[raptor_diwan]

My Journey to Finding the Perfect City Runabout

As many already know, I've been on the hunt for another city runabout, specifically an automatic car. After numerous discussions (WagonR vs Kwid vs Celerio vs Alto as a 2nd car of the house) and considering options like the Kwid, WagonR, Celerio, I ended up with the S-Presso.

I explored multiple options, took numerous test drives, engaged in various discussions, and scoured platforms like Facebook Marketplace, spinny, cars24 and OLX. After a thorough search, I stumbled upon a gem at True Value. Although I had only driven the car once for about 5 km, I was instantly smitten. The car's performance was fantastic, and among all the AMT cars I've tried, its transmission stood out for its smoothness.

When I acquired the car, it had already covered 40,000 km, so here I am, the proud owner of an S-Presso. A big shoutout and thank you to everyone who helped and recommended vehicles along the way!

[raptor_diwan]

Buying Experience:


I always encounter some challenges in my car buying experience, whether it's a new or used car.

I was drawn to the S-Presso pre-owned car at Maruti True Value. The impressive test drive, with its smooth transmission and engine performance, convinced us to pay the advance.

However, the delivery faced continuous delays, and amidst my distractions with work and personal commitments, I didn't actively monitor the car delivery date. Instead, I was waiting for Maruti True Value to inform me. Eventually, frustration set in as I discovered that the car was still under the previous owner's loan. The previous owner had purchased a new car from Maruti, exchanging the old one. Maruti True Value needed to settle the remaining balance & get NOC before delivering it to me. The previous owner was located 150 km away from Chennai, which added to the complexity of the process.

They consistently changed the delivery date without providing a proper timeline. Here's how it unfolded:

Every Sunday morning, I would call the salesperson to inquire about the car delivery date. Initially, I would be told it was coming on Tuesday, then on Tuesday, it would be postponed to Friday. On Friday, the explanation would be that Saturday and Sunday were off, with just one document pending, which could be addressed on Monday, promising delivery on Monday afternoon. However, come Monday, the date would shift to Wednesday, and the cycle continued for three weeks.

After enduring three weeks of patience, I reached my limit. I visited the dealership with the intention of canceling the car and seeking a refund. Without any argument, I requested a refund, expressing my disinterest in continuing business with them. Surprisingly, during the cancellation process, the manager spoke to a few people and discovered that the required document had been released. As a result, the car could be delivered promptly. Despite the challenging dealership experience, I decided to accept the car.

While the buying experience was challenging and frustrating, the car ultimately proved to be perfect. Despite the unexpected twists and waiting, I finally got the car I wanted that day.

It's one of the most uneventful deliveries I've ever experienced—no frills. But hey, that doesn't matter. I'm determined to add excitement to the future with this car.

Delivery day: The ribbon is being attached by my mom herself, not by any of the employees.


With siblings

[raptor_diwan]

Likes and dislikes of the car

Likes

Front Appearance




The car's front and side appearance grew on me; I love its overall look. Initially, it seemed different when I saw in online pictures before the purchase, but over time, I developed a strong liking for it, especially the front design.

AC:

The air conditioning is excellent. Even though I haven't used it beyond the first point (perhaps due to winter), the AC is powerful and quickly blocks my nose.

Size:



I love the compact size of the car. I'm basically driving it like an auto, slipping through gaps like a breeze.

Mileage:

So far, the best!! On the highway, I achieve 22 km/l at speeds of 100-120 km/h and an impressive 25-26 km/l when maintaining 80 km/h, which is pretty good. On ghat roads, the efficiency touches even 35 km/l on display not sure how true it is.

With one full tank, I can cover more than 600 km, even though the fuel tank capacity is only 27. No need to worry about frequent refills.

Dislikes

Rear Appearance



Rear View


The backside is a bit meh, kinda on the shorter side, could've been more impressive, but I guess it is what it is.

The Darn Steering Wheel

The steering wheel in my S-Presso has become a significant source of frustration. It's excessively hard, sluggish, fails to rotate back to the center point smoothly, and driving feels akin to maneuvering a truck from the '90s. Even within city limits, making small turns requires an unusual amount of effort. After a recent 10-hour highway trip, coupled with navigating ghat roads, I experienced pain in my shoulders and hands. It's evident that the steering needs attention and improvement from Maruti's end.

Headlight

Before buying, after reading several reviews, I noticed that many mentioned the headlights being powerful. However, in all honesty, they don't quite live up to that claim. I drove in pitch darkness, and the high beam was somewhat disappointing. The low beam is decent, but during highway drives, it's a bit challenging. I'm considering replacing the headlights and currently in a dilemma. Let's see if I can find more powerful lights.

[raptor_diwan]

​Interior storage, practicality & boot space



Never felt cramped, yet never sensed an abundance of space; it's just right for a smooth ride, perhaps for two people—my primary use. I've also embarked on a long ttwo 1000 km round trip within a single month, and I must say the car performs admirably on the highway. There's a slight body roll at times, but with proper handling, it evens out after a few hours of driving.

Driver Seat View


In the initial period without an armrest, I felt a bit tucked in and uncomfortably seated. The absence of a comfortable handrest was noticeable, but after adding one, I now have a comfortable seating position suitable for both long journeys and city traffic drives.

Front Leg room


Rear Seat - Speaking of the back seat, I haven't had the chance to sit there myself during travels. However, friends who've occupied the rear seats mentioned it was comfortable, and a few even managed to catch some good sleep back there. Nevertheless, I primarily use this car as a two-person vehicle, essentially treating it like a two-door car. Most of the time, there's no need for anyone to hop into the back.

Overall View from Rear seat


Rear sseat leg room


Glove Box:

The glove box is really small. I can't even fit many things inside, not even a document pouch. There's no good spot on the dashboard to put my phone or even sunglasses. So, what I do is, I keep the glove box open with a yellow cloth inside. That way, I can easily put my phone there. Since the car is not very wide, I can reach the glove box easily and grab my phone while driving without any problems. I just wish there were better places to put stuff in the car.

I used to store my sunglasses on the sun visor.



Boot Space



Narrow Entry to access boot


The 240-liter boot space isn't sufficient for a family on a long trip. Even for a journey with just two people, it fills up fast. I always carry a portable BBQ suitcase and a chimney starter, which already takes up a lot of space. When I add a regular suitcase and other items, the space runs out quickly. I often end up using the rear seat to accommodate some luggage. But, well, you can't expect much more from a compact car and I initially bought it primarily for city driving, but I find myself using it more on the highway than in the city for now.

[raptor_diwan]

Fuel Efficiency

In the city, especially during peak traffic in Chennai around OMR, my mileage drops to a dismal 12 kmpl. In regular city conditions without severe traffic, I typically get around 17-18 kmpl.

On the highway, the mileage improves significantly, reaching approximately 22 kmpl and If I maintain a steady speed of 90 km/h, the mileage goes up to around 24 kmpl.

Look at the milegae in Ghat road


Mileage on ghat road


Number of kms at the time of writing my review - 44510 KM

Usage pattern

I initially bought this car for city rides, and it was intended to be my city ride. However, since the recent purchase, I've taken it on a few long drives, including ghat roads to Yercaud, and the car performed exceptionally well on the highway and even during the climb. Shifting with the AMT has been smooth without any issues.

I expect to drive approximately 1700 kilometers each month with this car.

​Air conditioner cooling & effectiveness

One thing I really appreciate about this car is the air conditioning. It cools the cabin instantly and remains powerful even in the peak heat on the highway. It's highly effective.

[raptor_diwan]

​Cost of upkeep & maintenance

So far, I haven't taken it for any service. Since I bought it from True Value, I get three free services, scheduled at the same intervals as for a new car: the 1st service at 1000 KM, the 2nd at 5k, and the 3rd at the next 5k.

I've reviewed the car's previous service history, and all services were done exclusively at authorized service centers. The last one was at 37k with an engine oil change, so I'm planning the next engine oil change at 45k, and the labor will be free for me.

Had to read through a few articles on Team BHP to decide between normal Maruti engine oil and full synthetic.

Gearshift & clutch (smoothness, effort required, short or long throw etc.)

It has minimal head nod, unlike the noticeable nod in the Kwid that I test drove a few months ago. The ride is impressively smooth, and as someone who typically drives calmly, I find the gearshift to be exceptionally smooth, which I really appreciate.

It performs exactly as I need it to. During overtaking, I don't manually shift gears; it automatically shifts to either 2nd or 3rd gear based on my throttle input and maintains it for as long as I need. If I ease off the accelerator, it smoothly upshifts, meeting my preferences perfectly. I never felt uncomfortable, and I don't miss a manual transmission at all.

Engine

Specs :

- 998 cc, 3 Cylinders DOHC
- 66 bhp@5500 rpm
- 89 Nm@3500 rpm
- 5 Speed Automatic
- Tank Capacity - 27L

Engine View


Close Shots of Engine

[raptor_diwan]

Amazon Accessories :-

I decided to go for Window Zed Black Magnetic Sun Shade Curtains for my car. Being someone who values privacy, these curtains provide 10% visibility from the inside, making the car look completely dark from the outside. Initially, I considered legal tinting for privacy and to keep the cabin cool, but it didn't seem effective. So, I opted for these curtains.

I don't use them while driving in the front window, but they are always fitted in the rear, maintaining visibility during the drive. They work perfectly, and I also use them when parking to enhance privacy.

Handrest from Car Spark.

Added an additional handrest from Car Spark for added comfort during long drives.

Handrest

[raptor_diwan]

A few snapshots

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Reviews section. Thanks for sharing!

Going to our homepage today

[shankar.balan]

Nice review of a nice little car.
Basically seeing these recent reviews of the little S Presso I went across to the nearby Maruti Showroom on Saturday just to sit in an S Presso, the new Alto K10 and the Swift, to re-familiarise myself with these vehicles.
Indeed the S Presso is a cute little runabout. But owing to my 6ft 2 inches height and despite the fact that my seat is pushed back to the maximum, the available space between the top of my head and the roof is millimetric.
You are right about the fact that the sheer compactness of these Japanese Kei cars, makes them bang-for-the-buck perfect for our tight-squeeze streets and roads and parking spaces in our Indian cities, towns and hill stations. Their little engines are vibrant and peppy enough as is their gearing, to take you very comfortably from A to B in a safe, stable, pollution-proof, weather-proof manner.
Those who are so inclined, can become all snobbish and hoity toity with their fancy, expensive, new-age cars and scoff all we want at the humble little ‘Dabba Maruti’ , but the fact glaringly remains that these little vehicles are so much safer and better for the people of our vast, economically-challenged and populous country, than any other option that may exist. No wonder Maruti is so supremely successful in India, even after 40 years at it. They absolutely deserve it in my opinion.

[hothatchaway]

Very nice review, wish you many miles on the cute little Espresso!

Never knew the existence of these aftermarket hand/armrests. Did you buy this online and do you know if it is a universal fit for all small cars?

[Gedaliah]

When this car was launched by Maruti, I was very skeptical about its success. I did not like the body styling at that time. But as time passed and as I see more of these on the road, I have begun to appreciate the practicality of the car and the looks.

Congratulations on the purchase and happy miles. Regarding the headlamp, a simple move to a compatible LED bulb set might help a lot.

[raptor_diwan]

Originally Posted by hothatchaway

Very nice review, wish you many miles on the cute little Espresso!

Never knew the existence of these aftermarket hand/armrests. Did you buy this online and do you know if it is a universal fit for all small cars?

Thank you!!

No, this is not a universal fit. I purchased it directly from Carspark in their physical store. They will arrange a handrest that is specially made for particular cars.

[lemedico]

May I recommend that you do not click while driving? Most of your photos of the speedometer appear to be taken by yourself. At no speed is that justified, or legal!

Regarding the poor headlamps, get a Philips relay and 100w halogen bulbs. The total won't go over ₹1500 and you could DIY install them.

Another recommendation is to add parcel tray strings, so that it goes up with the open hatch.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/diy-d...-cars-too.html (Adding parcel tray strings to a Tiago for Rs. 8 | This method would work for other cars too)

[shancz]

It was a delightful read, good one
You are one of the rare folks who is enjoying the AMT and your driving style would've a lot to do with it. Impressive FE too.

Originally Posted by raptor_diwan

Had to read through a few articles on Team BHP to decide between normal Maruti engine oil and full synthetic.

I hope its settled, if your recommended is 0W20 its fully synthetic anyway. Maruti oils are good enough and made by Castrol/Idemitsu/Indian Oil and you pay for the amount you use which I guess would be 2.9 liters. 5W30 also works for hotter/longer driving and quite popular.

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

No wonder Maruti is so supremely successful in India, even after 40 years at it. They absolutely deserve it in my opinion.

Agree.
To me the primary objective of a car is to take me where I want to and that's non negotiable and that's where they rule. Not just in reliability but also in logistics like spares availability. We do complain about the fog lamps or power window switches being the same across models but the benefit is that it will be available in any corner of the country even if they primarily service only Alto/S-Presso.

OT :
I saw an interview of Mr. Bhargava by Hormazd of Autocar(not linking here to avoid that large video thumbnail).
He said that we have three categories of car buyers in India and each has to be catered differently based on their needs. I don't recall the exact words he used but in essence they are the entry, mid and premium buyers.
I agree with this assessment as most(not all) of the brickbats they get is from mid-level buyers looking at their entry-level cars.