PROLOGUE
We had a 2002 Maruti Zen which was efficiently serving our family from the last 10 years without any trouble and had clocked 1 lakh kms in its lifetime. Around July 2012, the Zen started showing signs of ageing and since the model was discontinued long back, availability of spare parts became a rare find. So it was time to find a replacement. This new car would be mainly driven by my dad who is currently posted in a small district Jhunjhunu in the state of Rajasthan. Being the "only automobile expert" in my family, I was given the responsibility to research and finalize the chief contenders. Budget was kept around 6 lakhs and hence I started searching the Premium Hatchback market.
The major requirements were:
1. Easy to drive : Since it would be mostly driven in town, the engine must be drive-able all along the RPM range.
2. Revv happy engine : Even my father has an automobile enthusiast hidden in his heart.
3. Comfortable ride quality : Suspension and ride quality played a vital role in the decision as condition of roads in Jhunjhunu was pathetic.
4. Silent cabin : I hate high NVH levels and hence the cabin should be quite.
5. Fuel efficient : No need to explain this, thanks to soaring fuel prices.
PETROL OR DIESEL
My father's office is 5 kms far from our house and hence the monthly running will not be exceeding 500 kms except the occasional highway trips. As a result, there was no use of buying a diesel car since the premium was around 1 lakh on most diesel variants with respect to their petrol counterparts. Moreover, there was news about a diesel price hike in the pipeline and therefore it was decided that we would only be focusing on the petrol variants.
CHIEF CONTENDERS Maruti Suzuki Swift
At my home, "Maruti" is nothing less than a synonym for the word "cars". It was only me who stressed to take test drive of other cars in the segment too or else my father would have straightly booked any Maruti product. Went to Vipul Motors in Jaipur and took a test drive of a white Swift zxi.
Positives:
1. Gem of an engine. The 1.2L k-series engine is one of the best engines I have ever driven. It never runs out of breath and has sufficient torque available on tap all across the RPM range. This makes it quite drive-able in the city and helps in easy overtaking on highways.
2. Ride quality is pretty decent. Though I was not able to test it on poor roads but the way it handled speed beakers and occasional pot holes was good enough for a comfortable ride.
3. Refinement. This was something I was experiencing for the first time. When the Swift is standing idle with engine turned on, the NVH levels are so small that I felt as if the engine is off. As you proceed across the RPM range, sound starts penetrating the cabin, but it never irritates you, not even above 4000 RPM. This was something I really loved about the Swift.
4. We have a Maruti Dealer and authorized Workshop in Jhunjhunu itself so service and maintenance would be a bit easy.
Negatives:
1. I am not a big fan of the all black themed interiors.
2. The rear design looked awkward to me. AFAIK, no one has said this on Team-BHP yet, but I really don't know why I thought the rear to be shaped unnecessarily bulbous.
3. The boot space was small. But this can be rolled out since it would mostly be my Father and Mother travelling in the car as I live in Jaipur.
Decision:
I liked the Swift and kept this as an option.
Hyundai i20
Went to Morani Motors, Jaipur for a test drive. The dealer experience was much better than Maruti. A test drive was arranged within 5 minutes of my arrival.
Positives:
1. Interiors and exteriors are designed perfectly. It has adequate flare inside-out.
2. Spacious interiors. IMO, the space of i20 is comparable with many sedans.
3. Equipment list. On the basis of equipment given, the i20 is truly a VFM car.
4. Availability of authorized service station in Jhunjhunu.
Negatives:
1. Severely under powered engine. It was so dull that I often felt as if the hand brake has been pulled up.
2. The steering is too light to my liking and does not provide the required feedback.
3. Hyundai's after sales service are always costly.
Decision:
Due to poor engine, the i20 was ruled out straight away. I wish Hyundai had planted a better mill under the hood of this beautiful product.
Ford Figo
Went to KS Ford, Jaipur and was horrified with the way they treated potential customers. I entered the showroom, receptionist was busy on phone and signaled me to sit on a table situated far away from the reception. I was sitting on that table for about 10 minutes and not even a single Sales Agent came to entertain my wish for a Test Drive. At last a Test Drive was arranged after half an hour of my arrival.
Positives:
1. Good build quality.
2. Better looking interiors than the swift. but still i20 leads this characteristic.
3. Engine was good to drive regularly. In other words, it was
ok ok types.
Negatives:
1. Looked old as compared to its newly launched or facelifted counterparts.
2. Absence of a Ford dealer in Jhunjhunu meant we had to take it all the way to Jaipur for service,etc.
Decision:
Don't know what happened, but we didn't take the Figo seriously and soon it was automatically out of our list.
VW and Skoda were not considered due to their poor Service experiences, and avoided Tata owing to its pathetic build quality.
And so it was finalized that we will be booking a Maruti Suzuki Swift vxi in September 2012, once my father takes a TD.