blogging – Page 2 – Revv Reviews

Škoda Rapid – “Solid Build”

Overview

The Škoda Rapid was launched in India in 2011 and got a facelift at the end of 2016. Škoda is a Czech automobile manufacturer. The Škoda Rapid sedan is essentially based on the Skoda Fabia hatchback vehicle. The Rapid is offered in both diesel and petrol variants with a choice of a manual or an automatic gearbox, there are a total of 18 variants to choose from! The prices start at 8.81 lakhs and go up to 14.26 lakhs (ex-showroom). 2 limited edition variants were also launched in 2017 and 2018, The Skoda Rapid Onyx and the Monte Carlo, the latter was rebadged 3 months after its initial launch as Edition X due to a trademark dispute with the clothing brand ‘Monte Carlo’. Although things were settled later on.

The diesel Rapid gets the updated 1.5L TDI engine which was debuted in the VW Ameo. The new motor gets a larger turbocharger which is locally sourced. It produces 110 bhp and 250 Nm of torque, 5 bhp more than the previous engine. The diesel comes with a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The petrol motor is a naturally aspirated 1.6L MPI unit which produces 105 bhp and 153 Nm of torque. It comes with the option of a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic (torque converter) gearbox.

First Impressions

The facelift brought new features and exterior changes making the Rapid look more truculent than ever before. Upfront, the rapid gets the single piece grill that is similar to the Skoda family of cars. The headlamps get a blackened finish and a new quartz-cut projector along with LED DRLs. At the rear, you now get the new C-shaped smoked taillights and an integrated spoiler. I just love the crease on the hood which tappers towards the Skoda logo, adding to the aggressive look.

The car still looks very modern on the outside despite its age. It is when you enter the cabin, the car starts to show its age. The steering feels premium but we can’t say so for the rest of the dash. There are hard-plastics almost everywhere in this vehicle and not to mention the cabin design which looks outdated. Don’t get me wrong here, The Rapid is a solidly built car and the hard plastics used are of good quality yet their overuse in the interior has let down the premium feel that the competition has to offer. The instrument cluster is iconic but could have been better with the use of silver indents or something to give it a more big-ticket feel.

The seats are comfortable and offer good under-thigh support with good headroom as well. The front-seat passengers might resent the wide storage bin (center console) as it will brush against your leg while driving. Rear leg-room is good but the middle passenger won’t be comfortable with the center hump and the protruding rear AC vent placement. The doors shut with a thud and over-all quality is good. The boot has a storage space of 460L and the engine-bay is well packed.

The car packs in a number of features as well – a 6.5-inch touchscreen unit which is very slick to use and supports Android Auto and Apple Car play connectivity, the DSG gearbox (Dual-clutch gearbox) is a boon, rain-sensing wipers, the steering wheel is adjustable for height and reach, the glovebox is cooled, climate control along with rear aircon vents, cruise control, rear parking camera, auto-dimming IRVM, all windows are one-touch up-down, electrically adjustable ORVMs. Safety features include – 2 airbags with ABS standard across all variants, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Hill Hold Control, Traction Control button. Skoda has also looked into the warranty aspect and is now the only manufacturer offering a standard four-year warranty along with four years of Skoda Roadside Assistance and Skoda maintenance Package.

The Ride

I was able to get my hands on the diesel top model with the DSG gearbox. The Skoda Rapid offers good ride quality but the kick in the pants feel comes only in the mid-range and continues till the redline. Turbo-lag isn’t well contained as the low-end is very lacking. NVH levels (Noise, vibration, and harshness) are poor because the TDI motor isn’t well-refined and does get pretty vocal at times. That may be music to my ears but not to a customer who sees the car as just a vehicle to go from point A to B. In sport mode the throttle response sharpens and the shifts are quick, keeping the Rapid in its powerband. The choice of a dual-clutch gearbox was the right one because they provide the best performance out of the bunch. The suspension is good and provides a comfortable ride although big bumps aren’t absorbed that well. The steering’s feel and feedback is apt and weighs up nicely at higher speeds.

Verdict

Overall, the car offers a good balance between ride quality and a punchy feel. The turbo-lag in the low-end needs to be worked on, NVH levels could have been better and the lack of a rear parking camera is not helping the sales either. The car needs an update soon which might be coming 2021 and will make the Rapid a strong competitor in the C-segment sedan again. The DSG gearbox is a USP for the vehicle. Those who love how the Rapid drives and love a strongly built and well put together car will never fell disappointed flooring one. Skoda has looked into sales and services, providing warranty as well other assistance. Although you may find the Rapid feel a lot like its cousin that is the VW Vento, the Skoda Rapid does deliver in performance. It does put a smile across your face after the mid-range and nowadays very few cars in the Indian market are capable enough to do that.

BMW X5 30d (2017/18 model) – “SUV Dynamics at their best”

Overview

So, I am going to review the BMW X5 which was launched 2 decades back. BMW likes to call the X5 an SAV i.e. Sports Activity Vehicle instead of an SUV i.e. Sports Utility Vehicle. BMW has just nailed the ‘S’ in the word SAV completely! The car comes in 3 variants – 2 Diesel variants and 1 Petrol variant.

The 3L twin-turbocharged straight-six produces 262 bhp and 629 Nm of torque in the diesel variants while it produces a whopping 335 bhp and 450 Nm of torque in the petrol 40i M-Sport variant. The car comes with an 8-speed automatic Dual-Clutch gearbox and a 4WD and AWD (xDrive) drivetrain option. The X5 also comes with a load of optional extras to choose from. The X5 is priced between 73.3 to 82.9 Lakhs (Ex-Showroom).

First Impressions

The exterior of the car is just surreal and true to the BMW style of vehicles. The car is just shy of 5 meters in length and 2 meters wide which just gives the car so much of road presence. The kidney-shaped grill is a 2-piece unit on this model instead of a single piece one like on the newer X5 and other BMWs. The X5 looks stunning from almost any angle and the massive 20-inch wheels add to this with 275 / 45 R20 at the front and 305 / 40 R20 at the rear. The size of that rear tire is almost identical to that of the Lamborghini Huracan i.e. 305 30 R20!

As we swing the door open, we enter into a world of luxury and perfection. The doors shut with a thud and are beautifully finished with an array of different materials. The leather-wrapped steering and gear-knob feel very premium, just as you would expect from a car of this segment. The center console is massive and that’s a good thing, the textured interior wood trim gives dashes of an even more upmarket look. The infotainment system is a touch-screen unit (can also be controlled with a ceramic controller) which comes with Apple Car Play but no android auto connectivity.

The cluster is a digital twin-circle BMW unit (6 WB) which I like the most and feels the closest digital thing to an analog cluster, while the 2019 X5 gets BMWs new digital cluster of which I am not a big fan of. The car gets 4 basic drive modes – Eco Pro, Comfort, Adaptive(custom) and Sport and Sport+. The digital cluster changes depending on the mode you are driving in. The car saves fuel and drives more economically in Eco Pro, Comfort is the standard setting, Adaptive is custom as you may configure it or let the car configure the settings for you based on your driving style. In Sport mode the suspension stiffens up, the steering weighs up and throttle response is sharpened. The main difference between Sport and Sport+ is that Traction control is ON in Sport mode and OFF in Sport+.

The seats feel good and plush, under-thigh support is good in the front as well as the rear, headroom is almost no problem in this car. Rear seat comfort is also good while the rear AC vents compartment might protrude in the rear, the floor is almost flat and 3 people and comfortably sit in the back.

The car is very practical, has a lot of cubbyholes and spaces to keep stuff, all 4 doors could fit a 1L bottle easily, the front center armrest is very deep and spacious, the boot space in the X5 is 645L which just adds to the practicality. The mileage is 13.38 kmpl (ARAI) which is good for an SUV. The 2019 X5 comes with air suspension at both the front and the rear which allows the ride height to drop or to be raised on command, this wasn’t possible in the 2018 X5 as it had adaptive air suspension only at the rear. The panoramic sunroof just adds to the airy feel inside the cabin. The soft-close doors feature acts like icing on an already perfect cake.

Features/Optional-Extras

The BMW X5 comes feature loaded with a dozen of optional-extras. The main features are – a 4-zone climate control system, front and rear parking sensors with a rear camera (360° camera in 2019 model), 12-way electronically adjustable front seats, steering electric adjust, PESS (passive entry and keyless start/stop), auto-dimming IRVM, Front seats with memory function, all 4- one-touch up-down windows, cooled glovebox, electronic boot release, LED headlamps with DRLs (Laser as an option), led tail lamps, panoramic sunroof, automatic headlamps and wipers, cornering headlights, ambient lighting, touchscreen infotainment system with a 18 speaker setup by Harman-Kardon, digital cluster, paddle shifters, steering mounted controls, cruise control, 8 airbags, TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system), ABS with EBD and ESP, traction control, brake assist, hill-hold control, hill descent control, BMW’s xDrive system and many more features.

Some of the optional-extras in this car are –

1. 19 Inch Lightweight Alloy Wheels W-Spoke style 447

2. Textured interior wood trim

3. BMW Intelligent Adaptive QUAD LED headlights with high beam assistance, cornering function and anti-glare beam

4. Digital Multi-Information Display Cluster

5. 18 Speaker 850W Harman-Kardon surround sound system

6. Space saver spare wheel

7. 12 Way Electronically Adjustable Seat with Memory package

8. Dynamic Air Damper Control

9. Adaptive Suspension with ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’

10. Soft-close function for doors

11. Trapezoidal Exhaust Exit Pipes

The X5 is just slewed with features. Even I might have missed out on some, so please do excuse me.

The Ride

This is the surprising part as you may think that a car that ways 2 tons and is so huge in dimensions would lack that BMW feel but you are wrong. The X5 is able to escape the limits bound by its dimensions and deliver above expectations. The ride is comfortable and the car just evens out all the bumps. The X5 is a car to be driven as well as driven around in. The rear seats offer great ride quality just like in the front seats. Even with the traction control OFF the car’s xDrive system will prevent a wheelspin during launch and would be whispering past 100 kmph in no time. Put the car into sport mode and you unleash the beast that it is. The steering weighs up beautifully in sport and the suspension stiffens up as well, the car is ready to be thrown into a corner. For an SUV that weighs about 2 tons, the X5 does an amazing job in the handling department and feels just like a road-hugging sedan.

The X5 does a 0-100 kmph sprint in 6.7 seconds, the quick and smooth shifts add to the frugal acceleration. The car revs till 5,500 rpm (diesel) and is very refined but past the mid-range, it gets a bit vocal. Even past the mid-range, the engine produces a melody to a gearhead’s ears (a sporty note). Turbo-lag is very well contained and the power is just a tap away. The X5 has a punchy low-end and mid-range but the high end is a bit empty. Although it’s no worry cause the automatic gear-box would be shifting at 4200 rpm keeping the car in its power band (when in auto not in manual). The car would not upshift automatically if in manual mode, which is good if you want to hold onto a gear. The only issue with the X5 is that it is a little bit too wide and can be a hassle to park.

Verdict

Who says big things can’t come in big packages, the BMW X5 is a perfect example. The X5 has got a good and catchy exterior as well as interior. There isn’t much to nit-pick about the X5. The car is feature-loaded and the ride is comfortable. In sport mode, the car surprises the driver as it just doesn’t feel its weight and handles like a dream for a large SUV. The X5 is a soft-roader but wouldn’t mind a splash of mud off-road and is capable both off-road and on-road. The linear power delivery along with the wide tires and xDrive system does put a smile on your face and each time you put your foot down a surge of confidence can be felt which urges you to go beyond the limits each time. If you want an SUV in this budget and size, the X5 is no doubt the one to go for until now. Although one may peer into the Porsche side of SUVs with the new Macan.

2018 Isuzu D-Max V-Cross – “Road Going Monster Truck”

Overview

So today I am going to review the Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, a life-style pickup truck. Isuzu launched India’s first adventure utility vehicle at the Auto Expo 2016 for those adventure seekers who wanted a go-anywhere truck, good practicality, and an appeal. Isuzu is known worldwide for its engines and the one in the V-Cross is good but not up to the mark. The vehicle is offered with a diesel motor only and the new 2019 facelifted model comes in 3 variants- Standard, High Z, and High Z-Prestige.

The 2.5L Diesel motor produces 134hp and 320Nm of torque, whereas the new 1.9L Diesel motor produces 148hp and 350Nm of torque. This vehicle was launched keeping a certain group of people in mind and convert some people into adventure seekers. One thing is for sure though, the V-Cross offers a ton of road presence. Anyone is ought to give way to this monstrous vehicle, assuming it would fit inside the person’s rearview mirror. Well, jokes aside now let’s move on to the next part.

First Impressions

We have already discussed about the car’s road presence like no other vehicle on the road. As we complete a hike in to the cabin we are rather disappointed as it is just too basic-plain-blank. Considering it is a 20 lakh vehicle the interiors and ergonomics don’t do it much good but if it is considered as a lifestyle pickup truck and that is what Isuzu is marketing it as it starts to feel more like a good deal. But on a general view, the interiors are rather monotonous, under-thigh support is average for the front seats and poor for the rear ones. The rear seats are placed too upright and aren’t very comfortable. You must think that the legroom would be amazing for a 5-meter long vehicle but no, rear passenger legroom is not good at all. The driving position is good, you sit high and one can actually see the front hood while driving. The ORVMs do a great job but rear visibility in the IRVM is poor if you have the rear cargo-bay lid on. The interiors and ergonomic issues could be blamed on Chevrolet as the interior of the Isuzu was part Chevrolet as the old Trailblazer and the V-Cross do actually share the same interior.

The pre-facelift model lacked a ton of features but the new 2019 model has fixed it all by offering many more new features. The new 2019 model includes the following features – Automatic Climate control, a touch screen with Bluetooth connectivity, MID, steering mounted controls, cruise control, traction control button, retractable ORVMs, Led tail-lights, bi-LED projector headlamps, a 4WD system with 2High, 4High and 4Low, 2 airbags, ABS with EBD, hill assist, hill descent control, PESS (passive entry with start/stop button), rear parking camera with rear parking sensors.

The Ride

The V-Cross is a very heavy car (1800 kg) and the 2.5L (134 hp) engine may seem underpowered on paper but doesn’t feel so while driving it. The vehicle has a good low-end and a very empty high-end, which is okay for an off-roading vehicle. The ride might get a little bouncy at higher speeds if the rear cargo area is empty as the vehicle’s majority weight is upfront. Finding a good parking spot might also be an issue for some considering the vehicle’s size. Hydraulic steerings are known for their feel and feedback but having one in a vehicle of this size sure does promise an upper body workout while parking in tight spaces or maneuvering the vehicle at low speeds.

There is no proper dead pedal in the vehicle and the gear knob just doesn’t know its place as one could never tell which gear you are in by just looking at it, there is just too much of play in the gear slots as well. The Isuzu just doesn’t like to be thrown into corners. The claimed mileage is 12.4 kmpl which is good for a vehicle this size. The suspension of the V-Cross just takes any bump and worst of the Indian roads with ease. A downshift isn’t actually needed for an overtake as the engine is pretty responsive at low revs as well. Judging this vehicle on the road isn’t the best thing to do as off-road is the place where it actually shines.

Verdict

Isuzu has done an extremely good job of creating a life-style pickup truck for India. Isuzu has nailed it when it comes to SUV road presence. The Isuzu V-Cross strikes a perfect balance between being a daily-driver and being utilitarian, the versatility of the vehicle is what makes it sell. While the exteriors are mind-boggling and the features are great, the only thing making this car look dull is its interiors. Isuzu needs to work on its interiors and reduce the hard plastics which cover the entire cabin and robs all the premium feel that the vehicle offers. Finally, I would like to say that if you are an adventure-seeker, the Isuzu D-max V-Cross is an absolute no brainer in the pickup truck line-up.

“It’s not just a car, it’s a TRUUUCK.”

(just your daily-dose of Nissan puns lol)

Maruti Suzuki Baleno – “Hyped up swift”

Overview

The name Baleno isn’t new when it comes to the brand Maruti Suzuki. While the older Baleno was a failure, things have changed and the Baleno which was launched in 2015 is nowhere near to the old car. The Baleno is sold through Maruti’s premium dealerships i.e. Nexa. The Baleno launched in 2015 took the Indian market by storm as something with a Maruti badge on it, also offering the luxury feel was a straight no-brainer for many buyers. The existing trust and good service of the brand made the Baleno a famous hatchback competing in a segment where it was bound to win.

please do note that these seat-covers and foot lightings are after-market

The Baleno is offered with a petrol and a diesel motor, with the CVT offered only in the petrol variants. 9 petrol variants/options and 4 diesel variants/options are on offer with prices ranging from 5.58 – 8.9 lakhs (ex-showroom prices). The Baleno also comes with a petrol-hybrid option now.

First Impressions

Once you enter the cabin you are addressed with a beautiful cluster and a dash that looks well sorted. The all-black dash with silver indents doesn’t look all that monotonous. The MID is just something to gaze at with its beautiful graphics. A quirk about the multi-information display is that it would show you details about your most recent drive when you turn off the vehicle such as – Distance covered, Time driven, Range left. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels premium but lacks the 3 & 9 o’clock positions. There are a lot of cubby holes and places in this car to keep your knick-knacks, all 4 doors have a bottle holder and the dashboard along with the center armrest create even more space to keep stuff. Moving on the outside of the vehicle, one does fall for the Baleno’s aggressive styling and chrome garnishes.

The car also comes feature loaded with – Led projector headlamps with DRLs, auto-folding ORVMs, parking sensors with a rear camera, a new 7-inch touchscreen unit by Harman which supports Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, steering mounted controls, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror (IRVM), automatic headlights, push-button start/stop with passive keyless entry. On the safety front, the Baleno comes with ABS with EBD and 2 airbags as standard across all variants. On the downside, however, the Baleno shares many bits and pieces with lower Marutis’ and the use of hard plastics on the dash are just an eye-sore. Overall quality could have been better but there isn’t much to carp about the Baleno.

The Ride

The Baleno comes with a Fiat-sourced engine (not the same as the Linea or the Punto). The 1.2L petrol motor produces a respectable 84 hp and 115 Nm of torque, the 1.3L diesel motor produces 74hp and 190 Nm of torque. The engine feels responsive and punchy on the low-end and steering too weighs up well at higher speeds. The suspension of the Baleno just soaks all the bumps in its way and provides a comfortable ride. The ground clearance is adequate and it may scrape on the worst of the Indian roads.

As aggressive the Baleno may look it just doesn’t give you that punchy feel, the pickup is a bit less especially for the diesel motor. Noise too creeps into the cabin considering the diesel motor whereas the petrol motor is quite refined. The mileage is great on the Baleno with the diesel being a frugal choice with a claimed mileage of 27 kmpl and the petrol having a claimed mileage of 23 kmpl. The car has great handling and is eager to be thrown into corners without breaking a sweat. Turbo-lag in the diesel motor is well contained, the upside to this is that you wouldn’t have to keep changing gears again and again while in the city traffic.

Verdict

While the Baleno is an all-rounder wherein it has great handling, offers the comforts of a sedan and superb mileage, the Baleno does lack the feel. It isn’t an enthusiast’s car but a car that was built for the masses that would provide great practicality and the ease of drivability. The Baleno looks like a Swift in its teenage years where it’s all hyped up. That may be an uncanny statement but once you think about it, it starts making a lot more sense. There isn’t anything wrong about it not being fast or not being an enthusiast’s car that should be made clear. Nexa has done a great job adding the premium feel to Maruti cars. The Baleno sells well as compared to its rivals and according to me, it would continue doing so if it stays at its primary goal that is to be an all-rounder.

2015 Honda City Diesel – “Petrol Better”

Overview

So, I am going to review the 2015 Honda City Diesel which is the 4^th Generation City in its lineup. The very first City hit the Indian market in 1998 and since then the trust in that Honda badge has only gone up over the years. But as the 3^rd gen City neared the finish line Honda was struck by the lack of a diesel engine in its cars. Therefore, a new 1.5L i-DTEC motor was unveiled, this motor debuted in the Honda Amaze. Since long the City has been christened as the number #1 sedan in India, the brand has everything the Indian customer wants in a car- be it features, good mileage, resale value, customer service, reliability.

First Impressions/Features

My expectations for driving a Honda City were higher than usual for any car because people have had a very positive feedback for the car and now that it had a diesel engine as well, people who didn’t buy a Honda because they wanted a diesel motor would go out and embrace the new City. Once you have entered the cabin you are greeted with a premium feel. The interior has got a makeover as well as the exterior. The piano black finish of the center console along with the feather touch automatic climate control system grabs your attention instantly.

The cluster has also been changed to this beautiful 3 circle setup with a digital MID on the right and the tachometer on the left. The lights in the cluster change color depending on the drive mode that you have selected or the way that you are driving. It is nothing like the hideous old orange light cluster of the last generation City. Moving on to some of the flaws in the cabin and that is the over-use of hard plastics and a cheap-feeling gear knob which just robs away all that premium feel. The car comes feature-loaded for 2015 car – A sunroof has been provided and that just makes up for the hard plastics used! Push-button start, passive entry, a screen with buttons on the side (not a touch screen) **note that the newer models come with a touchscreen**, rear parking camera, steering mounted controls, ABS with EBD and 2 airbags as standard across all variants, etc.

Along with the sunroof the City also has another party trick up its sleeve that is whenever a person with the key in his pocket walks up to the car he/she doesn’t have to press the request sensor to unlock the car but just slide his hand into the door handle and voila the car’s unlocked. Although you do have to press the button to lock the car.

The Ride

This might just be controversial for all those Honda fanboys out there but the new diesel motor is just not at par to Hondas levels or that of the i-VTEC (I would try out the petrol motor soon and give you my honest opinions). The ride isn’t the best when the company has fitted the City with narrow tires and that too of a low profile. The motor produces 100ps of power and 200 Nm of torque and redlines at just 4000-4500 rpm! The suspension and the ride height too hinder the City’s performance on Indian roads. The 6-speed manual gearbox just gives it superb mileage (26kmpl ARAI mileage, that translates to 20kmpl in real life). The insulation isn’t best and the noise does come into the cabin.

The Verdict

The Honda City is a brilliant day-to-day car with its 510 ltr. boot space, good ergonomics, spacious cabin and good front and rear leg-room but on the other side, I just couldn’t stop ranting on that horrendous diesel motor. If you are considering to go for a Honda City then I would recommend you go for the petrol variant because that is just the better one. An engine is the heart of a car and the one thing that would bring a smile to your face as you drive it daily to work or whatever your destination is! Combining the i-VTEC and i-DTEC motors with Honda’s new “Earth Dreams” technology, Honda aims at better fuel economy, purer drives and reduced carbon footprints. This just adds to the very name of the car – “CITY” as it keeps getting better at what it was made to drive in and around.

**Seriously I mean it, please go for the petrol and not the diesel ;)**

Fiat Linea 125S – ‘The exiled C-segment king’

Overview

The Fiat Linea 125S launched in 2014 was a facelift of the Fiat Linea classic when the company started its solo venture in the market again, leaving the shade of TATA Motors. The new model featured the classic design with more power, a redesigned interior, redesigned boot, a lot of chrome treatment and a few more tweaks. The car was way ahead of its time but was let down by the poor marketing by the company. The 1.4L turbocharged T-Jet motor produces 125ps of power and 208 Nm of torque and was and still is the most powerful sedan in its segment. Fiat may be leaving India this year due to poor sales but the story of its subsidiary brand has just started. ‘JEEP’ – a Fiat-Chrysler brand entered the Indian market 3 years back and continues to sell well. Fiat cars are still available and serviced at its old dealerships as well as the new Jeep ones.

First Impressions

The moment you enter the cabin and make yourself comfortable, the thing that grabs your attention is the beautifully finished interior with a dual-color dash, finished with a soft cloth wrap around and piano black touches. Even the cluster looks very premium and the leather-wrapped gear stick, steering wheel makes for the cherry on top of the cake. The attention to detail could be seen as in thumb resting positions have been given on the 3 and 9 o’clock positions on the steering wheel.

The car even comes feature-loaded but misses out on a sunroof. Some of the features are – ambient lighting, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing dual blade wipers, ORVM mounted turn signals, an exhaust(defuser) as stock, Infotainment system with a screen and voice commands (Blue & Me by Microsoft), Cruise control, all 4 one-touch windows, shift indicator in the MID and many more. Safety features include – front airbags, all 4-disc brakes, ABS and EBD. There is literally no place to keep stuff in this car except the 500 ltr. Massive boot space because the glove box and all the cubby holes along with the armrest are just too small.

The Ride

This is one of the areas where the Linea shines. An overtake is just a tap of your right foot. Being a Fiat one can feel the solid build quality each time he or she closes the door. The main power delivery is between 2000-5000 rpm that is when the turbocharger gets activated and keeps pulling. The pulling is on the longer side and I have noticed 95kmph in second gear and the car just loves to redline. Each shift brings it back into the pulling territory. The ergonomics aren’t the best due to the seating position and the rather big steering wheel but one adjusts quickly to these and they aren’t an issue anymore. The A-pillar blocks the view and creates a blind spot which is rather irritating. Also, the gearbox feels like there is a chewing gum stuck in there lol, the gearbox just resists to slot into reverse else the transmission is fine. There isn’t much to complain about the car as a whole. The suspension has been carried forward from the older Linea and that is a great thing because the car just velvets out all the bumps in its way. The hydraulic power steering feels very well connected, one knows where the wheels are pointing and offers a ton of feedback.

Verdict

The car is a perfect blend between the retro and the new-gen. Driving it sure does put a big smile across your face. The new features don’t let it be at a disadvantage with the newer cars. A car enthusiast can surely feel the retro and the new fuse together and produce a car that is Fast, Fun and Feature loaded. If one wants to go full OG, then an option for the Fiat Linea Classic model has also been provided by the company. Fiat Cronos – The successor to the Linea has been launched in other countries but disappointingly won’t be making it to the Indian market and this is a huge setback for all those Fiat enthusiasts. In true sense, it is a car for enthusiasts and carries with it a rich heritage.

Lastly, I would like to say that the car forms an emotional bond with the owner and that makes it more than just a car. A bond that couldn’t be expressed in mere words.

Maruti Suzuki Esteem – ‘Dragster Vibes’

Overview

So, I am going to review the Maruti Suzuki Esteem. The Esteem was produced between 1994-2008 and since then has been discontinued. It came in with 7 different variants ranging from 4 to 6.5 lakhs and to my surprise even offered a petrol automatic as an option in the AX variant of this 4-meter sedan. Although I couldn’t get my hands on an automatic variant to fiddle about, I sure did try the manual and it faired out leaving me baffled that such an old car-producing just 85 PS of power could have so much to offer.

First Impressions

The moment you get in the cabin you are welcomed with an eerie smell which is very common among old cars. You sit low and the visibility is also fine although the headlights and the wipers don’t do the car justice in bad weather conditions. The seats were a bit too narrow for my liking, under-thigh support was adequate. The cabin has been fitted with a lot of soft-touch plastic on the dashboard giving it a premium feel considering the age of the vehicle yet if the car is in the sun for prolonged periods then the plastic on the steering wheel could get a bit sticky. The car has all basic features it needs to be a car of that period, stereo, Air-Conditioning, etc.(the basics)

The Ride

My first impressions with the car weren’t the best but as soon as you get the seatbelt on and give away the clutch, feathering the accelerator the car transforms and so does your personality and better opinions start to take shape. The best words that I could’ve picked to describe this car would be exhilarating and Dragster. It is exhilarating because it is unpredictable and if you are a car enthusiast you do know that’s one thing that separates Fun from Fast! And old cars are fun because you don’t know whether you are going to make that next turn or not, are you gonna brake in time or not? It is a Dragster because the rpm reaches supercar territory (8000+ rpm), I kid you not. No turbochargers none of that crap here, hence no turbo lag and voila the car just REVVS its nuts out! The ride quality isn’t the best here because firstly you are sitting low and secondly the suspension is a bit on the stiffer side. The steering has a lot of play in it but maybe it’s because of the vehicle’s age.

Verdict

It is an amazing car to drive about in and is definitely fun. Almost all newer cars have lost this feel and feedback. This car also shows how first impressions about something could be so deceptive and yet it is another old car which has its soul in the right place.