Sonalika Rhino - Prospects. EDIT : First drive on pg.3!

CorsaLove · 9th January 2008, 19:59

Saw this once in Bangalore. Looks exactly like qualis but dont know how refined it is. waiting for a TD..

lganimys · 23rd February 2008, 00:40

I own a Tata Spacio Gold with 3.0 L 407 SP engine.

I am considering the various options to change my vehicle.

I did the TD of Rhino Rx.

In Karnataka, the various variants cost between 7.6 and 8.6 lakhs.

The vehicle was OK for me and following were my observations.

1. Look and feel was medium.
2. Finish quality was medium.
3. Initial pickup was ordinary and the vehicle does really good after 60kms mark. 60 - 100, it does in 4-5 seconds. When I enquired about the issue, I was told that the turbo kicks off only after 60 kms mark. I am wondering about it. In the era of VTT, turbo kicking off at 60 is real crazy stuff. So I can easily say that the engine is best suited for highway use compared to city use.
4. In city conditions, I was unable to shift the gear above 3. In third gear it lugs when the speed is 50kms. So, the gear ratio is bit unsuitable for city conditions.
(Tata's G-76 gear box easily shifts to overdrive at 45 kms speed)
5. Power steering was responsive and breaking was good.
6. Body seems to be strong and the sales advisor claimed that recently during an accident involving rhino rx at 150kms, there was minimum injuries to people inside. But it is difficlut to imagine as I have seen deaths in muvs crashing at 70kms.

8. AC was not impressive.

9. The sound of the engine from outside is high compared to other di vehicles like tavera, scorpio m2di, the new victa di etc. But, inside it is heavily shielded.
10. I observed black smoke from 3 to 4 rhino vehicle recently. I dont know whether it is a problem or an usual thing. I have not observed the same with similar vehicle from other manufacturers which are euro2 and above.

11. The pricing is too high for a newly released non-crdi vehicle with minimum service points. Atleast it should have been 1.5 lakhs less.

My Final Verdict:

The vehicle is more suited for highway use and so suited for taxi segment which run largely on highways. The overall product quality seems to be decent.

Due to its heavy pricing compared to other similar vehicles like tata sumo, mahindra bolero, chevrolet tavera, scorpio m2di, safari tcic, tempo trax, and the new tata sumo grande, the vehicles are not selling at all and probably would not replace the defunct qualis segment.
Another 1.5 lakhs reduction to the current prices can only make some magic. Otherwise, except for a few experimenters, others may not go for the vehicle.

So my sincere request/advice to the commercial dept of the company is reduce the price drastically atleast during the next 2 years even if they sell it cost to cost. Else it would be difficult to survive in the Indian auto market.

Ganesh Laxmanmurthy

pgsagar · 23rd February 2008, 20:46

I don't know anything about the Rhino nor the company that makes it. I'm sure it should be a value for money MUV. But what really beats me is why did they zero in on the Qualis shape to design their MUV. As though Qualis was a beautiful-looking car and with its denise, someone just had to step in and make a clone.

karanraheja · 24th February 2008, 12:43

I dont think there is much offtake of this vehicle. It will take time till
it improves it's after sales.

cpyder · 27th September 2009, 19:17

Man, it is costlier than Tata Safari even. I wonder what they have been thinking while pricing Rhino. In any case, I think they (Sonalika) should have taken one step at a time, like mahindra. Started with utility vehicles like jeeps, Armada etc and finally they have Scorpio. All said and done, experience does count. If one did not have experience, then at least they should have roped in an MNC who has.

fireblade007 · 19th November 2009, 10:48

the new rhino has been launched with a 120 bhp crdi engine.

beejay · 19th November 2009, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgsagar

I don't know anything about the Rhino nor the company that makes it. I'm sure it should be a value for money MUV. But what really beats me is why did they zero in on the Qualis shape to design their MUV. As though Qualis was a beautiful-looking car and with its denise, someone just had to step in and make a clone.

The Rhino is made by the tractor and farm equipment manufacturer Sonalika.

I agree with you on the cloning part. They have even copied the paint schemes off the Qualis.

amtak · 19th November 2009, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireblade007

the new rhino has been launched with a 120 bhp crdi engine.

Any pictures? and updates apart from the engine?

vikrantj · 19th November 2009, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireblade007

the new rhino has been launched with a 120 bhp crdi engine.

Can you provide details of the same ? I do not see it on their website. It still show intercooled direct injection, with fuel system as Mechanical FIP , rotary type.

--Vikrant

beejay · 19th November 2009, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by fireblade007

the new rhino has been launched with a 120 bhp crdi engine.

Please share some info. I was no able to find it anyplace too.

120 horses would it make it the highest in the segment.

ananth_iy · 19th November 2009, 14:07

I have had a long ride in the Rhino some months back and the fit and finish on the vehicle are horrible and so is the ride quality. We were on the highway and I was scared that I was in it. No wonder it does not sell well enough. Even a Tavera is better than a Rhino!

beejay · 19th November 2009, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by ananth_iy

Even a Tavera is better than a Rhino!

Come on. You cannot compare a Tavera to the Rhino. And the Tavera has a very good engine and offers the best in class mileage.

However you have to hand it over that a local manufacturer was capable of such a thing.

ananth_iy · 19th November 2009, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by beejay

Come on. You cannot compare a Tavera to the Rhino. And the Tavera has a very good engine and offers the best in class mileage.

However you have to hand it over that a local manufacturer was capable of such a thing.

True beejay. Exactly my point.

The pricing and segment positioning of the Rhino makes the next closest competition to the Rhino the Tavera and the Tavera is miles ahead of the Rhino. Why would anybody choose a Rhino!

greenhorn · 19th November 2009, 17:18

I'd like to add, the engine of the rhino appears to have been tweaked recently. One of the first test drive models that i drove had turbo lag which could have been measured in minutes rather seconds

. My standard of reference in my TCIC indica.

however, once the thing got going, it was pretty comfortable munching miles on the highway. ( i drove it from kanyakumari to tvm and back)

I got hold of a recent model, And the turbo response was drastically improved. Almost like a diesel ritz. it kicked in early, and was pretty linear. helped a lot in the city traffic, as well as ghat roads ( i drove it to ponmudi last week).

Spitfire · 19th November 2009, 19:33

Ok who wants what about the Rhino? I stay right next to the Rhino Showroom on ORR, Bangalore. And have befriended the mechanics there.

Yes the new rhino with a CDRi Engine has been launched. Wheel spin in first gear..he he. Surprised?? Well actually there is no proper road outside the showroom, it was wet red mud, so the wheelspin.

But yeah a long way to go from them.

9th January 2008, 19:59	#31
CorsaLove BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 392 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Saw this once in Bangalore. Looks exactly like qualis but dont know how refined it is. waiting for a TD..
	() Thanks

23rd February 2008, 00:40	#32
lganimys Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mysore Posts: 19 Thanked: 2 Times	The Rhino Rx I own a Tata Spacio Gold with 3.0 L 407 SP engine. I am considering the various options to change my vehicle. I did the TD of Rhino Rx. In Karnataka, the various variants cost between 7.6 and 8.6 lakhs. The vehicle was OK for me and following were my observations. 1. Look and feel was medium. 2. Finish quality was medium. 3. Initial pickup was ordinary and the vehicle does really good after 60kms mark. 60 - 100, it does in 4-5 seconds. When I enquired about the issue, I was told that the turbo kicks off only after 60 kms mark. I am wondering about it. In the era of VTT, turbo kicking off at 60 is real crazy stuff. So I can easily say that the engine is best suited for highway use compared to city use. 4. In city conditions, I was unable to shift the gear above 3. In third gear it lugs when the speed is 50kms. So, the gear ratio is bit unsuitable for city conditions. (Tata's G-76 gear box easily shifts to overdrive at 45 kms speed) 5. Power steering was responsive and breaking was good. 6. Body seems to be strong and the sales advisor claimed that recently during an accident involving rhino rx at 150kms, there was minimum injuries to people inside. But it is difficlut to imagine as I have seen deaths in muvs crashing at 70kms. 8. AC was not impressive. 9. The sound of the engine from outside is high compared to other di vehicles like tavera, scorpio m2di, the new victa di etc. But, inside it is heavily shielded. 10. I observed black smoke from 3 to 4 rhino vehicle recently. I dont know whether it is a problem or an usual thing. I have not observed the same with similar vehicle from other manufacturers which are euro2 and above. 11. The pricing is too high for a newly released non-crdi vehicle with minimum service points. Atleast it should have been 1.5 lakhs less. My Final Verdict: The vehicle is more suited for highway use and so suited for taxi segment which run largely on highways. The overall product quality seems to be decent. Due to its heavy pricing compared to other similar vehicles like tata sumo, mahindra bolero, chevrolet tavera, scorpio m2di, safari tcic, tempo trax, and the new tata sumo grande, the vehicles are not selling at all and probably would not replace the defunct qualis segment. Another 1.5 lakhs reduction to the current prices can only make some magic. Otherwise, except for a few experimenters, others may not go for the vehicle. So my sincere request/advice to the commercial dept of the company is reduce the price drastically atleast during the next 2 years even if they sell it cost to cost. Else it would be difficult to survive in the Indian auto market. Ganesh Laxmanmurthy
	(1) Thanks

23rd February 2008, 20:46	#33
pgsagar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vizag Posts: 2,627 Thanked: 3,561 Times View My Garage	Rhino --- A qualis lookalike. I don't know anything about the Rhino nor the company that makes it. I'm sure it should be a value for money MUV. But what really beats me is why did they zero in on the Qualis shape to design their MUV. As though Qualis was a beautiful-looking car and with its denise, someone just had to step in and make a clone.
	() Thanks

24th February 2008, 12:43	#34
karanraheja Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 436 Times	I dont think there is much offtake of this vehicle. It will take time till it improves it's after sales.
	() Thanks

27th September 2009, 19:17	#35
cpyder BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 86 Thanked: 10 Times	Man, it is costlier than Tata Safari even. I wonder what they have been thinking while pricing Rhino. In any case, I think they (Sonalika) should have taken one step at a time, like mahindra. Started with utility vehicles like jeeps, Armada etc and finally they have Scorpio. All said and done, experience does count. If one did not have experience, then at least they should have roped in an MNC who has.
	() Thanks

19th November 2009, 10:48	#36
fireblade007 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Thrissur Posts: 167 Thanked: 104 Times	the new rhino has been launched with a 120 bhp crdi engine.
	() Thanks

19th November 2009, 14:07	#41
ananth_iy BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 244 Thanked: 22 Times	I have had a long ride in the Rhino some months back and the fit and finish on the vehicle are horrible and so is the ride quality. We were on the highway and I was scared that I was in it. No wonder it does not sell well enough. Even a Tavera is better than a Rhino!
	() Thanks

19th November 2009, 17:18	#44
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,397 Times View My Garage	I'd like to add, the engine of the rhino appears to have been tweaked recently. One of the first test drive models that i drove had turbo lag which could have been measured in minutes rather seconds . My standard of reference in my TCIC indica. however, once the thing got going, it was pretty comfortable munching miles on the highway. ( i drove it from kanyakumari to tvm and back) I got hold of a recent model, And the turbo response was drastically improved. Almost like a diesel ritz. it kicked in early, and was pretty linear. helped a lot in the city traffic, as well as ghat roads ( i drove it to ponmudi last week).
	() Thanks

19th November 2009, 19:33	#45
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,312 Thanked: 774 Times	Ok who wants what about the Rhino? I stay right next to the Rhino Showroom on ORR, Bangalore. And have befriended the mechanics there. Yes the new rhino with a CDRi Engine has been launched. Wheel spin in first gear..he he. Surprised?? Well actually there is no proper road outside the showroom, it was wet red mud, so the wheelspin. But yeah a long way to go from them.
	() Thanks