III Selection / Elimination Process: Final Decision III Selection / Elimination Process: Final Decision:
Having Eliminated most of the SUV options and having waited for the Aria, was initially a bit disappointed by the looks. Had seen it earlier, but in
exhibition condition. Wanted to watch it on the road, wanted to checkout the final refinement levels achieved in the production ready lot.
So as soon as the vehicle was announced and the price disclosed, decided to check it out in person, before getting the family involved. Went over to the Wasan motors showroom at Chembur and there it was.
The Aria executives at the showroom were all new, more refined, but also more inexperienced, and I through GTO's review possibly knew more than them about the vehicle.
There was one in the showroom - sardinea Read and one outside on the Road - Pearl White. The Road presence was imposing, the looks were gentle unlike the Safari or the Fortuner. All the mildness on the exterior was done away with in the two tone interiors, the use of brownish black and plum coloured seats and plastics, the vertical brushed steel inserts etc.
The way the tools, and jack were stowed away indicated that there was a fair bit of application to the design. The Gear knob was steady when the car was started.
The Showroom guys let me do a short test drive as well.
Liked the Aria, but what would the family think? Wife had not found even the fortuner to be that impressive compared to the Safari, so will the Aria impress? She was not bowled over with the photographs of the Aria either. Family was not in town, so in the meanwhile checked out the Aria with other showrooms, lined up a back to back test of the Fortuner and the Aria just the day after wife was in town, and had lined up multiple quotes from 3 Tata vendors and checked on the Fortuner for availability or even for booking.
Getting back to the first short test drive - the showroom guys did not rush me at all. They let me take my time. I gave it a proper rip (as is my habbit - drive it in a lower gear than the speed demands - due to safari TCIC habbit) and it was fun and revved well, took it through bad bumps and rough roads and spead breakers at a decent speed and it felt composed and there was not a single rattle to be heard.
The smallish steering wheel felt like that of a car, and as like the computer game steering consoles. It was fun.
Seats were firm and similar but larger than the Laura, and matched the safari for comfort while being firmer, the footwell was smaller than that of the Safari.
Next - The back to back test drive of Fortuner followed by Aria with wife. - Have posted this experience earlier as well in another thread.
Have driven them both earlier, but this was to be with the better half and for a longer period.
Fortuner - Milleneum Toyota Thane
yes the showroom cum service centre appearance was splendid, there was even a section with children's play toys.
The Test drive was for about 30-40 mins followed by a 10 min inspection of the vehicle interiors.
+ves for Fortuner
Built to last - the single biggest +ve
Good Shift quality
Smooth power deliver with evident reserves.
Good AC
Decent Sound
A 15K kms old vehile with no rattles
Dead Pedal - required with this seating position
Minimal engine noise.
Brakes OK in the tested version
See the bonnet from the drivers position- which I like
-ves for Fortuner
Short seating position even at max height for a 6 footer.
All seats though seated higher than in an endy, were still short compared to the Safari sofa Seats, not to comfy
Gear Shifter rattles on start up and even later.
No Features at all.
Boring drive after a short while -gets about the task smoothly but there is/was no excitement.
Excitement levels were even lower in the second row.
Luggage space behind third row was quite less.
No cup holders for the mid row?
Aria
Galaxy Motors - Mulund
1 hr test drive on eastern express highway and in mulund traffic as well, climbing up and down flyovers as well.
The showroom was as grand as that of Toyota with even more display space, but yes a bit cluttered but quite commendable for size considering that the service
centre is elsewhere and that this is a new small dealer showroom.
spent about 20 mins seeing the car and then went for a long drive.
Kid enjoyed himself in both TATA and Toyota showroom.
Wife had been interested in the fortuner seeing that I used to kind of turn my head at times on seeing a fortuner pass by as also due to the fact that I had mentioned regretting not booking it both times the bookings opened, (second time was waiting for the Aria to be released before deciding) Had told wife that I would like to go for the one that we like more irrespective of the price differential of 5L.
+ves for Aria
Feature rich
Evolving ride compared to the Fortuner
Wife felt that the Laura engine and acceleration was similar to that of the Aria and the Fortuner though more powerful seemed less exciting.
Brakes very good,
Height similar to the Safari and Fortuner
Engine revs very well.
The Space for luggage behind 3rd row seats is really usable.
They way the tool kit is laid out is impressive
Auto bonnet release
The stance from the front 3 quarters
The chrome all around if nice and not overdone.
AC - Cools fine
Lights superb
Entry will be a boon for elders compared to all other SUV's
Seat and dash materials impressive.
Feels great to be a Indian seeing the Aria
Black and Plum upholstery
Merc R Class and CRV like rear window downwards swoop
The blackening of the pillars between windows leading to a clean black area look.
Engine sound inside was low, the car was absolutely rattle free, and went over bumps with even lesser feal on the inside.
The Wheel and alloys felt just right.
Reverse Camera, SatNav, the music System, and the screen for these is well integrated.
The steering stalks are well designed.
Butterfly wipers felt nice to have.
Matt Steel Metal feel garnish on doors and dash feels real good.
Lots of feel good parts, like the multiple second row airvents.
Cup holders for every one.
-ves for Aria
Can't see the bonnet - which is actually quite fine, but just a general preference.
Power delivery from odd gears a bit sluggish from the wrong speeds compared to the fortuner but if you are used to turbo diesels it is quite fine, and if you are used to keeping the engine on the boil then this is fun.
Some plastics felt better in the fortuner compared to the Aria on knocking them, especially in not too visible areas.
One does tend to press the steering mounted controls by error during the test but not in normal usage as one gets used to it, but this did not happen in the Fortuner even during test.
The footwell is narrower in the Aria than in the fortuner, but one is seated more errect, it can be a slight issue for some.
Verdict clearly in favour of the Aria irrespective of price, wife just found the fortuner too boring on the inside and on the outside from close the Aria actually felt better due to the richness of the the crome garnish (which is just right and not overdone) and the paint work. Fortuner fell stronger built overall but also felt truck like, the specific 4WD modes would almost never be used in the life time of most users.
So it was to be the Aria for sure after this test. |