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)
Showing posts with label Hatcback Test Drive Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hatcback Test Drive Review. Show all posts
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, November 14, 2010
New Alto K10 engine
We all know what Ratan Tata thought for the concept Nano. But here’s an amazing Fact:
“O Suzuki thought of making a car that would be one third the cost of existing car. So that women buyers and second hand car buyers can opt for it. And the result was ALTO launch in 1976. Alto soon became a world wide hit.”
In India Brand Alto was launched in year 2000. Few people guessed it right that it will surpass the unconquered king (M800) in sales. Another amazing fact is: Alto was launched at a price tag of 4 lakhs. It was much more expensive than Hyundai Santro. And now what wee see on the sales chart is the efforts put in by Maruti Suzuki to make the car more affordable for the Indian masses.
Present day sales: Alto market share is more than Hyundai, Tata Motors, and everyone else in Indian Market.
2010 Update: Alto K10 Launched - Base Variant Priced At Rs. 3.03 LakhsMaruti Suzuki launched a new version of Alto with the K10B engine. The Alto K10 launched at an ex-showroom price of Rs 3.03 lakh for LXi version and Rs 3.16 for the VXi version. The car will offer a plusher option with more punch and better fuel efficiency.
Front exterior looks remind me older Zen, which was my favourite. New angular headlamps with big grille make ALTO bolder and more mature. The restyled rear with new tail-lights looks modern, but small rounded tail lamps give a feeling of Chinese car. To accommodate the bigger engine the length of Alto was increased by 125 mm, and it helped to give new Alto a purposeful stance. Side body is exactly same which indicates that interiors haven’t changed. There is no change in wheelbase of the car. It now rests on 13-inch wheels and tubeless tyres instead of the 12-inch jobs you find on the current model.
Stepping inside, I got a nostalgic feeling. Many things were still the same when compared to existing Alto. A new steering wheel, with new instrument cluster looks good. The speedometer with bigger and clear font is quite user friendly. The new gear knob is similar to Swift, which gives a sporty and confident look. But somehow I feel the interiors still are plasticky. All grey interiors are drab. Even new seat covers don’t fill so much life in the interiors. But there is good news for the customers. Scoop on the back of Front seats and space beneath it increases the legroom. Customers still might complain for less legroom, but that is what one can get in this price. In terms of features customers can now get Power windows in VXi variant.
Seats aren’t very comfortable and noise inside the cabin is also there. But it is comparable to all cars with a price tag of around three lakhs.
The major change is the most refreshing one. Now Alto is even more powerful. On paper it is as powerful as Astar or Estilo, but on a straight line match, it can compete with Swift. Thanks to its light weight. Now Alto is more powerful than most of the hatches in segment. I was reading a magazine and it said that Alto K10 is not stable at 140 kmph. And that is the best compliment anyone can give it to Alto.
New Alto can be said to be a level higher than the current alto in terms of ride and handling. The ride is pretty smooth on highways and the car is much better poised and has less vertical movements compared to the current alto. Even on coarse roads and sharp speed breakers, the impact felt inside the cabin is much better and noise levels are also less. Damping on uneven surfaces is good and after lane change also it feels decent. Steering is not that responsive at short inputs but the response feel is quite linear. Grip on road is slightly less but good compared to Alto.
It is a good option considering the price at which it is offered. There is no car in direct competition to this king. And there is no doubt that the car will be the king of Indian market. It might get some competition after Hyundai’s new small car launch due next year, but I hope that Maruti wont be sleeping till then.
Why Buy: Brand, After sales cost, Price, Engine, Fuel Efficiency.
Why Deny: Dull Interiors, Cabin Noise, Slightly uncomfortable seats.
“O Suzuki thought of making a car that would be one third the cost of existing car. So that women buyers and second hand car buyers can opt for it. And the result was ALTO launch in 1976. Alto soon became a world wide hit.”
In India Brand Alto was launched in year 2000. Few people guessed it right that it will surpass the unconquered king (M800) in sales. Another amazing fact is: Alto was launched at a price tag of 4 lakhs. It was much more expensive than Hyundai Santro. And now what wee see on the sales chart is the efforts put in by Maruti Suzuki to make the car more affordable for the Indian masses.
Present day sales: Alto market share is more than Hyundai, Tata Motors, and everyone else in Indian Market.
2010 Update: Alto K10 Launched - Base Variant Priced At Rs. 3.03 LakhsMaruti Suzuki launched a new version of Alto with the K10B engine. The Alto K10 launched at an ex-showroom price of Rs 3.03 lakh for LXi version and Rs 3.16 for the VXi version. The car will offer a plusher option with more punch and better fuel efficiency.
Front exterior looks remind me older Zen, which was my favourite. New angular headlamps with big grille make ALTO bolder and more mature. The restyled rear with new tail-lights looks modern, but small rounded tail lamps give a feeling of Chinese car. To accommodate the bigger engine the length of Alto was increased by 125 mm, and it helped to give new Alto a purposeful stance. Side body is exactly same which indicates that interiors haven’t changed. There is no change in wheelbase of the car. It now rests on 13-inch wheels and tubeless tyres instead of the 12-inch jobs you find on the current model.
Stepping inside, I got a nostalgic feeling. Many things were still the same when compared to existing Alto. A new steering wheel, with new instrument cluster looks good. The speedometer with bigger and clear font is quite user friendly. The new gear knob is similar to Swift, which gives a sporty and confident look. But somehow I feel the interiors still are plasticky. All grey interiors are drab. Even new seat covers don’t fill so much life in the interiors. But there is good news for the customers. Scoop on the back of Front seats and space beneath it increases the legroom. Customers still might complain for less legroom, but that is what one can get in this price. In terms of features customers can now get Power windows in VXi variant.
Seats aren’t very comfortable and noise inside the cabin is also there. But it is comparable to all cars with a price tag of around three lakhs.
The major change is the most refreshing one. Now Alto is even more powerful. On paper it is as powerful as Astar or Estilo, but on a straight line match, it can compete with Swift. Thanks to its light weight. Now Alto is more powerful than most of the hatches in segment. I was reading a magazine and it said that Alto K10 is not stable at 140 kmph. And that is the best compliment anyone can give it to Alto.
New Alto can be said to be a level higher than the current alto in terms of ride and handling. The ride is pretty smooth on highways and the car is much better poised and has less vertical movements compared to the current alto. Even on coarse roads and sharp speed breakers, the impact felt inside the cabin is much better and noise levels are also less. Damping on uneven surfaces is good and after lane change also it feels decent. Steering is not that responsive at short inputs but the response feel is quite linear. Grip on road is slightly less but good compared to Alto.
It is a good option considering the price at which it is offered. There is no car in direct competition to this king. And there is no doubt that the car will be the king of Indian market. It might get some competition after Hyundai’s new small car launch due next year, but I hope that Maruti wont be sleeping till then.
Why Buy: Brand, After sales cost, Price, Engine, Fuel Efficiency.
Why Deny: Dull Interiors, Cabin Noise, Slightly uncomfortable seats.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Hyundai i10
Twelve years back Hyundai was born in India. And today they have written a success story in Indian Automotive field. Probably many B-Schools will start focusing on case studies on success of Hyundai in Indian as well as well in International market. Most of Hyundai launches in A2 and A3 segment received warm welcome from Indian customers. The way Hyundai has fought against competition is phenomenal. Let me put few examples to show how flexible and how fast Koreans are:
Santro launch 1 year ahead to wagon R
I 10 launch 1 year ahead to A-star
Getz launch 1 year ahead to swift
Verna launch 8 months before SX4
Even their Ultra Low cost car will be ahead of maruti model by a year or so.
I test drove new kid from Hyundai recently. Hyundai i10 was supposed to be a full model change of Santro. But the market refused to bid farewell to their Santro. As a result there was expansion in product portfolio of Hyundai. Its always difficult for me to understand the fact that one of variant of i10 (Santro FMC) is selling at 6 lakhs.
i10 has got a minor facelift. Bumpers with flattened corners, new head and tail lamps, new front lower grill, Fog lamps give a refreshing look to i10.It seems flattened bumpers with twin front grill is becoming Hyundai family characteristics. These attributes give more compact and techy look to the vehicle. The new external appearance may not be to everyone's liking, but it has indeed changed significantly.
There was a pleasant surprise waiting inside, i10 has done away with all beige interiors. Already there were numerous complaints of weird reflection of dash on windscreen. This problem is now resolved by dark brown colour. But now the interior feels a little cramped. All new Blue illumination makes the interior livelier. New seat upholstery looks good, but semi fabric seats even in top variants is bit irritant.
i10 got even more richer in the field of Features. Features like Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable ORVMs will fulfil all the desires of intended customers. Gearshift prompter aids in increasing the fuel efficiency. But then most of these features come in Asta version which is quite expensive. I strongly feel that Asta variant is NOT a value for money product.
Other than cosmetic changes, Hyundai has done few refreshing changes in engines as well. The 1086cc four-cylinder unit - now badged the iRDE2 - makes about 3 bhp more (68 bhp at 5500 rpm) and 10.1 kgm of torque. The motive behind this was to make it more powerful than Wagon R. (But I guess that’s only on paper).The valve diameter has increased and so has the lift, leading to better breathing and performance
The output from the 1197cc DOHC 16-valve 1.2, now renamed the Kappa2, is the same, at 78.9 bhp at 5800 rpm and 11.4 kgm at 4000 revs. VTVT in 1.2 litre is a welcome change too. Now as per ARAI figure fuel efficiency of 20.36 makes the car even more attractive.
On the test track, I felt that new i10 has lost the punch in initial pick-up when compared to older i10. But still it is better than other 1.2 litre engines in market. The gearbox is precise and allows for quick shifts, even gear ratios also favour zippy city driving. On the highway the i10's motor feels a bit wanting; it runs out of breath beyond 120 kph. It also doesn't like high speed directional changes. But keep it between 80 and 100 kph and it comfortably cruises. So I will rate it as best City car.
To conclude I would like to make some comparisons. I usually don’t like to compare, but for sale horse like i10 it is important.
Santro owners will not like i10.
I always feel that Santro provides more comfort. Wider and longer seats, adjustable head restraints (in old Santro), comparatively low seating and better utility spaces make Santro better option.
The i10 competes with the Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Estilo and the Ritz mainly. Compared to the Suzukis, the i10 is well-built and has quality components going inside. It is easily the better car compared to the A-Star and the Estilo, while the Ritz would win for its effervescent handling and a muscular 1.2-litre engine.
Why Buy: Size (apt for city driving), Zippy 1.2L kappa engine, trendy styling, airy cabin, Hyundai network, AT option
Why Deny: Top variant are expensive, not designed for taller people.
Santro launch 1 year ahead to wagon R
I 10 launch 1 year ahead to A-star
Getz launch 1 year ahead to swift
Verna launch 8 months before SX4
Even their Ultra Low cost car will be ahead of maruti model by a year or so.
I test drove new kid from Hyundai recently. Hyundai i10 was supposed to be a full model change of Santro. But the market refused to bid farewell to their Santro. As a result there was expansion in product portfolio of Hyundai. Its always difficult for me to understand the fact that one of variant of i10 (Santro FMC) is selling at 6 lakhs.
i10 has got a minor facelift. Bumpers with flattened corners, new head and tail lamps, new front lower grill, Fog lamps give a refreshing look to i10.It seems flattened bumpers with twin front grill is becoming Hyundai family characteristics. These attributes give more compact and techy look to the vehicle. The new external appearance may not be to everyone's liking, but it has indeed changed significantly.
There was a pleasant surprise waiting inside, i10 has done away with all beige interiors. Already there were numerous complaints of weird reflection of dash on windscreen. This problem is now resolved by dark brown colour. But now the interior feels a little cramped. All new Blue illumination makes the interior livelier. New seat upholstery looks good, but semi fabric seats even in top variants is bit irritant.
i10 got even more richer in the field of Features. Features like Bluetooth, rear parking sensors, electrically adjustable ORVMs will fulfil all the desires of intended customers. Gearshift prompter aids in increasing the fuel efficiency. But then most of these features come in Asta version which is quite expensive. I strongly feel that Asta variant is NOT a value for money product.
Other than cosmetic changes, Hyundai has done few refreshing changes in engines as well. The 1086cc four-cylinder unit - now badged the iRDE2 - makes about 3 bhp more (68 bhp at 5500 rpm) and 10.1 kgm of torque. The motive behind this was to make it more powerful than Wagon R. (But I guess that’s only on paper).The valve diameter has increased and so has the lift, leading to better breathing and performance
The output from the 1197cc DOHC 16-valve 1.2, now renamed the Kappa2, is the same, at 78.9 bhp at 5800 rpm and 11.4 kgm at 4000 revs. VTVT in 1.2 litre is a welcome change too. Now as per ARAI figure fuel efficiency of 20.36 makes the car even more attractive.
On the test track, I felt that new i10 has lost the punch in initial pick-up when compared to older i10. But still it is better than other 1.2 litre engines in market. The gearbox is precise and allows for quick shifts, even gear ratios also favour zippy city driving. On the highway the i10's motor feels a bit wanting; it runs out of breath beyond 120 kph. It also doesn't like high speed directional changes. But keep it between 80 and 100 kph and it comfortably cruises. So I will rate it as best City car.
To conclude I would like to make some comparisons. I usually don’t like to compare, but for sale horse like i10 it is important.
Santro owners will not like i10.
I always feel that Santro provides more comfort. Wider and longer seats, adjustable head restraints (in old Santro), comparatively low seating and better utility spaces make Santro better option.
The i10 competes with the Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Estilo and the Ritz mainly. Compared to the Suzukis, the i10 is well-built and has quality components going inside. It is easily the better car compared to the A-Star and the Estilo, while the Ritz would win for its effervescent handling and a muscular 1.2-litre engine.
Why Buy: Size (apt for city driving), Zippy 1.2L kappa engine, trendy styling, airy cabin, Hyundai network, AT option
Why Deny: Top variant are expensive, not designed for taller people.
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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