A review of the Toyota Etios Platinum

The Etios is one of the best selling cars for Toyota in India.[Prices: 6.98 - 9.02 lacs(ex showroom Bengaluru) ] The entry level sedan is practical, fuel efficient and of course, reliable. That being said, Toyota has a very unique problem to tackle. Most, if not all their offerings in India are used as taxis and Etios is no exception. Keeping that in mind, Toyota has launched the Etios Platinum. Toyota say its the perfect family car. I drove one recently to find out if that's true.

  

As far as design is concerned, this is one of the most subtle facelifts ever. The front grille is now 'V' shaped, fog lamps are new and that's about it. There are supposed to be more changes if you look closely. Eg: the tail lamps are actually new! One thing that is very clear is that the Etios does not look striking or attention-grabbing. It a plain looking car. It will neither please nor put off anyone. That being said, it is very well proportioned and not everyone wants to be looked at while waiting for the traffic signal to go green.

As soon as you get into the Etios, one thing that you will notice is that it is not plain at all. With the dual tone dashboard and a centrally mounted instrument cluster, the interior design language of the Etios is actually quite interesting.The top end variants get steering wheel controls as well. While the AC vents are big, the driver gets only one AC vent. The tachometer is now digital and the whole appearance of the instrument cluster has been improved. That being said, a centrally mounted instrument cluster does not make a lot of sense. What's wrong with the normal ones?  

One of the best things about the Etios is the sheer legroom that you get in the backseats. Cars which cost twice have lesser leg room. Thanks to the big windows, the whole car feels very airy. On the whole, the backseat of the Etios is a happy place to be in. The boot of the Etios is huge. You can actually fit a small planet in it. 

When it comes to the driving experience of the car, the engineers at Toyota have listened to the feedback of the customers and as a result, the clutch is very light and driving the car in the city is extremely easy.Highway performance is very good as well. High speed stability is excellent. You get 2 engine options. A petrol and a diesel. While the petrol returns 16.5 kmpl, the diesel manages an impressive 23.5 kmpl. Since it is a Toyota, it will most likely outlast any other car in it's segment. 

In conclusion. though the Toyota Etios is not a head-turner, it is extremely practical and reasonably priced.

The Good Stuff:

1) Toyota's legendary reliability.

2)  Loads of legroom for the passengers.

3)  Enormous boot capacity

4)  Safety

The Bad Stuff:

1) Looks quite boring

2) The engine does not like to be pushed

3) Lack of equipment

Credits: 

I would like to thank the people at Palace Toyota, Hootagalli, Mysuru for lending us the car.

Phone: 0821 4248222

A review of the Mahindra XUV 500

Mahindra's first attempt at a building a 'premium' SUV was a grand success. Launched in 2011, the XUV 500 filled a very important void in the market. There were no SUVs between 13-20 lacs and Mahindra capitalized on that. Ever since, the XUV 500 has been amongst the bestsellers for Mahindra [Price:12.58 - 18.75 lacs (ex-showroom, Bengaluru)]. It enjoys a unique position in the market even today as there is no direct competition to the XUV 500. I drove one recently and here's what I think of it.

The design of the XUV 500 will not impress everyone. While some people absolutely love it, some people don't. The XUV 500 does come across as a little too aggressive. But, the facelift looks far more mature.The cheap plastic is gone and overall. the car looks much better now.    

The interiors are a big leap when it comes to what we have seen from Mahindra so far. There is a quality feel to everything that you see or touch. While the fit and finish is not as good as a Honda or a Volkswagen, there is no doubt that this is the best Mahindra yet. The dual tone dashboard is colored beige and dark grey. The AC vents look unnecessarily complicated. Someone was given way too much time to design them. Another problem when it comes to the dashboard is the sheer number of buttons and knobs. One does get the feeling that the interior of the XUV 500 is over-designed. That being said, the front seats of the XUV 500 are very good and provide excellent support. The kit is very good too. You get cruise control, daytime running LEDs, Start/Stop button and climate control. Like the design of the car itself, the instrument cluster is blatantly aggressive. But, you never get a sense that you are being overloaded with information. Everything is just where it needs to be.

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One thing of particular interest in the XUV 500 is the backseats. They are huge. Seating 3 people is extremely easy. Unlike most other cars, there is an almost flat floor for the 2nd row passengers. Unfortunately, the 3rd row seats are best suited only for children or extremely small people.

The XUV 500 is powered by a 140 bhp 2.2 litre turbocharged diesel engine. The first thing to know about the engine is that it is not a new engine. The good news is that it is very good nonetheless. As with recent turbocharged Mahindra vehicles, there is no turbo lag. Right from 1400 rpm, there is an abundance of torque. Because of the turbo kicking in so fast, Mahindra need not bother with bigger engines. Because of this, you get good fuel economy too. 11 kmpl in city and 13 kmpl on highway.Driving in city is not as difficult as you would imagine. The clutch is light and there are a variety of aids to help you park.The only problem with the driving experience is cabin insulation which is not great. And this has been a consistent problem with Mahindra. While the mechanics of the cars are very good, the vibrations and the noise inside the car is something that Mahindra should work on. There are a few off road specific features too. Eg: Diff. locks and Hill descend control. 

In conclusion, the Mahindra XUV 500 is easily the most refined Mahindra that you can buy today.

The Good Stuff:

1) Amazing highway and city performance.

2) The 2nd row seats are huge and extremely comfortable

3) A lot of driver aids and a long equipment list.

The Bad Stuff:

1) When all the seats are up, there is no boot space.    

2) Mahindra's electronics are known to go bad

Credits:

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I would like to thank Mr Rajesh at India Garage, Mysore for lending us the car.

Phone:9686203205

A Review of the Hyundai Elite i20

The Elite i20 [6.28 - 9.2 lacs ex showroom Bengaluru] is Hyundai's premium hatchback for the Indian market. Since its launch in 2008, the elite i20 has been one of the best selling cars for Hyundai. While it ruled the segment for a couple of years, it will have to compete against the new Honda Jazz, Nexa(Suzuki) Baleno and the Volkswagen Polo.

One clear advantage that the i20 has is its looks. With the hexagonal grille and the swept back headlamps, the i20 looks stunning. Hyundai's 'Fulidic' design has clearly paid huge dividends. The 16 inch alloys add to the beauty of the car. \

The interiors of the car are quite plain. While everything is easy to find and use, the dashboard does not look as modern as some of it's competitors. As far as the features are concerned, i20 gets keyless entry, bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls and  the top end version comes with satellite navigation. You also get a 1 GB internal storage for your music.

The front seats of the i20 are very good. They are comfortable and provide good support. The rear seats stand out because the knee room is very impressive for a car in this segment. The only problem is that head room of the rear seats is not great. Anyone above 5'10" will find it difficult to sit for long hours.



I tested the 1.4 liter diesel and refinement is something that Hyundai have really worked on. The cabin noise is very low and the six speed manual is slick and easy to use. One of the drawbacks of the diesel engine is that the low rpm torque is not great. That being said, everyday city commute will not be a problem given that the engine is quite peppy and is quite rev-happy. Highway traveling will be strain-free thanks to the wonderful seats and the 6 speed gearbox. One thing of particular interest is the suspension on the i20. Hyundai have quite thankfully realized that fast cars need not have stiff suspension. Therefore, the softer suspension on the i20 ensures that the ride quality is top-notch and bad roads will not be a problem to tackle.

* Mileage :
                    Petrol --18
                    Diesel -- 22


In conclusion, the Hyundai i20 is a beautiful car and an amazing highway cruiser.

The Good Stuff:
1) Looks
2) Rear AC Vent
3) Highway Performance
4) Cost of Ownership


The Bad Stuff:
1) Not a responsive steering wheel
2) Price difference between the petrol and the diesel variants is massive.



Credits:

I want to thank the people at Advaith Hyundai for lending the car. They are located at Hunsur Road, Mysore.
Phone: 0821-4261901
 

  

A Review of Mahindra KUV 100

For the first time in it's history, Mahindra has launched a hatchback. The Mahindra KUV 100 is Mahindra's latest offering to the Indian market. The aggressive looking car is marketed as ' The Young SUV'. Prices:4.66 - 7.24 lacs[ex- showroom, Bengaluru]  

The tall stance and the proportions of the car give it a very unique look. While looks are subjective, the KUV 100's styling seems to be a little overdone. It has been styled too much. But there are a few good things about the design too. The extended headlamps and the red lining inside them is a very good style touch and overall. the front end of the car looks very butch and aggressive.

The seats of the KUV 100 are very good. Thanks to the tall stance, head room is abundant. Knee room is quite good as well. 

The front seat arrangement of the KUV 100 is very different from other cars in one important aspect. Instead of 2 seperate seats, the KUV 100 has 3. The middle seat can double up as an armrest when not in use. While children can use this extra seat, adults will find it quite irksome.

The bells and whistles in the car are quite impressive. Bluetooth connectivity, steering wheel controls are the standout features. Thanks to the front middle seat, the gear stick is mounted on the central console. While it is not difficult to use, it will take some time to get adjusted to the position.


One of the unique things about the KUV100 is that you get 24 variants to choose from. These variants are split between 2 engines : Petrol and Diesel, I drove the diesel and it is very refined. It is very peppy and high speed stability is very good. The engine reaches 3500 - 4000 rpm with ease. The brakes could have been better but for normal use, they are good enough. Though the ground clearance is just 170 mm, the KUV 100 performs well on bad roads and speed humps. One fault when it comes to driving experience is that the car vibrates between about 1800 - 2200 rpm. Right before the turbo kicks in, the steering wheel vibrates quite a lot. Apart from this, there are no faults with the car's driving experience.

In conclusion, the KUV 100 is a very practical car and it drives quite well. Fuel efficiency is quite good too.[21(city)/ 24(highway)]

The Good Stuff:

1) Storage space. There are storage areas literally everywhere.
2) ABS is standard.
3) Power and Eco modes
4) Cooled Glove box\

The Bad Stuff:
1) Car vibrates between 1800 - 2200 rpm
2) Styled too much


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Credits:

 

I would like to thank Mr. BN Rajesh at India Garage, Mysore for lending the car for review.
Phone: 9686203205.

Review of Fiat Avventura

The Fiat Avventura is a unique car. It costs as much as a compact SUV[6 - 8.17 lacs(es showroom, Delhi)] but looks like a crossover. The only other car that fits this description is the Ford EcoSport and it looks nothing like the Fiat. We got behind the wheel of the Urban Cross Aveentura and here's what we think of it:

 

It looks extremely flashy and there is no dearth of plastic on the car. Very few gaudy cars look good and Avventura is one of them. The rear mounted spare wheel, the metal lining for the grille, 16 inch wheels and the roof rails make the car look sturdy and aggressive. 

The suspension on the Avventura is noteworthy. Bad roads or mild off-road adventures will not harm the car at all. Here is a small example of what it can do:

The dual tone[beige and black]  dashboard of the Avventura is similar to the Punto Evo. The fit and finish is very good. When compared to the exterior of the car, the interior is rather understated and simple. Nothing very flashy, but everything is where it needs to be. 

The 5 inch touchscreen infotainment system[available only on the Urban Cross model] is easy to use. The seats are comfortable and offer good support. The boot space of the car is very good. But, it is not simple to operate. You have to get rid of the spare wheel and then the boot lid. When you are carrying something heavy, this is not easy at all.

  

The 1.3 liter[92 hp] diesel engine is a delight. It is mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox and the ride quality is superb. The high speed stability of the car is particularly good. Fuel economy is 20 and that is quite good for a heavy car. The steering responds very well and as a result, driving it around hilly areas with lots of hairpin bends will be amazing. The only bad aspect of overall driving comfort is rear visibility which is rather poor. 

In conclusion, the Avventura is a car for daily use and a little off road expedition. It can tackle bad roads with ease and can achieve very good highway speeds as well. 

The Good Stuff:

1) Looks

2) 205mm ground clearance!!!

3) Suspension 

4) Solid build quality

The Bad Stuff:

1) Boot is not easy to operate

2) It is a heavy car

3) Fiat after sales service

Credits:

I want to thank Fiat Motors, Hunsur Road, Mysore for lending us their car for the review.

Phone: 0821-4005300

Review of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza

After small cars, the highest amount of cars sold today are compact SUVs. The craze started with the Renault Duster and the Ford Ecosport. Now, after quite some time, Maruti Suzuki has jumped onto the bandwagon with their newest offering. It is called the Vitara Brezza and it belongs to the Vitara family of Suzuki cars. While the Grand Vitara was not much of a success, the Brezza aims to be the most successful car in it's segment. Price: 7 - 9.7 lacs[ex-showroom, Delhi]

   

The Brezza is a rather butch looking car. The front grille that sits on the big Suzuki badge adds to the aggressive look. The Brezza, overall, looks quite proportional in terms of its design. The top-end Zdi+ comes with dual tone colors which makes it look more sporty. 

  

Unlike the recent offerings from Suzuki, Brezza does not look very angular. It looks more sturdy and solid. It looks less like a "big hatchback" and more like a "small SUV" which is precisely what the car is. While the front-end is aggressive, the rear end of the car is very plain. 

Going by the current trend of the market, the equipment on the car is as important as the engine. Keeping that in mind, Brezza comes with a 7 inch touchscreen infotainment system which doubles up as sat-nav and media player. You can connect your phone via Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay. While the controls are easy to use, the screen does glare under sunlight. 

The interior is well sorted out with everything placed in order. The seats are comfortable and the seat height is quite good as well. The overall visibility of the Brezza is on par with Ecosport. The overall kit is very impressive for this segment.You get steering wheel controls, automatic rain sensing wipers, air conditioned glove box,climate control, parking sensors and camera. But the downside is, most of these features are restricted only to the top-end models.


The engine is a 1.3 liter diesel which is also used in the Swift, Ciaz and Ertiga. The turbo charger fitted to the engine is a VGT. Having a VGT[Variable Geometry Turbo]  means that low speed torque is quite high. In layman terms, it allows the engine to rev high even in slower speeds, This means that you will never feel the need for more torque once you cross 2000 rpm. But below 2000 rpm, you will definitely notice some turbo lag. The ride height is good and the steering is so light that it can be maneuvered with one finger. The clutch is light and the gear ratios are very good. All these small adjustments help in achieving one thing ; ease of driving. City traffic is extremely easy to handle in this car. For a 89 bhp car, this is quite a feat.

In conclusion, the Vitara Brezza caters to everyone's needs and might end up as the best selling car in it's segment.

Good stuff:
1) Design
2) Driver airbag is standard across all models.
3) Cost of ownership.
4) Equipment

Bad Stuff:
1) No petrol version
2) Pricey options
3) Small boot.



Credits:

I want to thank Friendly Motors in Vidyaranyapuram, Mysore for lending their car to us.

Phone:0821 400 5200

A review of the Datsun Redi-Go

Datsun has not had a good run in India till date. The Go & Go+ haven't been the game changers that Datsun hoped they would be. Though both the cars were priced aggressively, the fit and finish of the cars did not go down quite well with us. For Datsun, India should have been the perfect market where value for money is the most important driving force in sales and success of any car in this segment. The low cost arm of Nissan has not been able to woo buyers at all. But, they plan to change all this with their new car.

It's called the Redi-Go and it will go head to head with Suzuki Alto and the Renault Kwid.[Prices for the Redi-Go: 2.46-3.64 Lacs(ex-showroom Bengaluru)] The Kwid was able to take a large chuck of Alto sales and this is exactly what the Redi-Go aims to do as well. While the Kwid looks more like a mini SUV, the Redi-Go is taller and is more like a crossover.

The aggressive design language is a blend of angular looks and  intelligent design cues. The front end gets the trademark Datsun grille and the headlamps complement the overall looks of the car.

The rear end of the car is as aggressive as well. The tail lamps are boomerang-like and looks very urban.

With such enormous differences with the Kwid, it comes as  a surprise that these two cars share the same suspension , gearbox , engine and much more.

The urban theme follows inside the car as well. You get an analog speedometer and a digital tachometer. The top end model comes with a stereo with USB connectivity and a driver airbag . Interiors are quite funky looking and should appeal to young buyers. 

  One of the downsides of the interior of the Redi-Go is that the cost cutting shows. The AC knobs  feel cheap to use and there is no light for the AC button. So, there is no way that you will know whether the AC is on or off unless you press the button itself. Another drawback is that the power window buttons are in front of the gear stick rather than on the door panels. This will take some getting used to. Apart from these small problems, the inside of the car is quite refreshing and practical. 

The fabric seats are nice, comfortable and provide good back support. You'll find the rear seats a bit small if you are a tall person.   

As far as the engine is concerned, the Redi-Go is powered by a 799 cc, 53bhp engine which it shares with the Kwid. The engine is most happy in city limits, where the engine does not have to rev a lot. As soon as you leave the city limits and hit the highway the Redi-Go is out of its comfort zone and the lack of power is very obvious. That being said, the performance is on par with its direct competitors and most people who use this car within city limits, tackling bumper to bumper traffic, will find the power output quite adequate. 

In conclusion, Redi-Go is a car built for the city and performs very well in that space.

Good stuff:

1)Price 

2)Design and styling

3)Easy to get in and out

Bad stuff:
1) Low on power
2) Misses out on the touch screen infotainment system which is available on the Renault Kwid.

Credits:

Lastly, I thank the people at Honnassiri Nissan, Mysore for lending their car for the review.