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.