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.

A review of the Eicher Polaris Multix

Eicher Polaris Multix is a compact multipurpose vehicle. Polaris, for those not in the know, is an American ATV[All Terrain Vehicle] manufacturing company. Prices:2.32 to 2.72 lakhs.

Multix is a 3 in 1 personal utility vehicle which acts as a pickup truck, people carrier and a power generator. Multix say that they are aiming this at independent, small businessmen who can use it to travel in the city and to carry their goods around.

Being a mini pickup, it has a 1918 liter pickup box after you dismantle the 2nd row seats. That leaves very little space to carry stuff around when the 2nd row seats are being used,418 liters to be precise. That being said, small businesses should find this quite sufficient.

As far as the seating capacity of the Multix is concerned, 5 people can travel comfortably and with a bit of a squeeze, 6 people can manage. One thing to note about the seats is that you don't get individual driver and passenger seats. There's only one big seat in the front and the its the same thing with the back seat as well.

The cabin, as you would expect, is rather plain. You get a steering wheel, indicator ,wiper stalks and that's about it. But if you buy the top end model, you can have the luxury of  having a stereo system with a USB option!

Coming to the engine, it is a 510 cc, 1 cylinder engine producing 9.8 bhp at 3000 rpm. The engine is mated to a 4 speed manual gearbox. I drove one of these a few days earlier and there's absolutely nothing special to mention about the driving comfort or the speed. But, since its not designed or developed to be the 'ultimate driving machine', the speeds that it can achieve or low torque pickup do not matter.

Multix is developed for India. This means, it should be rugged, reliable and most important of all, it  should be good on bad roads. And I am delighted to say, it is amazing on bad roads.This is where the ATV skills of Polaris comes in handy.  The suspension is unbelievable. It soaks up bumps and potholes unlike any other vehicle in its class. It can tackle anything that you throw at it and you will be glad to know that it has undergone 18 lakh km of testing in India and US combined! That suspension is a big plus point for this vehicle and here is a very small sample of how good the suspension is:

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Multix is that it can double up as a power generator. Here is a picture 

That is a diesel motor and when it is connected to the generator, it produces electricity which in turn can be used to run motors or fans or lights or anything which runs on electricity. This makes a lot of sense given the fact that we have a lot of power cuts, more so in the rural areas. This goes to show that Eicher and Polaris have thought of what a small businessman would want in his/her business vehicle. 

In conclusion, Multix does not belong to any segment of the existing market. It strives to create a new segment which is exclusively designed to be most practical. 

Pros;

The suspension is easily best in class.

Fuel efficiency of 25-27 kmpl.

Power Generator.

Cons: 

Does not have much of an engine.

Seats are rubbish.

The pickup box is quite small.