The acceleration is quite high, and the car was firmly planted on the road at 130kmph. I felt that the car was perfectly under control at that speed. The max speed that I could touch on the track was 165 kmph, and I guess that is more than any customer would be expecting from SX4.
I compared the ride and handling of Diesel SX4 to Petrol SX4 and was disappointed by the results. The car looses grips in high speed cornering and the body roll is evident. Then I decided to compare with other Diesel cars in this segment and found that the ride and handling is pretty decent. The Rear suspension are soft, so it will give comfort to the passenger during straight stretches, but the body roll might create some trouble for him on curves.
Overall, it’s a good job done by team Maruti. Maruti Suzuki was already selling 1800~2000 SX4 every month. (this is quite good for any other car manufacturer). I feel that this Diesel car will eat some of the share of its Petrol sibling, but the overall sales figure should increase by 50~75%. Lets see how the market reacts to new diesel kid in the block.
Why Buy: Brand, Value for money, Good NVH, Good Engine Performance
Why Deny: Average Ride and Handling, Older Exterior looks (might disappoint some)
Monday, December 13, 2010
Volkswagen Vento
After a fierce battle in hatch segment, car manufacturers are gearing themselves for cut throat competition in sedan segment as well. Recently we had few interesting launches in Sedan segment as well (Corolla Diesel, Etios, Vento, upgraded Verna are few to name)
Volkswagen introduced Vento (Sedan version of Polo) only in Indian and Russian market. German Manufacturer designing a car specifically for Indian desires shows that the Indian automotive industry is the centre attraction these days.
Volkswagen decided to make a hit on bread and butter of Honda by targeting the market leader (Honda City). In the month of November 2010, VW has beaten Honda in total sales. This might come as quite a shock for Honda. I strongly feel that it is high time for Honda to unleash Diesel powertrain to stay competitive in this battleground.
From the exterior Vento is sophisticated. Though Vento is sedan version of Polo, still it doesn’t look like a boot pasted on the back of the hatch. The longer wheelbase and neat job on C-pillar give a clean profile to the car. From front, Vento is identical to Polo (except there is small design change in lower air dam). Quarter glass in rear window is like a cherry on the cake. Polo’s crisp lines around the body are taken forward in Vento as well. VW could have given the Vento the same bootlid opening as the Polo, where you depress the VW logo to release the hatch. But here, to open the boot, one can use either the button on key or on door trim, and to delight the user the boot will open completely without any human assistance!!!!
Overall the car has got contemporary styling and the stance of car will make the Vento presence felt on the road.
I noticed an amazing thing on boot. There is a Volkswagen Name badge on the boot which is missing in its smaller hatch. Probably Volkswagen wants to brand itself as a big car manufacturer in India.
I could feel the sophistication even inside the vehicle. The build quality is excellent. I tried my best to find uneven gaps inside the cabin, but failed miserably. The front dash is similar to Polo. Combination of dark color on top and beige gives a beautiful practical dash panel. The car is sufficiently loaded with features and one will not miss the absence of any feature. All the four power windows are auto up with anti pinch feature. Audio quality is best what one can get in this segment.
Few good and innovative are also there. The rear passenger can slide the co-driver seat using a lever provided at the back of front seat. This is a clear indication that VW has an intention of “chauffer driven car” while designing Vento. Front and rear arm rest are quite good. Infact Vento has widest rear arm rest (in this segment). VW has also introduced amazing security feature inside. After locking the car, the alarm will blow up in case of any control operation inside. (Kudos to German thinking)
But there are few points that may irritate the customer. The tunnel height on the rear floor is so high that I was tempted to call Vento a four-seater. I was surprised to notice that VW hasn’t given an option of locking doors to its passengers (only driver can do so). Even the direct rear visibility is quite poor. In terms of comfort the seats aren’t that comfortable. The seats don’t provide enough thigh and lower back support and even the head restraints were rated as hard. The major reason of underrating of Vento in Comfort department is: “I was pampered by the comforts of Honda city in the previous evaluation”.
The Vento comes with two engine options and the petrol has an automatic gearbox option as well.
On the test track when I turned the key, I was welcomed by huge clutter noise of 1.6 Litre diesel engine. I can not understand that how come a common rail engine was producing so much noise even during idle. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve common-rail turbocharged diesel motor also develops 104 bhp and it churns out 25.4 kgm of turning force between 1500 and 2500 rpm. The engine is more powerful then its figures. The turbo-lag is also not very evident in Vento. The taller gear ratios offered freedom of touching 100 kmph in third gear. Acceleration while outstripping any other car on highway is quite good as well. Engine and I both were relaxed even at the driving speed of 130 kmph. The car is so good that it will always respond to the smallest taps on accelerator pedal.
Steering the vehicle was fun. Vento has got a light and precise steering wheel that gives adequate feedback to the driver. It has got softer suspension system. The advantage of this suspension system is that one can easily glide over the cobbled street without much disturbance in cabin and the disadvantage is on potholed street where the car will shake like a mixer grinder. Initially I was little skeptical about the ride quality because of increased wheelbase (as compared to Polo) but ride is definitely better than Polo.
November sales figures of Vento are close to 2500 units and Honda City sales dropped to mere 3000 units in November. The fight is tough and we can only wait for few more months to get the clear verdict.
Why Buy: Volkwagen Brand, Powerful Diesel Engine, Features inside and German Engineering
Why Deny: Less Comfortable and Rear Tunnel Height, Rear visibility.
Volkswagen introduced Vento (Sedan version of Polo) only in Indian and Russian market. German Manufacturer designing a car specifically for Indian desires shows that the Indian automotive industry is the centre attraction these days.
Volkswagen decided to make a hit on bread and butter of Honda by targeting the market leader (Honda City). In the month of November 2010, VW has beaten Honda in total sales. This might come as quite a shock for Honda. I strongly feel that it is high time for Honda to unleash Diesel powertrain to stay competitive in this battleground.
From the exterior Vento is sophisticated. Though Vento is sedan version of Polo, still it doesn’t look like a boot pasted on the back of the hatch. The longer wheelbase and neat job on C-pillar give a clean profile to the car. From front, Vento is identical to Polo (except there is small design change in lower air dam). Quarter glass in rear window is like a cherry on the cake. Polo’s crisp lines around the body are taken forward in Vento as well. VW could have given the Vento the same bootlid opening as the Polo, where you depress the VW logo to release the hatch. But here, to open the boot, one can use either the button on key or on door trim, and to delight the user the boot will open completely without any human assistance!!!!
Overall the car has got contemporary styling and the stance of car will make the Vento presence felt on the road.
I noticed an amazing thing on boot. There is a Volkswagen Name badge on the boot which is missing in its smaller hatch. Probably Volkswagen wants to brand itself as a big car manufacturer in India.
I could feel the sophistication even inside the vehicle. The build quality is excellent. I tried my best to find uneven gaps inside the cabin, but failed miserably. The front dash is similar to Polo. Combination of dark color on top and beige gives a beautiful practical dash panel. The car is sufficiently loaded with features and one will not miss the absence of any feature. All the four power windows are auto up with anti pinch feature. Audio quality is best what one can get in this segment.
Few good and innovative are also there. The rear passenger can slide the co-driver seat using a lever provided at the back of front seat. This is a clear indication that VW has an intention of “chauffer driven car” while designing Vento. Front and rear arm rest are quite good. Infact Vento has widest rear arm rest (in this segment). VW has also introduced amazing security feature inside. After locking the car, the alarm will blow up in case of any control operation inside. (Kudos to German thinking)
But there are few points that may irritate the customer. The tunnel height on the rear floor is so high that I was tempted to call Vento a four-seater. I was surprised to notice that VW hasn’t given an option of locking doors to its passengers (only driver can do so). Even the direct rear visibility is quite poor. In terms of comfort the seats aren’t that comfortable. The seats don’t provide enough thigh and lower back support and even the head restraints were rated as hard. The major reason of underrating of Vento in Comfort department is: “I was pampered by the comforts of Honda city in the previous evaluation”.
The Vento comes with two engine options and the petrol has an automatic gearbox option as well.
On the test track when I turned the key, I was welcomed by huge clutter noise of 1.6 Litre diesel engine. I can not understand that how come a common rail engine was producing so much noise even during idle. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve common-rail turbocharged diesel motor also develops 104 bhp and it churns out 25.4 kgm of turning force between 1500 and 2500 rpm. The engine is more powerful then its figures. The turbo-lag is also not very evident in Vento. The taller gear ratios offered freedom of touching 100 kmph in third gear. Acceleration while outstripping any other car on highway is quite good as well. Engine and I both were relaxed even at the driving speed of 130 kmph. The car is so good that it will always respond to the smallest taps on accelerator pedal.
Steering the vehicle was fun. Vento has got a light and precise steering wheel that gives adequate feedback to the driver. It has got softer suspension system. The advantage of this suspension system is that one can easily glide over the cobbled street without much disturbance in cabin and the disadvantage is on potholed street where the car will shake like a mixer grinder. Initially I was little skeptical about the ride quality because of increased wheelbase (as compared to Polo) but ride is definitely better than Polo.
November sales figures of Vento are close to 2500 units and Honda City sales dropped to mere 3000 units in November. The fight is tough and we can only wait for few more months to get the clear verdict.
Why Buy: Volkwagen Brand, Powerful Diesel Engine, Features inside and German Engineering
Why Deny: Less Comfortable and Rear Tunnel Height, Rear visibility.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Maruti Dzire
To offer a Sedan at an affordable price is always a dream for all automotive manufacturers in India. In India we have many users who are driving hatchbacks for years, some are looking for more boot space and few want status shift to next level at a cheaper price. Maruti stirred one more revolution by launching Dzire. Within 18 months of its launch, magical figure of 1 lakh was touched. This figure itself explains everything about the car. After surveying existing users I was amazed to see that most of them rate their car 5/5 on performance, specifications, features and everything. from Maruti.
The heart car is identical to Swift till B-Pillar. Maruti has smartly added boot to the smart car. Initially I hated the boot job done on swift, but now after seeing so-many Dzires on road I have started loving its shape. The chrome garnish on the boot-lid adds substance to overall design. I can not point out any glitches in the exterior looks even after watching it like a critic. Still I feel that Maruti could have done a better boot job.
Interiors are also similar to swift. All black interiors might give sporty feeling to some users while its shady interiors to others. Swift and dzire were the first cars to introduce features like Auto AC and Steering mounted audio controls in A2 and A3 segment. Later these features became so popular that now almost every car maker has to think twice before not offering these features.
The seats also offer nice comfort. The rear seat back angle is even more than swift to offer best in class comfort. Integrated audio looks good too, but I was not impressed by the sound quality. I guess that can be the only negative point in entire car.
Taking the car onto test track was amazing fun. In linear acceleration the car is even more stable than swift. (For users who have not driven swift: At 160kmph you will feel as if the engine can stretch even more. Thanks to its stability feel). On cornering, I feel a there was little under steer, but that is common feature in all sedans. Suspensions impressed me yet again by providing comfort to its occupants on potholed street. The only irritant was metal noise coming from B-pillar. The car is just average when it comes to NVH.
The tuning of Diesel engine is awesome. You hit the highway and you will surely be impressed by its performance. I was troubled by the evident turbolag on hills and had to opt for numerous gear shifts.
To summarize, it is one of the best option available in Indian Market. Dzire (Aptly named as such?) fulfils all the dzires of its target customers. The only request we can make to Maruti is to do something to reduce the waiting period of this car. Having won good accolades, it is sure worth a good buy!
Why Buy: Cost, Performance, Features, After sales cost, Brand
Why Deny: Waiting period
The heart car is identical to Swift till B-Pillar. Maruti has smartly added boot to the smart car. Initially I hated the boot job done on swift, but now after seeing so-many Dzires on road I have started loving its shape. The chrome garnish on the boot-lid adds substance to overall design. I can not point out any glitches in the exterior looks even after watching it like a critic. Still I feel that Maruti could have done a better boot job.
Interiors are also similar to swift. All black interiors might give sporty feeling to some users while its shady interiors to others. Swift and dzire were the first cars to introduce features like Auto AC and Steering mounted audio controls in A2 and A3 segment. Later these features became so popular that now almost every car maker has to think twice before not offering these features.
The seats also offer nice comfort. The rear seat back angle is even more than swift to offer best in class comfort. Integrated audio looks good too, but I was not impressed by the sound quality. I guess that can be the only negative point in entire car.
Taking the car onto test track was amazing fun. In linear acceleration the car is even more stable than swift. (For users who have not driven swift: At 160kmph you will feel as if the engine can stretch even more. Thanks to its stability feel). On cornering, I feel a there was little under steer, but that is common feature in all sedans. Suspensions impressed me yet again by providing comfort to its occupants on potholed street. The only irritant was metal noise coming from B-pillar. The car is just average when it comes to NVH.
The tuning of Diesel engine is awesome. You hit the highway and you will surely be impressed by its performance. I was troubled by the evident turbolag on hills and had to opt for numerous gear shifts.
To summarize, it is one of the best option available in Indian Market. Dzire (Aptly named as such?) fulfils all the dzires of its target customers. The only request we can make to Maruti is to do something to reduce the waiting period of this car. Having won good accolades, it is sure worth a good buy!
Why Buy: Cost, Performance, Features, After sales cost, Brand
Why Deny: Waiting period
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Indigo Manza
Few months back I tested the car with the longest name. It is an indigenous entry with Italian heart. The full name of the actor of this plot is: “Tata Indigo Manga Quadrajet/Saphire 90 Aura Plus". Before even looking at the vehicle I was sure that Tata product will give me ample space at competitive pricing. And after looking at the vehicle I was tempted to ask --- Whether Tata is making any money out of it?
From its front looks one might be tempted to call it Indica Vista with a boot, but it would be huge disservice to Tata’s who have came a long way after launching Indica way back in 1998. Manza has (50mm) longer wheelbase as compared to Indica Vista and the boot is grafted in a very subtle manner. The rear look will give a feel of Retro Look which might get little hatred. Front looks are quite similar to Indca Vista, then longer wheelbase promises more space than Vista and well crafted boot acts like a bonus. But when compared to its competitors, Manza will get just average rating in Looks department.
Interior quality is far better when compared to Tata Standards, but is still very behind the standards set by Ford and Maruti in this Segment. I gave Thumbs up to Soft Touch IP, Driving Information, Rear Arm rest, Broad Seats and huge leg room. But glaring gaps on door trims, heavy looking steering wheel and awkward pedal position will make you realize that this is not the best product in the market. Tata tried to give its best to Manza by hiring Bluetooth technology from Fiat and by introducing Airbag and ABS in its car. But somehow I was never impressed after using all the features. Small controls on steering were difficult to operate, Audio settings were not user friendly, Opening and closing of door was not pleasant and to top it all heavy feeling while tuning the key inside key cylinder were irritating factors.
On the test track, I felt the power of 90 hp. 1.3 litre multijet engine with variable geometry turbocharger is available only in Fiat Linea and Manza. But somehow Linea tuning is far better than Manza. I hit the top speed of 163 kmph in Manza but trust me it wasn’t the safest drive test. Steering effort will reduce considerably at high speeds, which is quite risky as it will not give appropriate amount of feedback from the road. Even lane changing at 80kmph was the most difficult stunt one could perform on this car. So in terms of Ride and handling I will rate it below average.
Then I tested the feel of chauffer driven vehicle. Even the rear seat wasn’t very comfortable on potholed roads. But nonetheless I will be looking towards next Tata product. They are improving at a much faster rate.
Why Buy: Space, Cost and Engine
Why Deny: Compromise on driving pleasure, Jerks on rear seat, Handling at higher speeds, Interior quality.
From its front looks one might be tempted to call it Indica Vista with a boot, but it would be huge disservice to Tata’s who have came a long way after launching Indica way back in 1998. Manza has (50mm) longer wheelbase as compared to Indica Vista and the boot is grafted in a very subtle manner. The rear look will give a feel of Retro Look which might get little hatred. Front looks are quite similar to Indca Vista, then longer wheelbase promises more space than Vista and well crafted boot acts like a bonus. But when compared to its competitors, Manza will get just average rating in Looks department.
Interior quality is far better when compared to Tata Standards, but is still very behind the standards set by Ford and Maruti in this Segment. I gave Thumbs up to Soft Touch IP, Driving Information, Rear Arm rest, Broad Seats and huge leg room. But glaring gaps on door trims, heavy looking steering wheel and awkward pedal position will make you realize that this is not the best product in the market. Tata tried to give its best to Manza by hiring Bluetooth technology from Fiat and by introducing Airbag and ABS in its car. But somehow I was never impressed after using all the features. Small controls on steering were difficult to operate, Audio settings were not user friendly, Opening and closing of door was not pleasant and to top it all heavy feeling while tuning the key inside key cylinder were irritating factors.
On the test track, I felt the power of 90 hp. 1.3 litre multijet engine with variable geometry turbocharger is available only in Fiat Linea and Manza. But somehow Linea tuning is far better than Manza. I hit the top speed of 163 kmph in Manza but trust me it wasn’t the safest drive test. Steering effort will reduce considerably at high speeds, which is quite risky as it will not give appropriate amount of feedback from the road. Even lane changing at 80kmph was the most difficult stunt one could perform on this car. So in terms of Ride and handling I will rate it below average.
Then I tested the feel of chauffer driven vehicle. Even the rear seat wasn’t very comfortable on potholed roads. But nonetheless I will be looking towards next Tata product. They are improving at a much faster rate.
Why Buy: Space, Cost and Engine
Why Deny: Compromise on driving pleasure, Jerks on rear seat, Handling at higher speeds, Interior quality.
Monday, October 25, 2010
New Skoda Fabia
I really dont want to see the new Fabia. The reason was simple-with the kind of regard I had for the old Fabia, I didn’t want to see a stripped down version and change the image I had in my mind of the first true luxury hatch in India. But, I was left with no choice and had to go to check her out.
One first look at the car and I slightly felt comfortable. The car, though cheap by around 70k compared to the previous avatar, did not look as bad as I had expected. Instead, the fresh new face, with the wider peeled headlamps and bold new grille and the monstrous looking fog lamps, gave it a character, like some of its higher priced siblings. The flow lines from the sides of the bonnet gel with the upper grille so well, and looked inviting. The lower grille had also received fair amount of makeup, and with the low air dam at front, the car gave an impression of a toned up version of the old Fabia. The car length has also been increased by 8 mm and comes quite close to the line of control between a compact and an entry mid car. The height has also, gone up by 8mm, and the ground clearance by 12mm, which is…huge. Skoda seems to have learnt from the previous experiences with the old Fabia, which never spared a decent speed breaker on its path. The new alloys give it a much bolder stance. But, what came as a shock to me was the fact that Skoda has done away with the elegant sunroof atop the old car. Also the rear wiper as also nowhere to be seen, thanks to the cost lowering exercises. But overall, the car appeared sleek and better poised than the old Fabia. Truly Fab, is it?
To answer the question, we stepped inside and was greeted by the same familiar cabin that had taken its place in the old Fabia. Everything were pretty much the same and I was happy the car had not lost its charm owing to cost reduction. Every single panel looked as it was born to fit inside and the kind of build quality that is associated with a Skoda is still very much alive in the new Fabia as well. The steering looked same as before, but the dials of the speedo and odometer were tinkered with. The two spoke needles were replaced by new single spoke ones, and also the quality of the console was also a bit below the old car. It was then I noticed some change in the music system and controls. The old system with a big knob at centre gives way to a new system, with twin knobs and switches all around. A welcome addition was an Aux-in port and a power outlet on the floor console. The overall interior conveyed an impression of high quality standards, and I could hardly find any part that could give me a proof of the frugal cost reduction done in the car. New features include pinch guard protection on all four power windows and a 3 way adjustable parcel shelf, but the best of the lot was the vents for rear cooling given under the front seats. Skoda, has definitely put in a lot of thinking in to this hatch to make it better appealing to the Indian buyers.
Then came the next big step, a test drive. I was thrilled. But, my happiness was short lived as I was informed that the car could not be taken out on the highway owing to the incomplete registration process. I had to satisfy myself with a ride around the park. I started the diesel motor and waited for the thrums of the engine. But, the wait never seemed to end. I was surprised to find that the car was quite silent as compared to its predecessor, which was regarded as a luxury tractor on road. I engaged the gear and the car leaped forward. The throttle response was brisk and the steering, responsive enough. But the steering was not as light compared to some other cars, and I had a not so good time reversing and parking. The ride also appeared decent on the broken roads and had a comfy feel. The brakes when applied, feels lost for a while, but comes to your rescue all of a sudden, creating a slight panic feeling.
Overall, the car, in its new avatar has made a complete turn around. Offering almost all features as its competition, and quite aggressively priced, I feel this car will be a true game changer for Skoda. Truly Fab…it is…
Why Buy: Luxury Feel, Ride, Comfort, Cost (No longer expensive) and Brand
Why Deny: Service and spare parts cost
One first look at the car and I slightly felt comfortable. The car, though cheap by around 70k compared to the previous avatar, did not look as bad as I had expected. Instead, the fresh new face, with the wider peeled headlamps and bold new grille and the monstrous looking fog lamps, gave it a character, like some of its higher priced siblings. The flow lines from the sides of the bonnet gel with the upper grille so well, and looked inviting. The lower grille had also received fair amount of makeup, and with the low air dam at front, the car gave an impression of a toned up version of the old Fabia. The car length has also been increased by 8 mm and comes quite close to the line of control between a compact and an entry mid car. The height has also, gone up by 8mm, and the ground clearance by 12mm, which is…huge. Skoda seems to have learnt from the previous experiences with the old Fabia, which never spared a decent speed breaker on its path. The new alloys give it a much bolder stance. But, what came as a shock to me was the fact that Skoda has done away with the elegant sunroof atop the old car. Also the rear wiper as also nowhere to be seen, thanks to the cost lowering exercises. But overall, the car appeared sleek and better poised than the old Fabia. Truly Fab, is it?
To answer the question, we stepped inside and was greeted by the same familiar cabin that had taken its place in the old Fabia. Everything were pretty much the same and I was happy the car had not lost its charm owing to cost reduction. Every single panel looked as it was born to fit inside and the kind of build quality that is associated with a Skoda is still very much alive in the new Fabia as well. The steering looked same as before, but the dials of the speedo and odometer were tinkered with. The two spoke needles were replaced by new single spoke ones, and also the quality of the console was also a bit below the old car. It was then I noticed some change in the music system and controls. The old system with a big knob at centre gives way to a new system, with twin knobs and switches all around. A welcome addition was an Aux-in port and a power outlet on the floor console. The overall interior conveyed an impression of high quality standards, and I could hardly find any part that could give me a proof of the frugal cost reduction done in the car. New features include pinch guard protection on all four power windows and a 3 way adjustable parcel shelf, but the best of the lot was the vents for rear cooling given under the front seats. Skoda, has definitely put in a lot of thinking in to this hatch to make it better appealing to the Indian buyers.
Then came the next big step, a test drive. I was thrilled. But, my happiness was short lived as I was informed that the car could not be taken out on the highway owing to the incomplete registration process. I had to satisfy myself with a ride around the park. I started the diesel motor and waited for the thrums of the engine. But, the wait never seemed to end. I was surprised to find that the car was quite silent as compared to its predecessor, which was regarded as a luxury tractor on road. I engaged the gear and the car leaped forward. The throttle response was brisk and the steering, responsive enough. But the steering was not as light compared to some other cars, and I had a not so good time reversing and parking. The ride also appeared decent on the broken roads and had a comfy feel. The brakes when applied, feels lost for a while, but comes to your rescue all of a sudden, creating a slight panic feeling.
Overall, the car, in its new avatar has made a complete turn around. Offering almost all features as its competition, and quite aggressively priced, I feel this car will be a true game changer for Skoda. Truly Fab…it is…
Why Buy: Luxury Feel, Ride, Comfort, Cost (No longer expensive) and Brand
Why Deny: Service and spare parts cost
Volkswagen Polo
I woke up one fine morning to see a twelve page advertisement in Times of India. That was a clear signal that a tusker will start running soon in India. Few days later there, acquisition of 20% share in Suzuki Motor Corporation showed that Volkswagen do not want to take any risk in a market like India. The goal of becoming Numero Uno is clear in the minds of top management.
Equal efforts might have been poured to select the product that will begin the entry of the giant in the most challenging market. Considering the inclination of the Indian customers towards small cars and their liking for anything that offers them real value for money, and having a well established performer under its sleeve, selling over 2.1 lakh units in 2009 in just the top 4 European markets alone, the answer was simple. Bring in the Polo.
Volkswagen Polo is a well build car. Sharp creases all round its body, Hexgonal front facia, Small Panel gaps, clear head lamps and even the stance of the car point towards the sophisticate look of the vehicle. Among all other cute and beautiful cars, Polo stands like a gentleman.
This perfection is carried inside the cabin also. The dual colored interiors with chrome all around will greet its passenger with elegance. I was not able to locate any abnormal panel gaps inside the vehicle. The sound quality is the best one can get with a factory fitted audio. Instead of 4 speakers Volkswagen has opted for four sub-woofers to sit besides the mesh in the door. Even the stair pattern visible on audio controls assists the driver to operate in much better way.
But this all good story was soon broken by the ignition of the engine. The petrol engine sounds more than a diesel one. Every vibration of the engine is audible inside. It was difficult for me to settle down in a comfortable position on driver’s seat. It seems like VW has designed the car keeping the interests of its European customers and not Indians in mind. Pedal position quite awkard and one may get a problem of achy feet after driving it in city.
Accelerate, and the car moves forward in a calm and composed manner, as if unfazed by the world around. The ride is good at both low and high speeds and over all unsettled surfaces and feels quite relaxed. There is absolutely no problem in ride and handling department even if one decides to test it in extreme conditions. Cornering on a dirt track at high speeds is a no problem for Polo. The steering feels light at low speeds and taking it around in the city won’t be a tiring experience.
The problem of front seat was carried forward to rear passenger as well. It is difficult to be comfortable with a upright seat back. Tunnel in between (meant for 4WD) will make the ride even more uncomfortable for fifth passenger. It lacks many luxury features like Auto AC, USB Port and Electrically adjustable ORVM, but when it comes to buying decision, car has a good balance between all features.
Why Buy: Decent looks, Build quality, Luxury Interiors, Ride and Handling, Brand
Why Deny: Rear+Driver Seat Comfort, Noisy Engine, Less responsive engine.
Equal efforts might have been poured to select the product that will begin the entry of the giant in the most challenging market. Considering the inclination of the Indian customers towards small cars and their liking for anything that offers them real value for money, and having a well established performer under its sleeve, selling over 2.1 lakh units in 2009 in just the top 4 European markets alone, the answer was simple. Bring in the Polo.
Volkswagen Polo is a well build car. Sharp creases all round its body, Hexgonal front facia, Small Panel gaps, clear head lamps and even the stance of the car point towards the sophisticate look of the vehicle. Among all other cute and beautiful cars, Polo stands like a gentleman.
This perfection is carried inside the cabin also. The dual colored interiors with chrome all around will greet its passenger with elegance. I was not able to locate any abnormal panel gaps inside the vehicle. The sound quality is the best one can get with a factory fitted audio. Instead of 4 speakers Volkswagen has opted for four sub-woofers to sit besides the mesh in the door. Even the stair pattern visible on audio controls assists the driver to operate in much better way.
But this all good story was soon broken by the ignition of the engine. The petrol engine sounds more than a diesel one. Every vibration of the engine is audible inside. It was difficult for me to settle down in a comfortable position on driver’s seat. It seems like VW has designed the car keeping the interests of its European customers and not Indians in mind. Pedal position quite awkard and one may get a problem of achy feet after driving it in city.
Accelerate, and the car moves forward in a calm and composed manner, as if unfazed by the world around. The ride is good at both low and high speeds and over all unsettled surfaces and feels quite relaxed. There is absolutely no problem in ride and handling department even if one decides to test it in extreme conditions. Cornering on a dirt track at high speeds is a no problem for Polo. The steering feels light at low speeds and taking it around in the city won’t be a tiring experience.
The problem of front seat was carried forward to rear passenger as well. It is difficult to be comfortable with a upright seat back. Tunnel in between (meant for 4WD) will make the ride even more uncomfortable for fifth passenger. It lacks many luxury features like Auto AC, USB Port and Electrically adjustable ORVM, but when it comes to buying decision, car has a good balance between all features.
Why Buy: Decent looks, Build quality, Luxury Interiors, Ride and Handling, Brand
Why Deny: Rear+Driver Seat Comfort, Noisy Engine, Less responsive engine.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Nissan Micra
Nissan tries to revamp its entire model offerings. It has plans to launch cars in all segments based on single platform. A small hatch has already been launched in Indian market and a sedan, MPV are much awaited cars on same V-Platform.
First, lets get into some statistics. Since the launch of Nissan Micra, Nissan India sales have grown by around 20 times over the same period last year. Nissan Micra has touched a sales figure of 1200 per month in India. The number might sound too small, but considering a small network of 19 dealers it can be termed as a magnificent job.
I was impressed by the exterior looks of the vehicle. As compared to other premium hatches, this car has surely brought unique identity. The smiling face, roundness feel everywhere and Slopping roofline give a cute look to the vehicle. Micra can be termed as mini Beetle and trust me it wont be an insult to curves to Volkswagen Beauty. The rear with its flat looks, is bit awkward but overall car will not disappoint with its exterior looks.
There is no need to pull the keys out of your pocket to enter the car. It just require a push on the request switch. Once seated, electric push start will give a classy feel. Micra is the first car in the segment to offer these features. One look around, and I was quite impressed by the look and layout of the instrument panel. The round theme followed all around, starting from the audio, AC controls and vents, dashboard, and not to forget, the steering wheel. The metallic finish, orange back lights and the greige color scheme gave a lively and cheerful atmosphere inside. Top variant is fully loaded and it flaunts features which are not even present in entry sedans.
But the story was different for lower variants of Micra. The lower variants carry all black interiors with no jazzy features. The lower variants may give a feel of cheap Chinese quality. I feel overall interior package of low and Mid variant is average. Seat comfort, Space, and feel just a notch below the standards of a premium hatch.
Even when it comes to initial pick up the car is quite sluggish. It stands nowhere close to the performance of Maruti, Hyundai and Volkswagen. Even the car gave a poor show in ride and handling. May be because of its exceptionally low weight it just sways during swift lane changing and floats over smooth road. Even the experience of riding over is quite noisy.
Why Buy:
Exterior looks, Features of XV Variant, Value for Money
Why Reject:
Ride and handling, Average Engine Performance
First, lets get into some statistics. Since the launch of Nissan Micra, Nissan India sales have grown by around 20 times over the same period last year. Nissan Micra has touched a sales figure of 1200 per month in India. The number might sound too small, but considering a small network of 19 dealers it can be termed as a magnificent job.
I was impressed by the exterior looks of the vehicle. As compared to other premium hatches, this car has surely brought unique identity. The smiling face, roundness feel everywhere and Slopping roofline give a cute look to the vehicle. Micra can be termed as mini Beetle and trust me it wont be an insult to curves to Volkswagen Beauty. The rear with its flat looks, is bit awkward but overall car will not disappoint with its exterior looks.
There is no need to pull the keys out of your pocket to enter the car. It just require a push on the request switch. Once seated, electric push start will give a classy feel. Micra is the first car in the segment to offer these features. One look around, and I was quite impressed by the look and layout of the instrument panel. The round theme followed all around, starting from the audio, AC controls and vents, dashboard, and not to forget, the steering wheel. The metallic finish, orange back lights and the greige color scheme gave a lively and cheerful atmosphere inside. Top variant is fully loaded and it flaunts features which are not even present in entry sedans.
But the story was different for lower variants of Micra. The lower variants carry all black interiors with no jazzy features. The lower variants may give a feel of cheap Chinese quality. I feel overall interior package of low and Mid variant is average. Seat comfort, Space, and feel just a notch below the standards of a premium hatch.
Even when it comes to initial pick up the car is quite sluggish. It stands nowhere close to the performance of Maruti, Hyundai and Volkswagen. Even the car gave a poor show in ride and handling. May be because of its exceptionally low weight it just sways during swift lane changing and floats over smooth road. Even the experience of riding over is quite noisy.
Why Buy:
Exterior looks, Features of XV Variant, Value for Money
Why Reject:
Ride and handling, Average Engine Performance
Ford Figo
Ford tried its best to offer a new product which may revive Ford’s image in India. But after closely analysing the vehicle I came to conclusion that the concept of Ford Figo is more of a World Car than an Indian Car.
Ford is trying to revive its image by launching world cars now. Probably they will come strongly with the launch of “Ford Focus” shortly.
Figo tried to satiate the needs of customer all across the world and was named as “Indian car” only because it was specially launched in India. The only parameter that satisfied Indian needs is “ex-showroom” tag of Figo.
Figo tried to minimize the cost by sticking to basic knowledge. It carried forward its age old platform, henceforth saved the Research and developmental costs. Figo shares its platform with Fiesta, Fusion and Ikon.
Figo inherits exceptionally good ride and handling from its siblings. One can cruise through potholes, brick roads easily and cornering at high speeds is just like child’s play.
But I guess customer might need little extra when it comes to engine. Though it carries 1.2L petrol power train, but the power delivery at lower rpms is questionable. One has to shift to first gear after crossing every speed-breaker, all thanks to taller gear ratio of second gear.
1.5 L diesel engine from Fiesta also fails to deliver the punch in FIGO.
After the engine even the exterior looks suggests that Figo is old man car. Lowest height in entire A2 segment, side looks similar to Fiat Uno, etc might not gel with youngster image.
Once seated inside the Figo, I was impressed by the space. Ample legroom, decent head room {despite of its low height} were the major positives of interiors. But, the plastic quality was the worst that ford could offer. Even one way height adjuster in top variant was an indication of cost-cutting measures. The audio comes with Bluetooth connectivity, but alas the USB feature is missing. Even the optional brick-red color of dash for top variant is worthy of being hated.
The boot opening lever on the left hand will surprise the driver everytime.
Before customizing the car for India Ford only judged one parameter namely cost which might be liked by Indian customer. It’s true that every car carrying attractive price tag will b evaluated closely by Indians, but at the same time Indians like cars like Swift or i20 which carry premium price tags.
Well, in the end lets see the positives and negatives of the car again:
Positives: Price Tag, ride and handling, interior space
Negatives: Low powered Engine, Interior build quality, exterior styling
Happy evaluating :)
Ford is trying to revive its image by launching world cars now. Probably they will come strongly with the launch of “Ford Focus” shortly.
Figo tried to satiate the needs of customer all across the world and was named as “Indian car” only because it was specially launched in India. The only parameter that satisfied Indian needs is “ex-showroom” tag of Figo.
Figo tried to minimize the cost by sticking to basic knowledge. It carried forward its age old platform, henceforth saved the Research and developmental costs. Figo shares its platform with Fiesta, Fusion and Ikon.
Figo inherits exceptionally good ride and handling from its siblings. One can cruise through potholes, brick roads easily and cornering at high speeds is just like child’s play.
But I guess customer might need little extra when it comes to engine. Though it carries 1.2L petrol power train, but the power delivery at lower rpms is questionable. One has to shift to first gear after crossing every speed-breaker, all thanks to taller gear ratio of second gear.
1.5 L diesel engine from Fiesta also fails to deliver the punch in FIGO.
After the engine even the exterior looks suggests that Figo is old man car. Lowest height in entire A2 segment, side looks similar to Fiat Uno, etc might not gel with youngster image.
Once seated inside the Figo, I was impressed by the space. Ample legroom, decent head room {despite of its low height} were the major positives of interiors. But, the plastic quality was the worst that ford could offer. Even one way height adjuster in top variant was an indication of cost-cutting measures. The audio comes with Bluetooth connectivity, but alas the USB feature is missing. Even the optional brick-red color of dash for top variant is worthy of being hated.
The boot opening lever on the left hand will surprise the driver everytime.
Before customizing the car for India Ford only judged one parameter namely cost which might be liked by Indian customer. It’s true that every car carrying attractive price tag will b evaluated closely by Indians, but at the same time Indians like cars like Swift or i20 which carry premium price tags.
Well, in the end lets see the positives and negatives of the car again:
Positives: Price Tag, ride and handling, interior space
Negatives: Low powered Engine, Interior build quality, exterior styling
Happy evaluating :)
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