Road Test and Review: Honda Amaze In the past couple of years, the Indian car industry introduced us to a series of new segments. Ne...
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Road Test and Review: Hyundai GRAND i10 Diesel
Road Test and Review: Hyundai GRAND i10 Diesel There has been a long-standing void in Hyundai’s lineup for India – between the i10...
Best Diesel Cars in India
Diesel cars have come of age. They are no longer cumbersome and are almost as maintenance-free as their petrol siblings. Here is a look at...
Nissan launches Sunny Diesel
Built on the global ‘V’ platform, the Sunny Diesel is available for Rs 7,98,000 (XL) and Rs 8,78,000 (XV), ex-showroom, New Delhi. Customers...
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Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Monday, 11 August 2014
Road Test and Review: Honda Amaze
Road Test and Review: Honda Amaze
In the past couple of years, the Indian car industry introduced us to a series of new segments. Needless to say, the sub-4 metre segment emerged the most popular, thanks to the tax benefit it enjoys. But the carmakers’ desperate attempt to cash in on the lower tax rate left us with a handful of mediocre designs that were merely squeezed up variants of existing models. Finally, we have in the market a well-thought-out, a well-sculpted sub-4 metre sedan -- the Honda Amaze.
Amaze comes to the market with a tough assignment -- to regain Honda’s lost sheen. It’s not going to be an easy fight with the Maruti Dzire, a car that’s already a household name. But the Amaze has advantage in terms of space, mileage, appearance and above all, it has reliability of a Honda car. Now, Honda has priced the Amaze on par with the Dzire too. Hmm...looks like the Amaze is going to give Dzire a run for its money.
And that’s not all. With a 1.5L i-DTEC engine that’s exclusively developed for India, the Amaze marks Honda’s entry into the diesel segment. That fact itself makes the Amaze recognisable in the already crowded diesel segment, but has the Japanese carmaker got everything right with the Amaze to win the lost market share back? Let’s drive the Amaze to find out.
Design
If you thought the Amaze is just the Brio with a boot slapped onto it, hey, you were wrong. Although the front half of the car is identical to the hatchback, designers have burnt the midnight oil to immaculately integrate the additional 380mm beyond the B-pillar. From the front, the Amaze can be distinguished by the twin-bar grille and a new bumper with subtle changes. The best design element of all is the two aggressive character lines in profile, which disguise the car’s compact dimensions and give it a full-grown sedan’s stance. The rear design of the Amaze is certainly the best in its class, owing to the seamless integration of the boot, stylish rear combination lamps and generous use of chrome.
Inside, there's virtually nothing to separate the Amaze and the Brio. The dashboard layout is the same and the same hard plastics feature throughout. However, the high-quality bright fabric creates a cheerful aura and a premium feel in the cabin.
Space, Comfort and Convenience
Ask me one thing I liked most about the Amaze and I’ll tell you -- space. No matter where you’re sitting, there’s lots of space. The front seats offer plenty of kneeroom, while six-footers will have no trouble getting comfortable in the rear. The Amaze’s roomy feel extends to the boot as well, which has a class-leading capacity of 400 litres.
The easy-to-live-with cabin offers a great driving position and logical dashboard. Driver seat is height adjustable and steering column collapsible. The interior is suitable for a long road trip with bolstered seats, lots of storage zones, two cup holders and four bottle holders.
Engine
In India, Honda and diesel were two words that never belonged in the same sentence, but not anymore. Even though it took three years for Honda to develop a diesel engine for India, they’ve got exactly what we wanted. First things first -- the 1.5 litre i-DTEC engine returns the highest fuel economy in the Indian passenger car segment of 25.8 km/l, as per test data. What’s more interesting is that the impressive mileage is achieved without any compromise on performance. It offers a maximum power output of 100PS@3600rpm and 200 Nm of torque @1750 rpm. The diesel engine is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission.
The Amaze will also be available with the Brio’s peppy 1.2-litre, 88bhp petrol engine, linked to either a five speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.
Performance, Ride and Handling
The 1.5 litre i-DTEC engine pulls smoothly from as low as 1200-1500 rpm with no bogs or hesitation. Power builds up in a very linear fashion that you wouldn’t notice the turbo kick in at 3000 rpm. It delivers plenty of mid and high end torque to keep you moving swiftly along the streets. However, compared to the popular 1.3 litre DDiS engine, the 1.5 litre i-DTEC is not as much fun to drive but certainly more practical and more efficient.
Since we are not used to engine noise in a Honda car, the i-DTEC might unexpectedly be audible inside the cabin. Otherwise, the cabin remains well- insulated against wind/road noise. The petrol Amaze, on the other hand, is typical Honda – silent, peppy and fun to drive.
The heavier diesel engine required a stiffer front suspension than the Brio, but not taking a toll on the ride quality. The steering is slightly heavier, hence confidence-inspiring and the handling is worlds better than that of the others in the segment.
The Amaze has a ground clearance of 165 mm, good enough to clear most speedbreakers and potholes. Overall, the steering, brake and throttle all help make this an easy car to drive happily.
Safety
The Amaze features Honda’s active and passive safety technologies including dual SRS front airbags, ABS, EBD, 3-point ELR seat belts and impact-mitigating headrests. The front body structure is equipped with Pedestrian injury mitigation technology designed to absorb impact energy. The rear too has a shock absorbing structure which protects occupants in case of a rear crash.
Conclusion
Amaze comes to the market with a tough assignment -- to regain Honda’s lost sheen. It’s not going to be an easy fight with the Maruti Dzire, a car that’s already a household name. But the Amaze has advantage in terms of space, mileage, appearance and above all, it has reliability of a Honda car. Now, Honda has priced the Amaze on par with the Dzire too. Hmm...looks like the Amaze is going to give Dzire a run for its money.
Monday, 21 July 2014
Road Test and Review: Hyundai GRAND i10 Diesel
Road Test and Review: Hyundai GRAND i10 Diesel
There has been a long-standing void in Hyundai’s lineup for India – between the i10 and the i20. The i10 is too small and the i20 slightly ‘more premium’ for the most competitive hatchback segment. Now, Hyundai has brought some balance to its line-up, with the new GRAND i10 bridging the gap between the i10 and the i20.
So, having tested the GRAND i10 prototype last month and been impressed with the features on offer, I recently spent a day with the production car and here’s the detailed review.
The GRAND i10 is not merely a ‘grander’ form of the i10. Built on a completely new platform, the car looks totally original. Although the GRAND i10 adopts Hyundai’s fluidic design language, it sports a more sober look with less creases and lines. Hexagonal grille and elongated headlamps look elegant and I particularly liked the unique design of the fog lamps. Sloping roofline, ascending beltline and integrated roof rails coupled with the two-tone diamond cut alloy wheels create athleticism. The wraparound tail lamps are trendy and probably, the best design element of the GRAND i10.
As with any Hyundai product, the GRAND i10 also comes with great interiors. The quality of the dual tone plastics shames more expensive models. The adjustable steering column feels premium and the gear lever is ergonomically placed on the dashboard. The chunky A/C dials and round vents add to the elegance of the dashboard.
The GRAND i10 comes with rear A/C vents and 1GB built in audio memory, two first-in-segment features. Also on offer are push start button, keyless entry, auto-folding mirrors and glove box chiller.
The seats may not be the best for long driving but they are smartly designed and offer good support and especially, spot on driving position. Rear passengers get ample space but the rear A/C vent unit eats into the third passenger’s legroom.
The all-new 1.1 U2 CRDi diesel engine develops 71PS of power @4000rpm and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The 3-cylinder unit certainly has its shortcomings such as idling vibration and noise but things get better once you’re on the move, thanks to the commendable noise insulation of the car. Power delivery is very linear and smooth to make it a great city car but on the highways, you might crave more power. Gearshifts are butter-smooth with very short throw and the ratios are well spaced, again, adding to the driving comfort in city.
Mileage
Hyundai claims a fuel efficiency of 24 kmpl for the diesel GRAND i10. During the test drive of around 200 kilometres, the mileage never dropped below 18 kmpl, which means the 1.1 U2 CRDi is a very frugal engine.
Ride and Handling
Handling has never been Hyundai’s forte but the GRAND i10 is proof that the carmaker is seriously working to strike the perfect balance between comfort and handling. The car handles surprisingly better compared to other Hyundais, while keeping the ride comfort unaffected. It is pretty stable at speed and doesn’t totter around when pushed hard into a corner.
Safety
Slight disappointment here – ABS and airbags are not a standard fitment, but available only as an option. Engine immobilizer is standard across all variants and central locking is part of all but the base variant.
The diesel range of the GRAND i10 starts at 5.23 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), which makes it 30000-50000 cheaper than the Swift across variants. The GRAND i10 cannot be compared to the Swift in terms of performance and driving dynamics, however, as an overall package it is a stronger choice. It has a handful of very useful features, great interior quality, class-leading mileage and an eye-catching design. No doubt, the GRAND i10 is great value for your money, especially if your driving is more stop-and-go or city driving
Friday, 25 May 2012
Best Diesel Cars in India
Diesel cars have come of age. They are no longer cumbersome and are almost as maintenance-free as their petrol siblings. Here is a look at the best diesel cars in India
The Figo uses a 1.4-litre DuraTorq engine to produce 68 BHP and 160 Nm. This motor is very refined and offers excellent drive-ability.
The Swift has been a massive success with the diesel model bringing in most of the sales. It is powered by a 1.3-litre Multijet engine which produces 74 BHP and 190 Nm.
The Rapid's 1600cc engine produces 105 BHP of power and 250 Nm of torque. This along with the fantastic chassis makes the Rapid very entertaining to drive.
t might be a people mover but the Innova's 2.5-litre diesel powerplant is one of the best around. Producing 101 BHP and 200 Nm, the Innova is extremely comfortable in city and highway driving conditions.
The Cruze is the most powerful vehicle in its segment, producing 148 BHP and 327 Nm from its 2.0-litre engine. A more powerful version of the Cruze is scheduled for launch next month
The new Fiesta's TDCi engine produces 90 BHP and 204 Nm that might not look much powerful, but the overall power delivery and economy is one of the best in the segment
One of the most powerful diesel hatchbacks around, the i20's CRDi motor produces 90 BHP and 226 Nm. The engine is extremely refined and rev happy too
Using a 2179cc mHawk140 engine, the XUV500 produces 140 BHP and 330 Nm. This kind of power makes the Cheetah prowl ahead with zest
The Micra might not produce a lot of power with just 64 BHP and 160 Nm but the superb drive-ability and negligible turbo lag makes it one of the best diesel hatchbacks for the city.
The Laura's 2.0-litre TDI engine produces 140 BHP and 320 Nm. This engine is powerful as well as fuel efficient making it fun to drive, while being easy on the wallet.
One of the most underrated cars in India, the Fluence, uses a 1500cc diesel engine to produce 108 BHP and 240 Nm. The turbo whoosh and good performance are note worthy.
The Verna's 1600cc CRDi motor produces 126 BHP of power and 265 Nm of torque. This is extremely powerful for a car in this segment
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Nissan launches Sunny Diesel
Built on the global ‘V’ platform, the Sunny Diesel is available for Rs 7,98,000 (XL) and Rs 8,78,000 (XV), ex-showroom, New Delhi. Customers can now book the car at any of the 47 Nissan dealerships across the country.
Available in two variants, the XL and the XV, the Sunny Diesel targets the fast growing demand for diesel cars in the Indian market.
Built on the global ‘V’ platform, the Sunny Diesel is available for Rs 7,98,000 (XL) and Rs 8,78,000 (XV), ex-showroom, New Delhi.
Customers can now book the car at any of the 47 Nissan dealerships across the country.
The Sunny Diesel, a result of significant inputs from the Indian market and powered by the most notable K9K diesel engine to emerge from the Renault-Nissan alliance, has a fuel efficiency of 21.64 kmpl (ARAI certified) and is ideal both for a city drive as well as for exploring the countryside.
Built at the Nissan plant in Chennai, the diesel variant is powered by a modern 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder K9K engine that churns out 86PS of power @ 3750 rpm and a maximum torque of 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm, and five speed manual transmission.
The Sunny Diesel carries high levels of active and passive safety features and technology designed to enhance both the driving and ownership experience.
The new variant is available in six colors – Bronze Grey, Blade Silver, Storm White, Sapphire Blue, Onyx Black and Brick Red – and is equipped with advanced safety features such as Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Engine Immobilizer and Airbags.
Departing from the industry norm, Nissan has adopted a uniform pan-India pricing strategy, whereby the ex-showroom price of the Sunny Diesel will remain the same across all states.
The Sunny Diesel mirrors the petrol variant in style with sleek and dynamic proportions.
Nissan’s signature grille dominates the front and is flanked by jewel-shaped headlights with discreet but elegant chrome touches.
Wide opening doors offer better passenger ingress and egress while muscular haunches, stylish curves and a neat rear spoiler adds a sporty touch to the silhouette.
The diesel variant is 4425mm long with a 2600mm wheelbase that directly translates into roomy interiors.
It offers rear-knee room that is on par with luxury sedans and gives passengers the opportunity to cross their legs in comfort
The large central armrest with cup holders adds a touch of luxury while the roomy 490 Liter trunk illuminated with a boot lamp provides loads of luggage space.
Independent front MacPherson struts with coil springs makes the ride smooth while the compact torsion beam rear axle further minimizes intrusion into the luggage area.
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