Toyota is known for its niche cars catering to niche segment. Toyota is good at beating the competition too. Till now Toyota has beaten Ford in SUV turf, Civic in Luxury segment, created a new homeground with Quails which is now ruled by its Innova.
Toyota never tried its forte in making a low cost car like Etios. Players like Maruti, Hyundai, Mahindra, Ford and General Motors have already introduced low cost sedans in Indian market and few of these introductions were liked by Indian masses. Few months back Toyota decided to launch its fight in this segment as well. Etios has given decent volumes to Toyota vault and now Toyota is eyeing more volumes from Liva.
Recently launched Liva, hatchback version of Etios is the cheapest offering from Toyota. Toyota has launched the same model that was showcased at Auto-expo 2010. It would be rather wrong to say that Liva is equivalent to Etios minus boot. Liva is actually not as ugly as its sedan version. Body skirt and rear spoiler gives a richer look to otherwise barren vehicle. It has shorter wheelbase which gives a balanced look. From front to B-Pillar the Hatch is similar to the sedan version. I would say it’s the fatty tail-lamps that add glamour to the vehicle. The exterior doesn’t give an image of sporty or aerodynamic vehicle, rather the exterior look hints towards spacious cabin inside.
The interior styling is exactly the same as interiors of Etios sedan. Though Toyota has reduced the wheelbase by 90 mm, still there is no compromise on the interior space. Infact the space inside the cabin is also same. (But) Toyota has kept the interior designs also same and has used the same materials as well. Henceforth, I was disappointed in the same manner. The same cost cutting measures were visible and it doesn’t give a feel of premiumness to the customers. Toyota should have benchmark its closest competitors (Read as Swift, Ritz, Polo or Fabia) before designing such an interior. The only need that it satisfies is the “space”, but then same is available in Tata as well. Toyota engineers have used thin seats to give an image of roominess inside. By this Toyota made a clear statement that a customer should either ask for space or for comfort. Asking for both would be a serious crime. The other better things are seven cup holders, cooled glove box and some gadgets. I feel that Audio should have been loaded with features like USB or Bluetooth, but then it is a Low cost car :)
The vehicle is quite calm when you crank it, but it will show its true color when you try to push it hard. The engine sounds a little harsh at times. Liva is powered by 1197cc 16-valve DOHC inline-four cylinder petrol engine, with 78.9 bhp at 5600 rpm and 10.6 kgm of torque at 3100 rpm. The figures aren’t exceptional but I would say that the vehicle is tuned for City driving. The torque band is apt for minimal gear shifts. I felt that Liva is designed for speeds of 80~90 kmph. The gear shifts are short and smooth. Toyota claims an ARAI fuel efficiency rating of 18.3 kpl – the idea of course is to stretch the litre as much as possible. This is possibly because of Light Body shell. Ahhh…. Liva is the lightest car in its segment.
I expected worse handling from a lighter vehicle, but to my surprise Liva is quite good in this department. The suspension is tuned for comfort and wider footprint gives stability to its ride. The Etios Liva doesn’t get too unsettled when submitted to potholes and bad roads. The steering is light and perfectly centered and it is easy to drive and hold the vehicle while cornering as well.
Overall the vehicle is not that impressive. I guess Toyota had seen the market with a myopic vision. These products (Etios and Liva) will not last for another life. (i.e. the life of these products will not be more than five years. I feel that people might not be interested in waiting for New Etios or for New Liva on road). For sure, this vehicle will not impress its owners, though it might promise good sales figures to Toyota.
(It is interesting to see that Toyota and VW are fighting for No1 spot. VW offers products like Polo and Vento in Indian Market and Toyota relies on number game by offering Etios and Liva to market. Hope Toyota is not on the wrong way!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Why Buy: Functional Interiors, Space, Toyota Branding
Why Deny: Cheap Interiors, Low performance, More noise inside cabin
Monday, August 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion 2.0
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)
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)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Hyundai Verna 2011
Hyundai is ready for its biggest launch of 2011. Hyundai Verna RB will be launched on 11th May 2011. Hyundai has started its teaser campaign, promotion activities at facebook, twitter and have also launched a website with the glimpse of the car. The car was revealed last year at the Moscow Motor Show and since then it has been able to attract many people.
The New Verna will replace the existing Verna transform and will give tough competition to Honda City, Volkswagen Vento, Maruti SX4 and upcoming Fiesta 2011. New Verna will come with 4 engine options and henceforth will give ample choices to its customers. 1.4l Petrol and 1.4l Diesel engines will give a frugal solution to its customers, whereas enthusiast customers can choose either 1.6L petrol or 1.6l diesel engine.
1.6l petrol will produce 123 bhp of power nad 154 Nm torque, whereas 1.6l diesel will produce 128 bhp power and 259 Nm torque.
New verna will also introduce some exciting features like push start, Bluetooth, ABS etc. It is expected that new Verna will be priced at 7 lakhs and top variant will be priced around 11 lakhs
Stay tuned for test drive review
The New Verna will replace the existing Verna transform and will give tough competition to Honda City, Volkswagen Vento, Maruti SX4 and upcoming Fiesta 2011. New Verna will come with 4 engine options and henceforth will give ample choices to its customers. 1.4l Petrol and 1.4l Diesel engines will give a frugal solution to its customers, whereas enthusiast customers can choose either 1.6L petrol or 1.6l diesel engine.
1.6l petrol will produce 123 bhp of power nad 154 Nm torque, whereas 1.6l diesel will produce 128 bhp power and 259 Nm torque.
New verna will also introduce some exciting features like push start, Bluetooth, ABS etc. It is expected that new Verna will be priced at 7 lakhs and top variant will be priced around 11 lakhs
Stay tuned for test drive review
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
New Ford Fiesta 2011 India (New premium Global Fiesta in India)
I was thrilled after receiving an invitation form local ford showroom to visit the new Ford Fiesta, test drive it and let them know my honest opinion about the car, just a day prior to its launch. Ford will be unveiling its premium global Fiesta in India on 14.04.11.
Yes it is official!!! Award winning Ford fiesta will be coming to India tomorrow. This will be second in a series of eight new global products that will be launched in India. (First being Ford Figo, which is a phenomenal hit from Ford Stable). The all-new Fiesta is the first contemporary saloon that Ford will be unveiling tomorrow in India. Company “One Ford” means that Fiesta in India will be similar to that of Fiesta in China or in Thailand or in US. Indian market has already welcomed this policy by accepting Figo with open hands.
Here is test drive review of New Ford Fiesta 2011 launched in India.
The new fiesta is built on B2E platform which is known for its light yet stiff construction. The same theme was reflected in the car exterior as well. Ford newly found Kinetic Design is very well incorporated to New Fiesta. Unlike its other competitors, the new Fiesta doesn’t look bulky at all. Sharp creases, flared wheel archs, swept headlamps, trapezoidal lower grill makes the new Fiesta more energetic as compared to earlier one. The boot is attached seamlessly which merges quite well with rest of the body. Personally I was impressed by the stylish FIESTA logo on the boot. Just by looking at logo, one can say that it is something new in the market.
The front and rear pillars are steeply sloped which gives a hint of sporty car, at the same time it gives a hint of cramped interiors as well.
Overall the car looks light, stylish and sporty and henceforth is definitely contemporary in looks.
Stepping inside, I was greeted by super comfortable seats. The seats lend enough side support to back and shoulders and hence one will not be thrown out of seats while maneuvering curves at high speeds. The generous cushioning makes the seating more comfortable as well. The interior styling is inspired by open wings. AC louvers, Audio buttons, all give a feeling that a bird is flying high.
The feature pack suggests that the new Fiesta is a Premium model. Fiesta will be first Ford in India to sport an Auto AC. The round Auto AC dial in Lower dash looks great. The audio is equipped with USB and Bluetooth and the sound quality is quite good too. The thing that stole my attention was chrome pedals that were perfectly placed and were hinting towards a performance sedan. At some place I could spot that plastics used were of cheap quality but overall the interior was good looking.
The only sad part in the interior was rear leg room. This Fiesta sedan is based on Fiesta Hatch which will be launched in India in 2012. The wheelbase of Sedan and hatch are same, which means that even legroom in both the cars will be similar too. Small windows at rear give claustrophobic feeling too.
New Fiesta offers both Petrol and Diesel Engine. The diesel engine is bigger (1.6L duratorq engine instead of earlier 1.4L duratorq engine). The engine is peppier and responds to even small push on throttle pedal. The petrol powertrain will produce around 120 bhp of power which makes Fiesta most powerful entry sedan (On paper it is more powerful than City and Linea T-jet). But on road city seems to be more agile than Fiesta. But this doesn’t mean that Fiesta is sluggish. Engine is one area where Fiesta customers will be delighted. The gear shifts could have been better though.
Another area where I was impressed was performance of Air-conditioner. One can feel the chill even in Indian summer.
It is needless to write that ride and handling of Fiesta is excellent. Superb ride and handling is encrypted on Ford DNA. New Fiesta chassis is even stiffer, which gives freedom to maneuver the vehicle at high speeds. The body roll is quite under control. Steering is electronically powered and is quick in response. The stiffer chassis will surely be comforting its passengers even on worst Indian roads.
Overall new Fiesta is a good car, but whether it will be able to leave impact on Indian market --- is a tough question. In a short span of time Vento, Diesel SX4, Fiesta, New Hyundai verna will crowd this place. And whether the idea of selling both existing Fiesta and new Fiesta together will work for Ford or not---- We will have to wait and see.
Why Buy: Latest styling, ride and handling, engine performance
Why Deny: Cramped Rear legroom, Brand (Yet to leave bigger impact on Indian Market)
Yes it is official!!! Award winning Ford fiesta will be coming to India tomorrow. This will be second in a series of eight new global products that will be launched in India. (First being Ford Figo, which is a phenomenal hit from Ford Stable). The all-new Fiesta is the first contemporary saloon that Ford will be unveiling tomorrow in India. Company “One Ford” means that Fiesta in India will be similar to that of Fiesta in China or in Thailand or in US. Indian market has already welcomed this policy by accepting Figo with open hands.
Here is test drive review of New Ford Fiesta 2011 launched in India.
The new fiesta is built on B2E platform which is known for its light yet stiff construction. The same theme was reflected in the car exterior as well. Ford newly found Kinetic Design is very well incorporated to New Fiesta. Unlike its other competitors, the new Fiesta doesn’t look bulky at all. Sharp creases, flared wheel archs, swept headlamps, trapezoidal lower grill makes the new Fiesta more energetic as compared to earlier one. The boot is attached seamlessly which merges quite well with rest of the body. Personally I was impressed by the stylish FIESTA logo on the boot. Just by looking at logo, one can say that it is something new in the market.
The front and rear pillars are steeply sloped which gives a hint of sporty car, at the same time it gives a hint of cramped interiors as well.
Overall the car looks light, stylish and sporty and henceforth is definitely contemporary in looks.
Stepping inside, I was greeted by super comfortable seats. The seats lend enough side support to back and shoulders and hence one will not be thrown out of seats while maneuvering curves at high speeds. The generous cushioning makes the seating more comfortable as well. The interior styling is inspired by open wings. AC louvers, Audio buttons, all give a feeling that a bird is flying high.
The feature pack suggests that the new Fiesta is a Premium model. Fiesta will be first Ford in India to sport an Auto AC. The round Auto AC dial in Lower dash looks great. The audio is equipped with USB and Bluetooth and the sound quality is quite good too. The thing that stole my attention was chrome pedals that were perfectly placed and were hinting towards a performance sedan. At some place I could spot that plastics used were of cheap quality but overall the interior was good looking.
The only sad part in the interior was rear leg room. This Fiesta sedan is based on Fiesta Hatch which will be launched in India in 2012. The wheelbase of Sedan and hatch are same, which means that even legroom in both the cars will be similar too. Small windows at rear give claustrophobic feeling too.
New Fiesta offers both Petrol and Diesel Engine. The diesel engine is bigger (1.6L duratorq engine instead of earlier 1.4L duratorq engine). The engine is peppier and responds to even small push on throttle pedal. The petrol powertrain will produce around 120 bhp of power which makes Fiesta most powerful entry sedan (On paper it is more powerful than City and Linea T-jet). But on road city seems to be more agile than Fiesta. But this doesn’t mean that Fiesta is sluggish. Engine is one area where Fiesta customers will be delighted. The gear shifts could have been better though.
Another area where I was impressed was performance of Air-conditioner. One can feel the chill even in Indian summer.
It is needless to write that ride and handling of Fiesta is excellent. Superb ride and handling is encrypted on Ford DNA. New Fiesta chassis is even stiffer, which gives freedom to maneuver the vehicle at high speeds. The body roll is quite under control. Steering is electronically powered and is quick in response. The stiffer chassis will surely be comforting its passengers even on worst Indian roads.
Overall new Fiesta is a good car, but whether it will be able to leave impact on Indian market --- is a tough question. In a short span of time Vento, Diesel SX4, Fiesta, New Hyundai verna will crowd this place. And whether the idea of selling both existing Fiesta and new Fiesta together will work for Ford or not---- We will have to wait and see.
Why Buy: Latest styling, ride and handling, engine performance
Why Deny: Cramped Rear legroom, Brand (Yet to leave bigger impact on Indian Market)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Ford Fiesta Classic
Ford is keeping their promise of "One World: One Ford" by launching their global models in India before they are outdated. And they are reaping benefits of this policy as well. Ford clocked more than one lakh sales in 2010~11 fiscal year, making it fifth largest car manufacturer in India.
As per promise, Ford will be launching new Fiesta on 14th April 2011. But they find it hard to bid farewell to their old Fiesta. So, a week before the launch of premium global Fiesta in India Ford decided to launch their re-invented frugal Fiesta in India. They named it as Fiesta Classic. Fiesta classic is almost Rs 85000 cheaper than earlier Fiesta. Ford was already giving generous cash discounts in order to sell more and more Fiestas in India. But this time they managed to commanize interiors of Figo with Fiesta and hence bring down the cost considerably.
I thought of driving the Fiesta classic again to check whether it will still generate some interest in customers. Here is review of New Ford Fiesta Classic:
Figo and Fiesta Classic are built on same platform; hence it was easy for Ford to commanize the interior parts as well. The exterior of Fiesta classic is identical to earlier Fiesta, and probably it will cater to people who are still in love with its styling. I believe that old fiesta styling is outdated and Ford should bid farewell to its older model.
Interiors of Fiesta classic are totally new. Now fiesta has dash of Figo, door trims of Figo and even seats are of Figo. The seats are bit uncomfortable when compared to other cars of this segment. The seat height adjuster is one way. One will be amazed to note the gap between seat back and seat cushion after seat is adjusted at lowermost point. The door trims looks cheap and so does the front Dash. I feel it will be difficult for Ford to attract new customers for Fiesta Classic.
New Fiesta classic is repositioned Fiesta at lower price tag with few changes in feature list. The top variant doesn’t comes with leather seats now. The audio system is also changed and now it is same as the one used for Figo. The seat fabric is also changed.
The engines are still the same. 1.4 l Duratorq and 1.6 l duratec motors are still the same. Same peppiness was there in the car. I would like to appraise the ride and handling of Fiesta again. It is truly a drivers’ car. The steering is fast and responsive and chassis is built to take all the abuse of Indian roads. The only thing positive about Fiesta classic was its unchanged engine and chassis. Hope it might attract few customers.
The proven 1.6 Duratec and 1.4 Duratorq powertrains in Fiesta Classics will deliver on the optimum mix of gripping performance and frugal fuel consumption.
Why Buy: Engine performance, Ride and handling and Cost
Why Deny: Age old styling, cheap interiors, less comfort
As per promise, Ford will be launching new Fiesta on 14th April 2011. But they find it hard to bid farewell to their old Fiesta. So, a week before the launch of premium global Fiesta in India Ford decided to launch their re-invented frugal Fiesta in India. They named it as Fiesta Classic. Fiesta classic is almost Rs 85000 cheaper than earlier Fiesta. Ford was already giving generous cash discounts in order to sell more and more Fiestas in India. But this time they managed to commanize interiors of Figo with Fiesta and hence bring down the cost considerably.
I thought of driving the Fiesta classic again to check whether it will still generate some interest in customers. Here is review of New Ford Fiesta Classic:
Figo and Fiesta Classic are built on same platform; hence it was easy for Ford to commanize the interior parts as well. The exterior of Fiesta classic is identical to earlier Fiesta, and probably it will cater to people who are still in love with its styling. I believe that old fiesta styling is outdated and Ford should bid farewell to its older model.
Interiors of Fiesta classic are totally new. Now fiesta has dash of Figo, door trims of Figo and even seats are of Figo. The seats are bit uncomfortable when compared to other cars of this segment. The seat height adjuster is one way. One will be amazed to note the gap between seat back and seat cushion after seat is adjusted at lowermost point. The door trims looks cheap and so does the front Dash. I feel it will be difficult for Ford to attract new customers for Fiesta Classic.
New Fiesta classic is repositioned Fiesta at lower price tag with few changes in feature list. The top variant doesn’t comes with leather seats now. The audio system is also changed and now it is same as the one used for Figo. The seat fabric is also changed.
The engines are still the same. 1.4 l Duratorq and 1.6 l duratec motors are still the same. Same peppiness was there in the car. I would like to appraise the ride and handling of Fiesta again. It is truly a drivers’ car. The steering is fast and responsive and chassis is built to take all the abuse of Indian roads. The only thing positive about Fiesta classic was its unchanged engine and chassis. Hope it might attract few customers.
The proven 1.6 Duratec and 1.4 Duratorq powertrains in Fiesta Classics will deliver on the optimum mix of gripping performance and frugal fuel consumption.
Why Buy: Engine performance, Ride and handling and Cost
Why Deny: Age old styling, cheap interiors, less comfort
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Toyota Etios
Finally I got Toyota Etios to test drive on track. Let me share few things about “Toyota bharat” before I initiate Etios’ test drive review.
Toyota bharat has old habit of crushing the competition. It launched Qualis and everyone desserted Tata Sumo, Fortuner did the same to Endeavour and Corolla did the same to Civic. Toyota enjoyed the status of Market Leader in MUV, SUV and entry Luxury Sedan Segments. This time they have targeted the market kings (Read as Tata & Maruti) by launching Etios.
Etios carries a good brand name at attractive price. Whether these two parameters make a good car or it will be a failure in Indian Market? I hope to find an answer after evaluation.
Exterior looks are quite impressive. Length and width ratio promises lots of space inside. Overall the stance of the car is bold and yet simple. The straightforward waistline and edgy looks adds to its simplicity. The exterior is bound to attract masses for which the car is built.
After looking at the car, many would tempt to say that it is similar to Mahindra Logan and I would say they are too close. Integrated spoiler on boot with triangular headlamps is identical to Logan. But the build quality is definitely as per Toyota standards. The only negative thing I spotted was single wiper on windscreen. Toyota should have given two wipers to give a balanced look.
The car looks like Low cost car from inside. I must say that Hyundai, Tata and Maruti offer their premium products in this range. But for Toyota this is a “LOW COST CAR”. The etching pattern on plastics is coarse, carpet on rear parcel tray is quite rough, front seats doesn’t have adjustable head restraint, rear seat doesn’t provide hold/support, Jack is located beneath co-driver seat; all these indicate cost cutting measures undertaken by Toyota. Most of the steel bolts are covered by loose patches which are bound to get misplaced. Even the controls like Power window switches are quite hard.
Audio specs spell the goof-up that might have been there between Marketing and Engineering. The car doesn’t provide provisions for rear speakers. Marketing might have demanded for four speakers and Engineering ended the tussle by providing all the four speakers in the front. This affects the sound quality especially at the rear where road noise is more audible. Toyota should have added USB to its specs to score against competitors.
The cabin is not among the silent ones. Road noise, wind noise, engine noise, everything was audible inside.
The only positive thing is Leather wrapped steering wheel and leather wrapped gear knob. The steering is not circular and hence gives a sporty feel. The area where it beats competition is space. Etios offers good legroom, high head room and largest boot to keep the stuff. I was impressed by the space. {Toyota reads the customer needs in excellent way}. Ah I forgot to mention king sized cooled glove box. It is so big that one can stow his luggage bag inside. (A small one)
Powering the front wheels of the Etios sedan is a 1500cc four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC petrol engine that develops 88.8 bhp at 5600 rpm and 13.5 kgm at 3000 rpm, which is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The engine is quite powerful and reaches three digits in quite a less time. But once the AC is switched on, the performance of engine goes down tremendously.
I could not test the maximum speed of Etios as I wasn’t that confident while driving it. The ride was good, but handling wasn’t upto the mark. The body roll is evident if one tries to turn at 50 kmph. The suspensions are on lighter side which gives nice ride to front and rear passengers. The steering is bit hard but is quite precise. Overall ride and handling is good.
There is no doubt that Toyota has done lot of homework by studying Indian customers, their needs and their desires before launching this product in market. Toyota’s management might be confident of repeating the success of Qualis. Qualis was an outdated model, launched in India and no one was able to stop Indians from buying it. I am sure this model will also give good sales figures to Toyota, but whether the customers will be delighted after buying it or not…… Well I would say NO.
For second opinion read at http://automate4u.com/2010/12/26/etios-the-new-face-of-toyota/
Why Buy: Brand, Cost, space
Why Deny: Low quality interiors, NVH, Performance after AC is switched on
Toyota bharat has old habit of crushing the competition. It launched Qualis and everyone desserted Tata Sumo, Fortuner did the same to Endeavour and Corolla did the same to Civic. Toyota enjoyed the status of Market Leader in MUV, SUV and entry Luxury Sedan Segments. This time they have targeted the market kings (Read as Tata & Maruti) by launching Etios.
Etios carries a good brand name at attractive price. Whether these two parameters make a good car or it will be a failure in Indian Market? I hope to find an answer after evaluation.
Exterior looks are quite impressive. Length and width ratio promises lots of space inside. Overall the stance of the car is bold and yet simple. The straightforward waistline and edgy looks adds to its simplicity. The exterior is bound to attract masses for which the car is built.
After looking at the car, many would tempt to say that it is similar to Mahindra Logan and I would say they are too close. Integrated spoiler on boot with triangular headlamps is identical to Logan. But the build quality is definitely as per Toyota standards. The only negative thing I spotted was single wiper on windscreen. Toyota should have given two wipers to give a balanced look.
The car looks like Low cost car from inside. I must say that Hyundai, Tata and Maruti offer their premium products in this range. But for Toyota this is a “LOW COST CAR”. The etching pattern on plastics is coarse, carpet on rear parcel tray is quite rough, front seats doesn’t have adjustable head restraint, rear seat doesn’t provide hold/support, Jack is located beneath co-driver seat; all these indicate cost cutting measures undertaken by Toyota. Most of the steel bolts are covered by loose patches which are bound to get misplaced. Even the controls like Power window switches are quite hard.
Audio specs spell the goof-up that might have been there between Marketing and Engineering. The car doesn’t provide provisions for rear speakers. Marketing might have demanded for four speakers and Engineering ended the tussle by providing all the four speakers in the front. This affects the sound quality especially at the rear where road noise is more audible. Toyota should have added USB to its specs to score against competitors.
The cabin is not among the silent ones. Road noise, wind noise, engine noise, everything was audible inside.
The only positive thing is Leather wrapped steering wheel and leather wrapped gear knob. The steering is not circular and hence gives a sporty feel. The area where it beats competition is space. Etios offers good legroom, high head room and largest boot to keep the stuff. I was impressed by the space. {Toyota reads the customer needs in excellent way}. Ah I forgot to mention king sized cooled glove box. It is so big that one can stow his luggage bag inside. (A small one)
Powering the front wheels of the Etios sedan is a 1500cc four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC petrol engine that develops 88.8 bhp at 5600 rpm and 13.5 kgm at 3000 rpm, which is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The engine is quite powerful and reaches three digits in quite a less time. But once the AC is switched on, the performance of engine goes down tremendously.
I could not test the maximum speed of Etios as I wasn’t that confident while driving it. The ride was good, but handling wasn’t upto the mark. The body roll is evident if one tries to turn at 50 kmph. The suspensions are on lighter side which gives nice ride to front and rear passengers. The steering is bit hard but is quite precise. Overall ride and handling is good.
There is no doubt that Toyota has done lot of homework by studying Indian customers, their needs and their desires before launching this product in market. Toyota’s management might be confident of repeating the success of Qualis. Qualis was an outdated model, launched in India and no one was able to stop Indians from buying it. I am sure this model will also give good sales figures to Toyota, but whether the customers will be delighted after buying it or not…… Well I would say NO.
For second opinion read at http://automate4u.com/2010/12/26/etios-the-new-face-of-toyota/
Why Buy: Brand, Cost, space
Why Deny: Low quality interiors, NVH, Performance after AC is switched on
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)
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi
A German Auto Analyst whom I met described Indian Auto Industry as most potent giant which is growing @ 14% annual growth rate. This huge auto market has been ruled by Maruti Suzuki for past two decades now. Maruti Suzuki conquers approximately 50% of the car market and it still managed to grow by 30% in 2010. This description by a German forced me think on Maruti’s performance in future. How long the market leader can sustain the 50% market share by making small hatches? When will they expand product portfolio by adding SUVs or Luxury sedans?
When bloggers like me were wondering over these questions, Engineers at Suzuki were working on something great. Engineers were instructed to craft a best machine where money was not a constraint. They worked hard and the result is out too.
Today Market leader announced “Something great is coming”. Maruti launched Kizashi (I am not sneezing….. It is pronounced as kee—zah—shee, meaning “Sign of good things to come” in Japanese.
Kizashi might not be an eye-turner on roads as far as exterior looks are concerned, but the build quality is very impressive. The front sports a large grille with a honeycomb mesh done up in a gun metal finish, the rear houses a neat inbuilt spoiler on the trunk lid and very neat triangle shaped dual exhaust holes. The neat lines give the car a nice wide sporty stance and the rear gels with the entire package well. The alloys gave a feeling of another BMW on road. To summarize, Kizashi has all styling elements present in a decent way. Henceforth, Kizashi can satisfy the needs of Niche people and create appeal in masses at the same time. The only disappointing news is that it will only be available in three colors (Black, white and silver) {I feel these three are the best colors for the car like this}
“Elegant” is the only word to describe the interiors of Kizashi. Rich Beige color hints towards the luxury offered by the car and perforated leather upholstery adds stars to this luxury. Utility Boxes in centre console and rear arm rest will open elegantly by a gentle push. 3D instrument cluster do the detailing job is a good way. Centre console comes down like a waterfall and it looks good too.
It will be tough time for people who always claim that in order to offer competitive prices. It comes with a neat in-car entertainment system, quality speakers, automatic climate control that is split for the front passenger and driver and it has rear air conditioning vents as well. In terms of features it overshadows the Honda Accord. Electrically adjustable seat with memory setting is offered to the driver and for Co-driver electric seats are introduced for the first time in this segment. It is needless to say that the seats are very comfortable.
Powering the Kizashi is a 2.4 liter petrol engine. It is J-Series (J24B) power plant from Suzuki which is capable of churning out 178PS at 6,500 rpm and generates 230Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine is mated with 6-speed manual transmission. CVT option is also available. If one opts for the manual version the Kizashi is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in under 8 seconds. The engine was more powerful than me, as I lost my courage at 200 kmph. I was totally enthralled by the performance of the vehicle. Despite the large engine and the rocket like capability that this car possesses, it also answers to the Indian customers in terms of mileage. Fuel Efficiency of 12.5kmpl is quite good for a car in this segment
What I noticed about the Kizashi was its ability to take corners at a faster pace. This is a car that handles extremely well, holds its line without discomforting the passengers and at the same time it is a car that is capable of offering a great ride quality as well. Flat cornering, comfortable city ride, a very quiet cabin and yet responsive, nimble handling are all combined in the Kizashi. Suzuki says it’s because the chassis was designed first for stiffness, then added to for quietness, while the suspension was tuned to be as accommodating as possible while still preserving handling. However they got there, the end result is impressive, both on the street and on the track.
After analyzing the car, I could only say that “Nobody understands India like MSIL does and it shows in the tuning, features and set up of this product”. There is no doubt that Kizashi is a good product, but whether market will accept the fact that MSIL can make luxury cars or not has to be evaluated after seeing the market response.
Why Buy: Ride and Handling, Build Quality, Engine performance
Why Deny: Expensive, No Diesel Engine
When bloggers like me were wondering over these questions, Engineers at Suzuki were working on something great. Engineers were instructed to craft a best machine where money was not a constraint. They worked hard and the result is out too.
Today Market leader announced “Something great is coming”. Maruti launched Kizashi (I am not sneezing….. It is pronounced as kee—zah—shee, meaning “Sign of good things to come” in Japanese.
Kizashi might not be an eye-turner on roads as far as exterior looks are concerned, but the build quality is very impressive. The front sports a large grille with a honeycomb mesh done up in a gun metal finish, the rear houses a neat inbuilt spoiler on the trunk lid and very neat triangle shaped dual exhaust holes. The neat lines give the car a nice wide sporty stance and the rear gels with the entire package well. The alloys gave a feeling of another BMW on road. To summarize, Kizashi has all styling elements present in a decent way. Henceforth, Kizashi can satisfy the needs of Niche people and create appeal in masses at the same time. The only disappointing news is that it will only be available in three colors (Black, white and silver) {I feel these three are the best colors for the car like this}
“Elegant” is the only word to describe the interiors of Kizashi. Rich Beige color hints towards the luxury offered by the car and perforated leather upholstery adds stars to this luxury. Utility Boxes in centre console and rear arm rest will open elegantly by a gentle push. 3D instrument cluster do the detailing job is a good way. Centre console comes down like a waterfall and it looks good too.
It will be tough time for people who always claim that in order to offer competitive prices. It comes with a neat in-car entertainment system, quality speakers, automatic climate control that is split for the front passenger and driver and it has rear air conditioning vents as well. In terms of features it overshadows the Honda Accord. Electrically adjustable seat with memory setting is offered to the driver and for Co-driver electric seats are introduced for the first time in this segment. It is needless to say that the seats are very comfortable.
Powering the Kizashi is a 2.4 liter petrol engine. It is J-Series (J24B) power plant from Suzuki which is capable of churning out 178PS at 6,500 rpm and generates 230Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine is mated with 6-speed manual transmission. CVT option is also available. If one opts for the manual version the Kizashi is capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in under 8 seconds. The engine was more powerful than me, as I lost my courage at 200 kmph. I was totally enthralled by the performance of the vehicle. Despite the large engine and the rocket like capability that this car possesses, it also answers to the Indian customers in terms of mileage. Fuel Efficiency of 12.5kmpl is quite good for a car in this segment
What I noticed about the Kizashi was its ability to take corners at a faster pace. This is a car that handles extremely well, holds its line without discomforting the passengers and at the same time it is a car that is capable of offering a great ride quality as well. Flat cornering, comfortable city ride, a very quiet cabin and yet responsive, nimble handling are all combined in the Kizashi. Suzuki says it’s because the chassis was designed first for stiffness, then added to for quietness, while the suspension was tuned to be as accommodating as possible while still preserving handling. However they got there, the end result is impressive, both on the street and on the track.
After analyzing the car, I could only say that “Nobody understands India like MSIL does and it shows in the tuning, features and set up of this product”. There is no doubt that Kizashi is a good product, but whether market will accept the fact that MSIL can make luxury cars or not has to be evaluated after seeing the market response.
Why Buy: Ride and Handling, Build Quality, Engine performance
Why Deny: Expensive, No Diesel Engine
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)