Latest News & Reviews from Indian Auto Industry
Launch of zero emissions connected car to mark new era in Indian mobility landscape MG (Morris Garages) recently unveiled its global pure electric SUV – the MG eZS, scheduled for launch across international markets soon.
Continue reading “MG eZS Pure Electric Vehicle Unveiled Globally”
Lot of New Car launches in the month of January and we expect same in the month of February and March. Strangely, most of the them are SUVs.
Continue reading “New Car Launches In The Month Of February & March 2019”
Always wanted to buy and drive an automatic car? Watch this video to know about the cheapest automatic cars in India. Indian
Continue reading “Top 5 Cheapest Automatic Cars In India – Range from INR 4 – 5.1 Lacs”
Lot of New Car Launches are set to debut at the beginning of the New Year, and unsurprisingly most of them are SUVs. Check the List.
Continue reading “New Car Launches In The Month Of January & February 2019”
Wonder which cars are the best sellers in India? Top 10 Best Selling Cars Watch the video to know the best selling cars in the month of December 2018, the last month of 2018.
Continue reading “Top 10 Best Selling Cars In December 2018 – Indian Automobile Industry”‘Going compact, but efficiently’, the mantra that stuck many car buyers in India has not even spared the petrol king of small car segment – Maruti, and compelled it to deliver a one such example for the others to follow on.
The Delhi based carmaker finally took its turn to roll out a small diesel car called Celerio DDiS 125 this week, which house a 793cc twin-cylinder diesel engine of 47bhp. But it isn’t the only car in the segment so far to offer mobility with the efficiency of a small diesel engine. A couple of other models present there proven quite competitive, and are doing the job very well since launch. Everyone knows them very well, a Chevrolet Beat and Hyundai Grand i10. Stacking neck to neck, each of them have got a different story to tell, but their makers aims at the same point – bottom line.
On paper, it’s Celerio that holds the smallest engine of all three with twin-cylinders, which even at its peak produces the lowest amount of power than the other two. Comparatively, Beat balances the situation handsomely. From the whole one litre engine it sends an output of 56bhp. The most powerful car of this comparison Hyundai Grand i10 with its 1.1-litre engine sends other to shame with the peak power of 70bhp.
| Engine | Maruti Celerio | Chevrolet Beat | Hyundai Grand i10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubic capacity | 793cc | 936cc | 1120cc |
| Cylinder on offer | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Power | 47bhp | 56bhp | 70bhp |
| Torque | 125Nm | 150Nm | 160Nm |
The power isn’t all to talk of; weight too is taken into consideration where aligning both puts up a new story on the board. Outcome is clearly witnessed on fuel-efficiency, where to name the least powerful option Celerio, which is also the lightest here, is rated as India’s most fuel-efficient car by ARAI for its 27.62kmpl return. Earlier, the Beat too enjoyed that top spot of most fuel-efficient list during its heydays, but later it got dethroned by entrants who managed to sum up numbers in a better way. Though, Hyundai’s grandeur of small car – i10 – is the most powerful option available, but the huge weight pulls it down quite literally on the fuel-economy, and as a result it fares last.
| Fuel-Efficiency | Maruti Celerio | Chevrolet Beat | Hyundai Grand i10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| As per ARAI (kmpl) | 27.62 | 25.44 | 24 |
Thus, it makes no sense in writing about the space inside the cabin of compact cars. After all, they are compact and one is pretty much sure about facing crunches in the cabin. Still, in India and people do ask for such information. So carmakers prefer to put on offer about the information of space on their brochures, for some to do the comparison. Amongst all, Grand i10 is literally grand in nature when it comes to serving the cabin space. It offers airiness to front and rear occupants both. The Beat on its side is focused only to the front. Maruti conceptualizing the mentality of Indians very aptly offered more space at the rear bench. Overall, Beat is a cool option to make a statement on arrival, rather than it puts utility to the best.
| Space | Maruti Celerio | Chevrolet Beat | Hyundai Grand i10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front legroom (min/max) | 56/77 cm | 62/82 mm | 61/82 cm |
| Rear legroom (min/max) | 68/90 cm | 62/80cm | 67/89 cm |
| Front headroom | 100 cm | 98 mm | 99 cm |
| Rear headroom | 95 cm | 90 cm | 92 cm |
| Boot space | 235-litre | 170-litre | 256-litre |
Out there looking to buy a small diesel car, for them the list of features does make sense offered for the given price. Without raising a doubt Hyundai remained unbeaten leader in league for offering more features than others in the segment of compact cars. But the effort put up by Maruti Celerio is really worth to talk of. Maker left no stone unturned to mark it where it needs to stand as of now. The availability of two top-end trims (ZDi & ZDi Optional) explains the relevance. However, Chevrolet Beat is altogether a different story. Its cabin space is quite narrow and the seats at rear aren’t quite comfortable, but liveliness it offers is unmatchable. The sportiest design on inside and outside both, with very interesting instrument cluster and dials makes it to top the chart for an young enthusiast looking out to buy his first car of life.
All put to together, everyone has a different story with the same aim, but its buyer’s choice who prefer a one that suits his taste.
The fiascos of locking horns get better at the grass root level. To worsen it for the better competitive results, Tata Motors jumped into market with the AMT gearbox for Nano against the Maruti Alto AMT. Though, both cars are of the same category, and since price tag shares close vicinity with other, Indian audience needs a comparison to make the better choice. Here, we present the on-paper comparison between Nano GenX against the Maruti Alto K10 AGS (Auto Gear Shift).
Tata Nano is a one with smaller engine than that of Alto, where it produces less power and torque. The ratio of its torque against the rival is very disappointing.
| Engine | Tata Nano GenX | Maruti Alto K10 |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 624cc | 998cc |
| Power | 37.5bhp | 67.1bhp |
| Torque | 51Nm | 90Nm |
As Tata Motors has offered Nano with openable hatch, it means owners are now relief of adding more luggage to their drive. Still, Alto proves better on the space with regards to space between two wheels, boot and length. Despite being small, Nano AMT offers decent ground clearance, with width and height more than the Maruti.
| Dimension | Tata Nano GenX | Maruti Alto K10 |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2230mm | 2360mm |
| Length | 3164mm | 3545mm |
| Width | 1750mm | 1515mm |
| Height | 1652mm | 1475mm |
| Boot space | 94-litres | 177-litres |
| Ground Clearance | 180mm | 160mm |
As talking about features available on the list, each car is available in one trim of AMT transmission, which made our job easier to criticize them over a single scale. Tata Motors projected Nano more for the urban buyers, especially youths, where Alto K10 had an image of catering as many buyers as possible across the nation and that’s why it remained the best seller throughout the time. Now, in the list of features, several features that Nano GenX holds like Bluetooth connectivity and rear speakers for the audio system are missed out on the Alto. But gaining brownie points are the front disc brake and internally adjustable outside mirrors which Nano doesn’t takes upon. And from three seat belts at the rear seat, K10 with AMT lifts only a two of it with the three-point set-up, where the world’s cheapest automatic car of Tata do come with the lap belts for rear passengers.
Overall, both cars boast uniqueness and utility. But going as per our taste, it may cost more to prefer Alto K10 but it’s a safer option with metal body coveting its passengers throughout.
If the family car isn’t enough, a MPV will do fine. Those who think ‘bigger’ is ‘better’ and buys a MPV to rather avoid the space congestion in the cabin, even though do not cruise outside the city more often, for those multipurpose vehicles (MPV) are the boon from auto industry. Thus, the narrow price difference between the segments has sparked outrage of buying MPVs, which not only allow the owners to suffer crunches at any point of time, and in India, the MPVs too are of tough built quality that also makes them to do jobs of SUVs up to certain level. Here, followed by the launch of Renault Lodgy, the segment is about to change it dimensions. Earlier led by Toyota Innova and Mahindra Xylo, buyers now get a rather more sophisticated option well-suited for all occasions and still cost as per the size of pocket. Here, we have worked out a comparison of three MPVs – Renault Lodgy, Mahindra Xylo and Toyota Innova – to see who has the better grunt and looks at business seriously at least on paper.
It’s Innova that measure maximum in length, while Lodgy is the shortest of all, still the latter offer maximum wheelbase among the three which means more legroom is inside the Lodgy. Now we wonder how three can sit comfortable in the third row of Xylo, apparently due to its width that offers the maximum, which is far more by standard of Innova. Adding more to body roll, it’s the Xylo’s height which too, once again, is far more by the measures of Innova and Lodgy.
Very importantly, the ground clearance which without any doubt is scored maximum by Mahindra due to its utility vehicle platform pinned underneath ever passenger vehicles rolled off from its factory, the rest two of them offers like a one on the sedans.
| Dimension | Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova | Mahindra Xylo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4498mm | 4585mm | 4520mm |
| Width | 1751mm | 1765mm | 1850mm |
| Height | 1697mm | 1760mm | 1905mm |
| Wheelbase | 2810mm | 2750mm | 2760mm |
| Ground Clearance | 174mm | 176mm | 186mm |
The power matters a lot when an India spends around one million INR (approximately) on its buy. This is well understood by Mahindra & Mahindra. Xylo splurges 120PS from a 2.2-litre MHawk diesel engine, which in comparison to Innova is quite decent looking to the 102PS from a big block metal of 2.5-litre displacement. Here, Lodgy gains the maximum benefit with regards to its output of 110PS from a smaller 1.5-litre engine – for a feel more like a Duster than of a proper utility vehicle.
| Engine | Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova | Mahindra Xylo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 1.5-litre | 2.5-litre | 2.2-litre |
| Power | 110PS | 102PS | 120PS |
| Torque | 245Nm | 200Nm | 280Nm |
| Gearbox | 6MT | 5MT | 5MT |
Fuel-efficiency, the most sought figures sometimes even before the price tag, has altogether a new story to tell. Due to smaller engine, Renault manages to clock the maximum marks here with a whopping 19.98kmpl as per ARAI. The next is Mahindra Xylo with 14.02kmpl, while the Toyota takes a backseat with the huge engine block and lowest efficiency at 12.99kmpl.
| Fuel-Efficiency | Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova | Mahindra Xylo |
|---|---|---|---|
| KMPL as per ARAI | 19.98 | 12.99 | 14.02 |
Only a few years old in India, Renault has studied how to position the cars hitting directly on the heart and mind of buyers with a soft touch. With an exception, the 110PS version (which we have considered for the reason rest two are also of the same specifications nearly above 100PS of power), it seems the maker has defamed image of a winner with range starting at Rs 10.09 lakh and terminating at Rs 11.79 lakh.
| Price | Renault Lodgy | Toyota Innova | Mahindra Xylo |
|---|---|---|---|
| As per Ex-showroom Delhi | Rs 10.09-11.79 lakh | Rs 10.51-15.8 lakh | Rs 8.95-11.46 lakh |
Obviously, Mahindra has born from the genes of an Indian that translates better options and multiple choices to suit buyers of every pocket in the country, starts for a price of Rs 8.95 lakh that literally hits the chord one lakh lesser than the second in line – Renault.
Toyota follows premium pricing but the interesting part is it concludes top-end at an eye watery price of Rs 15.8 lakh, where we can say it it’s hard to convince these much buyers but it still does that successfully.
It’s tough to conclude a winner on the paper, where Xylo sounds like a more pocket-friendly option, but the Renault is also equally efficient in long run due to its maximum fuel-economy. Toyota fails on every impression, but it seems the driving ergonomics has suited Indians the most, for which it is selling in large numbers despite not very economical at all. Ah, the built-quality could be the reason.
Plush or just conventional, everyone in the auto industry needs to keep a check on numbers to follow the route to success. On a one such road, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW were found locked horns in India, where suddenly the BMW made its way out, left the two of them to counter each other with aggressive launches. The entry-level sedan, the car that says a lot about the maker, commitment to the auto-making and advancements its flagship holds, is sold in huge number across this country. After all, they are a reason for the large sedans of Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and others to get wiped off this country, being offered for similar price tags and offering existent comfort level. Mercedes CLA and Audi A3 are the recent examples of Germans that attacked each other for surging ahead in the race. Small in size, but they offer loads of feature and power to keep the buyers’ spirit always in a good mood. It could turn into a cold-blooded war when compared both of them on the paper. Mentioned here is a whole account of the rivalry, see how it takes the stern shape just on a piece of paper.
Both of them are of the compact category, but still the CLA offers generous space with respect to height, length and wheelbase. It’s just a matter of fact Audi A3 turns wider than the other.
| Dimensions | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Audi A3 |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,630mm | 4,456mm |
| Width | 1,777mm | 1,796mm |
| Height | 1,432mm | 1,416mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,699mm | 2,637mm |
| Weight | 1,510kg (P)1,570kg (D) | 1,295kg (P)1,340kg (D) |
| Boot Space | 470 litres | 425 litres |
CLA is the one with maximum aerodynamics. The A3 on other side is derived on the same platform of Volkswagen Vento, the reason Audi falls in the parental hands of VW Group.
Petrol
CLA always kept drawing an advantage, now owns a big displacement too. Audi with a smaller capacity gives a tough fight for almost the same amount of power output. The petrol of Ingolstadt comes mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, while Mercedes uses a 7-sped DCT in the drivetrain.
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Audi A3 |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.0-litre | 1.8-litre |
| Power | 183PS | 180PS |
| Torque | 300NM | 250NM |
Diesel
No more mercy in the count of cubic capacity of the engine, Mercedes triumphs with its big diesel motor, but Audi teases it with more power despite hauling a small engine in the bay. Here, the difference of transmission in petrol is equaled with the 7-speed DCT.
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Audi A3 |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 2.2-litre | 2.0-litre |
| Power | 136PS | 145PS |
| Torque | 300NM | 320NM |
In both the cases (petrol and diesel) Audi sworn through the backlash of numbers, now had a last laugh at Mercedes for the reason to have delivered more kilometres per litre of fuel. It is the weight-advantage that gained Four-ringed sedan to score with an excellence here.
| Fuel Efficiency (as per ARAI) | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Audi A3 |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 15.04 kmpl | 16.6 kmpl |
| Diesel | 17.9 kmpl | 20.38 kmpl |
No doubt, both cars come fully-loaded with features; leather for seats and upholstery, 16-inch wheels for the base trim and 17-inch for the top-end. It’s the Benz that offers the panoramic sunroof and paddle shifters which are nowhere seen on Audi, nor even on the optional list.
Usually, we don’t post price in a comparison like this, but certainly there is a literally wide gap between the duos compelled us to scale the Germans. Mercedes-Benz CLA is almost Rs 7-8 lakh pricier in the base trims, but the gap narrowed up to top-end variants. Leaving a wide gap for Audi to eat through, Benz was almost up to the next level of lineup C-Class. Look for yourself in the table below.
| Price Ex-Showroom Delhi (in lakh) | Mercedes-Benz CLA | Audi A3 |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 35 | 28.95 |
| Diesel | 31.5-35.9 | 22.95-31.95 |
‘Cross hatches’ or ‘hatchback-turned crossovers’, both terminologies are suitable to convey cars like Hyundai i20 Active, Fiat Avventura and Toyota Etios Cross. Taking every of them into account for a comparison, we studied who is the best bet on paper, and do they really have a grunt to go for the off-roads, or at least can handle the world-famous half-paved roads of India for the brutal sense they do create the lucrative promises. Find out with us whether the Active i20 will be able to stand in line to those formerly introduced models in the acute market of 1000 units a month restricted to niche and premium set of buyers.
In the state of petrol, Fiat offers max power off the mid-sized engine. Toyota Etios Cross with two options (1.2L and 1.5L) tops the chart with largest displacement and power, but ironically the small unit pulls it down on the list. And needed to push the car off the line first, it’s the Etios offering max torque, whereas Hyundai and Avventura compromised at a tie here.
On the side of diesel, Fiat gets fixed by shortest engine, but it sends max power off that small machine. Hyundai didn’t managed to attain the top position in power delivery, but it will set you straight off the launch with its chunk of torque. Toyota in the diesel guise do not performed well. The huge machine of 1.4L lacked a way back in either of the plots.
On the fuel-efficiency, Fiat lacks in both the fuel options. It’s Toyota to deliver more kilometres from a single litre of diesel, whereas the petrol’s performance wasn’t too bad either. Hyundai Active’s figures aren’t disappointing either.
Emerging as the clear winner, Hyundai ranks on the top of all with regards to length, width, height and wheelbase. On the other side Fiat which had fallen short on every aspect despite holding a spare wheel at the back, wins on the note of ground clearance for offering maximum than the rivals. Avventura to an extent envied some compact SUVs for sitting this high on the heels after being converted to crossover from a hatchback.
It’s Hyundai that packs more features and space for a comparatively bigger price tag. But for the built-quality Toyota has enticed Indians with sturdy machines carved by means of every quality measure known to Japanese. It’s the Fiat Avventura that has personally won our heart due to the tail-gate mounted spare-wheel, the only one to do so, and massive ground clearance like small SUVs.