The Baleno replaces our 8 year old and 1.13L kms run Figo TDCi as our daily driver.

BHPian mi2n recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have just had about 20 days with my Zeta AGS and all of 1400 kms on the ODO. This included a 600+ km small round-trip to a nearby tourist spot. Before i proceed to give my opinions on the car, please appreciate that I have never had any automatic cars before and neither have we had very quick/agile cars in our garage. I enjoy driving when I am not rushing.

Office commutes(city drives) - This is why the Baleno AGS has been purchased in the first place. A 60km daily commute in peak work hours amidst maddening and unruly traffic. So, ease of use, comfort and fuel economy were the only parameters considered. Infact, we upgraded our booking from an Ignis Alpha AGS. The Baleno replaces our 8 year old and 1.13L kms run Figo TDCi as our daily driver. The Figo has been designated to a more relaxed life now. During the wait from booking to delivery, my TUV300 was put to use for daily commutes. It is otherwise earmarked for our road-trips only.
Now, in a nutshell, the Baleno is sheer pleasure in city traffic. Yes, it is a bit slow to roll from a standstill compared to my torquey diesels, but for most of the commute the sheer ease and comfort it provides is nothing short of pampering. The cabin is well insulated and the car is extremely refined. With most of your work off-loaded to some electro-mechanical wizardry, which is not jerky at city speeds at all, I absolutely do not feel tired or irked at the day end now. The cabin also has this strange feel good factor to it. It is also returning in the range of 15-16 kmpl for city commutes which is as per my expectation from this bulky hatchback. The suspension is also superbly tuned. I call it the "comfortable yet not compromised" tune. My dad disagrees, he says our Etios sedan is more comfortable, the Baleno is a close second. As a fellow BHPian friend told me few months back, there is a learning curve for driving all types of automatics. I am getting a hang of it, quicker than I thought.

Highway and village roads - Honestly, I was not expecting much from the Baleno on the highways. But it has so far, far exceeded my expectations on most parameters. It is super stable in straight lines and you can actually chuck it once in a while onto the next lane. It won't complain or make you mumble to yourself - don't do it again. I drove mostly between 80-100 kmph on the toll roads and between 60-80 kmph on the State highways and village roads. At those speeds, you feel cocooned nicely and the brilliant suspension tune does not make you nervous for once.The only thing that would bother you would be the tyre noise seeping in the otherwise absolutely calm and quiet cabin. Braking is quick and precise. If you get bored and floor the A pedal, you are greeted with a throaty growl and 6k rpm up-shifts. In 3rd gear, 100 kmph comes up quite effortlessly. I wanted to hear the alarm buzzing for 120 kmph, so I floored it and got there in 3rd gear itself. Again, no drama getting there or stopping afterwards. I am yet to use the M mode.
But, in certain situations, like you change lanes to overtake a truck while in 5th gear at 70-80 kmph and tap the A pedal that little bit harder, the car shifts down to 4th and there is a momentary lull in delivery of power. Would get you to think, you could have completed the overtake without the downshift. This caused some discomfort for few times till I learnt to live with it or deal with it. Even at times, you are cruising at 70 kmph in 5th and going up a very slight incline the car would, for some reason which I am yet to figure out, shift a gear down.

That said, the shifts are actually smoother and quicker than many drivers I have come across. Off-course, it is noticeable for say 1st to 2nd and 5th to 4th. But unless you are keenly looking for it, you will miss most of the shifts, the passengers, even more so. Did I mention, the suspension is super silent?

Ok, next up. Ample ground clearance. Coming from the TUV, I started very apprehensively. Specially those lorry spec bumps on the village roads. No issues for the Baleno at all.

And if you want to leisurely cruise on the highways at 80-90 kmph all day, you will be greeted with magical figures of fuel consumption on the MID. BHPian Dip27in who accompanied us on the trip remarked - it is actually sucking fuel from cars around it.

Finally, yes, I do feel the Baleno is overpriced. But so are all cars these days. But it sure is a nice, comfortable and premium hatch to drive or be driven in.

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The accident was so severe that everybody at the nearby clinic was terrified by the sound of the impact.

BHPian Sidharth Sankar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello fellow BHPians,

As this thread is regarding my dad, please let me walk you all through his garage. My dad owns a Classic 500 EFI (2017) and a 2011 Honda Activa which he bought just after retiring from his 20-year-old service with the Indian Army.

He uses the RE for highway runs and touring purposes and otherwise, uses the Activa and which is why it has clocked a healthy mileage of approx 90k km despite the odometer not working for 2 and a half years. Yes, the scooter was starting to show its age and obviously, there were rust issues but the engine was still smooth as butter (quite typical for a Honda).

My dad had initially thought of giving it up a year ago but the showroom offered a very small amount which is quite okay considering the age and condition but he thought "why don't we restore it? ". And he did which ended up costing more than double the amount the showroom offered. It was a complete overhaul and after the restoration, it was looking and riding as good as new. The paint job was changed to gloss black from sky blue. All of our family members had a good attachment with the Activa, especially me and my mom, as we both have taken the baby steps of motoring in it.

So the incident happened roughly a month ago. My father had gone to buy groceries mid-afternoon. The store is just a km away from our house. Being this time of the day there was not much traffic (our area is semi-urban). He was wearing his helmet as always as he is strict about this. He has always told me to wear my helmet regardless of how far or near I was riding to.

So coming back to the topic, on the way at about half a km from our house there is a small clinic. The road bends towards the right and is comparatively narrower at that particular spot. While my father was on his way, just after this small bend there was a Mahindra Tourister (contract carriage) making a U-turn. This spot has been widely used by these tempo drivers as they run a parallel service in our area and the neighbouring ones. My father slowed down to the left side of the road and came to a stop waiting for the Tourister to clear off. He could have taken the risk and overtook it but chose not to do so as he was in no hurry and due to the above-said characteristics of the road at that point. The next thing he hears is a big sound of a crash and as he opened his eyes he was lying on the road with his helmet on his head (luckily).

My father says he was not able to recall what had happened at the moment. He tried to get up at first but couldn't as his legs failed. Soon two staff members from the clinic rushed to the scene with a structure and gave him first aid. He only suffered minor skin peeling but the real damage was to his lower back. At the same time me, my mom and my father's brother rushed to the clinic and took him to a better multi-speciality hospital as advised by the doctor at the clinic in an ambulance. All of us including the doctor at the clinic were a bit worried about the condition of his spine (he is 51 now and an injury like that would be hard to recover from at this age) but luckily didn't crack. The hospital ran all the tests and the only major injury was a hairline fracture to the lumbar spine and severe bruising to his sacral area.

Analysis of the accident

My father couldn't recall what had happened. From what we could recall from the accident spot was that a Baleno had hit him from behind. The accident was so severe that everybody at the clinic was terrified by the sound of the impact. The car then dragged the scooter with it and only ended up stopping colliding with the rear end of the Tourister. My father luckily didn't get sandwiched in between the vehicles (picture attached at the end). The front of the Baleno was completely demolished, the airbags were blown up and the engine bay also suffered huge damage. For our Activa it was over (almost), it was completely totalled. The Tourister only suffered minor damage.

I was all heated up at the spot of the accident. The main thing which made me mad was the initial conversation with the driver of the Baleno. Yes we all are human and we make mistakes, but what does it take to apologise for them. During the entire conversation, he didn't even apologise once and regardless of being his mistake completely, he started giving me excuses. Below is the conversation between me and the driver in Malayalam translated to English:

• Me - How fast were you going?
• Driver - Can't you see the road, how fast do you think I can be. I wasn't over-speeding.
• Me - From the look of the spot and the vehicle conditions you were doing so.
• Him - What happened has happened. No one would do it intentionally.
• Me - Intentionally doing so would end up being as a case of murder.
• Driver - 'Awkward silence'. You have insurance?
• Me - So if you have insurance can you go on over-speeding and ramming onto other traffic?

At this moment I lost my control and walked away from there or my fist would have ended up in his face. I then along with my family proceeded to take my dad to the hospital. Meanwhile, the police had reached at the spot.

A day later we came to know what had happened actually from the CCTV footage of the clinic. The driver of the Baleno tried to overtake both my father and the Tourister (mind you, it's quite a blind spot and you can't see the oncoming traffic properly). He failed to do so due to the oncoming traffic and instead of ramming straight into the opposite vehicle, he steered left ending up in ramming into my dad. My dad was thrown up to quite some height from the Activa and first fell on the bonnet of the Baleno and then on the tarmac. Being a dabba Baleno, the bonnet took quite an impact from my dad's fall (if it was a German or a Tata I wouldn't be surprised if his spine cracked at the first impact itself). He did hit his head on the tarmac but the helmet saved him. Some people also had the opinion that the driver was busy talking to the passenger (there were two) which could have distracted him.

Some things I learnt

• Never overspeed, especially on two-lane roads.
• Be extra careful while going through unknown roads. (This car guy was from another district). Also, he was not an experienced driver (came to know from himself later) and the car was just a year old.
• If you end up causing an accident, instead of giving stupid explanations just apologise. A simple 'sorry' might make a huge difference.

I do have one question though and please share some info regarding this - Our Activa only had third-party insurance because the insurance company (New India I think) couldn't give first-party due to the fact that the scooter was over a decade old and had run close to 1 lakh km. So is there any way where we could claim the insurance as it was entirely the other guy's fault? We are already in the process of a police case. So will the car guy's insurance company pay for the loss of our scooter? Thank you.

During the initial days of my driving lessons, my instructor once told me "while on the road driving/riding, consider the rest of the people on the road both on vehicles and on feet as madmen. Nowadays that's the only way you can stay safe. Always be prepared for anything. No road is safe enough." I laughed then but now I think what he said was in fact true.

Thank you everyone for reading. Please excuse me for the long post. Ride safe. Cheers.

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I have replaced the stock brake pads with high-performance EBC brake pads. The difference is noticeable.

BHPian amvj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

52K KM Baleno Petrol manual updates:

The car is now 4yrs and 7months old.

Replaced the OEM tire with MRF Perfinza. I have upsized the stock from 195/55R16 to 205/55R16. There is a noticeable drop in acceleration, but there is an improvement in braking, which is what I was looking for.

More details

Changed the front disc pad from OEM to EBC brake pads. The difference is noticeable. I highly recommend changing the stock to these brake pads.

More details

Today I noticed there was a low battery symbol for the key fob. So I changed the cell for both of them. This is the second time I am replacing the cell on the key fob.

Cost: Rs 212

A year ago I have replaced the fog lamp of the car with the iPHCAR projector lamp. These are quite a lot more powerful. These make the headlight appear like a fog lamp. I am using it only when there is a barricade / blockade on the other side of the road and on empty highways. I don't want others to get blinded by the light.

Stock fog lamp

Some plastic bits in the bumper have to be cut to accommodate these aftermarket fog lamps, but this makes going back to the stock fog lamp bit of a challenge. These bits were essentially holding the OEM fog lamp.

iPHCAR projector fog lamp

Bought them from here - Link 1, 2

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My car is 2-year-old & the whining noise during acceleration and deceleration (without braking) has increased.

BHPian lxskllr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Got my CVT transmission oil and filter replaced at Maruti Suzuki Service (MSM) Okhla, Delhi.

This post is for those who wish to get their oil & filter replaced, although the manual does not have a service interval.

My Baleno CVT Delta has covered 40K+ Kms in 2 years, and I wanted to get the CVT oil replaced. The whining noise during acceleration and deceleration (without braking) had increased.

I emailed the ASM of Delhi to understand where I could get this done. During the regular services, the SMs and the QM always insisted that CVT oil needs no replacement, and I can drive worry-free. But I always wanted to get this done for the peace of my mind!

The ASM directed me to MSM Okhla and gave me the contact of an SM stationed there. Please DM me if you need his details. After multiple discussions with him over calls, I gave a go-ahead to order the following parts on my behalf.

• 26572-58MR0 STRAINER ASSY/ FILTER
• 24762-82KA0 GASKET, T/M OIL PAN
• 24823-54LS0 PLUG, DRAIN (OPT)
• 24824-54LS0 GASKET, DRAIN PLUG (OPT)
• 99000-22B63-046, CVT FLUID GREEN-2. Only 1 can will suffice

STRAINER ASSY/ FILTER took around 3 weeks to arrive as they had to ask Maruti to assign the part from the factory. During this time, I asked the appointed SM to get in touch with Maruti to understand how the oil change can be done.

Once all the parts arrived, I drove down to MSM Okhla where my SM was waiting for my car, and he had arranged for a competent mechanic and an empty spot on a hydraulic lift.

A short 5-minute test drive was done prior to the oil change to see if there are any issues with the transmission. Post that the car headed straight to the workshop on the hydraulic lift.

On the floor, I was accompanied by the SM, and the mechanic in charge to carry out the job. The QA manager joined us as well to ensure that this is carried out according to the instructions given by Maruti.

We waited for the transmission to cool down, as I had driven for over an hour to reach the workshop. This time was utilized to remove the engine guard, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery, giving me a download of how the replacement would be carried out and all the parts needed for the job were placed on the workbench.

Apologies, as I do not have pictures of the process, but will try and help with schematics.

Cool-down took complete 45 mins, we helped ourselves with refreshments during this time. Post cool-down, with the car all the way up on the jack, an oil pan was placed underneath the transmission drain hole.

Drain plug (labelled 3) was unscrewed and roughly 2.2 lit of oil flowed out (refer to this for details), one can carry out this partial replacement of CVT oil as well if sourcing the parts is difficult.

Next, all the bolts around the pan (labelled 1) were removed. The team ensured that we unscrew the opposite screws slowly, like how we do for tires. Once you reach the 2 screws, you will observe oil spilling from the pan, do not panic this is normal. Another mechanic held the pan in place and the other unscrewed the final bolts.

Slowly the pan was lowered into the drain oil pan and more oil drained from the CVT transmission.

Next, there will be three bolts holding the oil filter, these were unscrewed, and a little more oil flowed out.

New oil filter was screwed on to the right torque specifications. The pan (labelled 1) was cleaned with a super cleaner (part: 99000M99280). Do note that the pan also has two magnets which collect iron dust, these were also cleaned with super cleaner and placed back on the pan at their original position. Cleaning the pan and the magnets is important as they would have accumulated iron dust from the transmission.

Once the pan was ready, the gasket (labelled 2) was replaced with the new part. All of this was torqued back to the transmission assembly. Post this, the bolt (labelled 3) was replaced with the new one.

The oil in the pan was measured and we made sure to fill in the same amount. Total of 3.4 lit of oil was measured and the same was poured back. The manual states 5.7 lit, but the SM and QM mentioned that this would be needed when they re-build the transmission. Not sure how accurate this is, or there is a step we missed.

Anyways, the negative terminal was re-connected, and the car was left to idle for a good 10 mins. Post this, with foot on the brake, the transmission stick was cycled to P->R->N->D->S multiple times. We also checked the hot level of the transmission fluid, to be double sure. Not needed, as we poured only the amount which we drained.

DTC codes checking was carried out to see if there are any errors – thankfully none. A short test drive was carried out in my presence to see if there are any issues in running. Post this, the transmission was re-checked for oil leaks and engine cover installed back.

The total damage to the wallet including the spare parts and labor was around 10K. I was satisfied with the way the replacement was carried out. The SM & QA were with me throughout the process and ensured that undivided attention was given to my car.

On the way back home, I noticed better pickup from a standstill. Whining reduced to a large extent both when accelerating and decelerating. Worth the time, money, and patience? For BHPians like us – hell yes! I intend to keep 40K as the interval to change the CVT oil.

Here's what BHPian dhruvritzed had to say about the matter:

Even I wanted to change it at the 4 year/35000km mark last year but folks at the service centre where I go are so clueless about regular stuff itself that this kind of job worried me more than anything else. I was sure they'd mess it up with wrong parts, wrong grade of oil or not doing the job at all, they are that bad.

From this time though I'm switching to Platinum Motors Mathura Road since someone I know is heading that, will surely get it done. Thanks for the heads up!

Here's what BHPian targaryen had to say about the matter:

Thanks for this post. I happen to own a Baleno Delta CVT too and my car has run close to 30k Kms in 3.5 years. As of now, I am not facing any noise issues from the transmission. There is brake noise but that is an issue with the brake assembly and not the transmission in my case. I was advised by Nexa Service to not change the gear oil at least till 1 lakh Kms as the CVT has been designed to run longer than that with the factory filled transmission fluid. I am not sure how far this applies to Indian conditions. At the same time, I am hesitant to replace the transmission fluid as the local Nexa or MS Workshop is clueless about the process. I will bookmark your post for the future.

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It is a 2012 model with manual transmission & has clocked 51,000 km but it still drives like a charm.

BHPian Styler recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Dear All,

I have just become a part of the Polo Owners group here.

After my first and only motorcycle, the Yamaha RD350, I have always owned big cars starting from a Contessa - Cielo - Scorpio - Camry - Grand Vitara 2.0 and now a Grand Vitara 2.4.

Recently, I had to sell my Camry and Grand Vitara 2.0 because of the NCR Rule and was left with only a Grand Vitara 2.4.

My wife and daughter, who is learning to drive, insisted that they can't handle a big car and I should get a small car for them. I was looking to buy a Baleno 2022 if it was available immediately. One Nexa dealer even took the payment promising delivery the next day but later backed out and refunded. Whatever happens, happens for the best. Maybe I have got a temporary car valid till 2027 and we will switch straight to Electric then.

After a lot of ups and downs, I have finally got a good Sky Blue Polo 2012 1.2 Manual Comfortline in stock condition yesterday. It has originally done 51K km. I really loved the Sky Blue color. When I was driving it back home last evening, it really swept me off my feet. It's a hoot to drive, what an amazing pick-up. This thing easily touches 100 in 3rd gear. All my apprehensions of a 3 pot engine are gone. Even the 4 pot new Baleno 2022 which I test drove a few weeks ago would die in shame.

I think it will be a good manual car for a 19-year-old to learn to drive.

I am in the process of getting it up to my level with a few upgrades. I will appreciate getting advice from Proud Polo owners here.

Kindly advise on the following:

• The Polo has the stock 210 stereo right now. The previous owner somehow got a Bluetooth attached which turns on when we switch to CD. It's only to play music off the Phones, not for calls. I want to upgrade to a decent touchscreen system. I would have liked the stock RCD-340 but it seems to be in shortage and is too expensive. I spoke to Ramesh Nagar, the guy from whom Naman got it, he tells me it's not in stock for a few weeks and will cost 28K. I don't think it justifies this cost. The next option would be an Android System. What size of an Android System would fit well in the Polo? Can anybody who has done it share pics?
• Steering Controls. I researched the options and came across some videos of the Steering Control Panel stuck on top of the steering. I somehow don't like the idea. Is it too complicated to replace the steering of the Comfortline with the Steering of the Highline which has steering Controls?
• The Polo Comfortline has central locking controlled by the key. All doors lock and unlock with it. I would like to get a remote-operated central locking system. While researching I came across this video. It seems this guy managed to configure the VW OEM Flip Keys without adding a module in the car. Has anybody tried it? Any idea where this could be done in Delhi-NCR?
• Alloys. The Polo right now has 14" steel rims. Will it be possible to find used alloys at a reasonable cost? What is the size of the alloys and tires that are recommended? Only if we get 14" alloys, can we use the existing tires which are in good condition? How much do you think would be the cost to upgrade to alloys?
• Is it true that it's better to get VW cars serviced at the Authorized Service Centers only? Is it difficult for the neighbourhood mechanics to handle a Polo? I have very good mechanics who were doing the suspension of a Polo GT recently when I visited them. The idea of a Polo started from there. Would anybody be able to advise on a good place for service in South Delhi? Also, recommend a good place to buy Polo parts. I need, for example - the AC vents, and windshield washer fluid bottle cap.

I got the car from an owner only yesterday. I still have to send the Polo for a cleanup and bumper paint to my Denter-Painter. I'm still sharing some pictures here. Will share more pictures when it comes back after a makeover.

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I've installed a reverse camera & a new HU from Alpine. I would be changing all the fluids and filters soon.

BHPian Dr.Naren recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Update

Ferodo brake pads installed

I find these pads super VFM (Rs.800). Good bite, low dust, and adequate fade resistance. I also changed the brake clips and caliper sliding pins. Engineering exponents did the job.

Continental UC6 195/55 R16 installed at rear

Got these tyres a few months back during an Amazon sale, around 6.2k per tyre. I have driven more than 1000 km. Good difference in comfort compared to OE Alnacs. Grip is better too. The front tyres are Yokohama BluEarth, good for another 10k km.

Antenna Rod

The old part was broken. Got the new one from Boodmo. Easy install.

Rear wiper blade

Maruti even sells the rubber strip as a part. I wasn't aware of it then.

Fog lamp bezels

There were minor cracks, super cheap to replace anyways.

Blaupunkt DH05 reverse camera

Bought it online from motorogue (Rs. 2500). Good pricing and super quick delivery too.

Video quality is good. I find it decent enough even at night.

Oh yes, that's a new HU from Alpine . I will post details on the new audio goodies soon.

Current ODO is 46,000+ km. Baleno is my daily drive now in Bangalore. I would be changing all the fluids and filters soon. Decat + resonator delete might be done too. It's good to have a free-revving NA petrol car in the garage, K12 never disappoints and the stock map + XP 95 fuel is an amazing combination.

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Minimal engine noise inside the cabin at idle, but from outside it was noticeably noisier than my Baleno and any other 4cyl petrols for that matter.

BHPian sbm recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Skoda Slavia: A comprehensive TD report:

Background:

I am currently looking for a replacement for my 2015 1.2 MT Baleno. Although the car is perfect for city use, it disappoints on the highway and after COVID, I feel that doing trips to my hometown is easier and more convenient by my own car. With this, started the search for a new car.

Cars test driven earlier:

Honda city 5th gen MT Hyundai Creta diesel & petrol MT, Tata Harrier MT, Renault Duster MT, Skoda Kushaq 1.0MT.

First of all, a big thanks to Singhania Skoda Dhanbad for bringing the car to my home on the very next day I enquired. The SA was really courteous and polite. He also had very good knowledge about the car.

Road presence and looks:

The TD car was a 1.0 AT white color, Style variant. Let me say this first, it looked huge and to complement, it had 205/55/R16 Ceat Securadrive tyres. They filled the wheel well and gave a muscular looks to the car. For reference, the tyres on 5th gen City look thin and low profile, those and Slavia look fat and add to the heft of the car. The car has massive road presence and IMO it can challenge Harrier in this aspect (of course except the height). People looking for a car that stands apart in the sea of CSUVs, this car will meet that particular need.

Interior:

I want to remind that my daily driver is a Maruti Baleno. Now, the dashboard steering and centre console felt premium to me. The touch of glossy black here and there added to the feelgood factor. Seats were dual tone with biege/black leather upholstery and looked somewhat dull in my opinion. Not that it was of poor quality but had the black been darker and white instead of biege, it would have looked better. Front seats were comfortable and ventilation function was working well. The rear seats had a semi bucket shape and strictly for 2 adults and a child. 3 adults would be a tight fit. Headroom was adequate for all of us (max height around 5'8" among us). Other parts and plastics quality was better than my Maruti, at par with Creta and inferior to Seltos but the lead in this department is MG Astor. Although I take the word of my fellow BHPians and accept that interior quality has been deteriorated compared to earlier Skodas but IMO, for those who have not owned a Skoda earlier, there is not much to complaint about and the interiors are NOT a deal breaker.

Engine performance:

Please note that there were 4 persons in the car. Myself and another one had a slim build and other two were of heavier build.

On startup, there were dull vibrations in the cabin, barely noticeable, but those used to Maruti/Hyundai 4cyl NA petrols would certainly register. On a slight push to the accelerator, the vibrations increased initially (say upto 1000rpm) and then settled down.These vibrations are of low frequency and amplitude and are not uninspiring. Minimal engine noise inside the cabin at idle, but from outside it was noticeably noisier than my Baleno and any other 4cyl petrols for that matter. Not bothering or uninspiring but noticeable. I feel that the sound complemented the bulky look of the car.

Shifted to D mode and car started moving ahead at 9-10kmph without accelerator input. Push the pedal and there is an instant pickup. I read in the reviews that this auto gearbox mask the turbo lag in 1.0Tsi well and then I experienced it first hand in the Slavia. When I drove the Kushaq 1.0 MT, turbo lag was prominent. In comparison to that, very minimal lag was present in Slavia AT.

I felt that the gearbox was up-shifting a little bit early but the gearshifts were very smooth and quicker than I shift in manual cars during sedate driving. On an open stretch of road it picked up speed quickly to 90kmph. Even at this speed there was no engine noise or any other noise for that matter. Only sport engine grunt when pushed hard. No complaints on engine gearbox front for this particular combo.

Ergonomics and AC:

Please bear with me while I describe my benchmark for evaluating ergonomics of cars.It is none other than my Baleno. You can find a million defects in this car but IMO it is very good (if not perfect) in ergonomics. Massive deal pedal, easy to find driving position, a lots of places to keep your stuff etc. If I drive a new car and don't feel anything odd, I rate it good at ergonomics. For reference let me brief my Harrier TD experience. The moment I sat in the drivers seat of MT model, the utterly bad ergonomics of foot well struck me. I thought what is this? No space at all here? I had to adjust the seat to avoid hitting the knee and being able to press the clutch pedal fully. Also, there was virtually no dead pedal. Same thing happened in MT Duster.

But with the Slavia, I felt right at home. The foot well was wide and even in MT model I feel there would be ample space for dead pedal. There was proper space to keep my phone and wallet, the glove box was big and cooled and door pockets were well shaped and sized. There was a small thing though, the front of the centre console protruded towards the right side and that felt slightly uncomfortable. Later in the ride I was able to easliy adjust my left foot to avoid hitting it. No issues here to report. Air-conditioning worked as expected in scorching summer heat. The touch controls were not to mt taste but they added to the premium factor. Can't comment about rear passenger though.

Ride and handling:

Let's take the bad thing first. I felt that the suspension was stiff. Uneven patches of road with small potholes were felt in the cabin each time. If you compare it with Creta or City, it was considerably more bumpy. If you continuously drive over a bad patch of road for 1-2 km you'll certainly feel the fatigue. May be they made it so to improve the off-road performance of the car. That being said, the composure of the car was not disturbed due to bad roads and while going over speed breakers there was not much vertical movement. So it was kind of a mixed experience. In my Baleno, I drop down to 5kmph over sharp breakers because it throws me up in my seat even at 15kmph but in the Slavia it was not so. It absorbed the speed breakers well. At high speeds there was no floaty feeling and the car felt very stable. People looking for a plush ride over bumpy roads, be ready to be a little adjusting here.

Steering was good. Light at parking, heavy at higher speeds but somehow I felt that it had lesser heft and feedback as compared to Kushaq. It was like a Creta steering but with more feedback. Overall no complaints with steering.

Now, the high GC really worked wonders on recently constructed sky high, steep, suspension wrecking speed breakers in my locality. Though I was cautious, I took the car at a good speed over these breakers with 4 onboard and as expected, there was no contact. Most people move towards CSUVs for their high GC but I am sure if such high GC sedans are launched by all major manufacturers, it could be a turnaround for this segment. People looking towards Creta/Seltos just for some more GC, please do a TD of this car. And No, the high GC doesn't spoil it's looks. This car is a looker.

Build quality:

I know it doesn't matter in actual crash tests but noone can deny that the solid thud from the door is very confidence inspiring. Panels were not easily flexible and gaps were acceptable and consistent. Forgot to try the AC vents. The roof liner was not loose like in Kushaq and all button controls and touch points felt sturdy. No squeaks noises from anywhere. Non- Maruti owners might not be able to appreciate this as much as I do.

A small defect(?) in the TD car:

After after completing the test drive I parked the car and opened the bonet to have a casual look at the engine and my (and more to SAs) surprise I saw a few spots of oil leak (?). It was coal dust mixed with oil at one spot and water at another but I was unable to find the source at that. I have attached the pictures current slavia owners or kushak owners please comment do you see have you seen anything like this in your cars. There is a chance it was something totally harmless because there was condensation from a nearby AC coolant pipe but again it was present on the right side too where there was no such pipe. I remember it certainly had some oil in it but could double check as I was in a hurry. I am not sure that the car had some problem and don't want to discourage a potential buyer. I am just posting this here to know what this is.

Conclusion:

People looking for a car in 15-17 lac bracket with good versatility, road presence and performance can certainly consider the Slavia 1.0 TSI AT. I am not saying MT because I have not taken a test drive of it and in the Kushaq, this engine gearbox combo had prominent turbo lag and I don't like turbo lags. Do keep in mind that this car does not have a very cushy suspension setup and also factor in the quality/availability of Skoda ASS in your area.

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I'm looking for a petrol car as it will be mostly used for very short runs. I already have a Tata Harrier for long road trips with my family.

BHPian professor.march recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello, World!

I'm looking for a new car with an ex-showroom price of under 10 lacs.

It will be primarily a city-based car with occasional highway trips. I also have a Harrier that I'm gonna be using for longer trips with family.

I'm looking for a petrol vehicle because this car is more likely to be used for very short trips say 2-3 km. I'm okay with a manual but prefer a light clutch.

Cars considered

• Baleno Zeta
• Ciaz Zeta

I feel Nexa cars have a decent 2nd to top variant with most of the features covered. And the Ciaz zeta comes at 9.99L ex-showroom saving that 2% extra road tax.

Other cars considered

• Altroz: I feel that 2nd to top variant is missing a lot of features and I have to take the top version pushing the price higher.
• Jazz: Even more expensive than Altroz.
• City 5th generation: Have my heart set on it, but even the base model is 2 lacs costlier than the Ciaz zeta. I'm unsure about getting the City for a 20% higher cost when the Ciaz fulfils 90% of my needs.

Please advise me if I should stick to a hatchback, go for a sedan or consider any other cars.

Here's what BHPian Jatin247 had to say about the matter:

Hello, I would suggest you go with Baleno Zeta. You already have a big car and a small hatchback to run errands in the city would be better than a 4.5m long Ciaz. Baleno is well equipped and also offers good mileage.

I am also in the same boat and have booked Baleno myself. We already have Alcazar and we have to let go of our beloved Dzire due to 10 year NCR rule in Delhi.

Here's what BHPian greenhorn had to say about the matter:

Have you tried the punch? Despite the SUV positioning, it's essentially a beefy Wagon R. And the high-end versions would look and feel very familiar if you have a Harrier.

If you are confused between a Sedan and a Hatch, I think you need to give more details on what your considerations are for buying a car - Taken at face value, the need for city use would logically point to a hatch.

Here's what BHPian Flyer had to say about the matter:

For your mentioned usage it will be better to go for a hatchback than a sedan.

My suggestion will be Baleno or Glanza. Jazz is also a good option, but the fuel efficiency will be less than Baleno.

If you're keen on sedans, look for sub-4ms. Amaze will be a good choice.

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Maruti Suzuki is also gearing up to introduce CNG variants of the Baleno.

Toyota is set to follow the footsteps of its partner Maruti Suzuki and introduce CNG variants of the Glanza. Reports suggest that the launch could be just around the corner.

The new vehicle will be primarily used in the city. I am considering the Maruti Ertiga, Mahindra XUV700 & Hyundai Alcazar.

BHPian tarunbhp91 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The background

We currently own a 2015 Maruti Suzuki Baleno auto. We are looking to upgrade to a 6/7 seater. No major problems with the current car. The criteria are:

• Good safety rating
• Will be mainly used as an urban car so auto (preferably petrol)
• Preferably a 7 seater. Not a fan of the captain seats.
• Budget: 10-20 lakh OTR Banglore (a bit strict budget max. 21 for the right one).

Cars considered

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga/XL6

Where there is a tight budget, there is a Maruti. The Ertiga is the top-selling 7-seater in the market.

Likes:

• The price
• Maruti's less maintenance cost
• Decent mileage

So, as you can see, except for the price and money savings, I did not find the car attractive.

Dislikes:

• Ancient 4-speed TC. (My baleno has a 5-speed CVT)
• According to me, insufficient power (Baleno has 83 hp).
• Top variant does not get auto.
• Poor safety.

XL6 is pretty much the same car, so rejected it as well. But due to the tight budget, Ertiga is still in the race.

Mahindra XUV700

The XUV700 is the car that shook the market with its features and waiting time. It is an absolute gem of a car with its 200 hp petrol engine. Due to my tight budget, I can only go for the AX5 7-seater diesel auto. So the likes and dislikes are of this variant only.

Likes:

• The premium cabin.
• Really good safety rating.
• Have not driven the car so don't know how the diesel will drive.
• Has some tech bites that I like such as the twin display.

Dislikes:

• It does not have a reverse camera!
• Long waiting period.
• Misses out on a lot of small comfort features for a Rs 18.97 lakh (ex-showroom) car.

The other option is to go for the AX7 (Non-L badge) that comes at around Rs 19.51 lakh ex-showroom). But except reverse cam and ADAS, there is nothing much.

My POV on ADAS

I love that Mahindra has bought ADAS to this price range. But IMHO, I think India (Indian roads in particular) is not ready for it. I, for one, think that ADAS, even though helpful to the driver in some scenarios, is harmful in many others. So not shelling out extra Rs 2 lakh for the AX7 L/T/C.

PS: This is my opinion about it from what I have heard about it. If anyone of you thinks otherwise, please correct me.

Hyundai Alcazar

This is the best urban, 7-seater car in this segment (PS: Note, urban). IMO, for a change, I like the front part of the car, unlike many people. Hyundai should have followed the same design at the back too. The back reminds me of the Tata Hexa.

Likes:

• Easier to use in the city compared to others.
• Features like a 360-degree camera, Blind View monitor are pretty good.
• Panoramic sunroof etc.

Dislikes:

• Cramped 3rd row.
• Mediocre engine.
• Mediocre safety rating.

Nothing stands out in the Alcazar but there are not many drawbacks.

Other rejected cars

• MG Hector Plus - Chinese car, very cramped 3rd-row space, MG's aftersales service is still a question.
• Tata Safari - Not exactly a family car, Tata's aftersales service is still a question, Not a VFM at all.
• Toyota Innova Cyrsta - Out of budget, taxi image.

So these are all the automatic cars that are there in the Rs 10-20 lakh bracket. If the Kia Carnes is good then I will add it to my list later.

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