Ford Figo : It Rocks

In a market teeming with hatchback segment cars, every car and car manufacturer tries to make an impact by launching the latest technology cars which have an edge over their peers, may be in terms of technology, exteriors or other features.

70 percent of Indian customers are believed to prefer the cars which are a part of the hatchback segment and to make a mark in the same, Ford Figo has been launched by the car manufacturer Ford India, which looks to make a stronger impact in this category which has been ruled till now by the likes of Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, etc. Ford Figo has been launched in the hatchback segment with a competitive price of 3.5 lakh. This price gives close to competition to Maruti Suzuki’s hatchback model Maruti Suzuki A-Star which was launched amongst much hype in 2008 and is doing wonders for itself, especially in Europe where it is being sold under the name of Suzuki Alto.

The car manufacturers have very intelligently put such a price tag in order to survive the existing competition. Similar to A-Star, Ford Figo has also been designed keeping the Indian road and traffic conditions in mind. The company has invested around US $ 500 in India to increase, in fact double, its production capacity to around 2,00,000 units a year. With Figo, Ford plans to take the hatchback industry by storm, thereby making its position stronger in the increasingly growing hatchback segment.

Ford Figo may not yet be the complete car by many standards, yet it offers many interesting features like Lane change indicators, Rapid deceleration, speed sensing volume control, small programmable remote key, a 6-speed intermittent wiper as well as central locking. It is available in both petrol and diesel models. Where cars like Maruti A-Star and Hyundai i10 definitely win the battle is in the fact that both these cars have now been launched with automatic transmission as well, which makes maneuvering through the city roads just like a dream.

Honda Jazz- It’s Honda all the way!

It’s a car that lives up to its name. Literally! When Honda Motor Co. launched its luxurious hatchback Honda Jazz in India last year, it brought in its wake a lot of sighs, purely because of its mesmerizing beauty. Jazz, like its name suggests, is a peppy-looking car. Since Honda announced plans of launching Jazz in the domestic market, it was one of the most eagerly awaited cars, especially after the success that other new hatchbacks like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Spark have tasted.

It was, undoubtedly, the most awaited car from the company, more so because it was the first small car in Honda’s product portfolio in the country. Honda Jazz, like its predecessors, is a luxurious, albeit a luxurious small car. Not compromising on the quality and features, the company has equipped this hatchback with all the luxury features available in a C-segment luxury sedan. This definitely has raised Jazz’s prices higher than its contemporaries like A-Star, WagonR, Alto, Spark, etc., in turn making it count among the high-end models.

While building Jazz, Honda has used the old Honda City platform in an effort to reduce the overall price of Jazz. Had the platform been changed as well, it would have really elevated the manufacturing cost of Jazz. This comes as quite a disappointment when other car manufacturers are building their cars on entirely new platforms, like in the case of Maruti A-Star. The two cars belong to the same category, have comparable features. Jazz is undoubtedly a notch higher in pricing than other cars in the same category.

With Honda Jazz’s launch, Honda has made a grand entry into the small car market, giving tough competition to Maruti, Hyundai, Skoda and Chevrolet, the major players among the Indian car manufacturers.

Hyundai i20 : A Luxurious Hatchback!

Hyundai i20 was first launched at the Paris Motor Show 2008. This exciting new hatchback from Hyundai is being manufactured exclusively in India and is then exported to other countries. This is also the case with Maruti Suzuki A-Star, which is manufactured exclusively in India and is exported to countries 150 countries across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Australia.

The car has been pretty successful in the Indian car market, being loaded with comfortable interiors and high-end safety features. Hyundai i20 comes in a wide range of models depending on features and variants. Hyundai India has now launched a diesel-CRDi variant to give tough competition to other cars in the same segment like Skoda Fabia Diesel and Maruti Swift Diesel.

After the success of Maruti A-Star’s automatic transmission variant, Hyundai i20 has also launched a more powerful model of i20 which is equipped with a 1.4 liter petrol engine with automatic transmission. Of late, the trend of cars with Automatic transmission being launched in the Indian market is soon catching up. It’s an even better deal for the Indian drivers who are able to easily maneuver through the potholed Indian roads.

Hyundai i20 has now come up with two new variants – the Era and Sportz. Both of these variants have been introduced with the petrol and diesel engines. Both of these variants have been introduced in petrol and diesel variants. Hyundai believes that the i20 Sportz would help bridging the gap between its Magna and Asta. It’s a huge step from the company where i20 is now available in 5 variants with the option of three engines!

The diesel variant of the new i20 is equipped with six-speed manual transmission gears, which is a first by any car manufacturer in the country. Hyundai spokespersons believe that the additional 6th gear would help in a more fuel-efficient driving.

Hyundai i20 – Exhaustive range of variants!

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has now come up with two latest variants of their premium hatchback car Hyundai i10 – the Era and the Sportz. These exciting new variants are available in both Petrol and Diesel options. The new Hundai i20 is equipped with a range of exciting features like Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC) system and an in-built USB port (in Magna). Apart from these features, it is also loaded with several other attractive features like a burglar alarm, steering wheel with audio remote and passenger vanity mirror ( Sportz and Asta). It should be noted that Era is the base variant of the car while Hyundai is looking to bridge the gap between Asta and Magna with i10 Sportz.

Hyundai i20 is the first hatchback car in the Indian automobile market which is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission gearbox. The Hyundai i20 is one car which comes with the most range of exhaustive models namely i20 Era Petrol, i20 Magna, i20 Sportz Petrol, i20 Sportz Option, i20 Asta, i20 Asta(O), i20 Asta (AT), i20 Asta AT(O) with sunroof, i20 Era Diesel, i20 Magna Diesel, i20 Sportz Diesel, i20 Sportz Option Diesel, i20 Asta Diesel, i20 Asta (O) Diesel.

Hyundai i20 Era Petrol is the base variant of i20 which is powered by the 1.2 L Kappa variant. This model comes with a five speed manual transmission gearbox that delivers 80Ps of maximum power with a maximum torque of 11.4 Kgm. This variant, if compared with other hatchback cars in this category, is definitely less powerful than many other small cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star which comes equipped with the latest technology KB10 engine which offers power of 67 ps @ 6200 rpm and a torque of 90Nm @ 3500 rpm. Hyundai Motor India Ltd. has now come up with two latest variants of their premium hatchback car Hyundai i10 – the Era and the Sportz. These exciting new variants are available in both Petrol and Diesel options. The new Hundai i20 is equipped with a range of exciting features like Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC) system and an in-built USB port (in Magna). Apart from these features, it is also loaded with several other attractive features like a burglar alarm, steering wheel with audio remote and passenger vanity mirror ( Sportz and Asta). It should be noted that Era is the base variant of the car while Hyundai is looking to bridge the gap between Asta and Magna with i10 Sportz.

Hyundai i20 is the first hatchback car in the Indian automobile market which is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission gearbox. The Hyundai i20 is one car which comes with the most range of exhaustive models namely i20 Era Petrol, i20 Magna, i20 Sportz Petrol, i20 Sportz Option, i20 Asta, i20 Asta(O), i20 Asta (AT), i20 Asta AT(O) with sunroof, i20 Era Diesel, i20 Magna Diesel, i20 Sportz Diesel, i20 Sportz Option Diesel, i20 Asta Diesel, i20 Asta (O) Diesel.

Hyundai i20 Era Petrol is the base variant of i20 which is powered by the 1.2 L Kappa variant. This model comes with a five speed manual transmission gearbox that delivers 80Ps of maximum power with a maximum torque of 11.4 Kgm. This variant, if compared with other hatchback cars in this category, is definitely less powerful than many other small cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star which comes equipped with the latest technology KB10 engine which offers power of 67 ps @ 6200 rpm and a torque of 90Nm @ 3500 rpm.

Chevrolet Spark – Interiors speak for themselves!!

Among the small cars available in the Indian market today, Chevrolet Spark is among the best cars which have been quite a success with the Indian customers. A compact car by General Motors, Chevrolet Spark was launched in India in 2007 and has been enjoying glory all over the world since then. With a very competitive price tag, Chevrolet Spark has been undoubtedly giving tough competition to other small cars in this category, namely, Hyundai Getz, Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Swift and Wagon R.

Chevrolet Spark is equipped with all the standard features available in cars of its category. It’s a great car which enjoys many interesting features along with good looks and interiors. An intelligent and compact packaging in terms of length and wheelbase makes it easy to maneuver through the crowded roads. A high roof line and spacious headroom for rear seat passengers makes it comfortable for them to ride in the new Spark. There are also outside mirrors which can be internally adjusted. This comes to pretty good use in dusty conditions. A super cool and effective air-conditioning system also suits the Indian climatic conditions very well. The car is definitely very easy to handle, just like Maruti A-Star. ‘Chevy Spark’ has a turning radius of 4600 mm and makes handling as smooth as butter. In terms of safety, energy absorbing hexagonal profile saves the passengers of the car in case of a collision.

With many stunning colors available such as Icy Blue, Mint Green, Fiery Red, Casablanca White and Platinum Metallic, Chevy Spark is a very good looking car as well. Apart from the external looks, a high range of standard features make the Spark is a very interesting car. The high-end Spark 1.0 Litres Option Pack is equipped with various high-end features like power-steering, air conditioner, power windows, cup holders, Folding rear-seat, Rear wash wiper, central locking, child safety locks, front fog lights and defogger.

Chevrolet Spark – It’s more than just looks!

Entering the Indian small car market at a time when the market was being led by big and proven brands such as Maruti Wagon R, Swift, etc., Chevrolet Spark has made a place for itself in the market. It mostly stands out because of its dynamic looks, funky interiors and affordable pricing. Spark surely made way for the launch of Maruti’s global concept car Maruti Suzuki A-Star, which is quite similar to Spark when it comes to looks and the peppy interiors.

Chevrolet Spark is surely a dynamic car with spacious interiors which are equipped with good quality materials being used in the interiors. Inspite of being a small sized compact car, Chevrolet Spark is quite spacious! High quality steel being used in the car adds to its dynamism and gives the car a light weight and required balance.

When it comes to the body of Spark, it surely is among the best cars available in the market. Tension beam, shock absorbers with trailing arms give the car a much better stability, even when its travelling on rough roads. Presently, Chevrolet Spark petrol version is available in a single engine option that is a 1.0 Litre, 8V, SOHC Smart-TEC engine. The mill is equipped with several innovative technologies including Dual Distributor Less Ignition System (DDLI), Sequential MPFI, Advanced Optical Sensor and Motorized Throttle Intake System (MTIS). It is interesting to note that the Smart-Tec powertrain increases the max engine power and torque which result in a zippy pick-up and performance. This also ensures that the engine operation is smooth, noiseless, fuel-efficient, powerful, and reliable and maintenance free.

Chevrolet Spark comes equipped with a 995cc petrol engine. The 995cc, 8 valve engine competes with Maruti A-Star, Estilo and Hyundai Santro. No doubt, Maruti Suzuki A-Star’s next-generation lightweight KB10 engine has proved to be the technology of the millennium! Spark’s engine gives a maximum power of 63PS @ 5400rpm and a maximum torque of 90.3 Nm @ 4200 rpm. This great looking compact car is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox.

Chevrolet Spark: The wait is over!

The last few years have been great for the automobile industry in our country, what with the launch of many stunning cars like Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Honda Jazz, etc. one may wonder that all the names mentioned just now are hatchbacks and are mainly targeted to the middle-class families. However, it is interesting to note that all these cars might be hatchbacks but are no less than sedans in terms of looks, technology, and engine.

Chevrolet Spark was launched by General Motors in India as a come-back vehicle to the long-forgotten and not-so well-known Matiz. One can’t help but note the fact that General Motors is trying to grab a 10 percent share in the pie of the growing automobile market in India by 2010. It is the latest hatchback which promises to give the customers something ‘new’. Chevrolet Spark will be produced at GM’s Halol factory near Baroda.

Sources from the company say that the automaker will also consider exporting the Spark to Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It must be kept in mind that India’s small car market makes up a great share of the country’s market for passenger vehicles. It is very evident that the Spark has a more stylish and expensive look in comparison to its predecessor – Matiz and can undoubtedly give the other cars in this segment a run for their money.

Currently, the small-segment category is dominated by the Maruti Alto, Zen, Wagon R, Swift, Hyundai Santro and Tata Indica.

Spark could very well be touted as the next BIG story in the Indian automobile industry as it tries to capture Indian hearts and Indian roads with its cute yet striking designs and compact designing which makes it easy to maneuver through the Indian roads.

Tata Indica Vista - Part III

The new Tata Indica Vista is a real feast for the car lovers. The ones who have been waiting for the new Indica have many reasons to relish upon. The makers of the cars have equipped it with features and technology that makes it very predominant in the small car segment. The car has a powerful engine, high quality interiors, exteriors and a great fuel economy.

The Tata Indica Vista comes with very stylish exteriors. With the front grille and large stylish head lamps the Indica looks very dynamic. The car includes features such as Front Fog Lamps, Body Colored Bumpers, Chrome Plating for Exhaust Pipe, Stylish Full Wheel Covers, Body Colored Door Handles, Body Colored ORVMs, Rb Rail and Exterior Antenna.

Like wise Maruti A-Star, the Tata Indica also falls in the category of premium hatchback cars. The car has a ground clearance of 165mm and minimum turning radius of 5.0 meters while the A-Star has a ground clearance of 170mm and minimum turning radius of 4.5metres. The Tata Indica is mounted with rich and classy interiors which make this car more attractive than ever. The car has Fully Fabricated Seats, Dual Tone Dashboard, Stylish Gear Shift Knob, Central Console Finish, etc.

The car also promises full safety and security for its passengers with features like Central Locking with Key, Three Point ELR Seat Belts, Warning Buzzers, Child Lock, Engine Immobiliser etc. Hatchbacks have come a long way. Whether it’s the interiors, exteriors, engine or the security- these cars make no compromises at all.

A-Star launched by Maruti Suzuki also proves the same and has the most advanced engine and security options for its passengers.The Maruti A-Star offers bold looks, aerodynamic styling, efficient handling and a great drive- all rolled into one.

Tata Indica Vista - Part II

Among the latest brigade of small cars available in the market, Tata Indica Vista is surely one car that has been gaining accolades by the dozen. Remodeled around the earlier Indica Vista that was launched in 1998, this new model comes with many interesting new features, the best of which is definitely Indica’s engine. Earlier we have seen Maruti Suzuki tasting success with its new hatchback Maruti Suzuki A-Star, which was built around a completely new KB10 engine and was the first car from Maruti to be equipped with the lightweight K-series petrol engine.

Indica Vista comes along with a choice of three powerful engines, modern interiors, and increased space inside the car as well as better quality stuff being used inside the car. Apart from this, Vista has also been built on a completely new platform. One can’t help but notice that for the major part, Vista drives on the popularity of Tata Indica V2. However, the one thing that really makes Vista stand apart and shout for attention is that it is offered in three main variants with three engine options and is available in both petrol and diesel versions.

The Indica Vista is available in different variants like Terra Safire, Terra Quadrajet, Aqua Safire, Aura Safire, Aqua Quadrajet and Aura Quadrajet. Limited edition variants are available in Quadrajet and Safire. So many variants is really an exciting feature of this car. In fact, the variants are based on the engines- TDI comes with a re-worked version of the 1.4 litre turbocharged 475 IDI engine. This particular engine is a regular in all models of Tata Indica. Maruti A-Star, on the other hand, is sold outside India in continents like Africa, Asia and Latin America under the names of Suzuki Slto, Nissan Pixo and Celerio.

Tata Indica Vista – Part I

Car lovers in India have lately been having a lot to smile about. More so following the spate of amazing new-technology cars that major automobile companies have been coming up lately. The latest to enter the bandwagon has been the Tata Indica Vista and comes from the Tata family. The festival season has been giving both the car makers as well as the car owners a lot to boast about. It has also given the car makers a reason to launch new cars, each of which are a great competition to the other and are decked up with the latest technological advancements and goodies.

A new trend has been around lately when it comes to new cars having been launched in the Indian Market. Major companies have been coming up with refreshed versions of their older models, which are equipped with new looks and features as well as latest technology engines.

The list includes Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Estilo, Mistubishi, etc. The latest addition to this list has been from Tata Motors stable in the form of their exciting new car Tata Indica Vista. The car comes with major changes in the exteriors as well as a few changes in the interiors of the car.

The engine of Indica Vista would be carrying the engine of Fiat Grand Punto 90bhp. With this, the car is expected to deliver similar engine performance and has upped the ante. Quite a few cars have been coming with interesting changes in the engine and in a few cases, completely new engines as well. One fine example of this would definitely be the Maruti Suzuki A-Star, which comes with the all new Kb series of engine, that is light-weight, eco-friendly as well as gives a superb mileage of upto 19kmpl in the city.

Maruti Suzuki Estilo : Back With A Bang!

Maruti Suzuki, the largest car manufacturer in the country have been aggressively trying to increase its appeal to the small car buyers by coming up with car models which keep up with the times and are high on both technology and looks! The latest of these models being Maruti Estilo, Maruti A-Star, Alto K10, etc.

In isolation, Maruti Suzuki Estilo is a much revamped car, which in reality looks nothing like its previous version, what with the brand new KB10 engine and stunning looks. The new Estilo is more contemporary and lives up to its promise of being a car which adds freshness to life, mostly because of its fresh looks and appeal.

Maruti Suzuki Estilo boasts of an all new front styling, which includes a revised grille, new headlamps and a dynamic bumper with sculpted fog lamps. It surely is interesting to note that Maruti has been playing around with the grille and headlight in all its latest models, the best example being the beautiful low-slung grille and dynamic headlamps in Maruti Suzuki A-Star.

New wheel covers just add to the overall interesting looks of the car and complement the entire exterior makeovers to give the car a whole new personality and style that is in sync with what people demand from their cars today. Probably the best change which has been incorporated in the all new Estilo has been the fact that it has been stripped of its plain jane looks and has a completely new mystery and bold stance to it.

The biggest change, however, in Estilo lies under the hood. The old Estilo was equipped with the old petrol engine. The new Estilo, on the other hand, is equipped with the next-generation K-series KB10 engine which is lightweight as well as powerful. The now famous KB10 engine is a 998cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine, similar to that in A-Star.

Maruti Alto K10

Alto K10 is one of the exciting new cars from among the hoard of young fleet that Maruti Suzuki has been fishing out lately. With a common platform designed on the Japanese principles of kei-ji-dosha, Maruti Alto is famously called the elder brother of the cult car Maruti 800. At one point in time, Maruti was selling 3 versions of the same car, namely Maruti 800, Alto and Zen. All of them different generations of the same car!

Maruti Alto was launched 8 years ago and has since displaced Maruti 800 as Maruti Suzuki’s flagship company in the domestic car market. Not only a hit in the domestic market, the car is also hugely successful worldwide and us exported to other countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, to name a few. The company even has plans to start exporting it to newer pastures like Denmark, Hungary and Portugal.

Now Maruti Suzuki has launched a newer and updated version of the best selling Alto with the K10B engine. The Alto K10 will come equipped with the existing 800cc engine that was there in the original Alto. However, it offers a plusher option with a much better engine quality and fuel efficiency. The car comes packed with whole new front and rear bumpers, new head-lights and tail lamps, brand new fog lights and new radiator grille. A new steering wheel, instrument cluster and gear knob are also said to be incorporated soon.

Alto K10 is a nice looking dynamic car and is pretty much in accordance with the features and performance of another dynamic car from Maruti Suzuki’s fleet, i.e., Maruti Suzuki A-Star. Like A-Star, Alto K10 comes equipped with 3 cylinder MPFi KB engine, that is both light-weight and fuel-efficient. It can generate a maximum power of 67 bhp with a maximum torque of around 90Nm.

Nissan Micra

Nissan Micra is the latest offering from the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan Motor Company. The stand out feature of the car is that it offers certain facilities that even some big sedans don’t. It can be comfortably said that the Nissan Micra is a hatchback with a difference!

It’s an Indian A2 hatchback which is manufactured on a new “V” platform. The V-platform concentrates on reductions in both weight as well as the number of components that make up the future models. The car is lightweight and sophisticated and really makes a splash. It has been engineered keeping in mind the comforts of the Indian roads as well as easy maneuvering of the vehicle. As of now, the car is available only on a 1.2L petrol tank and is soon expected to be manufactured in automatic transmissions as well. This is one feature where Maruti Suzuki A-Star stands out! A-Star is a car which has already been launched in automatic and is indeed a runaway success.

The car is pretty cute looking and would surely touch chords with the women and youngsters. Its style and looks are a deadly mix and cater to the younger generation’s tastes. The Micra has a 3 cylinder (Double Over-Head Cam) 1198cc petrol engine producing at 75 BHP at 6,000 rpm and 104 NM of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Maruti Suzuki, on the other hand, comes equipped with the latest technology K series engine. Apart from everything else, the cars are pretty similar as well, especially in terms of the safety features like dual airbags, ABS (anti-lock breaking system) and EBD (electronic break distribution), to name a few. Micra, though, has some really stand-out features like keyless entry, tilt-adjustable steering and multi-information display. The dashboard dials are easily readable but the driver seat is not adjustable, which is quite a disappointment.

Chevrolet Spark

Chevrolet Spark was launched to regain the lost market share in 2008. Matiz which was earlier launched by the organization was long forgotten by the customers and hence Chevrolet came up with the all new jazzy design. The car is being manufactured at the company’s factory near Baroda.

India's small-car market makes up for the major share of the country's market for passenger vehicles. Chevrolet Spark has a stylish and expensive look that helps it to compete in the small car segment in the country. The car was launched to capture the fancy of the youth.
Chevrolet Spark offers a host of features that combine with its handsome, sturdy, and solid good looks to give it an edge over other small cars in the market. This hatchback has a new and improved body design and all the space that you would want for your family. This car has been launched in jazzy new colors to cater to the young generation.

The compact car competes in the same segment as that which is currently dominated by the Maruti A-Star, Wagon R, Hyundai Santro, and Tata Indica. It offers a fuel efficiency of 12.3 km/l on the city roads and is available in 5- speed manual transmission. The Chevrolet Spark comes in 7 main variants: 1.0, 1.0PS, 1.0LS, 1.0LT, 1.0LT OPT, 1.0PS LPG and 1.0LS LPG all with 4 cylinders 1 litre (995 cc) engines. All variants generate a power of 63 bhp at 5400 rpm and a torque of 90.3 Nm at 4200 rpm.

Spark could very well be the next big thing in the automobile industry on the Indian roads as it tries to capture Indian hearts and Indian roads with its new design and its easy-to-maneuver compact styling. Spark also brings with it the variety of color, so that your car remains different and one among the few.

Tata Nano Review Part-III

Tata Nano is amongst the most hyped cars in Indian history. The car was launched with a huge hype and this was the reason why different people have different opinion about it. Image of the car is another issue but speaking on a more technical and practical side the car Tata Nano is amongst the most fuel efficient cars in the world. It is true that it has the smallest engine.

From the 1st of October the car was out for people to buy directly without any booking or lucky draws. This is the reason why the response of the people is yet to be seen and the on road performance is yet to be measured. The car has a unique design which makes it look cute to some and ugly to the rest. The top model of the car is also equipped with an Air Conditioner and power windows in the front. The interiors are quite minimalistic but some of you can feel a little uncomfortable if you are sitting for the first time.

The engine of the car is on the rear which means that the passengers sitting on the rear seat are sitting just above the engine. Some people think that this can lead to the heating of the rear seat but actually the engine is properly insulated which prevents any heat coming out.

Tata Nano Review Part II

Tata Nano comes from a family of new generation cars. It is basically designed with a family in mind, has a roomy passenger compartment with good leg space and ample head room. As Tata Nano is a family car, four persons can easily sit inside the car. Tata Nano can easily manoeuvre on busy roads of city as well as in rural areas. The design of Tata Nano is mono-volume, to ensure easy manoeuvrability. Tata Nano is available in 3 versions, which are Standard, Deluxe and Luxury with wide range of body colours and other accessories to customize the car as per the user requirement.

Tata Nano also has very fuel-efficient multi-point fuel injection petrol engine with rear-wheel drive, two in-line cylinders. Due to its strategic design, Tata Nano has achieved minimum weight and maximum performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. The performance of Tata Nano is controlled by electronic engine management system which is specially designed for this car.

Tata Nano, just like Maruti Suzuki A-Star has all sheet-metal body which provide a strong passenger compartment with excellent safety features. What’s more, all versions are provided with tubeless tyres for its further safety on roads. The brakes in Nano Deluxe and Nano Luxury versions are power brakes to ensure more safety to the driver as well as its passengers. The brake type used in Nano is Dual circuit, H-type split hydraulic brake with diameter of Front and Rear Brake is 180 mm drum brake and the parking brakes type is Lever type, cable operated mechanical linkages acting on rear wheels.

Tata Nano is highly fuel efficient car, because its exhaust emissions performance exceeds the emission regulatory requirements. Its high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has very low carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. And, thereby, Tata Motors provided the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with very low carbon footprints.

When Tata Nano was on booking last year in 2009, it was expected by Indian rating agency CRISIL (Credit Rating and Information Services on India Ltd.) that the car could expand the nation’s car market by 65%. But recent news of JD Research Agency report that Tata Nano will be the 2nd largest selling car of FY, 2011.

Apart from all these, Tata vehicles are always provided with well established service network with its skilled and trained manpower that ensures proper maintenance during the car life.

Tata Nano Review Part 1

Do you want to drive the car which Indian car racer Narain Karthikeyan tested? It is the car also known as People’s car- Tata Nano. It was a dream of Ratan Tata, to introduce a car which can be afforded by every middle class family and now it is on every one’s mind.

Tata Nano is the cheapest car in the entire world and people can’t get enough of it. Before it’s launching, a year back, it was showcased at Auto Expo held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi and every Indian had the same question, that can we make the world’s cheapest car. And, when it was launched, it was seen that Ratan Tata kept his promise. The car is being offered at the price of Re. 1 Lakh.

Though, it was excluding Road Tax and Service Tax, which made the car available at a price of about one lakh and thirty thousand Rupees. But, still people wanted this car and the booking application for the Nano exceeds 1 lakh in the first year.

Tata Nano is available in 4 variants, which includes Nano Std, Nano CX Solid, Nano CX Metallic and Nano LX. It a hatchback body type and it comes in A-segment cars. The Top speed of Tata Nano is 105 km/h and it covers 0-60 in 8 seconds and 0-100 in 12.60 seconds. It is available with the warranty of 18 months or 24000 km’s.

The advantage of having Tata Nano is that it is very affordable and has superb fuel efficiency but the boot space is very less as compare to Maruti Suzuki A-Star or Ford Figo.

Tata has been ranked as the 2nd most trusted in the category of four-wheelers (passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles together) in The Economic Times Brand Equity 'Most Trusted Brands' survey for 2010.
Fraser Martin from CAR Middle East says, “As a package designed to provide a basic transport solution, the Nano is terrific. I’ve never driven anything like it.”

With 16/20/24 KMPL mileage on bad roads/city/highway; this is something great for two cylinder engine. On top of it, its Air conditioning system ensures instant cooling, proving this car to be a complete power-packed little wonder for city drivers.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA Part 3

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, powered by Sequential Electronic Fuel Injection System which is a petrol engine of 1150 cc and 5 Speed manual Transmission gears makes the car very economical to run on Indian Roads. The engine of Aveo U-VA is in-line with 1.2 L, 76 bhp, 4-cylinders and SOHC valve configuration which delivers the extra power of 76PS at 5500 rpm and maximum torque is 110 Nm at 4400 rpm. It has 2 valves per cylinder.

The maximum speed of all variants of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA 1.2 is 155 kmph and it covers 0-100 kmph in 16.4 seconds. All variants of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA 1.2 are petrol and the fuel tank capacity is 45 litres, the mileage of Aveo U-VA in city is 11.9 kmpl and 14.7 kmpl on highway. All variants are available in BS III (Bharat Stage III), which means that these cars pollute less.

As by the slogan of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA “Bada Dil Badi Baat”, it’s true, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA has a very good cargo area with the cargo volume of 220 litres. The exterior dimensions of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA include Length, Width and Height which are 3880 mm, 1670 mm and 1495 mm respectively. The ground clearance of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA is 188 mm. The wheelbase of this car is 2480 mm and the kerb weight is 1075 kg, but the Gross weight is 1505 kg. The rear leg room in Chevrolet Aveo U-VA is 875 mm which provide comfortable ride to rear passengers.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA 1.2’s interior includes part fabric upholstery and twin glove box both at co-driver side, upper and lower. Chevrolet Aveo U-VA 1.2 provides the black door handles, black outside rear view mirrors, body colour bumpers, body coloured tail gate handle, hub cap and chrome grill which give the exterior looks of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA very attractive. General Motors also provide driver side sun visor with ticket holder, dual horn, front ash tray and seat back shopping hook for comfort and convenience of people driving Chevrolet Aveo U-VA. As the company is American but the assembling and manufacturing of Chevrolet Aveo U-VA is done in India with 3 year or 1,00,000 kms warranty, just like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Hyundai i20.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA Review Part II

“BadaDilBadiBaat”, it is the slogan for General Motor’s Chevrolet’s Aveo U-VA, a premium B-Segment car in India. The design of the car is very dynamic, and it is basically design by Italdesign Giugiaro studio of an Italian designer of supercars.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA also have some other comfort features which are also found in other cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Swift, and these features includes Air Conditioner, Seat Belts, Ample Room Space, Boot Space, Audio System etc. The price of Cheverolet Aveo U-VA varies between 4.05 Lakhs to 5 Lakhs.

Cheverolet Aveo U-VA has a sitting capacity of 5 and is a very roomy and spacious car with elegant interiors which offers front headroom of 970 cm and rear headroom of 920 cm. Aveo U-VA offers impressive driving experience with many comfortable features which include power steering and digital clock (included in standard model), rear windscreen wiper, rear defogger, leather gear knob and steering wheel, alloy wheel, fog lamps (included in premium model, except for standard).

The wheel size of Cheverolet Aveo U-VA 1.2 Standard and 1.2 LS are packed with 13x5.0J material steel wheels, which give this car an attractive looks. The tyre size is 155/80 R13 to control the car at very high speed from off-roading and reduces the risk of skidding in watery or slippery roads.

The wheel size of U-VA 1.3 LT is 14x5.5 J alloy wheel which gives a sporty looks to the car and tyre size is 185/60 R14. This car in hatchback segment has ABS (Antilock Breaking System) in all variants, which helps in preventing wheel lock during panic breaking. The front breaks of this car are ventilated Disk Brakes and the rear brakes are self adjusting drum brakes. The suspension system of this car is like made for Indian roads, the front suspension of this car is McPherson Strut with Anti roll bars with hydraulic front shock absorber and the rear suspension of torsion beam with rear shock absorber.

Cheverolet Aveo U-VA is packed with some salient safety features which some cars in this segment don’t have which include Driver Airbags with cushioning experience which minimizes the impact of collision. Aveo U-VA provides remote keyless entry with burglar alarm to make it safer from unwanted guests.

Chevrolet Aveo U-VA Review Part 1

Manufactured by General Motors, a US company, Chevrolet Aveo is making a perfect market in Indian cities. This car is available in three models and each model has its own unique features and specialties. Falling in between the category of a small sized and middle sized car, it is giving the tough competition to other cars in the segment which is the most loaded in Indian automobile market. With 1.2 L HOSC engine, it is equipped with the unique style and designing. 10.6 KMPL is not at all a bad average which is offered by this car on the normal rush filled roads while on the highways it extends up to 15 KMPL.

Its ventilated disk brakes and drum brakes are self-adjusting. Another feature which ensures the smooth drive is the sequential electronic fuel injection system. Power steering is the other added feature for smooth and easy handling of the car. The car moves with the utmost stability and comfort due to the gas filled shock absorbers. These absorbers make your car completely shock resistant. Other luxurious features in the car which make it really unique are deposit tray center console, cup holder, day light rear view mirror and an ashtray.

The car is equipped with another sought after feature that is the dual horning system. Central locking and anti-lock brake are already provided in the car. Aveo is completely safe for you and your kids with the exclusive fittings like child lock on the rear doors, door ajar warning system, shock resistant bumpers and also the high mount stops.
Although, driving airbags and rolling rear seats are the two features which are available in Maruti A-star but not in Aveo. Rear wash wiper and front fog lights are some more features where Chevrolet Aveo be short of Maruti A-star. Other feature remains almost the same in both the rivals.

Skoda Fabia Review

Skoda Fabia is amongst the most famous hatchback cars in India. The car has a direct competition with other big hatchbacks like Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20 and Volkswagen Polo. The Skoda Fabia has been in demand since its launch and this is why you can spot a Skoda Fabia every now especially on city roads. The car provides a decent driving experience which may not take your breath away but is much better than most other cars in its class. The Skoda Fabia was initially launched in the year 2000 in the international market but at that time the sales were not too great.

In the year 2005 the car went back for a facelift and after that it was quite liked by people all over the world. It is a perfect car for those who are looking to spend a hefty amount for a hatchback car. In India the car is available in 8 different variants with 4 diesel and 4 petrol versions. The diesel Fabia is equipped with a 1422cc engine which generates and amazing power of 68bhp at 4000rpm. The maximum torque of the diesel engine is around 155nm in the range of 1600-2800rpm.

On the other hand, the petrol model is fitted with an 1198cc petrol engine which generates a maximum power of 70bhp at 5400rpm.

The design of the car is a bit different from various other hatchback cars available in the market. It provides a better head and leg room then most other cars. The design of the car is such that it looks small from the outside but it has enough space on the inside. The car is a little on the costlier side when it comes to hatchback cars because most Indians like buying affordable hatchbacks like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Hyundai i10.

Volkswagen Polo review Part III

The Volkswagen Polo is a spectacular hatchback as it is rated amongst the most luxurious small cars. The car is great for those who are frequent travelers because the person driving the car will not feel discomfort for a long time. The seats can be adjusted and 5 people can travel without any discomfort. Additionally the boot of the car has enough space to carry as much luggage as you want. The car is specially developed for those who want a comfortable ride over anything else.

One of the best things about the car is that it is fabricated using high strength steel which makes the car tough and strong. It is amongst the safest hatchbacks available in the market. Only Maruti Suzuki A-Star is another hatchback which is manufactured using high strength steel. High strength steel not only makes the car strong but also makes it light weighted that further makes it nippy and easy to handle.

The Volkswagen is also equipped with airbags and various other safety features that further make it a safe car to drive on Indian roads. It has been said that the future of Volkswagen in India depends on Polo because this is one car which has been specially designed for Indian roads and its success or failure can be a decisive element for the future of Volkswagen in India. 

Volkswagen Polo Review Part-II

The Volkswagen Polo is available in both petrol and diesel which gives people an option to the audience. The car is equipped with one of the most powerful engine in its class which produces 75bhp of power at 5400rpm. The diesel engine of the car will produce 75bhp at 4200rp. The car is quite stylish from the inside but it disappoints from the exteriors because it is not at all stylish from the outside.

The car is also equipped with 15 inch wheels which provide optimum stability to the car. On the safety point of view the car is amongst the best hatchbacks available in the country. It is equipped with air bags which will protect the occupants of the car at any cost. Like most other cars in the country the Volkswagen Polo is available in 3 different variants. The price band of the car start from 6 lakhs and goes up to 7 lakhs.

The car is priced on the higher side because most Indians prefer buying a hatchback car of not more than 4 to 5 lakhs. This is the reason why cars like Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Hyundai i10 have a better sale then cars like Volkswagen Polo and Honda Jazz.

All in all the performance of Volkswagen Polo has been satisfactory but the sales haven’t been on a high as yet. The basic reasons behind it is the high price and Volkswagen being a new name in the car market.

Volkswagen Polo Review Part-I

Volkswagen is amongst one of the biggest producer of cars in the world. The company has more experience than most producers in manufacturing cars. The company has recently ventured into the Indian market. One of the best selling Volkswagen cars in India is the all new Polo which is a small hatchback car. The car is amongst the expensive hatchbacks in India and is giving tough competition to cars like Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz and Ford Figo.

The car has some of the very unique features and the designing portrays German design. The rear of the car is quite simplistic which may not draw the attention of an onlooker to try and view the name of the car but from the front it looks quite attractive. It is a conventional car with sporty looks that provides optimum performance. The car is good enough for those who are looking for an expensive hatchback because the price band of this car is quite high. Cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Hyundai i10 are quite affordable in comparison with the Volkswagen Polo.

The car has enough space to accommodate 5 people. Additionally, it has enough space in its boot to accommodate as much luggage. The Volkswagen may not look that big from outside but it has quite spacious interiors. The interiors are designed in a way that it can put some luxurious cars to shame. All in all the car is good enough but the company will find it a little difficult to make a huge impact because people will not trust the brand that easily. For people living in India brands like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai are much more familiar and trustworthy.

Hyundai i20 Review Part III

One of the biggest setbacks of the Hyundai i20 is that it is equipped with the same 1197cc Kappa engine which is the same as the i10. The engine has a 16 valve motor which helps in producing 79 bhp which is good enough for a hatchback. Along with that it also produces an 11.4 kgm of torque. The body of the car is a little hefty which makes the entire car a little heavier than i10. The car is not as swift and takes a long time of 15.21 seconds to read 100kph which is two seconds more than the i10.

The car manufacturers have made a huge car which can not only accommodate 5 passengers but can also accommodate a whole load of luggage. But in the process of making a large hatchback the company has sacrificed the speed and agility. Hyundai i20 is not a good car if you are a frequent traveler and like ruling the road by overtaking fast moving traffic. The car has been proved to be quite sluggish and slow as you will find it quite difficult to overtake most new cars.

But if you want a large city car then Hyundai i20 is a good buy. At least the car is equipped with a well judged gear ratio which takes the most out of the Kappa engine. The i20 can be termed as a fuel efficient car as it offers a mileage of 11.2 kmpl which is good enough for a car this size. But this car has not lived up to the expectation as it does not have enough power under its belt and the large size may sometimes also act as a hindrance.

Hyundai i20 Review Part II

Most people will be amazed to know that the Hyundai i20 has the same engine as the Hyundai i10. Both the cars have a huge difference when it comes to size and design but for some reason the company hasn’t upgraded the engine for Hyundai i20. Yet the Hyundai i20 provides optimum performance and fuel efficiency. On the other hand, the Honda Jazz comes with 1.3 L and 1.5 L engines which are slightly bigger and powerful than Hyundai i20.

The interiors of Hyundai i20 are quite different from most other cars available in the Indian market. The car is quite spacious and provides an optimum space for 5 people including the driver. The seats are quite comfortable and it provides enough leg room on the back seat as well. Even a six footer person can easily sit on the back seat of the car. The boot of the car is quite huge as it provides a total capacity of around 295 liters. The best model of i20 is equipped with six airbags which will protect the occupants in any situation.

The steering of the car looks nothing less than a sports car steering as it is equipped with a number of buttons on it. Another very interesting feature in Hyundai i20 is the electronic climate control which regulate the inside temperature automatically. Such features are also available in small cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat. But all in all the Hyundai i20 is a good buy as it does not cost as much as the Honda Jazz and it has enough space as well.

Hyundai i20 Review Part I

Hyundai i20 is amongst one of the best selling large sized hatchback cars in India. The Hyundai i20 has a direct competition with Honda Jazz which is another large sized hatchback. But there is a huge difference between both of them because Honda Jazz has entirely different features and technology used in it. The Hyundai i20 is undoubtedly one of the most stylish hatchback cars available in India. But this is not the only selling point of this stylish hatchback from the stable of Hyundai.

Hyundai launched i20 in two variants: the Era and the Sportz. Both the variants are available in the diesel and petrol versions.

The new Hyundai i20 is loaded with an array of smart features which are Fully Automatic Temperature Control (FATC) system and in-built USB port (in Magna). Hyundai I 20 also comes embedded with new attractive features like a burglar alarm, steering wheel with audio remote and passenger vanity mirror (in Sportz and Asta). Hyundai i20 has all these new features which are available at a very affordable price.

Hyundai i20 is the first hatchback car in the Indian auto market which is packed with 6 Speed Manual Transmission Gearbox in its 1.4 L CRDI engine that delivers an impressive power of 90 PS whereas in 1.2 L Kappa engine packed 5 Speed Manual Transmission gearbox produces a power of 80 PS and in 1.4 L Gamma engine 4 Speed automatic transmission gearbox offers a power of 100 PS. This car is packed with many advance features that are complementing the style and sophistication it carries. The jazzy look of i20 makes it a favorite in its segment.

Hyundai i20 has taken care of all the safety measures of their passengers as well with highly advanced safety features and safeguards availability like ABS ( Anti Lock Braking System), MDPS ( Motor Driven Power Steering), etc. All these safety features along with the other features are sure to turn many heads!

Honda Jazz Review Part III

The engine is the best component of Honda Jazz as it is equipped with a very powerful and technologically advanced 1.2 L i-VTEC engine. The engine of the car is specially developed for the Indian market which means that you don’t need to worry about the engine on those bumpy roads and stop & go traffic. The research and development wing of Honda Jazz has specially developed i-VTEC engine in Tochigi centre Japan.

One of the best things about this car is that it offers superior power along with fantastic fuel efficiency. On the other hand it is only the second car after Maruti Suzuki A-Star which ensures environment safety by matching to the Euro IV carbon emission levels. It has a 4 cylinder engine which is equipped with a highly advanced Fuel Injection delivering which offers a power of over 89 BHP at 6200 RPM. The fuel efficiency of this car is simply fantastic as it offers 16.1 KMPL.

The only problem with the car is the price which is quite high. This is the reason why cars like Hyundai i20 are scoring above it. But most other hatchback cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Chevrolet Beat, Hyundai i10 and Ford Figo are quite cost effective in comparison with Honda Jazz. Honda Jazz is specially built for those who want the best hatchback. But you must also know that this car comes with a high price band which does not make a cost effective car.

Honda Jazz Preview Part II

Honda Jazz is amongst the cleverest super mini cars available in the Indian market. This car has a distinguished design which will make you stand out in the crowd. One of the best things about this car is that it provides a lot of leg room. The biggest problem with small cars is that it does not provide enough leg room to people sitting on the back seat but the Honda Jazz is one and the only hatchback available in the Indian market that provides total comfort to all the occupants.

The car is quite fun to drive and you will simply love it once you are accustomed to the stylish and attractive interiors. Honda has always been amongst a car producer which relies quite heavily on performance and stylish design and this is what the Honda Jazz is all about. The exterior design of the car is very much like the typically Honda’s design which looks great. This car somewhat resembles the Honda City but it is only when you look at the rear end of the car and realize that it is actually a hatchback.

The headlamps of the car are quite big and sharp in appearance. The car is equipped with ellipsoidal glass which gives it a distinguished look. Some of the main features of the Honda Jazz include:

• Alloy Wheels
• Rear Parcel Tray
• Front Mud Flaps
• USB Port in Music System
• Front Fog Lamps
• Height Adjustable Driver's Seat
• Body Coloured Front Grille
• Body Coloured Spoiler
• New Blue and Black Combination Interiors
• New Red Shade

Honda Jazz Specifications Part I

Honda has earned a name in the Indian car market. The company has been a market leader in a bigger car segment. With the launch of Honda Jazz the company is trying to take a step in the hatchback segment of cars. Most Indians own a hatchback car because it is quite easy to drive a hatchback car because it can be easily driven through traffic. The recent addition to the Honda family is Honda Jazz and it is amongst the most sought after cars in its segment.

The car is equipped with some of the most advanced features which can beat most other cars. Honda launched Jazz in Japan in the year 2001. Soon after its launch the car was quite famous all over the world and was exported to over 115 countries all across the world. It is amongst one of the most luxurious hatchback cars available in India and this is the reason most people buy it.

The only problem with this car is the high price that people has to shed of in order to buy it. The car is quite expensive and this is the reason why most people prefer buying Hyundai i20 and Skoda Fabia. Most of the people started buying Hyundai i20 in place of Jazz because it is quite cheap in comparison and offers a number of similar features.

Ford Figo Review Part-III

Ford Figo is undoubtedly one of the most spacious cars in its segment. This car has enough space to easily accommodate 5 people and the boot is quite big as well. The car is available in both petrol and diesel transmission which provides options to the buyers. The Ford Figo is available in four variants LXi, EXi, ZXi and Titanium. The Ford Figo Titanium is the top model available in the market and it is available with all the features that make a luxury car.

The features of the top line “Titanium” variant of Ford Figo include the following:

•Body Colored Bumpers
•Full Wheel Covers
•Body Colored ORVMs
•Chrome Finish Radiator        
•Air Conditioning
•Power Steering
•Power Windows
•Remote Central Locking
•Remote Boot Opener
•Remote Fuel Lid Opener
•Driver Seat Height Adjustment
•Removable Parcel Tray
•Rear Defogger
•ABS with EBD
•Dual SRS Airbags
•MP3 Player with 4 Speakers
•Bluetooth Phone Interface
•Rear Washer and Wiper

One thing that can affect the sales of Ford Figo is that there is a huge difference between the prices of Ford Figo basic and the Titanium model. This is one of the best family cars available in the market. The low price band of the car makes it an even better buy because most other competitive cars in this segment cost much more for providing similar features.

The only drawback of the car is that it is as fuel efficient as most other cars available in its price range. Cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Hyundai i10 provide a better mileage than Ford Figo and this is one of the most important things which play on the mind of the buyer.

Ford Figo Review Part II

The design and styling of Ford Figo is truly Italian. The front side of the car has a typical Ford design as it is quite similar to Ford Fiesta and Ford Ikon. The first thing that you will notice about the car is its aggressive looks as it has a big front along with an air dam just below the grille. Some people may confuse Figo with Fusion at the first look but the cars are completely different. As stated in the earlier part of the review that Ford Figo is amongst the biggest or most spacious cars in its segment.

The car has a distinctive shape which portrays the spirit of energy. There is quite enough space on the interior of the car and you can easily enjoy a comfortable ride with kids and adults. The car is equipped with modern headlamps which will provide clear vision even if there is no light on the road. Unlike most other cars the wheels of this car is positioned on the four corners which reduces the overhang. The car is quite muscular and at the price that it is available at makes it a better option that most other cars in its class.

The Ford Figo looks to be a complete family car as it has enough space and the styling is good as well. The car has everything but it may not appeal to the youth because cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat are much more stylish and fuel efficient that it. But as they say in order to gain something you have to lose something. Ford Figo is all about comfort, spacious interiors and a large boot. It is a stylish car but competing with Beat and A-Star is quite difficult for it. The pricing of the car is quite affordable and this is the USP of the product.

Ford Figo Review Part I

There are many companies involved in the race of creating the best hatchback Indian car. The Ford Figo is another Indian Hatchback car which is looking great to conquer a large share of the Indian market. The car was unveiled in September last year and since then the sales of the car has been on a constant increase. The car was initially developed to compete the likes of Maruti Suzuki Ritz, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20 and Skoda Fabia but the price band of the car makes it a perfect competition for cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Beat.

Ford Figo is available in a number of different models and the best part about this car is that it is available in both petrol and diesel models. The pricing of the car starts from 3.5 lakhs which is quite less than most other cars in its class. Other cars which are available at 3.5 lakhs to 4.5 lakhs have less interior space as compared to Ford Figo. At the first look you can never even imagine that it will start from such a low price band. The car is quite huge and 5 people can be easily seated. It has the biggest boot space which can accommodate as much as you want. 

One thing that comes to your mind is that this car is the best in its class if you are a frequent road traveler. The car offers an array of amazing features which is bound to surprise you. It is true that it is the biggest hatchback car available at such a low price but on the other hand this car offers less mileage than most other hatchbacks in the market. Ford Figo offers a mileage of around 15 KMPL in a city whereas the Maruti Suzuki A-Star offers a mileage of over 19 KMPL.

Tata Indica Vista Review Part III

The interiors of Tata Indica have never been too impressive but the all new Tata Indica Vista has improved interiors. The car is much more spacious than the previous model and this has been possible because of the latest design of the car. The car has an adjustable seat and steering wheel which will provide an additional comfort to the driver along with other occupants. The wheelbase of the car has also been increased by over 70 mm than the previous model because of which the car is longer by 120 mm. It is also equipped with a centrally mounted instrument panel along with comfortable seats and much more.

The buttons inside the car are much more stylish than the previous model which makes you feel that Tata motors has come of age. It has been said that Tata was fine tuning the car from a very long time in order to give an up market feel to the car. The top model of the car is available with a number of very comfortable features. It is integrated with a CD player which works quite well. You can directly connect a USB device with the CD player as it is integrated with a USB port. The dual tone dash board further adds to the style of the car as it is not available in most other cars in the segment.

The new Tata Indica Vista is a truly luxurious car in its segment and it is bound to change the existing image of Tata Indica. The company has been successful in creating a huge impact with the launch of Tata Indica Vista. The car is already been perceived differently by younger people but the only problem which will persist is the competition with other ever more stylish cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat.

Tata Indica Vista Review Part II

Tata Motors have actually launches Indica Vista in order to meet the BSIV emissions norms. The recently launched Indica Vista is equipped with state-of-the-art technology features which reduce the carbon emissions and puts the car directly at competition with other Indian hatchbacks available in the market. The car is also equipped with very powerful Eurotech gearboxes which further enhance the performance of the car. The car also delivers a higher torque that the earlier models.

The earlier model of Tata Indica had a vibration problem but the Indica Vista ensures minimum vibration. It is also equipped with an engine which offers a longer life span that the earlier one. The top model of the car is equipped with some world class features like:

• Dual tone beige color interiors which gives the car a stylish look which is quite unlike Tata Indica

• This car is also equipped with fog lamps both in the front and rear which enhance the vision of the driver in the most adverse weather conditions

• It has power windows along with power steering which has become common in most cars nowadays

• The rear view mirrors of the car are colored in the body color along with the bumpers

• The car is equipped with advance safety features such as dual SRS airbags and an anti lock braking system

• The top model of the car is also equipped with a parcel tray and 2DIN music system along with AUX and Bluetooth

The above mentioned specifications are of the top model of the new Indica Vista and the other models will have slightly lesser features in it. According to the above mentioned features one can clearly see that this car is specially made in order to compete with other hatchback cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat.

Tata Indica Vista Review Part I

Tata Indica was first Indian hatch back cars that was initially launched 10 years ago. Since then the car has come a long way and the recently launched Tata Indica Vista is the newest model of the car. Most companies keep on changing their existing models but the only difference is that the newer one looks better but the specification remains the same. But this is not the case in Tata Indica Vista because this car us quipped with a better and more power engine that the previous model.

One thing that was always criticized about the previous model of Tata Indica were its interiors which were quite average. But in the recent model the company has taken this into consideration and this is the reason why the interiors of Tata Indica Vista look much better than before.

The car has already been amongst the best selling cars in its segment but it has never been a car which a middle class family person would like to buy. Moreover Indica is always perceived as a cab by an individual. The company is definitely trying to break this image of the car by launching the latest model which looks totally different and has improved interiors and features as well.

Tata Indica Vista has roomier interior which is quite unlike the previous models which was a little on the smaller side. This car is available in a number of models so that the buyer gets loads of options while buying. Tata Indica has a number of brand loyal customers but with this car the company is trying to extend their brand for those who are interested in cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat. The car has an improved pick up and is specially developed to attract young buyers. The exteriors of the car are much better but competing with some of the sportiest cars like Maruti A-Star is going to be an uphill task for Tata Indica Vista.

Nissan Micra Review III

Like most other small sporty cars in the current Indian market the Nissan Micra is available in vibrant colors. The colors of the car enhance the sporty look of it. The car is available in the following six colors:

• Sunlight Orange
• Blade Silver
• Storm White
• Onyx Black
• Pacific Blue
• Brick Red

The plant of the Nissan Micra set in Indian has a terrific capacity to produce around 400000 cars per year. The plant is quite huge and is spread over a sprawling area of 640 acres. It is built with an investment of $990 million. The plant is situated in Chennai and for now around 200000 cars are being manufactured.

One of the most important features of a small car is the handling along with the ride comfort. The car is specially designed by some of the most experienced engineers in order to give it a very sporty and refined look. The look of the car is quite different from most other cars available in the market. Nissan Micra is equipped with a MacPherson Strut on the front and a torsion beam on the rear. This car is specially designed to give a comfortable ride to the occupants. The car can absorb all sorts of shocks and bumps which further ensures a smooth drive. Nissan Micra is one car which guarantees of providing a smooth ride even if the roads are not at all friendly to the car.

The car is way above most other small cars but some cars like Maruti Suzuki A-Star and Chevrolet Beat are offering a better fuel efficiency than Micra along with costing quite less.

Nissan Micra Review II

The model presently available in India is the 4th generation model of Nissan Micra. It is completely different from the previous model as far as the designing is concerned. The latest model is one of the smartest and cutest small cars that you will ever come across as it has an unorthodox shape. It is equipped with oval shaped headlamps along with small clear lens tail lamps which make the styling of this car completely different from others. Another difference in the previous and the present model is that the present car is slightly lower and longer which makes it roomier.

The top model of Nissan Micra is available with a chrome ring on the outside of the fog lamps which gives it an up market look. The rear design of the car is quite simple and is kept a little balanced as well. The rear view mirrors on the outside are dual colored which gives it a sporty look. The top line of Micra is also equipped with body colored bumpers and door handles. On the other hand, the interiors of the car are quite attractive as the dashboard has a twin bubble theme.

The interiors can be termed as quite modern and up to date. It has better features than most other small cars but this is also true that most small cars are much cheaper than Nissan Micra.

The car is best in its class but the only problem is the price which is quite more than Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat for that matter.

Nissan Micra Review Part I

It is good to see some of the leading international car companies producing small cars especially for the Indian market. The Micra is one of the first Nissan small cars in India. The car has an eye catching European design. Beautiful headlamps are the first thing that you will notice about this car but this car is much more than just attractive as it offers an array of amazing features which will take your breath away. Nissan is the 3rd largest Japanese car manufacturer which has started manufacturing Micra in Chennai.

It is true that Maruti Suzuki is the undisputed king of the small car segment at this time with Maruti Suzuki A-Star being the most demanded cars in the small cars. But Nissan Micra will surely give each and every small a run for their money. The Nissan Micra is a perfect combination of state-of-the-art technology and newer generation. It is equipped with some very advanced features along with a fantastic design.

The only problem which can keep the buyers away from Nissan Micra is that it is a priced a little on the higher side. Other small cars like Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat and Maruti Suzuki A-Star are priced moderately.

The Nissan Micra was initially designed and tested in Japan. The car is exported to 160 countries all across the world but it is customized for each and every country accordingly. The Nissan Micra is available in 4 different models which range from 4 lakhs to 5.5 lakhs approximately. It is available in 6 vibrant colors which gives it a very peppy and sporty look. It will be a little difficult for Nissan to sell a small car in India because the psyche of Indians is a little different as the first think which comes to the mind while buying a small car is either Maruti or Hyundai.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Review Part III

One of the main features that the Indian buyers and car manufacturers have realized are the availability of safety features in a car. These safety features are very important as they can even help in saving precious lives of people. The Maruti Suzuki A-Star is equipped with a number of safety features which can help save lives of people. The car has an enhanced crushable structure energy dispersing frame along with a high rigidity body. The above mentioned features reduce the impact in case of an accident.

Other safety features include driver airbags which have suddenly become very important in most cars. But the point is that most small cars are not provided with airbags whereas A-Star is one of the very few cars are provided with airbags. The body of the car is built using the TECT technology which means Total Effective Control Technology. This helps the car to absorb impacts and disperse away the impact energy from the occupants. It is a perfect car for a city and if you were thinking of buying a Hyundai i10 then you should think again because i10 is no match with A-Star as it does not provide enough safety features.

The Maruti Suzuki A-Star is available in 3 different variants Lxi, Vxi and Zxi. The top model of the car has following specifications:

• Power windows

• Power Steering

• Remote central locking

• Driver & Passenger Airbag

• Anti Lock Braking System (ABS)

• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)

• CD player with 4 Speakers

• Dash-Mounted Tachometer

• Remote Boot & Remote Fuel Filler

• Rear Defogger with Rear Wiper/Washer

• Fog Lamps

• Safety Features Available In Maruti A-Star

All these features are provided in the Zxi model of the car which is not very costly. Maruti Suzuki A-Star can be termed as the car which provides value for money.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Review Part II

One of the prime features of the Maruti Suzuki A-Star is the engine. The car is equipped with a very powerful KB series 998cc engine. The engine develops 67 BHP of power along with 90 Nm of torque. The engine is one of the most efficient city cars available in the market. The gearbox of this car is better than most other small cars like Wagon R, Zen Estilo and Hyundai i10 for that matter.

Maruti Suzuki has invested a huge amount of Rs. 1200 crores to make a petrol mill which has helped them to create an engine which delivers a performance of a 4 cylinder motor at a fuel efficiency of a 3 cylinder one. The fuel efficiency of this car is tested to be around 19.6 kmpl which is much more than any other car in its segment.


The engine along with the entire car is designed in a way to meet the current and upcoming environment norms in India and western countries as well. The company claims to have tested the engine to the limits.

The car is not very big which makes it a perfect car for the metropolitan city like Delhi or Mumbai where sometimes you have to take a U-turn in a very small area. The turning radius of the car is around 4.5 meters which allows you to take a complete turn in the smallest of streets. The ground clearance of the Maruti Suzuki A-Star is around 170 mm which is much more than most cars. The car is smartly developed for cities and that is why it has a gas damped suspension which will make your ride bump free and smooth. This will also result in less wear and tear of the car which will further reduce the maintenance cost. Both the front and rear suspensions are fine tuned in order to provide a perfect handling.

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Review Part I

Maruti Suzuki A-Star is the first all indigenous Indian car which has each and everything Indian from the concept to the design. The car is exported to several other countries and is recognized as an A-segment car as per the European standards. This is one of the best hatch back cars available in the Indian market today. The styling of this car is typically European and it has a low slung grille and oversized headlamps along with elliptical glasshouse.

The car has sporty interiors and exteriors which gives it a look which is full of attitude. The car is specially designed for youngsters who want a car which is nippy and fuel efficient at the same time. One of the things that catch the eye at the first look of the car is the contoured rear bumper. The car is specially designed for the urban youth as it has some of the best features in its class. This is the reason why it is available in some vibrant colors which will largely please the youth.

To add to the style the car has an aerodynamic design which reduces wind noise mad provides a great speed as well. The aerodynamic design cuts the wind just like a bullet. If you think that the exteriors of the car are quite stylish then you must check out the interiors of this car. It has beautiful and muscle interiors which enhances the sporty look of this car. Most people think that the car is a little cramped in comparison with other cars but actually it has more than enough space for 5 people to be seated comfortably. The car is suitable for people who are up to 6 feet tall but if you are even taller then you should consider buying some other car.

Chevrolet Beat Review Part III

Speaking from the point of the consumer the all new Chevrolet Beat is an eye catching car but technically speaking it has everything which can make it a great small car. One of the most unique features in this car is an automatic temperature controller integrated inside the engine which narrows down the space between the intake valves. Along with it there are four resonators which help in reducing the engine noise. Like most other cars it has a 5 speed manual transmission.

The car is priced quite moderately as even the base variant is available within 3.50 Lakhs. The base variant of the car is available with an AC and a power steering whereas the LT variant of the car has alloy wheels, ABS, seatbelts with load limiters and dual airbags. The car has a variety of premium features that are generally available in expensive cars.

One such feature is the automatic climate control which works quite well. One thing that will catch your eye as soon as you enter the car is the LED back lit speedometer along with a LCD digital tachometer which gives a very sporty feeling.

There is another feature in the Chevrolet Beat which is introduced first time in its class. It has a triple acoustic absorbent structure along with a special underbody structure which actually prevents the noise inflow from the outer side. This provides amazing noiseless ride which will totally amaze you if you travelling for the first time in Chevrolet Beat. Another feature which reduces the wind noise is the aerodynamic shape of the car. Along with the aerodynamic feature it has a door sealing structure which further ensures a quieter drive. The only car that the Chevrolet Beat has a competition is the Maruti Suzuki A-Star as it has most of the features installed in it as well.

Chevrolet Beat Review Part II

As it was quoted in the earlier part of this review that Chevrolet Beat is not a car which everyone would like. But the youngsters will more than like it they would love it. This car has a fantastic 1199cc, 4 Cylinder which provide optimum pick up to start with. The car produces a power of 79 BHP which is more than most other cars of its class. The Kerb weight of this sporty car is around 965 kg which is quite less and provides this car a better top speed than most other cars of its class.

The car has quite powerful and provides an optimum mileage as well. The mileage is nothing to cheer about but it is not bad either. It is true that Hyundai i10 and Maruti Suzuki A-Star provides a better mileage than Chevrolet Beat in City but the difference is just marginal. Performance wise there is nothing that most of the people will criticize and this is what makes this car special. This car has speed, power and pick up which is the reason why it become it instantly becomes a favorite amongst youngsters.

One thing that most people have been talking about is the space inside the car. You will be amazed to know that the car looks quite cramped but on the inside it has more than enough space to easily accommodate 5 people including the driver. The boot of the car has not much space but it is much more than most other competitor cars. Surprisingly this car provides a fantastic leg room as well. The seats are adjustable and comfortable for both the driver and others. The car has a weird rear door opening which may excite some people but it feels a little weird to me. People who are used to the normal rear car door opening system whereas the rear door of the Chevrolet Beat opens in a unique way which everyone wouldn’t like it.

Chevrolet Beat Review Part I

If you are looking for a fantastic decently priced small car which has sporty interiors and an eye-catching look then Chevrolet Beat is the answer to all your questions. This car is one of the trendiest small cars that you will ever come across. It is not an Indian looking car juts like an i10 or Santro or Spark for that matter but it actually looks likes some imported hatch back sports car. This is the reason why this car was used in one of the most famous movies (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen).

The car is quite hyped nowadays and you can certainly see a number of Chevrolet Beat cars in and around the city. It is quite a sporty car and this is the reason why it is available in some very unique and flashy colors. The color of the car which is shown in the advertisement itself is quite flashy and that is the most common Chevrolet Beat colors that you will find on the road.

Only Maruti Suzuki A-Star is one car which can compete with Chevrolet Beat in terms of looks otherwise most other small cars are lagging behind in terms of looks.

This car has very nicely built interiors which will totally catch your attention once you enter into the car. The interiors may not suit a middle aged person but for a youngster or a 25 year old the car is just fantastic. It will take a little time for you to settle down once you are in the car because the interiors, so catch the eye that it can even feel a little distractive. Unlike most other small segment cars like Hyundai i10 and Maruti A-Star this car does not have anything simplistic in it. It is specially designed for those who want something very sporty at a little higher cost.

Hyundai i10 Review Part III

The Hyundai i10 as earlier discussed is a simplistic car with nothing to go mad about. But it is a car which will provide you a peaceful ride every time you step into it. The basic model of the car is provided with an air conditioner which works quite well just like any other car in its class. The car has simplistic design which looks completely different from sporty cars but is good enough for a middle aged person.

Seating capacity of the car is enough to seat 5 people comfortably though the leg room is a little less but most small cars don’t provide much leg room. It is has some special features like seat belt warning and a low fuel warning lamp which works quite well. The car also has three safety belts on the rear seat which provides superior safety to all those sitting on the back seat. The boot of the car has enough space for a small car but if you plan to buy a CNG or LPG model of the car then you might not have any space left for keeping luggage or stuff.

The car is stable enough at normal speeds but you can feel a little jerk at high speed. Like it has been said in all the Hyundai i10 review parts that this car is not meant for those who are looking for something very sporty or trendy because it does not have much pick up or stylish interiors. This car is specially built for simple urban buyers who want to spend 4 to 4.5 lakhs and buy a simplistic car. Hyundai i10 provides optimum mileage of over 15 KMPL in a city and even more on a highway. The Hyundai i10 is available in a number of variants and you should buy it if you are looking for a mess free simplistic car.

Hyundai i10 Review Part-II (Mileage)

As discussed in the earlier article the Hyundai i10 is created for an average Indian buyer who wants a simplistic car. The 1.2 L engine of the car provides enough power to speed up to good speeds but the pickup is not as great which is reason i10 fails to excite youngsters who are looking for a sporty car. This is the reason why most youngsters prefer Maruti Suzuki A-Star or Chevrolet Beat over Hyundai i10. The car is offered in a segment which is quite competitive and the buyers are looking for a car which gives optimum mileage.

The Hyundai i10 scores quite well in this field as it provides a mileage of over 15 KMPL in city and 18 on a highway. The mileage of the car is quite good and most people buy this car just because of its fuel efficiency. But some people would be amazed to know that there is a car which provides a better mileage. I wouldn’t reveal the name if you are already the owner of a Hyundai i10 as it can make you regret your decision of buying it.

But if you were thinking about buying it then you must know that the Maruti Suzuki A-Star offers a mileage of 19 KMPL in city and 21KMPL on highway.

Even Chevrolet Beat provides mileage which is equal to the Hyundai i10 along with being more stylish and sporty than the “i10”.  Hyundai i10 offers a good mileage for budgetary buyers. There are quite few cars which provide a better mileage. But then if you want a car that provides the maximum mileage then i10 is not for you. As I have being saying earlier the Hyundai i10 is a car for those who are looking out for a simple family car but all those who want something sporty and hip should start searching for something else.

Hyundai i10 Review Part-I (Looks)

The car was launched by creating a lot of hype with Shahrukh Khan endorsing it. No doubt the car has a variety of impressive standard features. This car is specially built for those who are on a budget. The look of the car is quite uncluttered and simple. Both the exteriors and interiors have nothing very impressive but it has nothing to be ashamed of. This car is specially built for a family guy because the Hyundai i10 fails to excite anyone between the age group of 20 to 25.

Unlike Chevrolet Beat and Maruti Suzuki A-Star the Hyundai i10 is not available in flashy colors. The Hyundai i10 is not as nippy as some other cars in its class. Whereas the company is hell-bent in proving that the car has a sporty look with a streamline bodyline. But I failed to spot anything sporty in this car as it has a bulky looking body with quite simple interiors. On the positive side the interiors are not at all fussy this car is specially built for a person who wants a less complicated car.

The car is available in various models and the best one has a sub roof which can help you feel fresh air while driving. But the Sun Roof is useless in north Indian cities where you hardly find fresh air. The car is available in a variety of colors as listed below:

• Crystal White
• Stone Black
• Oyster Gray
• Virtual Yellow
• Electric Red
• Deep Ocean Blue
• Champagne Gold
• Blushing Red
• Sleek White
• Alpine Blue

The head lights and tail lights are quite simple and perfectly go with the uncomplicated look. Hyundai i10 is specially built to cater to the needs of budgetary Indian car buyers and hence more preference is given to performance than looks.