VW Vento

VW the name that associates German engineering standards with automobiles has marked its presence in Indian market with their creation that is hailed to be a unison of engineering brilliance and comfort. It is called the Vento.

This C segment sedan has created waves in the Indian auto market by giving a run for the money to its competitors.

Looks

German cars have always been not so aesthetically appealing like the Italians or Japs and this is evident with the vento. The first look of the car gives you the feeling of looking at something different which is away from the recent trend of a flowing body design with smooth curves and edges.

The designers at VW which gives this car its identity, the lines are kept sharp with sharp edges around the front bumper, headlamps, and windows. The grills are relatively small but the chrome lines around the grills and fog lamps give it a complete look. The shape of the side mirrors are very appealing and provide good visibility, the semi clear tail lamps give out a signature style which can be spotted from a distance, this feature is usually seen in high end cars like your BMW's and Audi's. One thing which was seen was the use of chrome but in places where it would best suit the look of the car.

Interior

This is the place where the reagrd for German quality is evident,  the quality of material is superb and the use of high grade plastics and fibre does not give out the feeling of getting underpaid. Matt finished chrome is provided on the door lever, ac vents and the dashboard adds a touch of class to the overall soothing interior. We selected the top diesel variant (high-line) but were surprised with certain aspects like the lack of USB and aux support in the music system, no steering mounted controls.

SpaceMax Arrangement for maximum leg space at rear

The rear end of the car was spacious, with the vento VW has done much more than adding a boot to the polo, they have increased the rear track which provides better seating space and legroom. 

A unique feature here is the presence of a lever behind the front passenger seat which can be used to move the seat forward by the rear passenger. The only area for improvement here is the rear head rest which is not at a comfortable position and the relatively large hump in the rear foot space.










Power Train
VW Vento is equipped with 1.6L DOHC(Double Overhead Cam) 4 cylinder petrol as well as diesel engine. Although the power output for both the engines is same at 105 PS we personally liked the diesel variant for its higher efficiency and torque. The diesel plant packs a 250Nm torque @1500-2500rpm.The heart of the car is kept pretty powerful which is evident from the fact that even if you have five passengers and luggage the car would just tackle those ghats and uphills like a normal road.
The transmission provided is 5 Speed manual with front disc brake s and rear drum brakes. The engine compartment is very well placed which the center of gravity of the vehicle at the right level and position. The power to weight ratio is 0.9 PS/Kg.

Handling

Right from the word go, the car has a well engineered engine and transmission system. The engine is complained to be a bit earsplitting at cold start but for us its like music for our ears. The engine does pack a punch  for those overtaking maneuvers on the highway as well as for high speed drives.

15" alloys provide good comfort and stability

The diesel manual variant did have the turbo lag and the turbo kicks in only after 1900rpm, though the interesting part being the red line is at 5000rpm which is not usually seen for diesel power plants. The road grip is good with the 15" wheels and the steering is very nimble and smooth with a finger slot which in-turn makes it easier to use.

One interesting feature here is the presence of adaptive cruise, when the driver driving in 4th or 5th gear at speeds around 50kmph leaves the accelerator pedal the car will continue to cruise between 40 - 50 kmph. The cruising speed isn't high but its worth for those night drives with loved one(s). The only place were problem was faced was in the working of the clutch, the car is a bit jerky one the clutch is released while driving at lower gears.

Running Cost

VW is offering its Vento in both petrol and diesel variants but due to high petrol costs its is providing lower interest rates for its petrol variants. The mileage of the car was relatively good with 21kmpl on the highway and overall around 17kmpl. The service interval is provided at 15000km / 1yr which is great as no one likes to visit the service station too frequently. The diesel variant gave us a running cost of Rs 7.5-8/ km (incl of depreciation cost)

Final Verdict

VW Vento is a good buy but in case you are looking for more aesthetic features and a petrol car the Honda City or the new Hyundai Verna Fluidic. For diesel buyers it is worth the money but some dealers in big cities are providing a long waiting periods but we were able to get the delivery within 15 days from booking.

- Nitesh Bansal

   TGM Blog

Toyota Etios

      The Toyota Etios is one of the most important vehicles Toyota has ever launched to date. Toyota has been in our market since 2000 and has given us world-class and highly popular products like the Corolla and Innova. But, the Etios marks the start of a new chapter for Toyota, as it is the first car they have launched that caters to the mass market. Like hatchbacks, the sedans in the price range of 6-8 lakhs have also gained exponential popularity these days and sell in large numbers. This pie was far too large and tempting for Toyota to ignore for long, and Etios seems to be the perfect way to share a piece. As this part of the market and car segment, both were in largely unknown territories for Toyota, they went for the most logical and actually best source for help and knowledge...the customers. As a result, every nook and corner of the car seems to be engineered with customer feedback. Has this strategy worked, or will the Toyota brand be a bit too much for this segment? Let's find out...

The Look

   The Etios has been styled in such a manner that most of the people will neither hate it nor love it. It proportions and shape is such that it's exactly what a 5-year old will doodle as a 'car'. Looks wise it's no Linea, but at the same time it's no Dzire either. So again by keeping a large consumer base in mind, Toyota has made sure it doesn't offend anyone. It has a great amount of subtleness to it and spotting it in the opposite lane in fast moving traffic would be sort of difficult. There aren't many distinctive styling features, but the large Toyota 'smiling' grille is clearly noticeable. The overall shape and size do give an insight to all the space inside, especially the boot. Overall an average looking car which looks built for the purpose.

Interiors

   We drove the top-of-the range VX version. So we got the red-black combo seat covers, and red inserts in the door cards. Along with a very sporty looking flat-bottomed steering wheel with audio-controls mounted on it. The entire feel and grip of the steering wheel was amazing, we just loved it! But this is where we think it is flawed. Overall the car has no sporty appeal to it, and from a broader perspective isn't designed to be either. Giving red inserts in the interior not only make nil sense but also looks loud, some other sober colour would have done. The seats don't have adjustable head-rest but have been engineered perfectly, despite being thin (thus saving precious space) they manage to be very comfortable. 


 
Space is one place this car is a notch up. Even after the front seats pulled all the way back, there is ample of space behind and 3 adults could sit very easily. The plastic quality is not something to write home about, but is acceptable. The dashboard is a bit out there, with AC vents in the centre placed to cool the rear of the car. And they do the job rather effectively. 

The placement of the dials in the centre of the console is not new but the layout was disappointing. The tachometer was very hard to read while driving and the dials look rather like a sticker than actual physical gauges. 



 

The boot is incredibly large with 595 litres of space this is 155 litres more than the Dzire!! Heck, it's even larger than the Corolla's boot! But it could have been utilized in a better manner with a more uniform design. What we sorely missed inside were basic features like electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors, height adjustable seats and speakers (only front speakers are provided).

Powertrain

   The Etios is powered by a 90PS 1.5 litre petrol engine. This much power is sufficient enough for the car, as it weighs merely 930 kgs. It's almost 80kgs less than the Dzire, which not very heavy itself. But what compliments its low weight is the plenty of torque this engine has. Pulling in higher gears from low speeds is a breeze, and it's these in-gear acceleration times where it blows away the competition. Thus it has great drivability in traffic conditions and highway cruising too. But despite this, the engine doesn't seem to be built for the red-line crazy enthusiasts. It has a pretty low 6000 rpm rev limit, and gets pretty vocal at high revs. Cost savings in the sound-proofing materials maybe? The engineers at Toyota have done a good job in tuning the engine towards efficiency as it easily returns 12-17 kmpl in city traffic and highway cruising.

Handling and Ride

   The Etios is aimed at the family man, who goes from point A to B. But if you are a family man who loves to attack the corners with the ferocity of a bulldog in heat, this car will disappoint you. There is a large amount of body roll which doesn't inspire confidence in the corners at all, and the electric power steering accentuates the disability of taking corners enthusiastically. But to be fair, this was expected. By sacrificing sporty handling Toyota has gained where for the average consumer it matters most, ride comfort. And frankly speaking at the end of a tiring day, one doesn't want a bone jarring sharp handler but a comfortable cruiser that feels as if it's floating. The Japanese suspension takes all the rough patches pretty well and also manages to sustain its composure at high speeds. Though the sportiness has been compromised, it is a very satisfying suspension setup overall. 

Running Cost

   The ownership cost any Toyota product is one such point on which it has stolen the market from its competitors. An Etios would give a mileage of around 12-13 kmpl and the average running cost runs around Rs 6-7 per km  (based on our calculations) depending the way one drives. All in all a godd buy if you are a city commuter.

Final Word

   
 

The Etios is car that has been tailor made for India. It encompasses all the values and attributes a class leading Indian sedan should have. It scores high on space, efficiency and comfort. It has been priced very aggressively and also has the Toyota brand backing it. It is quite clear how Toyota have managed to give such incredible value for money; there are obvious cost-cuttings. But the corners have been cut at places where frankly, it doesn't matter much. There are small issues, but none are grave enough for you to regret spending your hard earned 7 lakhs. It is when you take a step back and look at the Etios intently; you realize how sensible, well thought out and practical this car is. So if you are looking for a no-nonsense entry level sedan, look no further the new  Logan, oops I mean the Toyota Etios is built for you!

TGM TIP:

  If you are going for the top of the line VX version, we would recommend you to go for the V version instead. The only difference in V and VX is that you get red inserts and seat covers, side skirts and the audio control mounted steering wheel, and a price difference of nearly Rs 50,000. But if you too have fallen in love with the steering wheel, you can get a similar aftermarket wheel without spending half a lakh, and can avoid the garish red!

Written by- Gaurav Singh
Editing & Inputs- The Grease Monkey Blog Team
Photography – Tejas Kudtarkar

The Mercedes-Benz R-Class

     A few months back sometime in October this year, Mercedes-Benz launched their R-Class in India. There were a few reports here and there but soon the media frenzy died out and the car went into the magazine's last page car listings. So you might be wondering now, what is the point of this article!

     Well you might have noticed from the images, that this car as no ordinary Merc sedan but a pretty huge MPV. If you are unknown to the term MPV, it stands for Multi-Purpose-Vehicle. Innova and Xylo fall under this category. But this isn't your ordinary people carrier; it's an ultra luxury vehicle which costs almost Rs. 60 lakhs. So this costs a bit more than your average luxury sedans like E-Class and almost comes in the X5 like luxury SUV range.


   The people, who spend this kind of moolah, go with either luxury sedans or luxury SUVs that I have mentioned above. Keeping this in mind let's face the facts. The guy that is spending this much, is almost all of the times a family man, with a nice business or something of that sort. The sedan would give him 5 super comfy seats and a decent boot. If he craves for more space, he can go for the SUV. But that would also mean that he would be shelling out an extra premium for the off-road abilities of the SUV. And it is well known fact that these premium SUVs rarely and almost never get to see the muck and mud of a hardcore off-road track.


   This is where I feel the R-Class hits the sweet spot. It has proper 7 seats, more than ample space and is expected to be at least as if not more comfy than the regular E-Class. It is not as bulky as the SUV, thus manoeuvring in the city traffic wouldn't be a headache. But a corporate head honcho would prefer the subtle looks of a sedan or a menacing SUV, to what basically is a minivan; but I feel this car has a certain cool-factor to it. It is a kind of a niche product. The only downside I see to this amazingly practical vehicle is that despite having a marvellous petrol V6 that gives up to 13kmpl with the help of fuel saving 'blue-efficiency' tech, these segments deserve and rather thrive on diesels. If Merc could get one of their beautiful diesel engines and manages to assemble the car locally, this would further sweeten the deal. This car at around Rs. 40-50 Lakhs would just be sinful!
                          
- Gaurav Singh