bbc top gear india - august 2015

WWW.TOPGEAR.COM

A Times of India publication

AUGUST 2015 `150 Only

SOPHISTICATED, FEATURE-RICH, ODDLY-NAMED HYUNDAICRETA SMALL SUV YOU MUST HAVE

M6 vs RS7 MERC GLE

VOLVO V40

New S-CrossFROM MASS TO CLASS. MARUTI’S

BIG-ENGINED DIESEL CROSSOVER

HATCHBACK WARSIT’S GERMANY vs JAPAN vs KOREA. IT’S LIKE THE WORLD CUP. OR NOT...

POLO vs JAZZ vs i20

FIGO ASPIRE

Let’s talkA SMALL SEDAN THAT CAN REALLY GO

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T O P G E A R . C O M → A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 0 0 3

ISSUE 120 • AUGUST 2015

“YOU REALISE THE S-CROSS IS THE MOST PREMIUM CAR MARUTI HAS EVER MADE THE MOMENT YOU SIT INSIDE ONE – IT GIVES YOU A PLEASANTLY UNFAMILIAR FEELING”

“Is Maruti an Indian, or a Japanese company?” Someone asked me this simple question recently. Honestly, I had no answer. You could call Maruti a Japanese company because Suzuki Motor Corporation has a controlling stake in it. But, that would not be an accurate answer. The Chinese own Sweden’s Volvo; Britain’s Jaguar-Land Rover belongs to an Indian firm; the Italians at Lamborghini have to answer to the Germans at VW… Maruti might be owned by the Japanese, but it appears to be every bit an Indian company because it makes cars that are just so right for India. Despite the presence of over a dozen carmakers, which want to flourish in the exact same segments Maruti operates in, it is ingrained in our psyche. But, things are changing fast at Maruti Suzuki. Until now, every time I got inside one, it felt familiar. The design, switches and controls, or maybe, just the typical smell of their cabin plastics… it was all too familiar. In fact, I remember exiting the Ciaz with an “It is a Maruti’ feeling. The S-Cross, though, will change all that. The company is trying new things under a new leadership. One of them is an all-new line of ‘luxury’ dealerships that will sell the S-Cross and other premium models that will follow. Whether that’s a good idea or not is debatable. But, Maruti is trying to break out of a perception of not being able to operate in the luxury segment. The S-Cross is the most premium car it has ever built in India. Of course, it is luxurious compared to other Maruti cars. And, you realise it the moment you sit inside one. It seems to be pleasantly unfamiliar. Yes, some switches and controls are the same, but if someone changed that logo on the steering wheel, you’d be hard-pressed to tell if it’s a Maruti or not.

The Maruti logo that once adorned your 800 is being slowly replaced by Suzuki’s ‘S’. But, I’m still not sure if Maruti Suzuki is turning into a Japanese company. The S-Cross could well be a brainchild from any part of the globe. It’s a sign that car companies will soon morph into MNCs. The ‘world’ is our new country.

GIRISH KARKERA, CHIEF COMMUNITY OFFICER & EDITORTwitter.com/karkeragirish

MAGZTER COPY

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: HIMANSHU PANDYA

FEATURES

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062

Volvo V40Sexy, quick and value for money. And you thought only Germans could make those kind of cars

Huracan vs AMG GT SMerc’s skunkworks has built an explosive supercar, but is it a match for the monster from Sant’Agata?

Mercedes GLEThe M-Class answers to a different name now, but it possesses the same strengths that made it such a hit

RS7 vs M6 GCFour doors, massive engines, immense firepower: this battle between two almost-supercars is epic

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070Maruti S-CrossMaruti is serious about changing its brand image. Say hello to its new ‘premium’ crossover

Ford Figo AspireThe fastest growing segment – compact sedans – gets another player. And, this one looks promising

Jazz vs Polo vs i20Three premium hatches go head-to-head. Blood will be shed. Sit back and enjoy

062A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M0 0 4 MAGZTER COPY

A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M0 0 5

T O P G E A R . C O M → O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 0 3 3T O P G E A R . C O M → O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 0 3 3

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW CARS THIS MONTH

01 Company descriptionJust who are you dealing with here? The low down on the company behind the automobile.

02 The TG RatingSimply translated: how good is the vehicle in numbers? Out of say, 10?

03 Price in your cityIndicative ex-showroom prices. On-road for Mumbai and Delhi. Accurate at the time of going to press.

04 India SalesDon’t just go by what we write. See how fellow buyers treated the company in the recent past.

05 TG �ChoiceChoosing the right variant can be confusing. It’s not necessarily the cheapest one. . . or the diesel.

06 More stuff to readAdded insight into the world of TopGear via these little oases of slightly grumpy opinion

07 Fuel efficiency‘Average kitna hai?’ The real-world figure for real-world situations.

08 DimensionsMaking sure you know if your car will fit in your parking slot. Yeah, that’s going to be important too.

THE GUIDE TO USING OUR GUIDE

*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi ●✔ Yes ●✖ No ●■ Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide

Price FeaturesNumbers

TOP GEAR NEW CAR GUIDE

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T O P G E A R . C O M O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4 169

LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 6/10EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 13.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ 6/10VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.09 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/10VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 16.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/10

XE 1.2 P 4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/10XM 1.2 P 5.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XT 1.2 P 6.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10XE 1.3 D 5.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/10XM 1.3 D 6.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XT 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

Hybrid 29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/102.5l 25.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

JS 12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/10G 13.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10GL 15.58 17.65 15.60 18.64 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10G (CVT) 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.23 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10V L 17.09 19.36 17.11 20.44 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10D-4D J 13.27 15.02 13.29 16.10 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/10D-4D G 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.49 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10D-4D GL 16.88 19.12 16.90 20.48 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10D-4DJS 13.84 15.67 13.86 16.79 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10

J 5.35 5.46 5.40 6.64 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 4/10G 5.89 6 5.96 7.25 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●■ ●■ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 4/10V 6.61 7.22 6.65 8.04 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/10VX 6.99 7.72 7.04 8.49 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/10GD 6.97 7.30 7.04 8.58 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●■ ●■ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 4/10VD 7.68 8.39 7.73 9.38 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/10VXD 8.07 8.90 8.12 9.85 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/10

Safari Storme: Big, heavy, ponderous and somehow likeable. Colossal comfort, great off-road ability.

TG Choice: VX 4x4 as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain.L: 465cm W: 193cm H: 192.2cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour

Tata ZestTata’s taken its time, but it has now rolled out a compact sedan that will make waves in the market

Tata’s much-delayed compact sedan, the Zest, has finally arrived, and it has come prepared for a fight. It has a proper boot, but it’s still under four metres, which means

it vaults over excise duties. Features are distributed evenly, but alloys are standard on even the base model! Now the cheapest diesel automatic saloon you can buy in India.

NEW

ENTRY

Zest: A compact sedan available with a turbo-petrol motor, and an automated manual ’box, but only with a diesel engine for now

TG Choice: XMA as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy.L: 399.5cm W: 170.6cm H: 157cm Boot: 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire

TG Awards: -India sales in 2013: naFor full listings and data please visit:www.topgear.com

Company description: Massive world-player but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening numbers.

TOYOTA Dealers 152 Warranty na Website www.toyotabharat.com

Camry: The handsome new Camry is fast and spacious, and has a great cabin. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The Hybrid is you want low running costs.L: 482.5cm W: 182.5cm H: 148cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata

Corolla Altis: The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refi ned, comfortable businessman’s sedan.

TG Choice: The diesel GL would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.L: 454cm W: 176cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

Etios: Made not to excite but just smack you with the practicality and comfort of a Toyota.

TG Choice: The V should be just fi ne as this car is for people who put logic over excitement.L: 426.5cm W: 169.5 cm H: 151cm Boot: 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift DZire, Mahindra Verito

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ENGINE Engine configuration – either V, W or F (flat), otherwise in-line – plus the number of cylinders and capacity in cubic centimetres.

POWER (BHP) Engine’s maximum power output in brake horsepower. (Hybrid cars show combined elec/fuel bhp figure)

TORQUE (Nm) The engine’s peak torque figure – measured in Nm.

0–100KPH Our very own test time in seconds to reach 100km from a standing start.

TOP SPEED As the title suggests, the fastest a car can go.

SAFETY & GADGETS

BLUETOOTH For you to know if you can pair your smartphone to your new car ●PARKING AID Parking sensors Reverse camera

* indicates ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi

●✔ Yes ●✖ No ●■ Optional




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THE TOPGEAR NEW CAR & BIKE

DDUUII EEGG

105–136All you need to know about the best cars on sale today. Your car

not there in the list? Sell it, and buy a new one, then...


NEWS PL ANET TOPGEAR DRIVES

34

Le MansWe witness the greatest endurance race on earth… from the pits

Sriram NarayananOn what’s common between a cheetah and a manual gearbox

Shreenand SadhaleHow many bikes is too many? Wrong question, but he has the right answer

Abhishek MishraInvestigates the unique phenomenon of pothole farmers

The Big InterviewTopGear TV’s new face on the world’s most challenging job

Options ListThe latest Nike sneaker, a biggish Breitling and more shiny things

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Hyundai CretaEverything you need to know about Hyundai’s latest take on compact SUVs

Merc GLCOut goes the boxy GLK, in comes the more rounded, more upmarket GLC

Ford EverestIt’s almost here, and it will worry the likes of the Fortuner

Design of the timesThere is more to car sales than meets the eye. Or, is there?

Chevrolet CruzeThe next generation of Chevy’s stonker is a class act

Audi A4The new A4 is no longer the entry-level Audi. It’s gone upmarket

Maserati returnsIt’s official: the Trident makes a comeback, and we are overjoyed

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Driven/ridden this month…Volkswagen Vento Cup 46

Volvo XC60 R-Design 48

Yamaha Saluto 49

Renault Lodgy Stepway 50

Audi RS7 51

Maruti Celerio Diesel 52

HAMMOND 08 MAY 09

REGUL ARS


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Two stories stood out for me in your last issue. The Audi RS6 Avant, and the car thieves story. Both of them were well written, and reading them, I got an idea of what it was to drive the monstrously powerful station wagon and the challenges faced by the police when it comes to tackling car theft. About the RS6 Avant, I don’t share the writer’s optimism about it, possibly, opening up a new segment. While the Indian car buyer has matured, I don’t think he/she would spend crores on a car such as the RS6. It might be a crazy car, and a thoroughly entertaining one at that, but the station wagon is essentially built for a particular kind of lifestyle. And, Indians are not the adventurous sort. (Those who are the outdoorsy kind, of course, don’t have the means to buy one of these things.) Purchases that cost over a crore are usually made by rich businessmen, or their sons, and while they are some who love their cars, and know them, it is most often just another way to impress clients, or the car is a prop that guarantees the next big deal, or impresses prospective in-laws. Now, all of the

above people might notice that the RS6 Avant is an Audi, but I would think that an A8, or an RS7 will be better at the job. I would be surprised if Audi India manages to sell more than five units of the RS6 Avant. Kunal Maladkarvia email

We need more bikes such as the Benelli Trek Amazonas. It is motorcycles like these that can put the joy back into riding. I’m done with motorcycles that are equipped with a million guardian angels, are fast, some of them insanely so, but riding them feels like riding a washing machine. They lack soul. Motorcycles such as the Amazonas, on the other hand, are what motorcycles should be: a robust engine, an able suspension, two wheels. That’s all you need to get out of your home and get going. Ramesh Narayanvia email

The Honda Jazz has really spiced up the premium hatchback segment. In photos - both in the magazine and the many hoardings that I have seen - the car looks spectacular. I hope it is the same in the flesh, too. Happy to note that interiors aren’t a total letdown, and that Honda has paid more attention to cabin detailing. I have owned every successive model of the City and miss the go-kart-like character of the 1.5 VTEC. From your report it is clear that the Jazz can easily take in a more powerful unit. Please ask Honda to make a hot hatch of the Jazz.Vishal GoradiaAhmedabad

Street Smart-Street Safe http://tinyurl.com/p4sp3rh

TG Exclusive: Yamaha R3 and MT-320 heading to India soon http://tinyurl.com/olt7mo2

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WHAT OUR READERS THINK OF THE FORD FIGO ASPIRE

I feel other than the grille, Ford has not kept enough chrome

content in the design, which makes the design look incomplete. The interior design, too, lacks punch.

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“I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. BUT IT WAS THE BRAKE, BECAUSE THE BRAKE IS ON THE RIGHT”

he plunge has been taken and, more than endure it, I enjoyed it. I’ve owned my vintage Lagonda for months now, written about it in these pages, in fact. It’s a glorious old thing with

a supercharged engine, headlamps that threaten shipping, a gigantic steering wheel you could hang chairs and paying passengers off, that sort of thing.

Having bought it at auction, I awaited its arrival with the anticipation of a kid on Christmas Eve. And it did not disappoint, sailing into my drive on the back of a trailer. I admired and cherished every blemish and scar its 80-year life had etched onto its massive frame. I cleaned it, sat in it and rehearsed the many moves involved in starting it.

Only I’ve never actually got around to driving it. What with one thing and another – and there have been a few – the poor old thing has lounged about in the shed waiting patiently to be shown the light of day. And shown the light it was, this week.

One of those awkward confluences of timings and company meant I could not hide from a visiting James May that the Lagonda was ready for collection. And, in one of those insane moments when you say the thing you’re trying not to say, I suggested we got a taxi over there and drove the old girl back. I figured I was safe in making this bold challenge because, despite appearances and his own considerably advanced age, James May is gloriously grumpy when it comes to old stuff. But, to put the icing on this day’s turd cake, James unexpectedly replied that he’d very much like to go and do it. No choice then. Gotta go.

It was at the workshop because I had uncovered some minor bodgery around the wiring at the battery, and I sent it away to Rob, who specialises in ancient cars. It sat now on his ramp. He went through the many procedures involved in coaxing it into life, and I nearly jumped out of my socks when the thing started and sat there making car noises.

Rob backed it off the ramp, parked it and wished James and me good luck on the way home.

I knew what to do to start it; I’d read the handbook and practised the moves. But I’d practised them alone. As when engaging in other things more commonly practised alone, I would rather have been without company at this point. And certainly without the company of James May. With shaking hands, I tweaked the controls to set the magneto and fire up what limited electrics are on board, gave a couple of pumps on the fuel primer, retarded the ignition, hit the button and, blow me, it started up again.

Once it’s running, it operates like pretty much any other car. The wheel operates the steering, the clutch is worked with the left foot and the horn is in the centre of the steering wheel. The only deviations are that the gearlever is on the right... and one other thing, the accelerator and brake pedals are swapped over, so the accelerator is in the middle and the brake is on the right.

I pulled away and realised from the noise as I went for second that it’s a crash gearbox. I lifted my left foot off the clutch and put my right foot on the accelerator. But it was the brake, because the brake is on the right. We were going slowly, the brakes are not carbon-ceramic and James didn’t notice.

We hit the road. I concentrated on where the brake is. Which is on the right. We gathered

speed. And we gathered it especially well going downhill. There was a bend at the bottom of the hill. I saw it, but was only really aware of my right foot, twitching and jerking over the pedals. My foot was, I think, having a nervous breakdown. People talk of the “body brain”, the idea our body thinks and processes events unconsciously, reacting and moving under its own control. I instructed my foot, sternly, that the brake is on the right. And we made it through our first bend. James, at the critical moment, reminded me the brake is on the right. I thanked him for it. As the miles passed, I grew more accustomed to driving something which sounded and felt like a runaway furniture shop. But above all else, I concentrated on where the brake is. Which is on the right.

We made it home. And both enjoyed our drive immensely, having taken turns at the wheel, from where James turned out to be irritatingly skilled at seamless gearchanges but needed a number of reminders along the way about where the brake is.

I’ve taken the car out on my own since that drive. Which went ok, but for the lack of a passenger to remind me where the brake is. As familiarity with the machine grew, I entered the dangerous period where you stop thinking consciously and allow the body brain to do stuff for you: dangerous in this instance because my right foot was feeling the middle pedal, assuming it to be the brake. Which it isn’t: the brake is on the right.

So I concentrated on commanding my inner voice to chant over and over again that the brake is where it is. Which is on the right. Unfortunately, this worked in the same way as when I am given directions. I tell myself to listen because this man is telling you where to go and you need to know. By which time he has finished and all I’ve heard is my inner voice telling me to listen. The answer is, probably, customisation. The Lagonda’s steering wheel is large and has room for a sign, which I am going to have made featuring a simple phrase... “The Brake is on the Right.”

RICHARD’S BEEN ON A MISSION TO COLLECT A LAGONDA IN DISTRESS. AND, HE’S TAKEN JAMES ALONG FOR THE RIDE

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“HAMMOND BECAME QUITE ANNOYING, BUT HE IS ANNOYING ANYWAY, AND I DON’T MIND HIM BEING ANNOYING WHEN THE FLIP SIDE IS THAT I DON’T END UP IN THE BACK OF A TRACTOR”

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WE’VE HEARD RICHARD’S SIDE OF THE STORY, NOW IT’S TIME FOR JAMES TO HAVE HIS SAY.

JUST REMEMBER, THE BRAKE’S ON THE RIGHT...

here is nothing more important in life than where the brakes are on a car. It may not seem that way now. You may be burdened with other pressing concerns, ranging from

cash flow to physical ailments, but there comes a moment when these are academic.

That moment is the yawning one between the car going along and the car being the way you fervently desire it to be, which is stationary. Then your debit card pin number, your YouTube log-in details, the results of your scan, the problems with your central heating – everything else in the thousands of years’ worth of human experience and understanding, in fact – is immaterial. All that matters is where the brakes are.

Normally, on a car with a manual ’box (such as this), the brakes are in the middle. But they are not. That is the throttle. The brakes are on the right.

I don’t think Hammond’s been quite emphatic enough about this. How could he be? He’s only written a column. Thousands of volumes have been produced on the history of civilisation, but nothing in any of them is as important as where the brakes are, which in this case is on the right.

Or do I mean the left? No, they’re on the right. Absolutely. Sorry about that, but they’re definitely not where they’re supposed to be, and that’s the problem.

I can drive a car and ride a motorcycle. I also have a chainsaw. I never get any of these things confused, because they’re completely different. I never try to drop the chainsaw down a couple of cogs and power it into a left-hander, and I’ve never instinctively ridden the 500 Four into the woods and attempted to chop logs with it. Each of these machines comes with a bespoke and deeply internalised set of operating skills that never bother each other. Good.

But nearly everything else about driving Hammond’s ’Gonda is pretty much like driving a car. The steering steers left and right, the gearbox is cussed but still works broadly like one, the road rushes past underneath, lambs gambol in the fields and life is wonderful. But who gives a toss? Where are the brakes again? Wrong! That thing in the middle will only make it go faster still. The brakes are, in fact, on the right.

A van pulled out of a lay-by in front of us while I was driving. That’s when I discovered that I’d been using my lumbering conscious brain and not the animal one that is our acquired instincts. But in that moment of mild panic, the latter took over and stamped on, well, the throttle, because that’s in the middle, where the brakes should be. Turns out the brakes are on the right.

It was great to have a passenger, and I’m glad we were there for each other. Not for camaraderie, but because whoever wasn’t driving

could devote himself to repeating, at every bend, junction or hazard, that simple, sometimes screamed mantra: the brakes are on the right.

This is a duty that neither of us neglected for an instant, because there is a delicious new terror in being the helpless passenger in a car being driven by a man who may have forgotten that the brakes are on the right. To be honest, Hammond became quite annoying, but he is annoying anyway, and I don’t mind him being annoying when the flip side is that I don’t end up in the back of a tractor because I’ve forgotten where the brakes are. They’re on the right. People constantly telling you to put the bins out becomes wearisome. But someone constantly reminding you of something that will save your life in the next few seconds is OK by me.

I’m sure I was annoying too. Hammond – odd, this – became quite ballsy with his driving at one point, and I wondered if he’d remembered that the brakes are on the right. I told him. He took it well, given the circumstances. It’s his car, after all. Trouble is, I was in it as well.

Look; you might think we’re devoting far too much space to this simple instructional fact, but trust me. The time you’ve spent reading these two columns is nothing compared with the screaming eternity that seems to pass in that instant when you need the brakes more than you need to breathe and you’ve forgotten where they are. ON THE ****ING RIGHT.

Of course, you may think it’s irrelevant to you. What are the chances that you will ever end up driving Richard Hammond’s Lagonda? Extremely slim, I’d say. But it is, ipso facto, better to know stuff than not know it, and if you find yourself behind its wheel, you need to know, above anything else in the world, where the brakes are.

They’re on the right.

The Hyundai i20 Active is built to handle both the urban grind and the rough stuff. In short, it is the car to have if you are looking to achieve a perfect work-life balance

Activelife

The


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‘Breaking the mould’, ‘quitting the rat race’. These are lines usually used by people who are doing well for themselves. But, very few of them actually have the courage to call it quits, to break out of their

comfort zone. Sadly, they abandon their dreams, and remain stuck in the daily grind. But, for thousands of people who let the opportunity to do something meaningful slip by, there are others who choose the road less travelled.

Shivaram Subramaniam is one of those daring souls. About a year ago, Subramaniam, a high-flying finance professional, chucked it all away to pursue his passion: wildlife photography.

The road out of a cushy corporate life was bumpy in the beginning, but Subramaniam was well prepared for the journey. Pretty much like the Hyundai i20 Active is, for any kind of terrain. The i20 Active is derived from a premium hatch that is the go-to car in its segment, and Hyundai has boldly prepped the Active for adventure.

The i20 Active comes with new projector headlamps, daytime-running lights and cornering lamps. Giving the Active its rugged appeal are bits like roof rails, new bumpers with rounded fog lamps, a skid plate and plastic cladding around the base of the hatch, which protects the lower bodywork from minor scrapes and scratches, new 16-inch diamond-cut alloys and a cool looking fuel-filler cap. The Active’s 190mm ground clearance makes sure that the hatch not only looks rugged, but is also able to hold its own over a variety of terrain.

Speaking of terrain, Subramaniam is a Wikipedia on wildlife, and he credits this to the plethora of places he has worked in. He has made over fifty wildlife trips in the last three years. This ranges from photographing the snow leopard at altitudes of 9000ft and above in the Himalayas to freezing tigers on his camera in central India. His journeys into the jungles of India have helped him understand the problems faced by local communities, and he has often worked with NGOs to do his bit. This, according to Subramaniam, is his way of paying back nature for all the joy it gives him. Apart from raising awareness through his photography, he also has been involved in conservation efforts in Keoladeo


The 295-litre boot will gobble up all of

your luggage

It looks the part, and it can play

the part, tooyou approach the car. The reverse camera and sensors provide much needed guidance when you are squeezing the car into a tight space, or simply backing up. The high quality 8-speaker audio system comes with an internal storage of 1GB memory so all your favourite songs stay in one place. The i20 Active is also equipped with USB, AUX and Bluetooth connectivity.

The i20 Active also focuses heavily on safety. To start with, the car has got four-stars in the Euro NCAP rating (Euro NCAP is an international body that rates cars on their structural safety). The i20 Active also comes with an anti-lock braking system that increases the effectiveness of the brakes under emergency braking. Further securing the occupants are airbags for the front passenger and driver. So, though the Hyundai Active i20 might be built for adventure, it does have a safety net just in case things don’t go according to plan.

To sum it up, not everyone can afford to be like Subramaniam. But, in case you are striving to achieve the more realistic goal of a work-life balance, the i20 Active is the car you need in your garage.


National Park, in Bharatpur.Tackling rough terrain is always tricky, and you need

some serious power to avoid getting stuck in the muck. Under the Active’s hood is a highly refined and powerful 1.4-litre diesel powertrain. The 1396cc, U2, CRDi diesel mill is linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, and it pumps out a healthy 89bhp and 220Nm of torque. Not surprisingly, the Active is superbly primed to tackle both the urban grind and the highway. A higher ground clearance means the i20 Active does not shy away from rough terrain when the going gets tough. Hyundai hasn’t just given the i20 Active a beefy appearance, it has improved on the hatchback’s functionality, too.

The high ground clearance and grippy tyres make the i20 Active feel pretty much at home in the wild as well.

Meanwhile, regardless of the kind of road it is tackling, the i20 Active’s cabin makes things perfectly comfortable for its occupants. The climate control system is top-notch, and keeps you cool when things get a bit too hot, and warm when it’s freezing outside. The sporty-looking aluminium pedals provide extra grip, while the stylishly prominent blue interior theme adds to the hatch’s premium appeal. The i20 Active is prepped for adventure in every way, and the dual-tone interior gives the car a more youthful feel.

The i20 Active comes with equipment that is way better than what its competition offers. You have push-button start and keyless entry, so you don’t have to bother removing the key from your pocket every time

‘THE HIGH GROUND CLEARANCE AND GRIPPY TYRES MAKE THE i20 ACTIVE FEEL AT HOME IN THE WILD AS WELL”



B I G T H I S M O N T H

HYUNDAI CRETADon’t let the name disappoint you. The biggish new Korean is looking good.

Good enough to have Renault looking over its shoulder TURN OVER

DUSTER BUSTERWith its compact dimensions, extensive feature list and smart packaging,

Hyundai’s latest is out to get Renault’s bread-winner BY AGASTI KAULGI PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSHUA WILLIAMS

he Renault Duster and the Ford EcoSport are making hay while the sun shines brightly on them. Their makers have had absolutely no problems moving them out of dealerships quickly, and selling more units than they can make. But the smiles on the faces of the people at

Renault and Ford may disappear soon enough. Enter the new Hyundai Creta.

Hyundai has been the fastest growing company in the nation. Almost all of its products have been an instant success in the market. Some of the more recent products – the Grand i10 and the i20 – have unsettled the best, and almost wiped out the ones that weren’t good enough. Now, there’s a new model from Korea that may continue in the same rich vein of form.

At first, you may find the choice of name puzzling. But, once we tell you more about the car, you’ll probably

get over the name.Firstly, Hyundai has put its R&D guys in India and

Korea to good use by asking them to develop a new platform, which has a new name, too – the Hive structure. It’s lighter than conventional monocoques, and yet, more rigid and better when it comes to keeping you safe in case of a crash.

With a capable chassis under the skin, Hyundai has moved to ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ – the second stage of the brand’s Fluidic design language. With the overall dimensions and body styling, it looks chic, but doesn’t have the Duster’s road presence. Things are a bit sharper and crisper here. Hyundai has used all the smart packaging tricks it knows to ensure that the Creta has ample space inside, despite the compact dimensions. And, it has worked. The seats at the front are big and comfortable, and even at the back, three won’t be a

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‘Hive’ structure to keepthe kerb weight low

and rigidity high


squeeze. It’s not only the shoulder room that’s ample, but even legroom is good enough for six-footers.

With the italicised ‘H’ on the nose, you’d expect the cabin to be brimming with creature comforts. And it is. There’s more than Renault could even think of – steering-mounted controls, climate control, reverse camera, rear AC vents and satellite navigation. That should be enough to keep even the most demanding customer happy, no?

One more thing that Renault didn’t think of and Hyundai did, was an auto ’box, that too mated to a diesel engine. And, if you thought that Hyundai has brought along the same old-school four-speed auto (as found in the Verna) you’re wrong. It’s a new-age six-speed unit that’s quick to choose and change cogs. Hyundai’s finally realised that the days of the four-speeder are gone, and it needs to upgrade its gearboxes to stay ahead of the competition.

Just after the unveil, we even had a short go in the Creta at Hyundai’s test track at its plant. And, we’re happy to report that this is one of the best-handling Hyundais to come to India. It feels planted even around fast corners, the ride is pliant. The steering isn’t too

communicative, but it gets the job done.There are two diesel engines and one petrol on offer –

the same units that power the Verna. The smaller 1.4-litre diesel makes 90bhp, and is mated to a six-speed manual transmission. The bigger 1.6-litre is good for 127bhp and is available with a six-speed manual or auto. The 1.6-litre petrol churns out 122 horses and is available only with a six-speed manual. Hyundai hadn’t given out torque figures at the time of going to press, but we expect them to be similar to the Verna’s.

With all this goodness packed into one nice-looking crossover, it comes as no surprise that the Creta will be much more expensive than the Ford EcoSport. In fact, the Creta will not only affect the Duster’s sales, it’ll also eat into the pie of a lot of other SUVs like the Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio and Nissan Terrano, to name a few. And, sedans, too, will not be spared. If you’re getting a well-kitted SUV, you may even walk away from the Honda City or the Maruti Ciaz, wouldn’t you? `12-15 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom) isn’t a bad price for a fully-loaded urban SUV. Hyundai dealers, be prepared for another wave of customers.

‘IF YOU GET A LOADED SUV

FOR THE SAME PRICE, YOU MAY EVEN

WALK AWAY FROM A CITY

OR A CIAZ’


Ford sent the Endeavour to the gym. It’s returned as the big-biceped Everest

The Endeavour will soon be dead. In its place will slot in the new Everest. The new Everest comes equipped with an eight-inch touchscreen Ford SYNC2 multimedia and infotainment system, and the new

Terrain Management System that allows the driver to adjust traction control, the all-wheel-drive and terrain settings on the fly.

Under the hood, the new 2.2-litre (148 bhp) and the top-of-the-line 3.2-litre (197bhp) diesel mills are expected to replace the current 2.5- and 3.0-litre motors. The Everest will come in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. The Everest, being locally assembled, should be competitively priced against the Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, between `20-28 lakh. It should be launched closer to the 2016 Auto Expo.

A different kind of muscle car

Merc’s cool new crossover: the GLC

The Bug’s second coming

We’ve had the Beetle around in the past. That was the previous generation model, the response to which wasn’t as enthusiastic as Volkswagen had hoped for. Back then, it was taking a step into uncharted waters, and with its hefty price tag, the legendary car struggled to stay afloat. But, times have changed. With the likes of the Fiat 500 and the Mini doing well, things could be different for

the Beetle this time around. Based on the MQB platform, the new Beetle looks sleeker and bolder than before with those immensely flared wheel arches. It’s bigger, and sits lower than before. The new interior is aggressively styled with

an Audi-ish feel to it, a far cry from the bubbly interior of the previous Bug. It’ll have more legroom, boot space and overall interior space thanks to an increase in length.

The Beetle will offer modern tech like ESP, six airbags, a 6.5-inch infotainment display and all the bells and whistles you’d expect.

There’ll be three petrol variants on offer: the Standard – a 1.2-litre motor that produces 103bhp, the Design – a 157bhp-producing 1.4 TSi, and the top-end 197bhp, 2.0-litre four-pot Sport. We expect diesel engines to be offered as well. The Beetle won’t come cheap, and you could be looking at a starting price of around `30 lakh.

Volkswagen’s new-gen Beetle is on its way to India

Goodbye, GLK. Your successor has arrived

The GLC, in case you have been out of the automotive loop, is Mercedes’ latest luxe soft-roader, and it will replace the immensely popular GLK. The GLK

was, until the launch of the GLA, Merc’s most affordable SUV, but the GLC is more upmarket and will come with every kind of bell, whistle and gong. The GLC, which is expected to debut in India around the middle of next year, also has a larger wheelbase compared to its predecessor, and, consequently, more room at the rear and significantly more cargo space. The soft-roader, which speaks the same design language as the GLC Coupe, is a more rounded, cooler vehicle than the GLK. The C-Class based automobile will be powered by a range of engines, including a 170bhp turbodiesel and will slot right above the GLA.


Who says you cannot have fun while doing your bit for the environment? Yamaha’s Blue Core-powered FZ-S v2.0 FI provides the best of both worlds

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t’s a proverb that’s thrown around quite often: you can’t eat your cake and have it too. The same goes for motorcycles, too.

If you want a bike that sips fuel judiciously, you would probably end up buying a dreary commuter motorcycle. If you want something that makes you fizz, you buy a high-performance offering. Sadly, there’s no in-between. In most cases, you have to compromise on one front to benefit on the other. The general impression is that a fun bike cannot afford to be efficient and economical, and an efficient bike cannot afford to be enjoyable.

But, Yamaha’s out to change that perception with tech that can ensure you can eat your cake while having it.

It is Yamaha’s all-new FZ (FI) Version 2.0 that takes it to the next level. It features the company’s new ‘Blue Core’ technology to offer bikers an unmatched mix of performance and efficiency.

At the heart of the matter is the all-new fuel-injected (FI) Blue Core engine. It uses advanced sensors and actuators to calculate and deliver the optimum amount of fuel to the engine. The 149cc engine comprises of a compact hemispherical combustion chamber. In combination with the optimised intake and exhaust port shapes, this design increases combustion speed and helps achieve excellent combustion efficiency. Power loss has been reduced, and engine cooling has also been enhanced.

An engine that’s efficient is also smooth in its functioning. The Blue Core technology not only makes the FZ’s engine more frugal, but it also takes refinement to a whole new level, a level never attained by a motorcycle engine of this size.

All of this has been worked on to deliver

better fuel economy and acceleration. With this, the FZ-S v2.0 FI is upto 14 per cent more fuel efficient than the original FZ-S, but it’s even more fun than before. So, while it is still a true Yamaha in the way that it performs, it is as sensible and economical as a commuter motorcycle. And, to top it all off, this engine is cleaner, with reduced emissions, so you don’t hurt the environment.

Riding a fast, enjoyable bike need not burn a hole in your wallet – and that holds true for the Blue Core-equipped Yamaha FZ-S v2.0 FI.


I


LOOKS SWELL, SELLS WELLThe cash counters in Motor Town are ringing with amazing frequency, and it may have less to do with clever adverts and kilometre-long feature lists, and more with the handiwork of the men with the clay models and digital pens BY AMAAN AHMED

The Jaguar E-Type. An illustrious car. A motoring icon. A car that most of us would sell an organ to obtain. If you had the money, you’d pay through your nose, your mouth, and through wherever else you could to get one and park it in your

living room. Unfortunately for us lot, today’s cars are getting increasingly gimmicky to look at, the ‘family look’ is catching on like the flu, and car purchases, especially in a country like India, are mostly based on “Does this car have an engine push-start button?” and “The service centre is close to my house, so there”.

But that may be changing now. If recent industry trends are anything to go by, it looks like the average Indian buyer, usually armed with facts from online forum experts and CarBecho.com, is exhibiting a bit more emotion in making a buying decision.

Take the Maruti Ciaz. It is, in essence, a replacement for the SX4. The buff SX4, in its heyday, (if you could call it that) found 2,000 buyers a month, but in its final year, sales never crossed the triple-digit mark. It was a ‘premium’

HYUNDAI ELITE i20

100,000 UNITS11 MONTHS

Maruti, and it was doomed.The Ciaz is a premium Maruti as well. And,

mind you, it is being sold in the same dealerships where you could also buy an Alto 800. But, in only its first nine months, the Ciaz has found over 50,000 takers. Do the math, and you’ll see that it has received a warmer welcome than its predecessor. It is second only to the Honda City in its section of the market. It is not the most powerful car in its segment, neither is it the most

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feature-heavy, and it certainly isn’t the vehicle of choice for the driving gloves brigade. It is a Maruti, yes, and that badge does make a car stand out in India, but then, so was the SX4, wasn’t it? You can trace the Ciaz’s roots back to the Authentics concept of 2013. That was a cracker of a design. And even though the production version was significantly watered down, it still retained that aggressive, yet stately appearance of the Authentics. And, the fact that the Ciaz is a handsome car may be doing it more of a favour than most would imagine.

Talking about being favoured, Indians have always favoured the Hyundai i20. Even when the original i20 received its final facelift, it was still doing decent numbers. But the Elite i20 has blown everything out of the water. Hyundai has managed to ship out 1,00,000 pieces within a year, managing to sell close to 10,000 Elite i20s every 30 days. That’s nearly twice the number of i20s it used to roll out when the Elite was still in the pipeline.

And again, take a look at the design. It is a car that looks out of place on Indian roads - and I mean that in a good way. ‘Global’ cars usually end up looking like compromises when they’re customised for India, but this just looks like it has been shipped straight out of Europe.

Lastly, there’s the Toyota Camry Hybrid. It put on a fairly good show last year, but the introduction of the facelift seems to have caused a stir. From selling 720 examples through 2014, Toyota’s gone to churning out over 400 facelifted Camry Hybrids in two months. Simple math will tell you that at this rate, Camry Hybrid sales will double, or even triple, this year. Remember, this is just a facelift that’s caused this sudden spike. The car as such is pretty much the same, it now only looks very nice, unlike its block-like pre-facelift appearance. Mohan Mariwala, who owns the AutoHangar dealership chain, sees design leading the list of factors that make or break a purchase.

“Decision-making is in the hands of a much

The Authenticswas the Ciaz in motor

show clothes

“With improvement in technology and all manufacturers having access to it, fuel efficiency has become hygiene and styling has become a differentiator. However, we must remember that the Ciaz and i20 are the products of the two largest car companies in India. Whether a similarly-styled car launched by a less dominant player would’ve been equally successful can only be a matter of conjecture. ”

The highest-selling cars in India - the Alto and the DZire - are far from what you’d call pretty, but the lookers are catching up. And, if the Indian buyer continues to put his money where his heart and eyes are, we may see more new cars vying for the position of living room centrepiece.

‘CUSTOMER CHOICES HAVE EVOLVED. DESIGN PLAYS AN EXTREMELY

SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN INFLUENCING

PURCHASES’ MARUTI CIAZ

50,000 UNITS9 MONTHS

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID

400+ UNITS2 MONTHS

younger buyer now. He knows exactly what he wants. For example, A-Class buyers are driven by the car’s design. On the budget end, Indians tend to think a little more practically. The factors influencing decision-making change. There, people like a mix of things, so looks matter, but versatility gets priority. ” CV Raman, chief of engineering at Maruti Suzuki, provides some insight into what went into shaping the Ciaz. “Today, Suzuki’s products could be sold in China, Europe or India. The Ciaz was meant for China and India, and so, our research findings had a big impact on its design. The brief included our inputs, which influenced the way the production version looked. The sedan we wanted would not have too much height. We were clear that it should be well-proportioned, it should look like a sedan and not resemble any of our sedans from the past.” Pradeep Saxena, Executive Director at TNS Automotive, does agree, but he’s also got a point about lesser-known manufacturers not succeeding in selling attractive-looking cars.

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Once Audi’s entry-level sedan, the A4 is now plusher and more loaded

The second-generation Chevrolet Cruze is a looker, no doubt. But, there’s some bad news. It’ll only be here by 2017. Don’t expect it to be cheap either, because the next-gen Cruze will be the most loaded car in Chevy’s line-up. In the US, it’ll

go on sale with a touchscreen infotainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. For the social media generation, there will be wi-fi and wireless phone charging. Apart from airbags and ABS, the Cruze will also be offered with blind-spot

detection, lane-assist and collision warning. Sadly, the only thing that will make it to India is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

On offer will be a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with direct injection that will make

153bhp and 240 Nm of torque and will be mated to a six-speed manual and auto

’box. We expect the diesel motor to be a carry over from the current

generation car. The new Cruze will be over 100kg lighter than its predecessor. GM will release more details at the 2016 Auto

Expo. Watch this space.

Take 5 for the A4

Cruze Control Chevrolet unveils its latest offering that is India-bound, but there’s a catch

You could call it an appraisal of sorts for the fifth generation A4. The car has been Audi’s entry-level sedan for over two

decades. But with the A3 acquiring a boot and taking on the responsibility of bringing in new

customers to the brand, the A4 is now more focused on luxury.

In its all new avatar, the car is lighter and bigger than its predecessor; but not too exciting to look at. The current generation A4 was the only car that came with LED DRLs when it was launched and the R8-influenced styling added to the oomph. But, the A4 outdoes its predecessor in every other department. The cabin is plusher than before. The MMI now supports Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto, and the instrument cluster is all-digital. Expect Audi to bring on 2.0-litre engines to India to power the A4. The petrol variant will

make around 190bhp, and the diesel will do around 150bhp. With a weight saving of 120kg, expect the A4 to be pretty quick, even with a four pot motor. We do think Audi will make the 8-speed DSG standard for this model and dump the CVT transmission that features in the current variant. The price, of course, will go up. We expect it to start at around 4̀0 lakh and go all the way to around half a crore for the top-end variant.

The forever-connected crowd will

love this thing


Maserati is back, and it’s ready to challenge the well-established German luxury brands in India. For now, there’s no SUV in the line-up. You’ll have to wait till 2017 for that. But, you

do have four snazzy-looking cars to choose from right away. They do look a lot more desirable than anything that Germany’s making... yet.

Masertherapy

The stylish Italians have returned. Here’s a quick look at what they’ve brought to the table this time

GranTurismo andGranCabrio These twins are the proper sportscars in the range. Let’s just say this one is equipped to take on the Bentley Continental GT V8. It comes with an old-school, naturally-aspirated, 4.6-litre V8 petrol that sends 460bhp to the rear wheels. Also, you can hear the glorious sound of the V8 which can be better heard with the top-down in the GranCabrio. And, at the end of it all, both look drop-dead gorgeous.

GhibliThis is Maserati’s bread-and-butter model. It’s the latest and smallest Maser saloon. Well, it’s not exactly small (or cheap) as it’ll be up against the likes of the Jag XF, Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series. There’s no V8 lurking under its hood, but the top-of-the-line S variant comes with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol that packs 404bhp, and is linked to an eight-speed transmission. For the budget-conscious, there’s also a 2,987cc, 270bhp V6 diesel.

QuattroporteIf Francis Ford Coppola decides to remake The Godfather in the 21st century, then the new Maserati Quattroporte will surely be Don Corleone’s ride. More of a XJ and S-Class rival in its latest iteration, the Quattroporte comes with a twin-turbo 3,799cc V8 that punches out 530bhp. Sure, it can’t match the Germans when it comes to futuristic tech, but with a fine blend of Italian style and muscle, who needs tech anyway? Yes, there’s a diesel on offer here, too.


SRIRAM NARAYANANLikens the manual gearbox to a cheetah

ABHISHEK MISHRADid you know India also has pothole farmers?

OPTIONS LISTNike’s AirMax sneakers, and some swish watches

STORIES FROM OUR WEIRD WORLD AND THINGS THAT FLOAT OUR BOAT

Judgement day

TOPGEAR

SHREENAND SADHALEDifficult questions, simple answers - about bikes

p031 p032 p033 p040

TEAMS WORKED THEIR HEELS OFF TO PREPARE FOR THE 24 HOURS THAT MATTER MOST. GUESS WHO WON FOR THE 17th TIME...


Porsche gets down to business and does what it does best: win the greatest race in the world. But, that’s not the sole motive of returning to endurance racingWORDS: DEVESH SHOBHA

BEYOND THESILVERWARE


LE MANS

ack in the 1990s, growing up as a motorsport fan did have its own set of issues, especially

if yours was a middle-class Indian family like mine. Folks at home didn’t really get

my fascination with watching race cars being driven around in loops. And, every race

weekend, as I’d watch a Grand Prix on television, a new set of questions would come my way.

“What do racing drivers derive from driving around tracks in circles?”

“They’re just wasting money, fuel and precious time, aren’t they?”

“Do they at least get paid well enough for this craziness?”“What’s in it for the teams spending millions of dollars

running those fancy cars?”These were some of the ‘frequently asked questions’ that

were hurled at me, mostly by my granddad (in frustration) as I made my family watch motor racing instead of cricket on Sundays.

To be honest, he was being rational, but since this was more than a decade ago, as a teen-aged brat, I didn’t give two hoots. As years passed, my passion for motor racing grew furthermore, and so did the number of people asking those very logical questions. I’m thirty now, and I can no longer dodge their queries, so I shall try and answer a few.

Firstly, why do people race? Well, it’s quite tricky to get into the minds of racing drivers, but apart from the fame and money that’s bundled with racing, it’s also because they are crazy (well, most of them are). And, I like to believe it gives them a weird sense of satisfaction. They take pride in pushing themselves and their machines to the limit. It’s all about the rush of adrenaline, the passion and the need to prove to the world that they have the biggest balls.

What about the teams, then? They’re the ones emptying their bank accounts, so what’s in it for them? It’s an intriguing question, and the answer to this isn’t quite so straightforward. You see, in the golden era, where the roars

B

This is what they’re all fighting for – the crown jewel of endurance racing

Lock and load: the Porsche brigade readying itself for the

challenge that lay ahead

of the mighty V12s and V10s echoed around circuits, it was all about developing the fastest car, showcasing technical prowess while constantly challenging the laws of physics. It was a time when stuff like fuel efficiency, reliability and cost-effectiveness was important for the car being readied for your mother in-law.

But, with the global meltdown that rocked us in 2008, things changed. From bettering top speed, smashing track records, and racing V12s, making machines more reliable and efficient became the talk of the motor racing town. All of a sudden, manufacturers had to justify the millions of dollars spent on racing every year. And, it was the accountants sitting in air-conditioned offices who were calling the shots on the future of the sport rather than the folks with the racing brains.

However, the situation isn’t as dire as I’ve made it sound. Thanks to the revamped mantra of motor racing, the gap between race cars and road cars has narrowed (and is narrowing further as we speak). Nowadays, it’s not just about getting the fastest vehicle to the track. It’s also about using the racetrack as a test bed for latest technologies, which will

see the light of day in future road-going cars. In simpler terms, racing has become a way to test tech on prototypes that could be shared with production models. But, it’s easier said than done. This transition of technology requires hundreds of hours and thousands of kilometres of validation, research and development and analysing real-world data.

That’s where the big daddy of sportscar racing, the greatest motor race on Planet Earth – Le Mans – comes into the picture. What makes it so special? To begin with, it’s a 13.629km-long racetrack, 9.2km of which consists of what are otherwise public roads through the rest of the year. It’s a challenging track, offering a mix of fast corners, long straights (where LMP1 cars exceed 330kph), and highly technical bends – a track where cars travel in excess of 5,300km in a span of 24 hours.

The event offers a delicious mix of on-track and real-world conditions to test technological advancements – something every manufacturer seeks. It’s a place where only the fittest survive. Why else, do you think Porsche, the winningest manufacturer in the sport, made a comeback last year? Yes, Porsche couldn’t have asked for more when it bagged its 17th victory at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, with

LE MANS

‘IT’S NOT ABOUT MAKING THE FASTEST RACE CAR. IT’S ALSO ABOUT USING THE TRACK AS A TEST BED FOR FUTURE TECH’

The trio of Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer

secured a podium spot for Audi

Unscheduled pitstops and hybrid system gremlins cost Audi’s #8 and #9 vital track positions


what in actuality was its spare car (#19) driven by the inexperienced trio of Nico Hulkenberg, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber. But, that’s just half the story, as the maker of the 911 didn’t return to endurance racing solely to better its record or to put an end to Audi’s winning streak since 2010. What lured Porsche back to endurance racing, along with the prized silverware, of course, was the opportunity to put to test some of its future sportscar technologies incorporated into the victorious 919 Hybrid prototype, as well as in the 911 RSR it fielded in the GTE Pro class.

Okay, the 919 Hybrid is a prototype, and is unlikely to transform into a road-legal car any time soon. But, that doesn’t really matter. What matters is the technology that’s gone into making the 919 a force to reckon with. Its hybrid drive system is similar to that found in the illustrious (and late) 918 Spyder, which was originally derived from the 911 GT3 R Hybrid that was first raced in 2010. This, and some other bits, have come full circle by being added to the 919 Hybrid, but in a more advanced state, being prepped for future Porsche sportscars.

Plus, the 500bhp, 2.0-litre, V4 turbo-petrol motor from the 919 is an excellent base to kickstart the development process for Porsche’s downsized turbocharged engines that will soon find their way into nearly all 911 derivatives. And, did you know things such as the 911’s plastic fuel tank, carbon fibre monocoque, ceramic brakes, active aerodynamics, four-wheel drive mechanism, the PDK gearbox, the Cayenne’s adjustable anti-roll bars, and many such notable innovations were first tested and perfected on the race track before making it to the Porsches we’ve come to love so much.

Audi, with the second-best record at Le Mans, has also used Circuit de la Sarthe as a proving ground for technological developments for its cars. How can one forget the beloved R8, which was derived from the legendary R8 LMP, and is one of the best-handling and user-friendly supercars you can buy today? Apart from that, Audi’s diesel engine technology (TDI), which powers its dirty fuel-sipping road cars, too, has been extensively developed on the racetrack.

Both these German manufacturers have always used Le Mans to showcase their technical supremacy. Which meant this year was to be a fitting showdown between Porsche’s

Forgettable outing for Nissan, as none of its radical GT-R LM Nismos could finish the race

Lack of overall pace meant the TS040 Hybrid languished

behind the Germans


going to hand it to Porsche on a silver platter. It fought hard as the lights went green, trading the lead with the Porsches on multiple occasions. Unfortunately, cooler temperatures helped Audi’s rivals, and unscheduled pit stops meant its cars lost valuable time in the garage, which ultimately took the race away from Audi.

In the end, it was Porsche #19 that had a clear advantage over its sister cars as well as the Audis, in terms of pace, efficiency and reliability. And, despite being the slowest of the three Porsches in qualifying, the drivers of car #19 didn’t put a foot wrong during the race, had the perfect pit stops and kept trouble at an arm’s length from dusk to dawn.

What also made a difference was the Porsche’s tank-like reliability, which even took Audi by surprise. And, by Sunday afternoon, that was one of the key differentiating factors between the two German manufacturers. Yes, Porsche had a better hybrid system, and theirs was the only car to produce 8 megajoules of electric power every lap, but that was just the supremacy of this year’s 919 Hybrid, and in the end, it was the best of the best cars that won – the #19 Porsche.

So, to answer “What’s in it for the teams?”, well, apart from the trophies, medals and a mention in the record books, it’s also the vast technological know-how they take back with them from the race track. And, it’s only this hunger for more knowledge that brings them back every year. Simple, isn’t it?

LE MANS

petrol hybrid powertrain and Audi’s diesel hybrid technology. But, the Le Mans party played host to other manufacturers as well. One of them was the fastest team in 2014, Toyota, which turned up with its naturally-aspirated V8-engined petrol-hybrid. However, it lacked pace, and was no match for the Germans. Nissan, too, grabbed this opportunity to flex its muscle with the radical, front-engined, front-wheel drive GT-R LM Nismo, but it turned out to be a forgetful outing for the Japanese manufacturer, marred by several mechanical glitches.

That meant it was a 2.0-litre, V4 turbo-petrol hybrid versus a 3.7-litre, V6 turbo-diesel for the top honours in the LMP1 class. Porsche did set the tone for the weekend by claiming the top three spots on the grid, thanks to stellar performances in the qualifying sessions. But, Audi wasn’t

‘IT’S THE HUNGER FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE THAT BRINGS THESE TEAMS BACK TO CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE EVERY YEAR’

2015 LE MANS IN NUMBERS

A record 17th victory for Porsche

Total laps completed: LMP1: 395, LMP2: 358

Number of cars finishing the race: 37 out of 55

2,63,500spectators

Fastest qualifying lap: 3.16.887s

(#18 Neel Jani)

Fastest lap time: 3.17.476s

(#7 Andre Lotterer)

In full flow: the winning 919 soldiered on with barely a hiccup or two

PIC

TURE

S: M

AN

UFA

CTU

RERS



EXPLAINS WITH THE HELP OF A CHEETAH AND A HYUNDAI WHETHER THE MANUAL GEARBOX DESERVES EXTINCTION OR PRESERVATION

Sure, enthusiasts hate automatics. But since the paying public has spoken, even Porsche doesn’t offer manuals with the new GT3 and GT3 RS. Said enthusiasts can now be found in dark rooms with a bucket of chips, ice cream and paper

H

“With the odds heavily stacked against it, the cheetah will not need human intervention to go extinct”

umans progress at a rate that leaves nature with no time to recover. Quite naturally, then, nature deserves conservation. But there are some species who

are just asking for it. Extinction, that is. Take the cheetah. For those not in the know, it looks nothing like a Mahindra XUV 500. The cheetah is light, lithe, sleek, graceful and the most beautiful sight when it’s doing 100kph chasing down its prey. Hypercars have only recently broken the three-second barrier for getting from 0 to 100kph. The cheetah has been doing 0 to 100 in three seconds for centuries. But the way it goes about things, you’d deem the cheetah suicidal.

Evolution has seen the cheetah become a speed specialist. It’s so much of a specialist, that it’s useless at nearly everything else. A cheetah on a hunt is a spectacular sight. But it causes such a spectacle across the African plains that by the time it brings down its prey, catches its breath and the dust of the chase settles, the vultures, jackals, hyenas and the lions are already on their way. Its light, lithe body is no good for a one-on-one against medium-sized rivals like the hyena or the leopard. So, in a confrontation, a smart cheetah would abandon its kill and live to hunt down another. It cannot climb trees to keep itself and its food safe. And since it is solitary, unlike hyenas and lions, its cubs have no ring of protection when their mother is out hunting. So quite a few don’t make it to adulthood.

With the odds so heavily stacked against this low-flying airplane, the cheetah will not need human intervention to go extinct. Even the manual gearbox has this cheetah-like tendency to make life difficult. First-time drivers cower in fear when faced with the deadly duo of the clutch pedal and the gearstick. Seasoned drivers who just want to get going have colourful names for the third pedal. In fact, in stop-and-go traffic, the clutch pedal is like the third, uninvited friend butting into a date.

wipes. Me? To be honest, I’d grown indifferent. A good automatic ’box in a high-performance car meant both hands could be on the wheel, and it’s plain, brainless, lazy, convenience to let the car do the shifting. The automated manual transmissions in budget cars aren’t great, but they’re still better than ancient automatics. Half a decade on, they will evolve into something pretty good. Which means the manual gearbox is to a modern car what a fountain pen is to modern letter writing. You use one only out of some skewed romantic notion.

Like the cheetah. Great at speed, appalling at everything else.

Then I drove the new Hyundai i20 diesel. The car has a lifeless steering, but offers an astoundingly complete package. Good power and torque, packed with features and never leaves you with the feeling that you made a compromise. But the most shocking revelation for me was the i20’s six-speed manual gearbox. The throws are so short, so precise, so smooth, the mere act of engaging clutch, shifting the stick, disengaging clutch and getting back on the throttle made me feel – pardon me for the wanton lack of self-esteem – quite manly. To be able to do all that in less than a second and get the car in control is marvellously satisfying. In fact, despite the steering, that gearshift, along with the rest of the package, makes the i20 feel like a fun car. Even more so, now, because of the fact that the Ford

Fiesta S is no more, and the Fiat Punto – now the ‘Evo’ – seems to be stuck in a time warp.

The rate at which things are moving, the i20 will very soon boast a dual-clutch automatic,

making the manual variant seem bit of a cheetah. Beautiful, but pointless. So what do you think? Will the world be better off without its fastest-moving land animal or the manual gearbox?

Thought so.The views expressed in this column

are solely those of the [email protected]

O N T H I N G S T H A T M O V E , A N D T H I N G S T H A T M O V E H I M

ILLU

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Sriram Narayanan


’ve often noticed that one question both close friends and acquaintances love to ask me (once they are through with relationship status and

professional commitments) is: “How many motorcycles do you have now?” The tone of this question ranges from harmless curiosity to concern, and I have also encountered suggestions to seek professional help.

But never mind what the psychiatrist has to say. In the meanwhile, I have often been asking myself a more fundamental question: “How many motorcycles does one really need?”

No matter what sort of riders we are, I guess every motorcyclist would want a supersports. Few machines in life will keep you away from a midlife crisis and fewer still will get you out of one in a flash. And these days, that’s the exact quantum of time most of them need to go from nought to ballistic. Machine no.2 could be a comfortable sports-tourer. ‘The only way to see the world is to ride the world,’ said our friend Dan Walsh, and a sports-tourer would do this best. Better still to get an all-out adventure machine. These things are the two-wheeled equivalent of the SUV and are built to be ridden around the globe with just an oil change. And they don’t even need roads. At least, not proper ones. Next up would be something from the lazy spectrum of motorcycling. A thumping V-twin that you ride with your legs spread far out; ideal for when you just want to kick back a bit, but still need two wheels to make sense of it all. And if there is an accessible dirt road near you, a motocrosser is a must. Fifteen minutes on a loose surface teaches lots of things about throttle control. Finally, it would be nice to get something that you’ve been

OUR COLUMNIST HAS A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION: HOW MANY BIKES DOES ONE REALLY NEED?

wanting to get your hands on for long. Maybe a machine from your youth, or a modern classic, or even just a classic. Essentially, the sort of motorcycle that gives you that warm fuzzy feeling by just looking at it.

Subconsciously, I have always lived with this sort of a road map for my garage. Or, at least, this helps to explain why at one point, I had a Honda Fireblade, a BMW R1200 GS and a Ducati Sport Classic. A Japanese, an Italian and a German. If this was the 1940s, my phones would’ve been tapped by the Allies. Of course,

I

“Few machines in life will keep you away from a midlife crisis like a supersports”

owning three different kinds of motorcycles meant three different helmets and jackets. More financial assault! Anyway, even with just three motorcycles, it was difficult to keep up with insurance and road tax. So I got the count down to two.

But just the other day, I discovered an oil patch under the Duc, and I haven’t bothered to investigate further. Should be a simple fix, but the lethargy I’m exhibiting in solving the issue is a telltale sign that the romance is waning. I always think that this is how those E-Types and 250 GTOs must be ending up in the barn. First it’s a neglected oil patch, next it’s an overdue tune-up. Soon a decade goes by and there’s grass growing out of the glove box. Nope, can’t let that happen to any machine under my watch.

Of course, there’s a couple of rides that I still want to do with this bike, but I’ve had it for over a year now and if I haven’t done them so far, I am probably not going to ever do them anyway. Also, over the time that I’ve owned it, I’ve only racked up 1,200km. Pathetic, when you consider the sheer amount of time I spent thinking about riding the bike when I lusted after it. Motorcycles that spend time in the garage without getting

ridden are the industrial variant of people spending entire days in their cubicles and

doing little. An utter waste of pistons and valves. Sure, it looks good just sitting in

the garage, too, but then as my favourite writer Peter Egan says, it would look just as good sitting in someone else’s garage.

The idea really should be to ride more, own less.

Anyway, how many motorcycles do I really need? One. At a time. The

other helmets and jackets will just have to wait for their turn.

The views expressed in this column are solely those

of the author.ILLU

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F U L L T I M E P I L O T , P A R T - T I M E M O T O R I N G J O U R N A L I S T . S O M E G U Y S H A V E I T A L L . . .

Shreenand Sadhale


spends close to 400 million dollars every year on road reconstruction and improvement. But why do you have to then spoil it all by adding your two cents – what you think is wrong with the system.

This is not news reporting. This is people feeding you their perspective of the news as news. During most live broadcasts, you will notice even studio screamers blatantly ask and thank reporters for their perspective. Is it really that terrible if viewers formed their own perspective?

And, if you absolutely must give your audience a perspective, at least make sure that it’s not obvious and derived. If you say that the city’s roads are broken because authorities are corrupt and repair money is siphoned off by everyone

“D

“The contract workers who harvest potholes see very little of the money the big farmer makes”

id God create man or did man create god?” I suppose that’s a bit like asking “Did I screw you or did you screw me?” Here’s the theologically inert, and,

therefore, most plausible answer: “It doesn’t matter. The screwing happened. We both agree that we are screwed. Let’s just get on with our lives now.” See what a little change in perspective can do?

A change in perspective is especially needed when you consider the significance of one particular non-living entity. It’s called a road; entire cities are smeared with it in different shades of grey. A couple of years ago, I had successfully argued that roads in Mumbai achieve what roads nowhere else can. For example, they can: 1. Help rid pregnant women of labour pain and help them easily deliver babies. 2. Ensure employment and vital earnings for mechanics. 3. Contribute at least two billion dollars annually to the healthcare industry.

Mumbai’s roads affect us on an everyday, existential level. And, to an extent, that is far beyond the capability of any religious book or structure. In fact, a lot of religious buildings have been gobbled up by our roads. Even god is powerless when his buildings are moved. He just shrugs and goes, “Hey, what you gonna do? When it’s time to go, it’s time to go”.

Another dead entity called news gets hyperactive during the monsoon. Practitioners of this entity inform us in words and moving pictures that despite the tall claims of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, there’s flooding here and breakdowns there and potholes everywhere. And, I have a bone to pick there.

Ok, I concede, knowing what roads to avoid or what diversions to take is useful information. By all means, report that. You can even tell people that the BMC has an annual budget of close to five billion dollars. Or that it

involved, you’re just passing off the obvious as a perspective. At least put some thought into it.

Here, this is what a fresh perspective could look like:

“Good evening, Mumbai. We’re broadcasting live from random pothole on random road in Maximum City. I’m here today to educate you about roads.

A road, like a piece of agricultural land, is a valuable lifeless entity. An entity that, come monsoons, is ready for harvest with a most valuable crop: potholes. Potholes are a unique cash crop. Unlike agricultural cash crops, potholes can’t be used to make cloth or coffee. They have no value as an export commodity and are not traded on commodity markets. Because their value is determined by how many times they can be destroyed (technical term: ‘repaired’) in one season. Based on the skill of the farmer, each individual pothole can sometimes offer two to three yields each monsoon. Pothole farmers are organisations, not individuals. And unlike individual farmers, farmers like the BMC don’t commit suicide because their pothole crop has failed; it never does.

Remarkably, this is a crop whose yields are inversely proportional to the amount and quality of work the farmer does. Indeed, good quality road work can have an adverse effect on pothole yields. The contract workers who harvest these potholes, like landless agricultural labourers, see very little, if any, of the money the big farmer makes from the deal.

Being a non-agricultural cash crop, potholes are sadly measured by a different yardstick.

People say that it is a dangerous crop because it causes injuries and deaths every year. Yes,

well, so does tobacco. Let’s just put up a statutory warning on the road and end this discrimination.

Good night.”The views expressed in this column

are solely those of the author.

SPEAKS HIS MIND ON THE POTHOLE FARMERS OF MUMBAI

T W I S T E D T H O U G H T S O F A H E R M I T B A T T L I N G S O B R I E T Y

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THE BIG INTERVIEW

Chris EvansMEET YOUR NEW

HOST OF TG AS HE TALKS FIRST CARS, FERRARIS

AND THE FUTURE OF TOPGEAR

WORDS: CHARLIE TURNER / PHOTOGRAPHY: ALEX HOWE



“The question wasn’t ‘Why would you do it?’

but ‘Why wouldn’t you?’”CHRIS EVANS ON TAKING THE TG JOB

hris Evans does not have a problem with multitasking. A point which becomes increasingly clear as I sit in the studio of his Radio 2 breakfast show and watch him simultaneously process myriad instructions from his production team, read edited snippets that fire in at an incomprehensible rate from every available multimedia channel and absorb the daily papers.

He is also loading, fading and generally masterminding every aspect of the broadcast, with the constant countdown from one item on the playlist to the next clicking away portentously in the background. He’s also answering questions from me as the music plays, and doesn’t appear to be intellectually overloaded. At all. It’s… impressive.

It’s also extremely organised creative chaos. Clearly, you have to work incredibly hard to make it all sound effortless. Still, if you want to chat to 11 million people for three hours every day, operate as the UK’s ‘human alarm clock’ and not have any embarrassing pauses, you’d better have a gameplan.

And plans are one thing Evans seems to have in abundance. He’s been an enduring part of the British media for years and now – as you may have heard – he’s taking on perhaps the biggest TV job… In The World.

What’s also crystal clear is that Chris Evans is a car person, and those petrolhead genes run deep. His current – and brilliantly eclectic – car collection includes a LaFerrari, an Aston DB5 Convertible, a Rolls-Royce Corniche, the last ever 328 GTS (presented to Nigel Mansell after the Brazilian GP), a V W T5 Camper Van (called Buzz), an original Daimler Dart police car and… Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Which is a conversation starter if ever I’ve heard one.

His back catalogue of ownership includes a McLaren F1, three Ferrari California Spyders (one owned by the legendary James Coburn) and a hen’s tooth Ferrari 250 GTO, as well as a number of other highlights that’d leave most of our petrolhead addictions sated in perpetuity. So it probably makes sense to begin at the beginning. CHARLIE TURNER: Let’s talk about your love affair with cars. What started it?CHRIS EVANS: I always answer this question with Magnum PI and the Ferrari 308 GTS, but when I think back, it was things like Magnum, The New Avengers with the XJS, cop shows generally,

definitely The Professionals. I thought the RS2000 in The Professionals was off-the-charts. So, actually, the answer is television.CT: And your first car?CE: My first car was bought by my mum. It was a Mini, registration number VJA 879K, in Blaze. It still exists, I tried to buy it back last year, but they started taking the mickey with the money. The second car I ever bought was a MkIII Triumph Spitfire, which was stunning and didn’t really work at all, but we fixed it and got it going.

The third car I bought was an MGB roadster, which I couldn’t afford. I was a mobile DJ at the time and had massive speakers. Every other DJ had a van, but I didn’t – I had an MGB roadster. So I used to take six trips to go to the pubs, taking one speaker at a time, then the records, then the lightbox and so on. It didn’t matter, because what that meant was I got to drive my car with the roof down, so I didn’t care.

I actually thought I had become addicted to cars later on in life, but if I think about it, I’ve always bought cars that affected my life in a negative way other than in my car world. I couldn’t afford them, they were impractical, they didn’t work properly, the insurance was too high, all that kind of stuff.CT: So what is it that makes cars special to you?CE: It’s the romance, sensing some of the things my heroes did: Steve McQueen, James Dean, Bodie and Doyle. The chic, the panache. I’m not into watches or clothes, I’m into cars. Last night, I got far too excited about five cars and that was without looking on the internet. An internet car session can roll into hours.CT: But do you think Magnum is responsible for your love affair with Ferrari?CE: I think so, I think that’s absolutely true, along with Gilles Villeneuve – No. 27 and all that, because they were red and all such cool cars and such cool guys. CT: You are an absolute Ferrari aficionado, but why have them in white?CE: Well, when you own your first Ferrari, you are in reverence of it because you think, “Oh my God it’s a Ferrari.” No, no, YOU’VE got to own it – it can’t own you. So, when I had the idea to create the ‘Magnificent Seven’ for Children in Need, the James Coburn Cali Spyder was black, and that’s the head of the snake, and the rest were the white body behind. I love John Lennon, the White Album, so went for that… also Ferraris just look stunning in white.

People say “Oh, they shouldn’t be white.” Well, that’s because they haven’t looked at enough Ferraris. I struggle to appreciate any red ones nowadays other than the absolute classics.

C


BIG INTERVIEW


CT: What’s the one car decision you regret the most?CE: I don’t regret any of them, because they’re all lessons. That’s the best thing about mistakes, they’re the best lessons in the world. Mistakes teach you how not to do something, which is brilliant because you can’t buy that advice. You can pay for it, but you can’t buy it. The most money I’ve lost on a car is $7million – I bought the Coburn car for $12m and sold it for $5m because it had the wrong engine, which I didn’t know at the time because I hadn’t done my research properly. Other cars have brought me much joy, Fangio’s World Championship-winning 860 Monza was a bit of a wow. Super, super good-looking chariot.CT: We get the keys to everything. What are you itching to drive?CE: The DB10, Bond’s new car, that’s what I’m itching to drive at the moment. But there’s so much good stuff around. Honestly, anything from Land Rover or Bentley I look forward to. I know they’re the bigger and the flashier cars, but I look at the masterful engineering of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood and think, “Yeah, I want a bit of that.” But then there’s smaller stuff, the independents, which are always interesting. I like the cars that have changed my mind on things like stop/start. Hybrid technology and where it’s all going fascinates me.

Also, how far can new car design go when speed and power are now way past what is at all sensible?

Cars are getting faster all the time, yet roads are getting busier and speed limits are coming down if anything, instead of up. It’s like the supercar manufacturers know something we don’t, otherwise why would they still bother? The other great modern-day irony is F1 is considerably slower

now than in its speed-happy heyday. I don’t get that at all, especially when it’s also much safer.

Then there’s the potential sacrilege of Bentley and their Bentayga, their SUV that threatens to outstrip the Range Rover for posh. CT: What do you think about that? CE: The same as I always think when a car manufacturer steps out of its/our comfort zone. Please don’t; we love you for what you do best. But I’m ALWAYS wrong. Diversification is the name of the game even for the likes of Porsche, Rolls, Ferrari and McLaren with its new baby boomer 540 and

570S. I hear Lamborghini fans are also about to be able to Lambo up the schoolrun with the Urus. I don’t know whether to scream, cry or just leave.

On the other hand, I don’t mind at all things like Honda bringing back the NSX. All aluminium from collar to cuffs back in the day and now as a super-complex AWD hybrid supercar. Yes, please, can’t wait. And as for Ford with their GT racing at Le Mans next year, 50 years after they won the race, and teeing up a classic Ferrari vs Ford battle, I think they are pretty much on the money with everything they’re doing at the moment. The unbelievably silly and pointless but brilliantly affordable Mustang in RHD for the first time ever and their continued dominance of the budget family cargo ship market. Plus they really have been very savvy in their loyalty to their hot-hatch/RS market.CT: All petrolheads have in their heads a three-car garage, which is in a constant state of flux. What’s yours?CE: My old 1960 250 SWB Ferrari California Spyder, the McLaren F1 that I never drove but NOT IN SILVER – yawn – and that first car, the Mini my mum took out a 500 quid loan to get me started with.CT: Why?CE: You don’t have to dissect a car (you can if you want), but it’s just a gut feeling. I think the Cali Spyder is the most beautiful car ever created. The McLaren is both modern and timeless, almost impossible to achieve and could no longer be produced due to all the hand-tying, creativity-stunting European rules and regulations. And the Mini as it is the car that means the most to me.CT: So, TopGear. You said you “wouldn’t run for

office”, but now you’re in the office. How did that happen?CE: I honestly didn’t think I would get the phone call – I was amazed that I did, to be honest. I ruled myself out because I didn’t want to be part of all the nonsense that was going on. But then the situation changed, and I wasn’t stepping on anybody’s graves or toes. I was actually in the middle of preparing for TFI Friday and I talked to Will and he said, “Why would you not do this?” And that’s the question. It wasn’t “Why would you do it?” but “Why wouldn’t you?”

If I make television programmes for a living and love motor cars and love the biggest challenge in the world, why wouldn’t I do it? So, 20 minutes later I phoned back and said, “Yeah, I’ll do it.”CT: Is this the most challenging thing you’ve done?CE: This is, without doubt, the most challenging thing I have ever done in my career. When I took over Terry’s [Wogan – the previous Radio 2 host] show, people kept saying I had “big shoes to fill”, and they’re saying it again now. I don’t mean they’re wrong or they’re right, it’s just such a

“I don’t have time in my life for gimmicks,

and TopGear doesn’t need them”


predictable thing to say – and, by the way, Jeremy is very tall, so they’re even bigger shoes…CT: As a fan of the show, is there an element that you hold up as a benchmark of what you’re looking for?CE: Well, what I’ve done so far, which is what I always do when I’m coming up with new things, is not watch anything back. Having watched the show over the years, I have my memories. I’ve had to put those on hold, because we have to start from where we want to start.

That doesn’t mean we have to start afresh at all, but we’ve got to say, “Right, what do we want to do; what do we want to achieve? Why do we want to achieve it? What would I want to see?” We start there. Once we’ve done that, we then have to put together the team. There’s a lot of talk about talent at the moment.

Honestly, it’s not the furthest thing away from my mind, but it is quite distant compared to directors, producers, assistant producers, lighting and camera men, editors, production managers, production coordinators and runners. I have got to get that team, because, without the team, it doesn’t matter what presenters we get.CT: How quickly have you got to get that team in place?CE: It’s nearly in place. We’re so very close.CT: When do you want to start filming?CE: We have to start filming really soon, definitely within two months.CT: But you’ll need the presenters in place to do that?CE: Yeah. More importantly, we know what we want the production crew to do – editorial and location and studio – because we’ve written the show we want to make.CT: What about the search for a presenter? Is that a gimmick?CE: No. It can’t be, because, first of all, I do not have time in my life for gimmicks anymore, and TopGear doesn’t need gimmicks. The only reason I’m doing these auditions is because that’s how they found James May and Richard Hammond.

We know from things that have gone on in the past, whether it’s Opportunity Knocks, New Faces or The Voice or X Factor, we know that there are some amazing people doing stuff in their bedrooms or in their garages. We’d be stupid not to find those people. You don’t know who you’re gonna find. You might find no one. And that’s also why it’s not a gimmick, because you’re not guaranteeing a place, because that would be a gimmick in itself and you might only be employing a person for the sake of it, so we’re not doing that.CT: So the ideas for a new series are already flowing, then?CE: We know that the car industry is prolific, that there are new cars coming out every week around the world – as I’ve mentioned, the raw material and the content is always going to be there. It’s served to you on a plate every week. Everybody has ideas, I’ve got cameramen phoning me up with 20 ideas, so, to be honest, ideas aren’t

the issue. Like I said before, the issue is organisation. You’ve got to be organised, you’ve got to get the right people in place, you’ve got to get your timetable and your timeline sorted out. And if you get all that sorted out, it’s not a problem.CT: Is it right you wrote the first show a few days before you announced you were taking the role?CE: I did a stream of consciousness before that. The stream of consciousness is about ideas and then you have a running order. Running order is about rhythm and windows, so ideas are the fun bit. Ideas are an away day at the pub or whatever. The nerdy bit is the running order, and we had to come up with the nerdy bit to find out what team we needed to employ.

The thing about employing people is that you’ve got to know what they need to do before you can employ them. It was like that for the production team and will be the same for the presenters, because we’ve got a lot of talent to choose from.CT: And what in the show has to stay?CE: Nothing has to, but some things will. I can’t tell you what precisely. But it would be silly to throw the baby out with the bath water.CT: So you’ll continue with some elements of what went before, but reinvent around it?CE: Yes. I’ve done a lot of research on TopGear, which started in 1977 as a BBC Midlands show. It was a monthly regional show and then it got brought down to London. There have been 34 presenters before me, so it’s a bit like Dr Who – that’s one way of looking at it. But hopefully not Dr Who...CT: TopGear is part of the national debate, and what’s next is the subject of a lot of column inches. Do you look at that or just ignore it?CE: I can pretend I ignore it, but of course I can’t, because it’s such a massive thing. It’s impossible to ignore, and you’d be foolish to, because you have to accept everything. It’s like the serenity prayer, “Change the things you can change, accept the things you can’t, have the wisdom to know the difference.”CT: You have a big radio show, you’re writing a book, you doing a series of TFI this autumn… how are you going to fit it all in?CE: We’re talking about 18 hours of television. We just did three hours of radio; we’ll do another three tomorrow. It’s a television mentality that 18 hours is SO tough to do. No it’s not, it’s 18 hours! You’ve got to do it properly, you’ve got to do it thoroughly and with respect, you’ve got to do it with depth and quality and commitment and passion, but it’s only 18 hours. We’re not making War of the Worlds 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 here!

When I start working on TopGear and stop doing The One Show and stop writing my book, I will be less busy than I have been this year. When I go abroad to make some films, when I get on those planes to go off to wherever we’re going, that’s the most downtime I’ll have had in five years. I can’t wait, to be honest.

BIG INTERVIEW


We’ve all been there: you get off the flight, rub your bleary eyes and realise, to your dismay, that your luggage is on its way

elsewhere. What you need is a luggage tracker. Yes, that’s right. Now, you’ve heard of trackers for your car, but how about one for your luggage? With unlimited global coverage, Trakdot will tell you where your bags are once you’ve landed. So if they’re not on the carousel, you’ll know where to look.`8,000 approx.; trakdotluggage.co.uk

TRAKDOTEureka Forbes’ Aeroguard Car Air Purifier features a purification process that provides six layers of filtration to remove up to 99 per

cent of bacteria and viruses, and the nasty odour of cigarette smoke. The air purifier also refreshes the air inside the cabin by releasing negative ions. The air purifier requires a regular DC 5~12V power socket to run. So, pick up one of these, and say good-bye to general pongs that seemingly breed inside your car.`3,990; eurekaforbes.com

AEROGUARD CAR AIR PURIFIER

OUR CHOICE OF THIS MONTH’S TOP-SPEC STUFF

This is the Nike Air Max 90 Ultra BR. It features the iconic ‘Air Sole’ technology that first appeared in the 1970s. The Air Max 1

debuted in 1987, and this here is the third-gen version of the air sole technology. A shoe’s sole is quite like a car’s engine, and obviously as important. Like with its predecessors, the Air Max 90’s Air Sole has windows below the heel to give you a peek inside, and to reveal its unique construction. Like with any new generation automobile, Nike has managed to bring the weight down. The shoe is nearly 30 per cent lighter than its predecessor. A heavily-engineered synthetic leather mesh provides fantastic breathability for your feet. Optimum

cushioning inside makes for a snug fit. While the Air Max is available in various forms, this 90 Ultra BR is the less flashy one, but equally functional. The soft-studded sole design allows for decent amounts of grip on most types of outdoor and indoor surfaces. On the move you will hardly feel any additional weight on your feet and the snug fit means your feet are in a very comfortable zone. In terms of car speak, the Air Max 90 Ultra is like an everyday sportscar that you can take to the track on weekends as well as to office on weekdays. Yes, they work just as well if you want to use them while toggling between brake and accelerator pedals, too. `10,995; nike.com

NIKE AIR MAX 90 ULTRA BR

COMFORT ZONE


TG Watch ReportThe pick of this month’s watches

BREITLING BENTLEY B06 S

WATC H E S

The original Breitling Bentley B06 featured a 49mm case, and was one of those massive watches. The recently launched S version is

more compact and sportier. The knurled pattern on the bezel, a nod to the famous Bentley radiator grills, is picked up in the motif stamped on the black or silver dial. The timepiece is powered by Calibre B06, entirely developed and produced in the Breitling Chronométrie workshops, and officially chronometer-certified. It features the ingenious 30-second chronograph system inspired by a 1926 Breitling patent that involves a central hand sweeping around the dial in half a minute and thus ensuring precise eighth-of-a-second readings of the times it measures. The Bentley B06 S is available in steel or red gold, and comes with a choice of a bracelet, or a strap in leather, or rubber with a central raised pattern matching the bezel. breitling.com

Every now and then, Seiko comes up with a watch you must immediately add to

your collection. This here is one of them. Not only does it recall the best Seventies diver’s watches, but it’s properly mechanical and pretty affordable. `15,000 approx. ebay.com

Here’s another lesson in minimalism, and a classy one at that. It’s called the Max Bill,

after the Bauhaus master who designed the original. And, like any of his creations – from buildings to typefaces – its beauty lies in its unfussy simplicity. junghans.de

JUNGHANS MAX BILL CHRONOSCOPE

A square-faced classic from the company that also makes electric shavers. The

BN0042 comes in grey or black, both of which have a stainless steel case holding a quartz movement to help keep price down. Around `10,000. braun-clocks.com

BRAUN BN0042SEIKO RECRAFT SNKM97

SECURING OUR STREETS

We don’t need to tell you this, but at TopGear, we love cars of all shapes and sizes. But, we are equally concerned, as

you are, about traffic and the way it impacts our lives. So, last month, we kick-started a campaign, Street Smart, Street Safe, which, we hope, will do its bit in making traffic smoother, our streets safer and the people who drive on our country’s roads more disciplined. Our partner in the campaign, which ran from June 30 to July 21, was the Mumbai Traffic Police. It was driven by Bolt from Tata Motors, and supported by MEP Infrastructure Developers, the country’s leading toll management and surface infrastructure firm and, among others, OLA Cabs. Bollywood actor and conscientious citizen Suniel Shetty was the brand ambassador. The first week of the campaign focused on decongesting Mumbai’s streets by encouraging carpooling and the use of

BBC TopGear Magazine India and the Mumbai Police hook up to make the city’s roads smoother and safer with Street Smart-Street Safe.

public transport, and the weeks that followed featured events that aimed to create awareness about basic traffic rules, women drivers’ safety and noise pollution. The people who got together and kick-started the campaign included Jayant Mhaiskar, managing director of MEP Infra, Milind Bharambe, the joint commissioner – traffic, of Mumbai, Amit Sagar, national sales head for Passenger Cars Unit at Tata Motors, Sheila Sail, DCP – Crime against Women, Deepak Lamba, CEO of Worldwide Media and Girish Karkera, Editor, BBC TopGear Magazine India. Among the highlights of

the launch of the campaign was the introduction of the Mumbai Traffic app (only on Android at the moment). Among others, the app provides useful updates about heavily congested areas and suggests alternate routes. It also features a one-click Emergency Alert, which sends your last known location to three contacts of your choice. The Street Smart Street Safe initiative involved a Women’s Safety Drive, which was flagged off from SNDT College, in Mumbai. The Drive also saw the launch of a safety helpline number – 9969777888 – for women. Other events included ‘Traffic Angels’, which saw school children and volunteers form human chains to guide pedestrians and discourage them from jaywalking; and ‘Horn Not OK’, which focused on reducing noise pollution by installing decibel meters at key areas in the city. The campaign wrapped up in the third week of July with an event that demonstrated the importance of obeying traffic rules. Our next stop? Pune, and then the rest of India. See you soon.

Download MUMBAI TRAFFIC app on Google Play Store

#StreetSmart

L to R: Arvind Singhatiya, V.P. Corporate Affairs – OLA Cabs, Girish Karkera, Editor - BBC TopGear Magazine India, Amit Sagar, National Head, Passenger Cars Unit - Tata Motors, Mandira Bedi, Suniel Shetty, Deepak Lamba, CEO - Worldwide Media, Gautam Chatterjee, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary (Transport), Milind Bharambe, Joint Commissioner, Traffic, Mumbai, Jayant Mhaiskar, MD-MEP, Sheila Sail, DCP (Crime Against Women Cell)

Supported by

P G A C A G U T 0 5 0 3

SMOOTHER ROADS, MORE AWARE DRIVERSWhat are the new initiatives being planned by MEP Infrastructure Developers? MEP is one of the leading players in the operate-maintain-transfer and Toll Management segment in India. MEP believes in technology and thus has installed Electronic Toll Collection system based on RFID Technology on many of its projects such as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, Mumbai Entry Points and toll plazas of National Highways Authority of India. MEP projects are well equipped with CCTV cameras along with a controlled surveillance room to monitor the movement of traffic to avoid incidents.

As someone who has been associated for long with road projects, how do you view the problems caused by traffic?India’s road network is the world’s second largest, aggregating 4.7 million kilometres. Roads constitute the most common mode of transportation, account for about 85 per cent of passenger traffic and around 60 per cent of freight traffic. However, national highways, with a length close to 79,000 km, constitute a mere two per cent of the road network but carry about 40 per cent of the total road traffic. Limited network of roads leads to traffic snarls, which causes fuel wastage, increased travel time, wear and tear of vehicles and roads as well. To decongest traffic in Mumbai, there is a requirement of elevated roads in addition to the 55 flyovers in and around Mumbai on five major corridors, which also has been instrumental in catering to the growing traffic population.

What can metropolises such as Mumbai learn from big cities abroad when it comes to managing traffic?The city needs exclusive lanes for public transport systems so as to have hassle-free transportation for the public at large, aided by facilities such as dedicated parking lots, or parking hubs on taxable basis, which will encourage commuters to use public transport. Congestion charging is another widely followed practice. People should also take up carpooling, as it will reduce the number of private vehicles on our roads.

How does MEP manage its various projects in over 12 states in the country? MEP has an experience of more than 12 years in the toll management industry. We have a separate toll operations division with a skilled workforce. We believe in technology and thus use RFID technology-based electronic tolling and smart cards for faster clearance of vehicles. We have a well-qualified and experienced civil team to cater to the need of the routine and periodic maintenance of the roads so as to provide excellent quality roads.

As a road user what is the one thing about traffic that irritates you the most?Traffic congestion and lack of traffic awareness at large. Commuters should follow the traffic rules and regulations for their own safety and for the safety of fellow commuters as well.

Jayant D Mhaiskar, Vice-chairman and MD of MEP Infrastructure, on traffic, solutions and learnings

UncleTopGear

Ask

OUR MYSTERIOUS AGONY UNCLE HELPS SOLVE YOUR DILEMMAS. SORRY IF HE GETS A BIT GRUMPY

Dear Uncle TGI got this nice sedan recently, and I really like it. But, I find that it isn’t as economical as the brochures claimed. Is there anything I can do to use less petrol? Bipin Austin, via email

Don’t drive too far.

Dear Uncle TGI am in the market for a high end car, like very high end. But, these reports of fancy cars catching fire are alarming. What would you suggest? Binoy Rajan, via email

Don’t tick on the Combustion option.

Dear Uncle TGI stay in the upper reaches of Kashmir, and, you know, it snows quite lot here. Now, everyone knows you’re not supposed to pour boiling water onto frozen car windows except my neighbour, who brings out a kettle but then pours the water onto the roof and lets it run down the windows. He says that’s OK because hitting the roof first cools the water enough so it won’t crack the glass. Is he an idiot?Haseeb Gilani, via email

Almost certainly. The correct way to deal with wintry conditions, if you ask me, is to follow the example of my uncle by removing all windows of your car in October and keeping them somewhere safe until April or thereabouts. He swore by this method, even after his arm fell off.

Dear Uncle TGJust a quick one: is it illegal not to have a spare wheel? Jai Vishwas, via email

In your car, no. As a scantily clad lady of a

certain age on a night out in Mumbai, empirical evidence would suggest that the answer is yes.

Dear Uncle TGMy SUV was stolen from outside my house by car thieves who got in using a cloned key. Have you heard of this happening before?Binoy Rajan, via email

No, but if I heard it happening, rest assured I would ring the police just as soon as I found my glasses.

EMAIL US YOUR QUERIES FOR UNCLE [email protected]

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A S K U N C L E T O P G E A RCool it: standard winter procedure

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CAR CHOOSERYOU CAN GO THROUGH A HUNDRED SPECS AND OPTIONS... OR JUST SELECT THE CAR YOU REALLY WANT USING THE CAR CHOOSER ON TOPGEAR.COM. YOU DECIDE.


LODGY STEPWAYWant a macho MPV? Step(this)way, please

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YAMAHA SALUTOEfficiency is the name of the game for the new Yam

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CELERIO DIESELTiny Maruti gets a tinier two-cylinder oil-burner

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XC60 R-DESIGNMost popular Volvo with added flash

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THE CARS THAT MATTER. DRIVEN, TESTED AND RATED THE TOPGEAR WAY

No stereo, no climate control, no nothing. But, you won’t mind that one bit TURN OVER

VW VENTO CUPD R I V E O F T H E M O N T H

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M0 4 6 A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M0 4 6

You push this button, the TSI readies itself

to push the Vento

Proper race slicks and lightweight wheels in place

For when the action gets too hot. Like 400 degrees-hot

Remember the Volkswagen Polo Cup that made its grand debut in the Indian motorsport arena, back in 2010? Yes, the same series

that gave hundreds of budding Indian racers a platform to showcase their talent using modern machinery and also get an opportunity to race against the best teams and drivers in Europe. That very series, however, has now been withdrawn and this year, there will be no Polo Cup organised for professional drivers. Sad, isn’t it?

But that’s not the entire story. VW Motorsport believes it’s time to move

forward, and its aim is to build a bigger and better racing series than before. And that’s where the Vento Cup comes in play. So, starting this month, it would be the Vento Cup race cars lapping the Kari Motor Speedway, in Coimbatore, and the Buddh International Circuit, Noida, as a part of the National Racing Championship, 2015. And the red Vento TSI you see on these pages is one of the 22 cars that will feature on the starting grid. VW was kind enough to entrust us with their latest track tool, and we made the most of the opportunity presented to us at the Kari Speedway.

So what’s the Vento Cup race car like?

Well, from the outside, nothing much has been changed, apart from the jazzy sticker job and new alloy wheels. It also has the same wheelbase as the original sedan. But the similarities between this and the road-legal Vento parked in your garage end right there.

VW Motorsport has ripped apart most of the interior, so there are no passenger and rear seats. A racing seat with a five-point seatbelt replaces the driver’s seat, most of the body panels are missing and in comes a next-gen roll cage that’s not bolted onto the chassis (like in the Polo Cup cars), but, rather, is welded into the chassis for better protection and added stability.

The biggest change, however, is in the mechanical department. We had driven the last generation Vento Cup car that was powered by a 100bhp, 1.6-litre, naturally aspirated petrol motor. It wasn’t as quick as the erstwhile Polo Cup car. That’s been taken care of this time around.

The sedan is now powered by 1.4-litre TSI motor, the same unit that powers the 140bhp Jetta and the Skoda Octavia. But, out here, it churns out 178bhp and 250Nm of torque, thanks to its twin-chargers. And all this power is sent to the front wheels via a dual-clutch, six-speed auto ’box, specially developed to take on

Volkswagen Vento CupThe fastest, most powerful Vento in town. Sadly, you can’t buy one B Y D E V E S H S H O B H A

IN DETAIL

SNAPSHOT

VERDICT

A potent track tool that’s quite forgiving

in nature.

7/ 10

SPECS In-line, 4cyl, 1400cc, 178bhp, 250Nm, 6A, FWD

RACE-SPEC MODSTurbocharged and supercharged 1.4 TSIRacing ABS, Free-flow exhaustLimited-slip differential, Data-loggerPaddle shifters, Racing Sachs dampersNext-gen welded roll-cages6-speed auto, wet dual-clutchRemapped ECU, OMP Racing seat

“No steering-mounted controls?No touchscreen infotainment system?

This is nothing like my 1.5 TDI Highline”

Backseat drivingis strictly prohibited

in the Vento Cup

The best(and only)

seat in the house

the grind of a race weekend. So, how does the Vento Cup car fare this time around? To begin with, it does a brilliant job on track. 178bhp and 250Nm of torque does feel like a lot for a car that weighs just over 1,200kg, but VW Motorsport has done a stellar job with the sedan, which isn’t as wild as its power figure suggests. There’s no doubt the 2015 Vento Cup car is fast. Very fast. But a race car isn’t all about power, is it? The handling, too, is phenomenal. Just like a road-legal Vento, the steering is direct and communicative, and along with the McPherson struts up front and a torsional beam axle at the rear, there are the obvious racing Sachs dampers at both ends, which do a

fantastic job when the car is pushed around a corner.

When it comes to racing, it’s not just about how quick you are in a straight line, but also about how quick you are around corners, and the Vento is capable enough to allow the driver to push things to the limit. Yes, it does exhibit understeer – it’s a FWD car – but the limited-slip differential it comes with makes sure you do not find yourself getting introduced to the tyre barriers every time you overcook corners.

It has a free-flow exhaust so it is loud, but do not be fooled by the decibel levels. It sounds wild but isn’t intimidating to drive. It doesn’t make you over work

yourself once you are in the driver’s seat. And that’s one of the Vento Cup car’s strongest points. It’s quite forgiving for a race car, which came as a pleasant surprise. But since these cars will be driven by a group of skilful but inexperienced drivers, it comes across as the perfect track-tool.

And, that the Vento Cup race car is. Sticky JK Tyre slicks, racing ABS and bigger disc brakes help this Vento on steroids to shed speed quickly. As a race car, it’s a phenomenal package, something that every budding race car driver would want to lay his hands on. And that’s what Volkswagen is offering here, an opportunity to race using modern-day machines without emptying your bank account.

SUBSCRIPTION PORTALGET ALL THE TOPGEAR ACTION DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR DOORSTEP. EXCELLENT SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS ONLY ON MAGS.TIMESGROUP.COM/TOPGEAR.HTML


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ome of us here at TG — OK, one of us — are big fans of Mohinder Amarnath, that mostly dour but tremendously

brave cricketer. Strangely, though, Amarnath was never given his due in India, and each time we encounter a new Volvo, we sort of feel the same way about the Swedish company’s robust, stylish and very capable cars. Take the recently launched XC60 R-Design, for instance, which is, pound for pound, as good as the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3, but, trust most Indians to pick its German rivals simply because they are perceived to be better. But, if you’re in the market for an SUV and feel that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, you ought to take a good look at the XC60. Besides Volvo’s new Drive-E 2.0-litre motor and a new eight-speed ’box, the R-Design edition is adorned with a matt black grille, dual chrome tailpipes, 18-inch alloys, a fair number of silver accents inside, and is stiffer sprung than the stock XC60. Inside, there is a Harman Kardon sound system, well-designed seats with great side bolstering, lots of other goodies and a pleasant, if slightly dated-looking but perfectly functional centre console. In short, if you are not the kind of guy who votes for flash, you’ll find it to be just perfect.

The R-Design team has also done its thing with the S60. Like the XC60, the grille and wheel design announce to the world that you’re not

driving a regular S60. Inside, the seats design is different, and the instrument cluster is jazzier. It also has three themes to suit your mood. Mechanically, everything remains the same. So, it has a 2.0-litre oil-burner powering it. It’s good for 180bhp and 400 Nm. With that sort of power, the S60 feels quite agile. It’s mated to a new eight-speed auto ’box – which is decently quick. This one gets a speed-sensitive steering that’s quite precise and communicative. The S60 has always been a good handler, and this edition strikes the right balance between ride and handling. Volvo asks for `2 lakh more for the R-Design compared to the top-end Summum’s `38 lakh (all prices, ex-showroom, Delhi). It’s a fine investment if you want a good-looking Volvo that handles well.

The Volvo drives as good as it looks. The car surges forward with a nice diesel rumble, and acceleration is superbly linear. Power is about as much as you’d need from an SUV that will mostly be confined to urban roads, with an occasional highway run thrown in. Out on winding roads, the XC60 displays remarkable poise and, as with all Volvos, rides roughshod over undulations.

Thanks to stiffer springs, this XC60 is a better handler than the stock version, but the ride is firmer, though not uncomfortably so. The steering weighs up nicely, and you’ll enjoy long drives in this one. The X3 might be more agile and the Q5 might have more snob value, but at about `52 lakh (ex-Delhi), the XC60 makes a compelling choice for a

self-assured individual who doesn’t need to make a statement with the kind of brand he drives.

VERDICT

Subtle tweaks make the

XC60 a more involving buy

7/ 10

Volvo XC60 R-Design

S60 R-Design

New engine and gearbox make it a compelling choice B Y M U R A L I K M E N O N

R-Design adds a dash of magic to the S60 B Y A G A S T I K A U L G I

Interior getting ona bit, but still a

nice place to be

VERDICT

SPECS

1984cc, 4cyl, turbo diesel, 180bhp, 400Nm top speed: 215kph ` 40.25 lakh (ex-Delhi)

The R-Design package makes it stand out and look goodSPECS 1984cc, 4cyl, turbo diesel, 180bhp, 400Nm top speed: 210kph ` 52 lakh (ex-Delhi)


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f you weren’t already spoiled for choice in this class of motorcycle, Yamaha has just made buying a 125cc commuter

bike just a little more confusing with its new Saluto.

Design-wise, the Saluto is like your average run-of-the-mill commuter. It looks conservative, much like any other offering of its kind, and has a value-for-money aura about it. The most eye-catching things about this bike are the unique pilot lamp on its forehead and the chunky, Yamaha-branded side panels. There isn’t much drama to this one otherwise, but then, it would be a bit silly to expect a dramatic-looking commuter, wouldn’t it?

Ergonomically, the Saluto reeks of

commuter friendliness – the upright riding position, the short handle bars, the one-piece flat seat for long journeys, the simplistic body panels, lights and all-analogue instrument layout.

Efficiency always was, and still is the name of the game in this segment, and the Saluto, with its air-cooled, 125cc single-pot engine that produces 8.1bhp and 10.1Nm of torque and features Yamaha’s easy-sipping Blue Core tech, earns some commuter brownie points in this category.

The Saluto returns a very impressive 70kpl out on the highway. This figure, mind you, was achieved while maintaining a speed of 60-70kph, and could be bettered further if ridden with a little more patience. The key among the attributes that are responsible for

VERDICT

Short on features, but a true value- for-money commuter

5/ 10

Yamaha SalutoNew featherweight contender steps into the 125cc ring B Y C H R I S C H A V E S

the high mileage figure is the bike’s weight: at 112kg, the Saluto is the lightest motorcycle in its class.

Engine refinement isn’t Honda-smooth, but the vibes felt through the bars are not at all intrusive. The clutch is nice and light to employ, and the four-speed gearbox is pretty smooth, too. However, a toe-shifter is something we sorely missed.

Initial acceleration is good and the ride quality – the bike is equipped with an old-school dual-spring suspension setup at the rear – is quite pliant.

The Saluto is comfortable gathering momentum in a straight line, but you won’t be inspired to push hard into a corner. What fail to impress are the brakes. The Saluto comes fitted with drum brakes on both wheels, and a disc brake up front is not available even as an option.

In fact, the Saluto doesn’t come with an impressive features list, and even lacks storage space under the seat or in the conventional space above the gearbox. But one look at the price tag of `52,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), and it all begins to look rather acceptable.

All-analogueinstruments easy

to read on the move

SPECS 1cyl, 125cc, air-cooled, carburetted, 8.1bhp, 10.1Nm, 4M 7.6 litres 112kg ` 52,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi)

HONDA SHINETHE RIVALEqually friendly commuter but with a slightly bigger features list and price tag


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rossover is the flavour of the season. It was the hatchbacks that kick-started the sensation, putting on roof rails and

some plastic cladding in a bid to appear rugged. But, if you dig deeper, you’d find that despite the accessories, none of these beefed-up variations are actually any more rugged than the regular models. But, one thing they do for sure is add a bit of ‘macho’ to the styling and break the everydayness of the design. Now, an MPV has joined the fray.

Renault has been using the ‘Stepway’ suffix internationally for a while now. The Sandero Stepway has been on sale in European markets for a while, and it’s time for India to welcome the Stepway family with a special version of the Lodgy.

The first thing you notice on the

Lodgy Stepway is its grille. It’s unlike any other Renault’s, and looks better than the one on the regular Lodgy. The bumper, too, has been tweaked to accommodate chrome inserts for the fog lamp housings. There are skid plates at the front and back to protect the bumper if you drive this thing over ruts and rocks.

Along the side, there’s plenty of plastic cladding to further distinguish the Stepway from the regular version. And, if that wasn’t enough, it has roof rails, too. And yes, the wheels, too, have changed – you get nice-looking gunmetal ones here.

The Stepway is available only as the top-of-the-line RxZ variant – both in seven- and eight-seater configurations. The Stepway is mechanically identical to the regular Lodgy. Driving it is the same 1.5-litre diesel engine, which

VERDICT

Adds a bit of style to a spacious,

nice-driving MPV

7/ 10

Lodgy StepwayThe crossover bug has bitten the family man’s Renault B Y A G A S T I K A U L G I

churns out 108bhp of power and 245Nm of torque, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The ride and handling, too, remains the same as the basic Lodgy’s, which means it possesses good driving characteristics and rides well, even over bad roads, which keeps the passengers happy. Despite facing competition from a lot of players, the Toyota Innova has been numero uno in the segment for years. Now, though, it seems as if only the Lodgy can make you look away from the Toyota.

One of the Lodgy’s biggest assets has been the space it offers. It’s long and wide, and couple that with a good ride, and you’ve got a great people-mover. Even the third row is spacious, and you don’t have to sit there with your knees glued to your chin. Full-sized adults, too, will be comfortable there. Even on long journeys.

The Lodgy Stepway is priced at `11.99 lakh and `12.29 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) for the eight- and seven-seater versions, respectively. For that sort of money, you get a good MPV with a bit more style thrown into the mix. It’s for people who want their people-mover to be a bit different. If you’re one of them, you should hurry, for the Stepway is a limited-edition variant.

It’s based on the RxZvariant, so you get all

the toys as standard

SPECS 1461cc, 4cyl, turbo-diesel, 108bhp, 245Nm 1365kg ` 12.29 lakh (7-str, ex-Delhi)


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he RS7, introduced in India at the beginning of 2014, isn’t old at all. When we tested it back then, it touched 100kph in exactly

3.93 seconds – a figure that has only been bettered by the Porsche 911 Turbo S since. If the satellite communicating with our road-test equipment at the time had a mind of its own, it would have gone off-orbit in shock.

Now, this shock-inducing car has got itself a cosmetic refresh. The headlights are nearly triangular instead of the old staid rectangles, the lights are the LED Matrix kind that don’t blind oncoming traffic, the grille has sharper cuts around the corners, the tail-lights are new, and… that’s it. What has changed, though, is the fact that the RS7 isn’t the most powerful road-going Audi anymore. At 552bhp, it’s 50 short of the

latest generation R8 V10 Plus’ 602bhp.But as we were getting reacquainted

with this refreshed beast, there was not one instance when we thought we would have been happier if it packed a few more horses. You see, the all-new, super-light, purpose-built R8 V10 Plus is claimed to hit 100kph in 3.2 seconds. The RS7, which is half a tonne heavier and about four times more practical and versatile, needs only 0.73 seconds more for the 0-100kph ritual. The 4.0-litre turbo V8 does it thanks to the 700Nm of torque and the copious amounts of fuel it gulps down. Oh, and when you aren’t going pedal to the metal, the RS7 wafts along calmly with only four cylinders running. While you wrap your head around that, let us tell you some of the things we would have liked Audi to work on.

The gearbox is still the single-clutch,

VERDICT

Still a great everyday driver with supercar performance.

And a bargain.Sort of

8/ 10

Audi RS7Continues to be a lovely, supercar-shaming loco B Y S R I R A M N A R A Y A N A N

tiptronic eight-speed automatic. It works perfectly in automatic mode. But, if you choose to use the paddle shifts, this thing is slow. The car still feels its weight around corners. And, Audi continues to spec its demo cars with 21-inch wheels that look great, but interfere with ride comfort. We use the word interfere not because the ride is uncomfortable, but because despite the low-profile rubber, the RS7 does a good job of tackling Indian roads that would be classified as an under-maintenance back road elsewhere in the world. So, with 20-inchers, the RS7 might actually turn out to be perfectly comfortable.

What’s still perfect with the RS7 is the duality of its nature. It does a brilliant job at being a peaceful cruiser, a patient stop-and-go crawler and a spitting, sizzling, blood-curdling and nimble bullet train. The car here had its speed limiter set to 305kph. And, we can tell you that it gets there. The ‘old’ RS7 was a superb, barking hyper-sedan with space for four and their luggage for those who didn’t want to shell out for a Porsche Panamera. The refreshed RS7 continues to be a superb, barking hyper-sedan with space for four and their luggage for those who don’t want to shell out for a Porsche Panamera. But how does it fare against the new BMW M6? Find out on page 112.

You won’t notice thecarbon fibre and alcantara when you’re doing 305kph

SPECS 3993cc, V8 turbo-petrol, 552bhp, 700Nm, 8A, AWD 0-100kph: 3.93s, top speed: 305kph ` 1.40 crore (ex-Mumbai)


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ncouraged by the great response to the petrol-powered – and highly driver-friendly – Celerio AGS, Maruti has

enhanced the people-pleasing attribute of its hatchback by equipping it with a diesel motor. Sadly, the highlight of the petrol model, the Auto Gear Shift system (or ‘automated manual transmission’, if you will) does not feature in the diesel-engined Celerio at the moment.

But that’s not to say that the Celerio, with its new two-cylinder DDiS 125 – the first diesel engine designed and developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation – is all but short of a boon to prospective buyers.

The Celerio diesel is identical to its

petrol-powered counterpart in terms of its dimensions, so it is quite easy to park in the city, and with its moderately light steering, getting around town is a breeze.

The cabin can comfortably accommodate four full-size adults along with one anorexic human being. The diesel car even comes with the same features as the petrol in its different levels of trim – LDi, VDi, ZDi and ZDi (O).

Now, the talking point and the best feature about this car is, obviously, the all-new turbocharged 793cc motor that generates 47bhp and 125Nm. The unit is mated to a five-speed manual transmission, and one would assume that it would be quite noisy and slightly underpowered. Well, it is noisy, but the

VERDICT

With a new diesel motor, the Celerio

is now more practical than it’s ever been

7/ 10

Celerio DDiS 125New two-pot diesel for the little Maruti. It’ll cause a stir B Y C H R I S C H A V E S

torque delivery from low down the power band doesn’t make this Maruti feel like a slouch.

There’s a spring in this Celerio’s step. Yes, it does take 23.09 seconds for the 0-100kph run, but that’s respectable for a small two-cylinder diesel. As far as frugality is concerned, the Celerio houses one of the most efficient diesel motors in the country right now. The Maruti returned 17kpl in the city cycle, and that figure can only improve on the highway.

On the shortcomings front, there is a fair bit of road and wind noise that creeps into the cabin as you build up speed, and the tyres could have been grippier. But as an overall package – prices range from `5.72 lakh for the LDi to `6.98 lakh for the top-end ZDi (O) – the Celerio diesel comes across as a well-rounded deal. An AGS-badged diesel Celerio would unquestionably be the cherry on top of this cake, and we wouldn’t be surprised if that popped out of Maruti’s oven in the near future.

Standard Celerio fare.Note five-speed manual:

no AMT for the diesel... for now

SPECS 2cyl, 793cc, 47bhp, 125Nm, 5M 900kg Fuel tank: 35 litres; efficiency: 17kpl ` 6.98 lakh (on-road, Mumbai)

0-100: 23.09s; 30-50kph (3rd): 3.84s; 30-50(4th): 5.99s; 50-70kph(5th): 5.50s; 80-0kph: 28.02m, 2.56s

CHEVROLET BEAT DIESELTHE RIVALA small-hearted frugal diesel hatchback that’s decently equipped and has an extra cylinder

WORDS: AGASTI KAULGI

PHOTOGRAPHY: HIMANSHU PANDYA

With the S-Cross, Maruti’s having

another crack at the premium

side of things. And this time,

it’s done its homework.

We take it to work and play

STEPUP



MARUTI SUZUKI S-CROSS

Look off-roady. Are not.

Provide very little grip on

and off the road

Iam sure Sanjay Gandhi must never

have, in his wildest dreams, thought

the company that he gave birth to

would reach dizzying heights.

Today, on an average, Maruti sells 1 lakh cars

every month. And, that’s been the case for a

while now. That translates to 3,333 cars being

sold per day, and 139 new Marutis being

delivered across the country every hour. Insane

numbers, no?

You’d imagine that a company that manages

to sell a set of wheels to 139 ‘well-informed’

buyers every 60 minutes may be able to sell any

kind of car. The marketing guys at the Maruti

Suzuki HQ, in Delhi, must possess super-brains

of sorts, right? Wrong.

In the past, they failed quite miserably when

it came to selling premium cars. The SX4

withered away after the novelty value faded, the

Grand Vitara is still yearning for a diesel engine,

and the Kizashi was just too hot to handle even

for its maker. A customer who was ready to pay

anything above `8 lakh moved away from the

brand and opted for a Hyundai, Skoda, Honda,

or Volkswagen instead. Intense competition

didn’t help matters either.

That’s going to change now, or at least that’s

what Maruti’s hoping for. It’s come up with a

solution to change its brand image. It calls it

‘Nexa’. That isn’t an abbreviation for anything.

It’s just a new sub-brand that Maruti will use to

sell its premium cars. Nexa will kick off with

30 showrooms across India with better

ambience than ‘regular’ Maruti dealerships,

wi-fi connectivity and a well-dressed, well-

spoken Relationship Manager instead of a

salesman who’ll get you snacks and coffee

before selling you a premium Maruti. Sounds

good? Anyway, let’s get on to the only car this

finely-dressed Relationship Manager will sell

you for now – the S-Cross.

The S-Cross is a crossover that’s unlike the

VW Cross Polo, or the Toyota Etios Cross, or the

Hyundai i20 Active. It was meant to be a

crossover from the off and not a sedan, or just a

hatchback that’d grow some roof rails and plastic

cladding later on.

Now, the first question that comes to mind is

whether it’s related to the SX4 in any way, which

originally was a crossover in international

Maruti delivers a pleasantly

refreshing, upmarket

ambience inside



‘IT WAS ALWAYS

MEANT TO BE

A CROSSOVER,

AND NOT A

HATCH THAT’D

GROW ROOF

RAILS AND

CLADDING’

markets before being turned into a sedan for us.

The answer is, it isn’t. It’s a car that’s new from

the ground up – new platform, new engine, new

gearbox, new interior, new everything. The only

thing that it carries over is the macho design

language of the SX4.

Since the S-Cross is committed to giving you

the best of both worlds – a sedan that loves fast,

smooth roads, and a soft-roader that can’t live

without being treated to some rough terrain –

we decided to treat it to a bit of both.

To start with, it has no hardware that’ll aid

hardcore off-roading. The only two weapons

present in its arsenal are its high ground

clearance – 180mm – and truckloads of torque.

Looking at the tyres, you may think that they’re

of the all-terrain variety, but actually, they just

look like those. Just like having a ‘hamburger’

with a potato patty in it.

So, there’s relatively low grip while going

over fine dust or wet rocks. But, if you don’t

intend to live the life of Mad Max, the S-Cross

masters the soft-roading bit with the same sort

of ease and style with which Sachin Tendulkar

would unfurl an on-drive. Scraping the belly


isn’t a concern, and driving through ruts or

gravel is a cakewalk.

The diesel engine is something we’re not

familiar with. It’s new, but hails from the same

family as the 1.3-litre DDiS (which is also

available on the S-Cross). It displaces 1.6 litres,

and generates a good 116bhp and a hefty 320Nm

of torque, which makes it the most powerful

Maruti engine in India, ever.

After it passes the 1,800rpm mark, a point till

which turbo lag is evident, it pulls cleanly till

5,000 revs. The mid-range is superbly punchy

– all of that spin pushes the car ahead with

serious intent. It’s actually fun. Once you crank

it up, the sound it makes is similar to that of the

1.3, but it’s kept in check and you can only hear a

distant hum inside the cabin.

With a new engine powering the S-Cross,

there’s a new transmission, too, to channel

power to the front wheels. It has six cogs to add

flexibility and keep the engine running at low

revs while cruising on the highway. The shift

quality will remind you of the Swift – it’s

not exactly rubbery, but it’s not Hyundai-

smooth, either.

With a combo of a bigger, more powerful

engine and a new gearbox, the S-Cross hits

100kph in 11.44 seconds – quite decent for a car

of its kind. The fuel economy, too, is good

– 17.1kpl on the highway and 12.7kpl in the city.

We’ve seen some really sweet-handling cars

from Maruti of late – the A-Star, the Swift, the

SX4 and Kizashi come to mind. Some are (or

were) even the best handlers in their segment.

Add the S-Cross to that list. Once you find a

twisty, relatively empty stretch of road and you

start pushing it, you know that this chassis is

capable of handling lots of torture.

It could have gunned for greater glory if it

weren’t for the tyres. Maruti has prioritised fuel

‘MID-RANGE

IS SUPERBLY

PUNCHY –

320NM OF SPIN

PROPELS THE

S-CROSS

WITH SERIOUS

INTENT’


economy over grip and gone in for low rolling-

resistance tyres that are not exactly the sticky

type. And, as a result, the S-Cross tends to

understeer just when you feel confident enough

to push it a bit more around a corner.

The effect of these low rolling-resistance

tyres goes beyond making you slightly hesitant

to corner hard. Braking, too, feels a bit iffy. In

our performance tests, the average braking

distance for a mid-size sedan, or a compact SUV

is about 26 metres from 80kph to a dead stop.

The S-Cross takes 28.72 metres to come to a

halt. Those extra 2.72 metres could be crucial,

especially in an emergency. It would be a better

bet to go in for tyres with better grip than the

ones that’ll last you 5,000km more and save a

few millilitres of fuel.

If you aren’t trying to push the throttle pedal

through the floor, the S-Cross is nice to drive.

The steering is light but progressive and

predictable. Plus, it shows signs of life at

dead-centre. The ride is exceptional - pliant,

comfortable and supple, just what you’d expect

from a premium car. It’ll keep your back happy

‘MARUTI IS

TAKING A BIG

LEAP, AND THE

S-CROSS, WHILE

NOT EXACTLY

FLAWLESS, IS

A SOUND

BEGINNING’

A bigger oil-burner warrants

a six-speeder. Easy to shift

and boosts efficiency


over broken roads, or even over roads that don’t

exist. A softly-sprung suspension plus a high

centre of gravity means body roll does make its

presence felt. But, it is never bothersome.

The designers and engineers in charge of the

S-Cross project knew exactly what the

management wanted when it asked them to

sketch out the interior design. It’s new, fresh and

you wouldn’t know you were in a Maruti if it

wasn’t for the badge on the steering wheel. The

brand custodian may not like it, but the S-Cross,

like the Vitara and the Kizashi, disguises its

Maruti parentage pretty well.

The materials used are at least two levels up

on other Marutis in terms of quality; even better

than the Ciaz’s, which feel flimsy in comparison,

and there are plenty of features, too. The only

thing that you may miss are rear AC vents. But,

don’t worry: the climate control system is

powerful enough to cool the entire cabin even

on hot, humid days.

The S-Cross is a much better bet than other

‘crossovers’, but it enters a segment that is

dominated by the Renault Duster / Nissan

Terrano duo. Plus, there’s the more

conventional-looking Hyundai Creta that’s just

arrived on the scene. These are more ‘SUV’

than the S-Cross, and are slightly bigger. With

the whole premium thing, India’s biggest

carmaker is taking a big leap. It’s talking about a

new breed of cars that are ready to take on

established luxury players in a segment in

which it has burnt its fingers previously.

There’s no doubt that the engineers have

done a fine job, managing to take the Maruti-

ness out of the S-Cross, but they’ve shied away

from going all out with their no-holds-barred

luxury policy by skimping on stuff like an

all-wheel drive system, or a new-generation

automatic gearbox, both of which are not

available even as an option.

Rebranding showrooms and focusing on

luxury is a bold move by India’s biggest car

maker. The S-Cross, though not exactly flawless,

is a sound beginning. Ironically, Maruti may still

have to engage in a price battle in this arena. It

hadn’t revealed details at the time of going to

press, but if it can transfer its magical pricing

from ‘mass’ to ‘class’, the S-Cross could help

Maruti sell more than 139 cars a day.

Sat-nav, Bluetooth, stereo:

all multimedia goodies packed

into a 7-inch screen

7 10

S-CROSS

Engine: 1598cc, 4cyl, turbo-diesel

Power: 116bhp at 3750rpm

Torque: 320Nm at 1750rpm

Transmission: 6M, FWD

0-100kph: 11.44 seconds

30-50kph (3rd): 4.24 seconds

30-50kph (4th): 8.64 seconds

50-70kph (5th): 7.89 seconds

80-0kph: 28.72m; 2.50 seconds

City kpl: 12.7

Highway kpl: 17.1kpl

Price: `8.5–11 lakh

(ex-Delhi, estimated)

VERDICT

Pros: High ground clearance, new

diesel engine, ride

Cons: Tyres, body roll

Bottomline: A nice to drive,

spacious crossover that can erase

the sentence, “Expensive Marutis

don’t sell”.


FORD FIGO ASPIRE


dustedsedan and

At the end of its fishing hook, Ford’s hung a sub-four metre sedan packed with features

unheard of in the segment and sound on-road dynamics. Will people bite?

Words: SRIRAM NARAYANANPhotography: HIMANSHU PANDYA


FORD FIGO ASPIRE


he world has a lot of thankless jobs. I’d hate to be a hostage negotiator. It’s a job where you’d be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. Acting as a middleman between the management and the workers’ union is

slightly less precarious, but will make you consider jumping off a cliff. Third in my list is being asked to design a sub-four metre sedan. My expertise in design goes as far as being able to draw a hyphen with a ruler, but going by the kind of under-four-metre sedans being conjured up by everyone, even I can safely pass a blanket verdict that it seems impossible to draw a

compact sedan that’s – forget beautiful – merely proportionate. If someone does manage one, it surely won’t be able to fit people inside it.

Ford’s Figo Aspire can. Five of them. Very comfortably. Why is it called the Figo Aspire? Possibly because Ford is soon going to bring in the new Figo hatch that’ll most probably drop its ‘aspirations’, and the company wants both the cars to be associated with each other for some bizarre reason. That’s not important, though. What’s important are four crucial facts. The Aspire – let’s drop the Figo for convenience’s sake – is as ugly and disproportionate as its competitors and lacks a few convenience features, but it makes up for that by bringing in some segment-firsts, and it drives well, too.

Now that we’re done with the headlines, let me tell you that I wasn’t expecting much from the Aspire in terms of looks. And I can’t say that it has pleasantly surprised me. It looks like a Ford Mondeo that’s come

Quality is good. Spaceis generous. Features

are aplenty

Five-speed manualonly ’box for the diesel.For now

‘IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESIGN A

COMPACT SEDAN THAT IS MERELY PROPORTIONATE’


out of the washing machine after its first wash. The need to pack everything into a four-metre footprint makes the Aspire – like every small sedan – a designer’s nightmare. The details – the headlights, the grille – all look good in isolation. But, cramming them into a tiny car that also has to have a boot just ruins things. The small wheels don’t help matters either.

Meanwhile, this humble, disproportionate little sedan is on its way up an ascent at 120kph with the speedo needle still climbing. Which is when I realise the enormity of the task that lies ahead for the Aspire. I’m not referring to the hairpin a few metres away. It has to be under four metres to get tax benefits, it has to have small engines to qualify for excise cuts, it has to seat five, it has to have essential and convenient safety and luxury features, and it has to be cheap. Cheap to the point where a few decimal points after a six-figure sticker price is enough to make people pick one over the other. Ford hasn’t launched the car yet, nor shared

its price, but I reckon they would be foolish to price it extravagantly.

Because there is scope for that. The top-of-the-line Aspire comes with six airbags as standard, and two are standard across the range. The key fob lets you limit the top speed of the car, and you can also programme it to do stuff like mute the audio system or fire off an alarm if you aren’t wearing your seatbelt. Plus, there’s the usual Emergency Assist that directly calls an emergency number in case of an accident.

The Aspire surprises with its sound on-road abilities. The 1.2-litre petrol is more in line with the car’s humble nature. Not much at low revs, a strong mid-range and not a lot beyond 5,000rpm. If you feel the turbo kick in, just pull over because you clearly are imagining things. The 1.2 doesn’t have one, and it shows. Thankfully, you don’t have to shift gears frequently. Progress is steady, but as glacial as the process of recovering your pension from the

Small wheels don’tdo the Aspire any

favours in terms of looks

‘IT NEVER GIVES YOU THAT ‘I’M

JUST A BUDGET SEDAN EXCUSE’ WHEN YOU ASK

IT TO CARRY OUT DAUNTING TASKS’

government. No one’s going to take it away from you, but you just have to be patient.

The 1.5-litre diesel, though, looks at life differently. It waits for the revs to climb to 1,500, doesn’t interfere with the turbo kicking in, and then, is game for everything – stop-and-go traffic, the expressway and even challenging hill climbs. Now, don’t get ahead of yourself. The Aspire isn’t the driver’s Ford of old. But, with this engine, the Aspire seems to have received a sprinkling of that old stardust, and never gives you that ‘I’m just a budget sedan’ response when you ask it to carry out some

excruciating tasks. With 99bhp, there isn’t enough power to push the tyres to their limits, but the Aspire does a neat, drama-free job of hairpins, inclines and even bad roads.

On the narrow roads of the small town of Udaipur, the Aspire was easy to place and manoeuvre, the gearshift was light and precise, and the steering was very nearly perfect. Very nearly, because it’s still not as good as the Ikon’s or the original Fiesta’s. The Aspire never rekindles those memories in the city, but on the highway, at three-digit speeds, you will yearn for just a bit more heft and feel from that big circular device in

FORD FIGO ASPIRE


front of you. The Aspire can do an indicated 180kph. But beyond 150kph, you’d have to account for crosswinds. Is that a flaw? It is, if you think Sudan’s Mission to Mars isn’t as advanced as the US of A’s.

Other things that’ll put off buyers in this segment are the missing rear AC vents, no parking sensors and a lack of grab handles anywhere in the cabin thanks to the six airbags in the top-of-the-line variant. The reason I say ‘put off’ is because at this level, I reckon people aren’t going to appreciate the fine on-road dynamics that’ll be evident on a few occasions over the absence of more visible comforts. The cabin is

thoughtfully designed. There’s a lot of space for bottles, storage and even a dock for your smartphone. The underside of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat has generous space for rear passengers to tuck their feet in. For such a carefully put-together cabin, – forget parking aid or rear AC vents – consumers are going to miss something to hold on to if they opt for the top variant.

Which brings me on to yet another thankless job: passing a verdict on a car that hasn’t been launched. I reckon if the Aspire is priced slightly lower than the feature-packed Hyundai Xcent, this Ford is surely

FORD FIGO ASPIRE


going to be that eighth person in the highly competitive six-room dormitory of four-metre sedans. Not that the Ford isn’t stuffed with features. It’s just not packed with the ones that are so important for a buyer who’s just looking to get maximum for minimum. Which is what a sub-four metre sedan is all about. Fitting everything that’s physically possible in a four metre-long three-box frame that can keep five people comfortable.

The Aspire certainly does that. If you complain about a couple of missing features, do remember India’s poor showing in the Global NCAP crash tests. The Aspire is equipped with things that won’t be visible in the showroom, but things you’ll be grateful to have in the event of a crash. You’ll also appreciate the car’s abilities on the highway and on mountain roads. If someone puts ‘sub-four metre sedan’ and ‘handling’ in the same sentence, the car that’ll spring to mind henceforth will be the Aspire.

I think four-metre sedans need to stop existing in favour of all that is good with automotive aesthetics. And, because I believe that a four-metre sedan won’t help save a tremendous amount of road space as compared to a 4.2-metre sedan that’ll simply be easier on the eye. That said, Ford has done well for what’s the world’s third-most thankless job – it has packed in the maximum within the minimum, it’s made it comfortable for five, has blessed it with above-average road dynamics – even though most customers in this segment may not care for it – and most importantly, has thought out of the box with regards to safety and convenience features… features that aren’t available on the Aspire’s contemporaries.

Honestly, for the third worst task in the world – designing and packaging a four-metre sedan – Ford delivers a barrage of strong punches with the Aspire. Seems like thanklessness need not be devoid of hope.

FORD FIGO ASPIRE 1.5 TDCIEngine: 1498cc 4cyl turbodieselPower: 99bhp, Torque: 215Nm

Transmission: 5M, FWDBoot capacity: 359 litres

Fuel tank: 40 litresGround clearance: 174mm

Price: TBAPros: Driving dynamics, ride and handling, standard

airbags, first-in-segment safety features, spaceCons: No grab handles in the top variant, no dead

pedal, no rear AC vents, no parking sensorsBottomline: The most dynamically sound

sub-four metre sedan in India

7/10S P E C S

Ford’s SYNC system will keepyou connected

‘FORD HAS MADE IT COMFY FOR

FIVE, AND BLESSED IT WITH ABOVE-

AVERAGE DRIVING DYNAMICS’


GAME, SET, PREMIUM HATCH


HONDA JAZZ vs VW POLO vs HYUNDAI i20

GAME, SET, PREMIUM HATCH

Nobody likes a

one-sided fight. It’s

always good if both

sides are equally

matched. And, it

gets even better

if a third combatant

joins the fray

WORDS DEVESH SHOBHA

PHOTOGRAPHY ROHAN DAYAL

t is said that competition is a

good thing as it often gets

the best out of you. To

an extent, that’s true,

and when you are

pushed, you certainly

do better. But, at

times, extreme

competition is

disheartening. Take, for

instance, the latest Delhi

University (DU) admission process. The battle to grab a

seat in one of the best colleges out there is so intense

that if you haven’t had a perfect score, you’ve missed it.

Yes, not 98 per cent, not 99 per cent, but the cut-off

for undergrad courses at some of the top colleges at DU

is 100 per cent. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? I

remember, a decade back, a score of 90 per cent would

fetch you a seat in the college of your choice, whereas

today, students with 95 per cent marks are left high and

dry. No, let’s not talk about how much I scored in my

college finals.

This stiff competition isn’t just restricted to

academics. In the world of automobiles, too, an intense

battle has been brewing for some time in the premium

hatchback segment, and the launch of the all-new

Honda Jazz has triggered another war.

So, how is this battle any different? Well, we have

three completely different takes on premium

hatchbacks: there’s the new little spaceship, called the

I


Jazz, then there’s the very popular segment leader, the Hyundai i20, and last but not the least, one of the best driver’s hatches out there, the Volkswagen Polo. What are they here for, again? They are here to slug it out for the coveted premium hatchback crown, which will go to the car that is the best all-rounder among the three, and one that delivers the most bang for your buck.

So let’s begin with the newest kid on the block, the Jazz. Now in its third generation, this Honda is all-new from the ground up, and even though the silhouette strongly resembles that of the older car, the styling has evolved over time. It’s now sharper, edgier and bolder. In fact, this is the best the Jazz has ever looked. But the Jazz has an unconventional mono-volume design compared to its rivals.

The Polo follows an understated design template, making it the most sedate-looking car of the trio. This is not to suggest that the VW is unattractive. No, sir, it is actually one of the smartest-looking cars (and not just among hatchbacks), and is a master at the art of turning heads without being shouty. It is, in fact, the antithesis of the i20. The Hyundai’s huge, sweptback headlamps, the wide grille, strong shoulder lines and those splendid tail-lights make it the flashiest (but in a good way) car out here.

Since we are looking for the perfect family hatchback, interior look and feel, creature comforts and space matter a great deal. And when it comes to features and legroom, the Polo immediately goes on the backfoot. While it’s the best in terms of cabin quality and fit and finish, it is a snug fit and doesn’t offer a lot of space, especially at the back. Its equipment list, too, isn’t brag-worthy. The seats are well-cushioned and quite supportive, and sure to take good care of its users. Those who appreciate German engineering will find the Polo’s cabin to be a big turn-on.

Going by the way their current range of cars go, if Honda were to enter the real estate business, we’re sure their houses would be the roomiest and offer unique


Touch-based AC controls borrowed

from the City

Asymmetrical dash designdoesn’t really work. Lots

of goodies on offer, though


solutions for your storage requirements. The Jazz, in terms of space, is phenomenal. Even better than its obscenely spacious predecessor. Dimensionally, it’s almost as long and wide as the other two, but the amount of leg and shoulder room it offers is better. Plus, it comes with smart ways to store luggage, and there are plenty of cubbyholes for everything you could possibly carry - from a water bottle to a file. And it has those ‘magic seats’ - on the top-end VX trim, the rear seats flip and fold in ways you don’t expect them to and for those longer drives, the backrest reclines, too! Moreover, the front seat can be reclined all the way back, almost like a business-class seat. Comfort and practicality at its best.

The downside of the cabin is the asymmetrical dash layout and the quality of plastics. Frankly, you wouldn’t notice the shortcomings of the Jazz, if it weren’t for the fact that the other two cars feature top-drawer materials inside the cabin. The Hyundai’s and VW’s cabins are marginally smaller on the inside, but both

‘THE POLO’S CABIN QUALITY IS TOP-NOTCH, THE JAZZ IS INCREDIBLY SPACIOUS, BUT IT IS THE HYUNDAI THAT SETS THE BENCHMARK’

Who ever thoughta hatchback could have

an interior this good?


these cars don’t cut corners when it comes to interior quality. And, the i20 is the benchmark here. The Honda manages to match the Hyundai’s feature list – it’s a huge one, so we aren’t even getting in there. The Jazz also offers a touchscreen infotainment and rear AC vents, a segment-first.

Another thing that sets the three cars apart are their engines. Although the numbers on paper are quite similar, it’s their character that makes all the difference. The Polo’s 1.5-litre TDI motor is the punchiest of the lot. It revs higher, and its 230Nm of torque, developed from as early as 1,500rpm, always comes in handy. Yes, the five-speed manual is a bit clunky to use, and is a cog short on the others, but it does its job real well. Well enough to stop you from complaining.

The Jazz’s 1.5-litre i-DTEC leans towards driveability. It’s got 10bhp more than the rest. And while it is down on pulling power, it manages better in-gear acceleration, which means you don’t have to change gears too frequently. The i20’s 1.4-litre CRDi unit gets you the best of both worlds. It’s as punchy as the Polo’s, as tractable as the Jazz’s and goes a notch up on overall refinement, more so on the i-DTEC. The Jazz’s motor is simply too loud. The insulation of the cabin, rather the relative lack of it, means the oil-burning nature of the powertrain is always felt.

In terms of handling, the Polo gives you very little to complain about. It handles like it was born to be driven hard, sticks to its line religiously and its high-speed stability is more confidence-inspiring than the other two. The ride does feel a bit stiffly sprung, but is the best set-up here between comfort and firmness. The i20 offers a brilliant low-speed ride, but due to its soft spring ratings, vertical movement is more at high speeds. What would have helped here was a slightly heavier steering. The steering feels vague and lifeless, especially at highway speeds. Braking could have been better, too. In comparison, the Jazz has the most absorbent ride of the three, and feels composed at


Only five-speeder in this company.Is up to the task

Cabin quality isimpressive, but space

is at a premium

A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M0 74

triple-digit speeds. Yes, it feels a bit dull compared to the Polo in case you enjoy spirited driving, but for most of you, there will be no surprises while going fast around corners – it will stick its nose in the direction you want it to go. But going fast around corners is not what the Jazz can do better than the other two simply because it is taller and comes with thinner tyres.

The three cars out here have their own identity and none of them is trying to ape the other. However, they are competing against each other. All three cars mirror their individual makers’ strengths. As we tally the final scores, we realise it’s actually quite difficult to choose an outright winner. Honestly, there is none. The Polo is the one for those who love to be at the wheel and appreciate subtlety. It is the most fun-to-drive and it will keep you comfortable on rough roads. But, you will have to make do with a slightly cramped cabin. The newest of them all, the Jazz, plays its versatility, practicality and space cards really well. In this latest avatar, it comes with a bonus of better equipment and an exterior design that comfortably slots between the subtle Polo and the handsome i20. The diesel motor, however, should have been more refined and the overall cabin doesn’t feel as plush as the Korean’s. Besides, a price tag of `8.59lakh (on-road, Delhi) is serious money. The i20 manages to inch ahead of the two in the race to be the product that has perfected the art of delivering value. It does better on space, and has a cabin that is the most luxurious of the trio. The exterior design is flashy, in a good way, and the i20 boasts an engine that is a combination of the best attributes of the other two cars’ motors. It cannot match the high-speed dynamics of the Polo, or the Jazz, but it makes up for it in every other area. All three cars are good in their own way, but as we said at the beginning, being the best no longer means anything. You have to be perfect. Or, as is the case with the winner here, near perfect.

HONDA JAZZ 1.5 I-DTEC VX Engine: In-line, 4cyl, 1498cc Power: 98bhp @ 3600rpmTorque: 200Nm @ 1750rpm

Transmission: 6MKerb weight: 1154kgWheelbase: 2530mm

Ground clearance: 165mmBoot Space: 354 litres

Fuel tank: 40 litresEfficiency: 27kpl (claimed)

Price: `8.59 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Pros: Space, ride quality, practicality

Cons: Loud engine, dashboard quality and layout

Bottomline: A practical family hatchback with loads

of space and good ride quality

7/10

VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.5 TDI HIGHLINE

Engine: In-line, 4cyl, 1498ccPower: 89bhp @ 4200rpm

Torque: 230Nm @ 1500-2500rpmTransmission: 5M

Kerb weight: 1158kgWheelbase: 2469mm


Fuel tank: 45 litresEfficiency: 20.1kpl (claimed)

Price: `7.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Pros: Engine performance, build quality

Cons: Lacks features, rear space

Bottomline: It’s built to last, and if driving

pleasure is what you seek, look no further

7/10

S P E C S

‘IT IS DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE AN OUTRIGHT WINNER, AS EACH OF THESE HATCHES HAS SOMETHING UNIQUE TO OFFER. BUT...’

HYUNDAI ELITE i20 ASTAEngine: In-line, 4cyl, 1396ccPower: 89bhp @ 4000rpm

Torque: 220Nm @ 1500-2750rpmTransmission: 6M

Kerb weight: 1200kgWheelbase: 2570mm


Fuel tank: 45 litresEfficiency: 22.54kpl (claimed)

Price: `8 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Pros: Refined engine, cabin quality, overall package

Cons: Weak bottom-end performance, steering feel

Bottomline: Spacious, premium, great engine and

ride comfort. A perfect family hatchback.

8/10


Are you one of those who use ‘old-school’ and ‘Volvo’ in the same sentence?

SWEDE LITT LE THING

Two years after getting into the luxury hatchback market, Volvo’s now brought along another new hatch. Now, you may think that I sipped lots of fine scotch before writing this.

But, hold your horses. This V40 is new. The version you’ve been seeing on our roads for the last two years sports a suffix – Cross Country. That was essentially for people

who expected their luxury hatch to be a shade more rugged. This V40 is for people who won’t explore anything that lies beyond smooth tarmac. And, hence, you will find no body cladding, no suffix and no promises of off-road ability here.

The V40 is a great-looking car. It stands out like Megan Fox would on a busy Indian street. You’ll stop doing


VOLVO V40

WORDS: AGASTI KAULGIPHOTOGRAPHY: PARAG PARELKAR

SWEDE LITT LE THINGThe V40 will make you see things in a new light


Supremely well put together. Ergonomic and functional. We’d

like a bigger multimedia screen, though

whatever it is you’re doing and take a long look as one passes you. The proportions have been sketched out brilliantly, and from whichever angle you look at it, the thing looks superb. In fact, I’ll stick my neck out and say this is the best-looking luxury hatch out there. Period.

Volvo designers have, for the last couple of years, pushed the subtle Scandinavian design envelope. No, they haven’t erased it from memory, but it seems they’re an adventurous bunch. The V40 isn’t an ode to any Volvo from the past. It’s futuristic and modern in every possible way - from the curves and the creases to every design element on its surface.

Thankfully, the V40’s beauty is more than skin-deep. The mechanicals, the cabin and the way it drives shows that the Swedes can stand up to the Germans when it comes to making well-engineered cars. Think front-wheel drive cars don’t handle well? Try the V40. Think hatchbacks can’t feel as safe as sedans at high speeds? Try the V40. Think Volvos are boring to drive? Try the V40. It’s a car that clears a lot of myths about the company, and its cars in general.

The V40 impresses from the word go. Spend some time in its driver’s seat, and you’ll appreciate its capabilities even more. Fast highway stretches, fast, sweeping bends… nothing bothers it. The steering is well-weighted, it talks to your palms and when it comes to sticking to tight lines around corners, it does that job well, too.

Everything’s perfect, except for one thing - the ride. Surprising, since Volvos are known for their great ride quality. But, it seems as if the V40 hasn’t been tinkered with too much to make it better-suited for Indian conditions. It doesn’t go over battered tarmac with finesse, and doesn’t keep the occupants as comfortable as they’d be in, say, a B-Class, or even one of Volvo’s sedans. There’s some room for improvement here.

People who buy hatchbacks such as this love to have lots of firepower. And, Volvo has nailed it

Customisable instrument cluster. Turns blue if you want an ‘Elegant’ look

‘THE V40’S LOOKS WILL HAVE YOU MELTING LIKE A CUBE OF

ICE PLACED IN AN OVEN’

with the engine. The V40 is propelled by a 2.0-litre diesel (badged D3) that churns out more power than any other diesel luxury hatch on sale here: a grand total of 148 horses and 350 Newtons of twist. And, as a result, it cracks the ton in just 9.2 seconds. Not bad, eh? It’s quite efficient, too – it’ll go 11.8 kilometres to a litre in the city, and 15.3km on the highway.

Volvo hasn’t quite caught up with the competition when it comes to the gearbox. The V40 possesses a modest six-speed setup. But, despite that, it’s quite all right to use – the ratios are well spaced out, and you’re always in the right gear at the right time.

Okay, I know what you want to hear. The safety bits that Volvo brags about all the time, right? So here goes: as standard, you get eight airbags, and, if you choose the top-end R-Design variant that you see in the pictures here, you also get items such as a pedestrian airbag, whiplash protection, driver knee airbag and a safety cage, along with a City Safety feature that automatically applies the brakes to bring the car to a standstill if it thinks a crash is imminent. This system is active at speeds of up to 50kph. When you’re inside one of these, you’ll feel as safe as you do inside your house.

What will please you further is what Volvo has managed to do with the V40’s pricing. While BMW and Merc have been on about localising this and

8 10

VOLVO V40Engine: 1984cc, 4cyl,

turbo-dieselPower: 148bhp

Torque: 350NmTransmission: 6A, FWD0-100kph: 9.2 seconds

30-50kph: 2.12 seconds50-70kph: 2.51 seconds80-0kph: 23.39m; 2.42

secondsCity kpl: 11.8

Highway kpl: 15.3

VERDICTPros: Safety, build quality,

handling, designCons: Ride

Bottomline: A brilliant-looking,

nice-driving hatchback that won’t empty your

bank account

assembling that, Volvo, which currently has no plans to produce cars in India, has managed to price the V40 lower than the BMW 1-Series (assembled with locally-made engines, door panels and seats, retails at `29.50 lakh) and the Mercedes B-Class (`27.73 lakh for the base version) The V40 undercuts both by a big margin with a price tag of `24.73 lakh for the base Kinetic trim, and `27.7 lakh for the fully-loaded R-Design (ex-Delhi).

By minimising its profit margins, giving Indians a fully-specced model for a reasonable amount of money and launching new offerings with regularity, Volvo is showing how it has grown more serious about rubbing shoulders with the Germans. And, as for the V40, it’s a car that’ll have you melting like a cube of ice placed in an oven with the way it looks. Add its great handling and class-topping safety net to that, and the V40 becomes a luxe hatch you just can’t ignore.


VOLVO V40

WORDS: SAM PHILIP / PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN WYCHERLEYWe know how Italian and German supercars are supposed to

behave, right? Lamborghini and AMG didn’t get the memo...


LAMBO HURACAN vs AMG GT S

The diversity of the engines on show in the 1966 Formula One season would have sent any self-respecting UKIP candidate into meltdown. The ’66 starting grid saw 2.0- and 3.0-litre V8s, a 1.0-litre inline four-cylinder,

a Ferrari V6, a host of V12s and, most remarkably, a 3.0-litre H16 from BRM. An H16! Reports of the day noted its racing success was limited due to being

“heavy and complex”. Imagine. Such drivetrain diversity has, of course, long departed F1. Same story with other corners of technology, too. In the early days of what we now call smartphones, way back in the mid-Noughties, there were flippy phones and slidey phones and phones with unwieldy great fold-out keyboards. Now all smartphones look give-or-take like an iPhone. The first efforts at boiling water using the power of electricity doubtless generated some pretty wild designs, but now all kettles look like, um, kettles. As the rate of technology increases, so diversity tends to decrease.



of the BMW M4: no question fast, no question an impressive technical achievement, but a car that keeps you slightly at arm’s length from its innermost, oily workings.

It might seem a little unfair to line up a Mercedes sports car against a Lambo supercar, but they’re not so far apart as you might think. The Merc doesn’t give away much in the power department, the GT S’s V8 making 503bhp against the Lambo V10’s 602bhp. And sure, prices in the UK may start just under a crore for the Poundland-spec, 469bhp AMG GT (OK, it’s all relative), but if you want this full-fat GT S and a few goodies, you’re looking at the fat end of `1.4 crore. The Huracán starts at `1.8 crore, though of course you can punt it way north of that with some injudicious optionry. You know what? It might sound churlish to describe a `1.8 crore lump of Italian exotica as representing decent value, but the Huracán does at least offer two cars for the price of one. On the one hand, it’s a rare-breed V10 loon, that grand, naturally aspirated engine climbing to a cortex-melting shriek as it closes in on an 8,250rpm limit, every brush of the accelerator returning an instant, savage response. On the other hand, it’s the most usable, friendly of 4WD sports cars, one that encourages you to wring every last drop from the engine and tyres, that precise double-clutch ’box a lifetime removed from the thumping robo-manual in the Aventador.

The 4WD set-up is equally sublime. In a tight corner, you can feather the Huracán between under- and oversteer on the throttle, the multiplate clutch shifting power seamlessly between front and rear. It never feels like it’s going to bite. There has surely never been a more approachable, exploitable mid-engined supercar than this one. Through your hands, your backside, even your ears, you know exactly what the Huracán’s up to, exactly when it’s considering letting go. I realise this is the sort of sentence one might write a couple of weeks before being found deep in a field somewhere in Norfolk, clinging forlornly to a detached steering wheel with shards of Lambo decorating the surrounding hedgerows, but until that point I’m sticking with it. As when we tested the Huracán on ice a few months back, I’m struggling to spot the catch with the Huracán – beyond, y’know, the fact it costs `1.8 crore. Rear visibility is not too hot, but hey, if the view out the back is your biggest concern, you probably won’t be shortlisting a mid-engined Italian supercar. And some might find the cabin – with its points and strakes and jet-fighter-inspired whatsits – a

With one exception, of course: fast road cars. Like the Huracan and AMG GT S. Sure, both have four wheels and two seats, both drink petrol, but both offer entirely different solutions to the challenge of going quickly. In the red corner, the front-engined, rear-drive German with a turbo V8. In the sort-of-greyish-black corner, a four-wheel-drive Italian with a nat-asp V10 mounted midships. Not only are they as different on paper as chalk and, y’know, Bavarian dog cheese, but so contrasting are the Merc and Lambo to drive that they feel not only of different breeds, but different species entirely. Before its launch, I had the AMG GT S pegged as a compact, lithe, accessible rival to the Porsche 911. It really isn’t. This thing is a Sturm und Drang muscle car, a growling, brawling lump of V8 with enough chest hair to comb upwards into a gristly pair of sideburns. The 4.0 twin-turbo V8 might not have quite the whipcrack responsiveness of the SLS’s old 6.2-litre nat-asp unit, but it’s brutally effective nonetheless, serving up a savage thump of low-end torque that morphs to a mosh-pit metal roar past 5,000rpm. If you’ve seen Mad Max: Fury Road, imagine that film’s deafening, petrolly soundtrack compressed into a small two-seater cabin. Entertaining? No doubt. Intimidating? Just a bit.

As is the driving experience. As in its big-brother predecessor SLS, you sit way back near the rear axle of the GT, surveying a vast prow of bonnet ahead. The front wheels feel several postcodes distant, while your posterior seems nestled right between the rear wheels, receiving every slip and shimmy in High-Definition Butt-O-Vision. It all leads to a slightly disjointed feeling: whereas, in the Lambo, you feel right in the middle of the action, the four corners of the car pivoting around you, in the Merc you’re the pendulum. That’s the case with all front-engined, rear-drive cars to some extent, but the AMG feels more so than most.

That sensation of distance is magnified by the steering. Though the variable-ratio set-up gives the Merc a rabidly quick front end, it comes at the expense of genuine feel. Rather than sense through your fingers when you’re running out of grip on the front tyres, you have to just chuck the AMG in and hope it’ll stick. It does. Sometimes too much. To the great surprise of the TG crew, the AMG GT S wasn’t keen to do sideways, and not just in my greasy, flailing hands. Maybe it was the track temperature, maybe the Red Bull Ring’s sticky tarmac, but even TG’s finest merchants of oversteer struggled to coax the Merc into steady, controllable slides.

Partly that’s because switching the AMG’s stability and control systems to Actually Properly Genuinely Off is a complex operation requiring the code-breaking skills of a Bletchley Park ace. But, even when we finally breached the mainframe and vanquished the nannies, the Merc still proved surprisingly spiky in the oversteer department. A strange state of affairs, given that most of AMG’s produce generally desires to chuck itself into a drift at the least provocation: exiting a supermarket parking space, say. But that’s with traction control off. Dial the settings back to Sport+, and you find a sports car with a serious amount of grip and pummelling pace. Even so, the AMG reminds me

From this chair, you will have Mad Max pumped directly into your head

“ THEY ARE AS DIFFERENT AS CHALK AND DOG CHEESE”

LAMBO HURACAN vs AMG GT S


bit juvenile. But again, isn’t that the point of a mid-engined Italian supercar?

Yes, the Huracán is less bitey than its predecessors, but sanding Lambo’s traditionally sharper edges hasn’t resulted in a car that feels blunt, homogenised or watered-down. It simply makes more of that prodigious power available more of the time. Sure, there will be faster, spikier versions to come – a GT3-inspired Super Trofeo or similar, likely a lightweight Superleggera, maybe a RWD-only variant too – but this oh-so-tame base version is plenty for me, ta.

The AMG GT S is a compelling car, one that requires a concerted effort to learn to get the best from it. And in this broadband-enabled, content-on-demand, instant-streaming world in which we live, maybe that’s no bad thing. Just don’t expect to jump in it and be an instant hero. The Lambo, conversely, crowns you a driving god each and every time you wriggle down into its low, bolstered seat. It’s a screaming supercar and friendly, four-wheel-drive sports car in one. Diversity, innit?

LAMBORGHINI HURACÁN Price: `1.8 crore (`3.43 crore ex-Delhi)

Engine: 5204cc V10, 602bhp @ 8250rpm, 560Nm @ 6500rpmPerformance: 0–100kph in 3.2secs, 323kph vmax

Transmission: 7-spd dual-clutch, AWDWeight: 1422kg

MERCEDES-AMG GT SPrice: `1.10 crore

Engine: 3982cc twin-turbo V8, 503bhp @ 6250rpm, 650Nm @ 1750rpmPerformance: 0–100kph in 3.8secs, 309kph vmax

Transmission: 7-spd auto, RWDWeight: 1645kg

entions of smiles abound in automobile magazines. There is the evil grin that materialises on writers’ faces as they hustle a rear-engined rocket around an inviting corner; the spurt of joy that accompanies the

murderous roar of a V8-engined muscle car; and, among others, the much less written about sheepish smile that slits a reviewer’s face when the tail wags a bit more than it was expected to (and opposite lock saves the day). I have experienced all of these emotions, but, of late, I favour cars that make me nod appreciatively at their capabilities. This metaphorical tip of the hat is usually reserved for the Rahul Dravids of the automotive world (as opposed to the Chris Gayles), for cars that are so good, one hardly notices them even as they go about beefing up their respective companies’ bottomlines.

I have driven nearly every iteration of the M-Class, from the original body-on-frame ‘Jurassic Park’ car to the current-gen model that is still sold in showrooms here. I also recently drove the new GLE (that’s what the M-Class will be known as from now on, thanks to a nomenclature rejig), and have watched the series grow quietly, almost imperceptibly better, with each iteration. Sometimes, I wonder what Mercedes will do in, say, 2040, when it will probably finish perfecting the luxury SUV.

The M-Class was never a design classic, and thirty years from now, I don’t foresee a grizzled automobile lover, sucking on his pipe and reminiscing, “The M. I loved those lines. They still haunt me in my dreams.” But, it has always been a handsome car, and each car has reflected the changing preoccupations of its generation. Mercedes’ press brochures indulge in clever word play — “The harmonious, organic transition of the

GOING

FOR G

OLD Goodbye M-Class,

hello GLE. Merc’s luxury SUV might have a new name, but its latest iteration has its legendary sport ute fundamentals in placeWords: MURALI K MENON

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 250d

M


two radiator louvers to the central Mercedes star is convincing.” What? Come again — to make it seem that they’ve burnt the candle at both ends with respect to the GLE’s design. But, let’s just say that the latest model is, as befits a 2015 car, sharper, leaner and dandier, almost as if the GLE, which still wears the trademark rear side window and chunky C-pillar with pride along with new LED DRLs and lamps, subscribed to men’s style journals before presenting itself to the world.

A vehicle that will cost upwards of 6̀0 lakh ought to make its occupants feel special, and Mercedes has put its money where its mouth is. The GLE is plush, without being too shouty about it; it gets a sweet new steering wheel that feels good to hold and features more finger-friendly controls; a larger seven-inch screen headlines the centre console, and if stuff such as knobs and touchpads float your boat, the GLE has those, too. Those looking for an extra row of seats in their SUV should look elsewhere, because the GLE is strictly a five-seater. Merc’s updated SUV is also fitted with a raft of technologies (a majority of these are options), including, oh well, there are just too many, but most of these, such as Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian detection and the highly effective Active Lane Assist will both either be useless in India, or simply not allowed in the country due to archaic laws that govern radar usage.

The cabin is Mercedes-quiet, and even when you get moving, nothing changes. It is still pretty calm inside. The GLE we drove was kitted out with a 2,143cc four-cylinder motor, which is the same unit found under the hood of the current generation M-Class. But, Merc says the engine that will make its way into India along with the more powerful and familiar 258bhp V6 diesel has had its turbo optimised. The V6 will also have an upgraded ECU and a new oil pump. (Internationally, the GLE will be powered by a variety of options, including an AMG 63, and, in a first for a Mercedes SUV, a plug-in hybrid that puts out a mad 440bhp.)

“I WONDER WHAT MERC WILL DO IN, SAY, 2040, WHEN IT WILL FINISH PERFECTING THE LUXE SUV”

It feels just as solid onthe road as the M-Class,but is even better to drive

Six driving modes to choose from. Sport+

works best for us


with stuff you’ll never use — a mode that increases ride height, an off-road package with a low ratio option and inter-axle diff locks — and stuff that could take you to places you will stay far away from (read rocky inclines, slushy trails etc, all of which the GLE tackles with ridiculous ease.)

When the GLE is launched in India this November, it will take on some pretty formidable competitors such as the new Audi Q7, the Volvo XC90 and its old foe, the BMW X5. But, all of these cars would do well to not take the updated M/GLE too lightly. It was, after all, the first-ever luxury SUV, and all its competitors have been doing for the past two-odd decades is follow in its footsteps. If you are used to big, refined and plush Mercs, you’d happily want to put your money down on this one.

An optimised turbo doesn’t make too much of a difference, and the GLE drives just the way the M did. Which is to say it does so in a smooth, refined manner. And, 110kph at about 3,700 revs is a nice feeling. The GLE also takes bends in its stride, especially in Sport mode and, apart from a wee bit of roll typical to SUVs, there is nothing that really inconveniences peeps.

What’s really new with the GLE’s mechanicals is the nine-speed gearbox. It is smooth-shifting and makes the engine more versatile. Plus, if you’ve read your Popular Mechanics, you’d know that more gears = more gear spread, and they also aid smaller engines to power big cars besides, of course, improving fuel efficiency.

The all-wheel drive GLE 250d 4Matic is equipped

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 250d

MERCEDES GLE 250dEngine: 2143cc 4-cyl in-line diesel, direct injection, turbocharged

Power: 204bhp@3800rpmTorque: 480Nm@1600-1800rpmTransmission: 9-speed automatic

0 to 100kph: 8.6 seconds*Top speed: 210kph*

Length/width/height: 4819/1935/1840mmPrice: `60 lakh (ex-showroom, estimated)

Pros: Refinement, well-appointedCons: Slightly dull engine

Bottomline: The first luxe SUV is still among the best (*claimed)

7/10

S P E C S


A BONE TO PICK WITH THE X

MERC DOESN’T LIKE THE BMW X6 VERY MUCH. AND, IT WANTS TO TAKE DOWN THE

PIONEERING COUPE-SUV WITH THE GLE COUPE

MERCEDES GLE450 AMG COUPEEngine: 2996cc V6 petrol

Power: 367bhpTorque: 520Nm

Transmission: 9-speed auto0-100kph: 5.7 seconds*

Top speed: 250kph*Length/width/height: 4891/2003/1719mm

Price: `1.1 crore (estimated, ex-showroom)

(*claimed)

7/10

S P E C S

Words: MURALI K MENON


MERCEDES GLE450 AMG COUPE

elcome to Austria. It’s about one in the afternoon. The sky is a crisp blue, the light is pale golden and the car I’m about to drive is red. It’s not a sportscar, but I like the way it looks. It’s got the face of a boxer, and I love that stance, like Rocky Marciano about to go in for the knockout. A

minute later, I’m inside the GLE450 AMG Coupe, and I like what I see inside. I detect tasteful flashes of carbon fibre, as I settle into the AMG sports seat; and there are Bang & Olufsen tweeters perched on either side of the dashboard, like little birds from another universe. I inhale the heady aroma of fine leather, grip the flat-bottomed steering wheel, thumb the starter button and switch to Sport+.

The GLE Coupe is Mercedes’ much awaited answer to the BMW X6. Which is why it looks the way it looks. Like the X6. Like a coupe that thinks it’s an SUV, or is it the other way around? Or, does it look like a mutant CLA? Doesn’t matter, it is still attractive, just like the X6 is, especially when it is going fast. Like it is now, and I can sense a lot of things happening as the car emerges, disappears around a bend and re-emerges against the verdant Austrian countryside like a beam from one of those laser pointers kids like to play with (and sometimes, me too). The twin turbos are shovelling air into the 367bhp V6 engine; I can hear delicious-sounding pops on the overrun; the chassis settings – Dynamic Select – are preventing me from making a fool of myself around corners; and the nine-speed gearbox, which is combined with a 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive system, is keeping the engine in the right rpm window. The 450 might not be in the same league as the Macan, or even, I suspect, the X6, when it comes to being a driver’s car, but it’s fairly engaging, so I don’t think anybody – except auto journos – will care.

Yes, the GLE 450 AMG Coupe is loaded, fun and very entertaining. But, the point is it’s not exactly a real AMG. It is more like AMG Sport, a lot of flash, some substance. The real McCoy is the V8-engined 585bhp GLE 63S that sounds like it is so mad it should be given rabies shots every couple of months. But, Merc India thinks there is a market for the GLE450 AMG Coupe, which sits between the standard GLE Coupe and that insane AMG . This is for folks who want five doors, decent boot space, a nice noise, a fair bit of power and lots of flash. All of which the GLE450 AMG delivers. Of course, you’ll have to wait till early next year, which is when Mercedes plans to launch it here, but be prepared to deal with a claustrophobia-inducing rear seat just like the X6’s, and, we would think, pretty premium pricing (over a crore). Is it better than the X6? Oh well, we can’t wait to see it get into a dogfight with the Beemer when it lands here.

W

Flat-bottom wheel, bits of carbon fibre tell youthis one’s an AMG... almost

PHO

TOG

RAPH

Y: M

ANUF

ACTU

RER


ODDAND

Two four-door supercars

walked into a bar. Said bar is

now shut until further notice

Words: SRIRAM NARAYANAN

Photography: NITIN ROSE

EVEN


EVENAUDI RS7 vs BMW M6 GRAN COUPE

eauty, apparently, has a number. It is 1.618. It’s called the golden ratio. If your facial

proportions – the distance between your nose, eyes, lips – match this number, you can claim to possess the golden ratio of beauty. Not that the Audi RS7 or the BMW M6 GranCoupe

are machines of absolute beauty. And if they actually possess the golden ratio

in terms of their proportions, I honestly wouldn’t know.

What they do possess is an ability to stare down supercars and tell them to carry their road-clinging bottoms back into their climate-controlled garages. Because while they are capable of physics-defying pace, these two cars do not hesitate to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty with things purebred supercars would run away from. The duo share a lot

in common. Horsepower figures and immense hatred for each other, being a few.

Look at them. Four doors, four seats, V8s, sloping rooflines, low, squat proportions, loud exhaust notes. They were made with the sole purpose of making life difficult for each other. And the BMW looks the part. It looks less derivative, more original. It looks less a variant, more purpose-built. The RS7, from the front, looks like most other Audis. Of course, you could opt for that chest-thumping Quattro badge placed at the bottom of the grille to make a point. The M6 manages to make one without any chest-thumping. But those low, sportscar proportions mean the BMW needs to raise its skirt and tiptoe over large speedbreakers. The same large speedbreakers that the RS7 calmly dismisses. So is that round one to the Audi? What do you think this is? The Consumer Motor Automobile Car Buyer’s Guide Monthly?

Let’s not get into needless specifics like legroom and boot

BT O P G E A R . C O M → A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 0 9 1

The M6 thinks it has made a point. The RS7 clearly has other ideas

AUDI RS7 vs BMW M6 GRAN COUPE

AUDI RS7 SPORTBACKEngine: 3993cc V8,

bi-turbo petrolPower: 552bhp at

5700-6600rpmTorque: 700Nm at

1750-5500rpm0-100kph: 3.93 seconds (tested)

Top speed: 250kph (electronically limited) 280kph/305 (optional)

Transmission: 8A, AWD

Fuel capacity: 75 litresBoot capacity: 535

litres(min)/1390(max)Weight: 1995kg

Estimated price: `1.40 crore (ex-Delhi)

Pros: Faster in a straight line, engine

sound, all-round ability, versatile hatch with foldable rear seats, ground clearance

Cons: Ride quality with 21-inch wheels, wind noise above 200kph, slow transmission in

manual modeBottomline: Slightly flawed, but a soulful,

enjoyable, fun everyday driver

8/10

S P E C S

capacity and take you through all the important bits. For instance, both cars can hit 305kph. And both can hold on to a corner like magnets hold on to a refrigerator. But they both show their weight around corners. As far as on-road dynamics go, the BMW and the Audi can stare at each other for hours without blinking. And after these many hours the differences slowly start showing up.

The engines. They both make 552bhp. But the M6 coaxes it out of a 4.4-litre V8. The RS7 doesn’t need those additional 400-odd cubes. Its 4.0-litre V8 makes 552 effortless horses and at 700Nm, makes 20 more Newton metres than the BM. Want to hazard a guess over which car will win at a traffic light? The Audi, of course. Despite being quicker off the line, the BMW is what you want if you just want to be fast everywhere.

At slow speeds, the M6 is extremely ordinary. The audio system-induced engine note sounds boomy inside the cabin, and you don’t feel like you’re piloting a powerhouse. The powerhouse-like performance comes in only after 5500rpm. The engine doesn’t need to be revved to death if you want to get going; the pulling power comes in as early as 1500rpm. But between 5500 to 7200 revs is when the M6 lets out a murderous roar that’d give a 13,000rpm superbike a complex. It’s the sweetest engine note I’ve heard in a turbocharged German car.

And that’s how it is with the rest of the M6. Everything or nothing. At very high speeds, the M6 does a wonderful job of keeping the wind out and letting only the beautiful sequence of rush to redline, gear change, rush to redline, gear change in. At the same speeds, the RS7’s deep-chested baritone loses the battle against the wind. Which is a shame. Because just a few units slower, the RS7 lets out such a repertoire of pleasing engine sounds that if it were dining with the Ambassador, it would be asked to leave the table. And it’d do so gladly.

In its effort to tick all the boxes of road dynamics, the RS7 never forgets to have fun. There is always an air of light-heartedness and humour about the car. Forget high speeds, even when slowing down, the RS7 lets out a series of pops and crackles that you never grow tired of. And unlike the BMW, it doesn’t need you doing crazy speeds to thoroughly enjoy your purchase. Moreover, the RS7 can effortlessly shift between barroom brawler on the open highway, a patient psychiatrist in stop-and-go-traffic and a relaxing masseuse on a calm drive back from work.

The M6 is superb on the limit. With all the safety nets on, the M6 was doing a marvellous job in the roundabouts around Buddh International Circuit. In the wet. Switch to MDM – a more lenient traction control setting – and it will let the tail out just enough for a controlled slide. Of course, I neither had


Audi’s Drive Select has got driving modes spot on

THEY ARE BOTH REAL WORLD SUPERCARS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY LESS MONEY


M modes are decent, but need constant

tinkering

THE M6’S MURDEROUS ROAR COULD GIVE A 13,000RPMSUPERBIKE A COMPLEX


AUDI RS7 vs BMW M6 GRAN COUPE

BMW M6 GRAN COUPE

Engine: 4395cc V8, bi-turbo petrol

Power: 552bhp at 6000-7000rpm

Torque: 680Nm at 1500-5750rpm

0-100kph: 4.2 seconds (claimed)

Top speed: 250kph (limited)/305kph

(optional)Transmission: 7A,

RWD Fuel capacity: 80 litres

Boot capacity: 460 litres

Weight: 1950kgPrice:

`1.80 crore (ex-Delhi)

Pros: Ride quality, transmission, engine note close to redline,

high-speed wind noise Cons: Settings need constant changing

according to driving conditions, ground clearance, engine

note while cruising Bottomline: Ticks all

the correct boxes, but is enjoyable and fun only

at the limit

7/10

S P E C S

Long stretches of roads are useful for high-speed runs. And settling scores

the guts nor the skill to completely switch off traction control. Put the RS7 through the same routine and you realise it does a good job, but isn’t a natural. And on one particularly wet patch, the Audi went into a without-warning, but controllable four-wheel drift, with all safety nets in place.

But the problem with the BMW’s ‘I’m-always-angry’ demeanour is that when it’s not, it feels ordinary. If it were a batsman, it would want to hit every ball beyond the boundary. If it were a bowler, it’d get annoyed if every ball didn’t generate a wicket. And if it were a fielder, it would get in the way of other fielders to stop the ball. On the limit, you’ll appreciate the M6’s eagerness. But when you aren’t at the limit, the M6 is dull. The high-revving engine, lightning-quick gearshifts all make for a great car at insane speeds. But those same settings make the M jerky and ponderous. You will have to again change the gearshift, suspension and steering intensity to make the M comfortable in traffic.

While the M6 is closer to the ground and will scrape over some speed humps, the ride quality is better than the Audi’s. You could blame the RS7’s optional 21-inch wheels for that, though. And while Audi’s eight-speed single-clutch automatic is mostly up to the task, it’s a bit dim-witted when you demand quick paddle-induced gearshifts. BMW can make a 4.4-litre turbo V8 with 552bhp and 680Nm gel with a dual-clutch

automatic. But Audi – despite having brilliant dual-clutch transmissions – can’t get one together with a 4.0-litre turbo V8 with 552bhp and 700Nm. And they say Germans don’t have quirks. Oh, while we are on about quirks, the M6 – like all other M cars – doesn’t have a simple Park option on the gearknob. Who the hell in Munich thinks it’s simpler to engage Neutral and activate the electronic parking brake if all you want to do is take your foot off the pedal at a traffic light?

So which is the better four-door supercar? For me, nothing really beats the Porsche Panamera. But if you want to get RS7 or M6 performance out of the Porsche, you’d have to go for a Turbo S. That’s a cool `2.33 crore in Delhi. The M6 is a bargain at `1.8 crore. The RS7 seems even more so at just `1.4 crore. But goodies like the dynamic suspension and that raspy sports exhaust are extra. So the Audi and the BMW may more or less cost about the same depending on how you spec them, leaving you with real-world supercars for substantially less money. The M6 is great if you go by the book. Dynamically, it has a slight edge over the RS7 on the limit. It will work perfectly for people who seek perfection. People who define beauty by the golden ratio. People who live life on the edge and by the racetrack. The problem, though, is life isn’t a track. And beauty, whatever mathematicians say, cannot and should not be measured.


TOPGEAR’S LONG-TERM CARS. TESTED AND VERIFIED

G A R A G E LO G B O O KMERCEDES GL 350 CDI

◆ Refined diesel motor suits the GL pretty well

◆ Parking sensors and cameras are of great help

◆ It can actually ferry seven passengers

◆ Comes loaded with creature comforts

MILEAGE AND KPL THIS MONTH

k m 1 4 0 0 12


Hello, goodbyeM E RC E D E S G L 3 5 0 C D I

t’s not very often that road users give you a lot of respect on Indian roads. But, it’s a different story if you're driving around in an SUV.

Actually, make that a humongous SUV with a three-pointed star on its nose. Not just respect, the Mercedes GL-Class turns a lot of heads, too, and that made me feel good. What’s also good about this SUV is the way it goes. At first, I was a bit sceptical about using it as my daily runner, because of its size. But, with time, you'll learn to live with it, just the way I did.

Yes, driving though a narrow, crowded bylane is painful, but thankfully the GL comes with parking sensors that help you get out of the tightest of spots unscathed. Plus, that 360-degree

camera is one of the best features you could ask for. Be it driving out of the parking lot or crawling through traffic, the video feed from the various external cameras makes life a lot easier on the road. If you buy a GL, there's a chance you wouldn’t be driving it yourself. But if you can’t find a chauffeur for your Mercedes, there’s nothing to worry about as the GL is a good car to drive.

Okay, I won’t go as far as calling it a driver's car. If someone tells you that, they'd be lying. The GL is tall, huge and there’s plenty of sideways and vertical movement when you push it hard. But, it’s not something you can’t live with. In fact, if you select Sport mode, spirited driving is quite rewarding. The diesel motor in the 350 isn’t lightning-quick, but there’s

Feed from the 360-degree camera appears here

IN DETAIL

I

enough grunt, and the enormous amount of torque on tap makes sure the mighty SUV ups its pace fairly quickly.

The GL came to us with a serious amount of kilometres on the odo, which did take a toll on its health. There’s constant rattling at the rear, and the suspension, too, is a bit noisy for a big Merc. But, that doesn’t mean ride comfort has been compromised. In fact, even with the battered Airmatic suspension, it was comfortable enough for the Ed to travel in relative comfort when his back gave way (signs of ageing?). And, if those seats could ferry someone with a problematic back without giving him anything to complain about, there’s nothing more you could ask for.

Yes, the GL isn’t the right size for where I live, but that aside, everything else with this SUV is great. It’s supremely comfortable, looks better in this form, drives well, and if you ask me, size won’t be an issue once you’ve learnt the art of manoeuvring this beast around town. Now, with the unexpected departure of the GL, I’ve already started to miss all the attention and respect I used to get on the road. It was inconvenient at times, but overall, I enjoyed living with the monstrous Merc.

GOODBYESpec: 2987cc, 6cyl, 255bhp, 619Nm, 7A; Price: ̀ 94.13 lakh (on-road, Mumbai); Test kpl: 12; Total mileage: 26900km; Driver: Devesh Shobha; Why it’s here: To see what it's like to live with a monstrous Merc

Grip in the wet is never an issue with the chunky rear tyre

he Suzuki Gixxer is the most sought after bike in the Garage at the moment, and it has pushed the Yamaha FZ-S out of

the limelight. But the FZ-S still manages to impress after all these years, and it is more than up to the job of handling daily commutes, or fast highway riding. We have had many long rides on it, and it has never let us down. In fact, barring the Gixxer, no motorcycle has impressed us as much as the FZ-S has in the recent past. Anyway, of late, with the rains pouring down on the city, the FZ-S has been limited to doing short trips around the neighbourhood: helping us run errands, to pick up snacks... nothing eventful or remotely exciting.

But one lazy Sunday last month, I decide to take the FZ-S out for a long, aimless ride. You know, the kind where you simply start a motorcycle and point it at an appropriate direction and vroom off. This is also a good time to mention that I had not ridden the bike since my last report. That meant the Yam FZ-S was parked for more than a month, so I was mentally prepared for some starting problems. Adding to my worry was the absence of a kick-start lever, thanks to the fuel-injected motor. I turned the ignition key and luckily the electronics seemed to be working just fine. A few clicks, and the motorcycle's engine flickered to life. And, that, as any motorcycle enthusiast will tell you, is a

nice thing to hear. Cold starting the FZ-S was easy,

unlike a carburetted motorcycle, which requires a lot more effort to bring to life, especially after a long period of inactivity. I left the engine idling for a minute or two and hit the road.

A few kilometers later, it was clear why I liked the FZ-S so much. Yes, it’s not the king of the hill anymore, but it’s still likeable nonetheless. The FI motor feels refined and power, though not in abundance, is still enough for the FZ-S to move around swiftly. The broad rear tyre boosts confidence and delivers ample amount of grip, and that holds true even in the rains. I just wish it came with a disc brake at the rear, as the drum brakes always need to be tightened after some use.

Sure, the FZ-S is not really the highlight of our Garage anymore, but I think all it need is a few horses more and another 50cc to become the most sought after bike at TG again.

G A R A G E LO G B O O KYAMAHA FZ-S

◆ Fuel-injected motor means cold starting is never a problem

◆ Easy-to-read instrument cluster

◆ Need more horses, and a disc at the rear


k m 3 2 4 48

REPORT 6

Down timeSpec: 1cyl, 150cc, 13bhp, 12.8Nm; Price: ̀ 78,250; Test kpl: 48; Total mileage: 4224km; Rider: Abhinav Mishra; Why it’s here: To show that the FZ-S v2.0 is not just a face lift but a complete overhaul

TIN DETAIL

YA M A H A F Z-S V 2 .0

fter whining about the placement of cubbyholes in the Bolt last month, I recently found a reason to

compliment the Tata… strangely, for the space it offers. A while back, I volunteered to review a television for the Options List section of the mag. And, I’m not talking about your average TV. It was a 52-inch monster of a projection device that I had to pick up from a certain Murali K Menon’s house across town. Putting ‘Tata Bolt’ and ‘52-inch TV’ in the same sentence didn't sound right, but why not give it a go, I thought. It looked like a challenge, considering that the showroom guys had delivered the television to Murali’s house in a small pick-up. But, thanks to my good fortune, and the Tata’s proportions, that giant thing fit in fairly snugly into the Bolt – with its safety packing and everything. And, it wasn’t a big pain in the neck to deal with while driving, either. I could clearly see around the car with the help of those huge ORVMs. So, in a way, the Bolt actually helped me see the bigger picture this time around.

The LCD trip

Report 2Spec: 1193cc, 4cyl, petrol, 88bhp, 140Nm, 5M; Price: `6.34 lakh (ex-Mumbai); Test kpl: 10.8; Total mileage: 6480km; Driver: Christopher Chaves; Why it’s here: To prove its mettle against some of its more established segment rivals

A

TATA BOLT REVOTRON 1.2T



S

Both ends of the Suzi are equally attractive

The Suzuki is primarily a city bike, and while it can manage to purr along on highways and even tackle mountain roads, it is in its element in urban areas. And, it even held its own against Mumbai's infamous roads, thanks to the 41mm front forks and the seven-way adjustable monoshock. The suspension, in fact, has been set up just right. It is neither too firm, nor too soft. The seat is comfortable, and the many pillions I rode with, too, appeared to favour it over other motorcycles.

The smart-looking Gixxer is, as mentioned above, also a sweet, confidence-inspiring handler, and I can see many a young 'un trying to get his knee down on this one. And, I'm sure the motorcycle will oblige. In fact, I'd like to think that this Suzuki is quite the Mazda Miata of commuter motorcycles.

I also liked the digital LCD instrument cluster, which is well equipped and contemporary, and a quick glance is all it takes to access relevant info. The quality of switchgear is pretty good, and it looks like stuff that will endure.

The seating position is sporty but upright, and the five-speed gearbox smooth-shifting and precise.Fourteen-odd bhp might not sound like a lot, but those horses are enough to propel the

G A R A G E LO G B O O KSUZUKI GIXXER

◆ Sweet handling motorcycle

◆ Tremendous fun, and quick, too

◆ Primarily an urban bike

◆ Upright riding position

◆ Nice, comfy seat


k m 1 2 0 43

Spec: 155cc, 1cyl, 14.6bhp, 14Nm, 5M; Price: ̀ 87,974 (on-road, Mumbai); Test kpl: 43; Total mileage: 3800km; Rider: Christopher Chaves; Why it’s here: To see whether Suzuki's best-seller is as good as everyone thinks it is

IN DETAIL

S U Z U K I G I X X E R

Gixxer smartly around town. I gaze a lot at the Gixxer, and

sometimes I wish it were slightly bigger, with a larger motor powering it. That would make it quite the thing.

Perhaps, one day we will have a more powerful Gixxer. But until then, I have absolutely no complaints with this one, and as it prepares to head back, it leaves us with fond memories.

TG will soon have an SF in its fleet, and going by the short rides we've had astride it, it is as much a cracker as its naked sibling, but we are sure each time we ride the SF, we will fondly remember the motorcycle that has steered Suzuki India into the limelight.

urrendering the keys of the punchy Yamaha FZ-S was never going to be a pleasant experience, but when I came to know I was

going to spend some time with the Suzuki Gixxer before it exited our fleet, I was only too happy to give it a grand farewell. I've been riding the FZ for quite a while now, and it is one of my favourite motorcycles. But, as soon as I hopped onto the Gixxer, I knew that this one was going to fun. It's almost as if the engineers at Suzuki were told to benchmark the FZ and improve on it. "This is our goal, guys. But, we want you to go ahead and improve on it," they seem to have been told. And, the thing is the engineers at Suzuki have done just that. If the FZ was good, the Gixxer is even more fun, and you realise it the instant you get onto the bike. The engine is smooth, power delivery brilliantly linear, the gearbox slick and that dual muffler an excellent touch. The Gixxer is also a highly flickable bike, and it's incredible fun to slice through traffic astride it. Unlike, say, the Karizma ZMR, which took some time getting used to, I took to the Gixxer like fish to water, or, well, water to fish.

The Miata of streetsport bikesGOODBYE


Tough to access boot, fuel-lid button are the only complaints

ast month, heavy rains lashed Mumbai, and brought the city to a grinding halt. The water-logging and

floods left parts of the city looking like Venice, in Italy. So, I did what any Mahindra owner with time on his hands would do: I took the Gusto out for a ride. I’ve seen Mahindras really rough it out before. Okay, those were four-wheelers. But, could one of their scooters cope with the rough stuff? Well, just a day or two before this thought surfaced, I had taken our Gusto on a bit of an off-road adventure through a newly-ruined road in town, and came away quite impressed with the way the scooter behaved and felt while dealing with severe undulations. And, this despite the fact that it weighs a lot more than my Honda Activa (which I’m quite fond of), and feels it, too. As far as the floods were concerned, the answer is, no, it couldn’t deal with them. It acted like any old scooter would – it drowned, right on cue. Like you seriously thought that was going to work. It did take a while for the carb to dry out, but the scoot eventually got me home in one piece.

Water world

Report 4Spec: 1cyl, 110cc, 8bhp, 8Nm; Price: `62,000 (on-road, Mumbai); Test kpl: 40; Total mileage: 1009km; Rider: Christopher Chaves Why it’s here: To see if the Gusto has what it takes to fight the best

L

◆ Well appointed and spacious cabin

◆ Smooth gearbox

◆ Needs a bigger engine

◆ Large boot

G A R A G E LO G B O O KMARUTI SUZUKI CIAZ

t TopGear, we mostly drive out of town for shoots on broad, four-lane national highways. We also head for snowbound passes, but

that's another story altogether. Anyway, it was a refreshing change to follow my colleague Chris, who was riding the Suzuki Gixxer SF, on the old Mumbai-Pune road. There wasn't much on the agenda except to drop the motorcycle at the Suzuki dealership, in Pune. Since there was no rain, it meant that this was a good day to go out for a drive. And the Ciaz was what I chose to head out with.

The sedan has been with me for the last two months, and, like all Marutis, the Ciaz has impressed me with its features and reasonable price tag, not to mention the bulletproof reliability Japanese manufacturers are known for. No, the engine isn't as peppy as I would've liked it to be, but its refinement more than makes up for that deficiency. But, I do wish Maruti soon offers the 116bhp, 1.6 litre diesel motor that is found in the recently launched S-Cross.

The Ciaz was happily cruising at 80kph in fifth gear, as I followed Chris on the smooth two-lane highway. As we started approaching the hills, the roads got narrower and the corners got tighter. I lost sight of the motorcycle after a few corners, but then again, I was in no hurry to catch up.

I had to work the gears a bit, as the 1.3-litre diesel motor huffed and puffed around the steep inclines. And, for those

who are interested, the Ciaz does not corner like it's on rails. Of course, it’s not supposed to. It'sessentially a nice family sedan that can ferry four adults in decent comfort.

Speaking of comfort, the Ciaz has a lot to offer in this department, but there are a few things that are inconvenient to access. While most modern cars have moved to a central locking-linked fuel lid release, the Ciaz still uses a conventional lever. We would've preferred the release switch to be located somewhere on the dashboard for easier access.

The same can be said about the boot release button as well. The button is hidden on the right of the steering rack. Though the boot can be opened with the remote, things would just be a lot easier if these buttons were placed in plain sight. So, the weak engine and a few ergonomic flaws aside, it's hard to find fault with this family sedan. We've been extremely pleased with its performance, and simply don't feel like returning it.


k m 1 2 4 5 15.5

GOODBYE

Comfort expressSpec: 1248cc, 4cyl, 89bhp, 200Nm, 5M; Test kpl: 15.5; Total mileage: 5786km; Price: ̀ 10.25 lakh (on-road, Mumbai); Driver: Abhinav Mishra; Why it’s here: To see if Maruti has got the sedan formula right

AIN DETAIL

M A H I N D R A G U S TO

MARUTI CIAZ


I

All controls are easily accessible. Yes, in a French car

shortened gear ratios, but that’s his opinion. The rest of us liked the way it drives. Not just that, the all-independent suspension layout makes the AWD one of the best-riding and handling SUVs in town. It simply irons out road imperfections, and when pushed around corners, that super-communicative steering wheel and the finely balanced chassis make sure there’s no drama mid-corner. The Duster just sticks to its line, be it around a corner, or in a straight line at triple-digit speeds.

I don't recollect ever sitting at the rear in the Duster in the time it has been with me. But from what my friends, family and colleagues say, it’s as comfortable at the back as it is up front. And, there’s nothing to complain about even on long drives. However, unlike the 2WD Duster, this top-of-the-line variant misses out on a rear AC.

We couldn't put the AWD hardware to test as we'd intended to, but the all-wheel drive hardware does seem capable of holding its own in the rough.

For us, the Duster has always been one of the best-handling SUVs in India and with the AWD variant, it has pushed the envelope even further. And that’s mighty impressive.

As it inches closer to 7,500km, there

G A R A G E LO G B O O KRENAULT DUSTER AWD

◆ New look interior and added features are welcome

◆ Spot-on ergonomics allow you to drive for longer in comfort

◆ Responsiveness + efficiency = 1.5dCi. A great combination

◆ Lots of space, both for passengers and luggage

◆ AWD makes life easier both on and off the road


k m 8 0 0 15.3

Spec: 1461cc, 4cyl, 108bhp, 245Nm; Price: ̀ 15.85 lakh (on-road, Mumbai); Test kpl: 15.3kpl; Total mileage: 7200km; Driver: Devesh Shobha; Why it’s here: To see how high it has raised the bar for small SUVs

IN DETAIL

R E N AU LT DU S T E R AW D

are a few minor rattles that have made their presence felt in the cabin. But it's nothing that the guys at the service centre won't be able to rectify.

I would have liked the Duster to be priced a little lower than the Rs 15 lakh it retails for. But, at the end of the day, it's a compact SUV.

As it goes back to Renault, it’s being replaced by the Lodgy, another very capable vehicle, but I'm sure it will take me some time to get over the departure of Renault's doughty compact SUV.

t’s the perfect example of bad timing – the monsoon has just arrived, and the Duster AWD's tenure at TopGear has come to an

end, that too at a time when Mumbai’s infrastructure has gone back to being as miserable as it was a decade ago. And, this, despite the authorities claiming to have done enough for the city to help it brave the rains this year. Most parts of the city are flooded after only a couple of hours of heavy rainfall, and situations like these call for an SUV.

The Duster AWD was supposed to be the perfect companion on the crowded, flooded and battered streets of Mumbai this monsoon, but as luck would have it, Renault wanted it back. And, that’s made me sad.

I’ve been a bit selfish when it comes to the Duster, actually. During its six-month stay at TopGear, I'd hogged it for a little more than four months, and believe me, I’ve enjoyed driving this compact SUV since April.

The revised gear ratios and the lighter clutch mean driving it in traffic is stress-free, and the 1.5-litre, 108bhp diesel motor never ran out of breath on the highway as well.

Agasti isn’t a big fan of the AWD’s

Gold dustGOODBYE


The surprisingly neat-looking saree guard isn't an eyesore

he monsoon made news in Mumbai yet again last month, and I still remember the day it all began this year. There was

a slight drizzle in the morning, and by the time I got into the Punto it had started pouring. A few kilometres down the road, there was water logging. I didn’t think much about it and continued onwards, but soon I realised my mistake. The water level was a bit too high. To my surprise the Punto made it to the other side without much effort. But, soon I was up against road blocks that were put in place to facilitate road repairs. The alternate route was pothole-ridden, and at times the road completely disappeared. It is worth mentioning here that the Punto’s suspension gobbled up all the bumps and undulations, and thanks to a ground clearance of 185mm, it sailed over the rough places with utmost ease.

I got stuck in a jam a kilometre away from office. I did not have much to complain here, as the cabin is well appointed and comfy. Yes, I did not make it on time to office, but the Punto Evo never stalled, or gave me any kind of trouble all through my journey that crazy day.

It’s time

Report 2Spec: 1248cc, 4cyl, 75bhp, 200Nm, 5M; Price: `7.04 lakh; Test kpl: 17.8; Total mileage: 13900km; Driver: Abhinav Mishra; Why it’s here: To see if Italian styling will get buyers interested

T

◆ Styling is typical Unicorn, nothing flashy out here

◆ Butter-smooth engine is Honda’s hallmark

◆ 5-speed gearbox is a gem◆ Rear disc brake missed. Not available

even as an optional extra

G A R A G E LO G B O O KHONDA CB UNICORN 160

o, after a decade, Honda finally decided to pull the plug on the original Unicorn which was launched way back in 2005. What a

wonderful piece of engineering it was – it had a simplistic design, was superbly reliable, and came with the best 150cc motorcycle engine of its era. And now, it’s gone! But, there’s nothing to worry about, as a new chapter in the Unicorn’s life began around six months back with the CB Unicorn 160.

As we know, it retained the qualities of the original, so the styling, although fresh, harks back to the model gone by and so do the ride and handling capabilities. In fact, the 160 betters the older motorcycle in these departments, as its slightly softer suspension setup manages to iron out the worst of road imperfections. And, in my opinion, it’s one of the better premium commuter motorcycles to be on if riding long distances (over the weekend) is a regular affair.

What’s even better is that Honda didn’t do it at the cost of handling. The new motorcycle is surprisingly agile, and urges you to carry more speed into corners than the commuter-ish handlebar and upright seating position would suggest.

Another gem in this Unicorn package is the new 162.7cc engine. Like all Honda engines we have come to know, this one, too, is super-refined, feels stress-free even when pushed hard and is highly tractable. It doesn’t warrant frequent gear shifts in urban conditions, and when there’s an opportunity

to open the throttle, it won’t disappoint there either. Acceleration from standstill is surprisingly good, as are the in-gear times. It’s better than the Yamaha FZ-S and the Suzuki Gixxer in that regard.

What isn’t better, though, is despite being a premium commuter, it gets relatively basic switchgear and a toe-heel lever for shifting gears. That, and a little bit of flair in the styling would do wonders in enhancing the Unicorn’s overall appeal if Honda wants to lure buyers away from Yamaha and Suzuki showrooms. Oh, and how can I forget the brakes on this Honda – it comes with Combined Braking System and it works really well. Despite the drum at the rear, braking is quite efficient. However, we would've liked it if Honda had offered a disc brake at the rear as an option.

At the end of its tenure, there have been more surprises than disappointments with the new Unicorn, and it has spiced things up in the premium commuter segment.


k m 6 0 0 38

GOODBYE

Smooth talkerSpec: 162.7cc, 1cyl, 14.5bhp, 14.6Nm, 5M; Test kpl: 38; Total mileage: 1500km; Price: ̀ 82,552 (ex-Mumbai); Rider: Devesh Shobha; Why it’s here: To see if this Unicorn with a bigger heart can spice things up

SIN DETAIL

F I AT P U N TO E VO

HONDA CB UNICORN 160


Twin shocks present, but we wouldn't mind a monoshock here

Tbike's 20 horses get into the action when you twist the throttle hard, and it's fun to go from here to there in very little time. If only it didn't vibrate so much.

3. The switch gear quality is superb, among the best we've seen on Indian bikes, though we wish the stickering had been better.

4. The Karizma ZMR might not have a huge engine, but it does manage to provide the rider a big bike feel. Sort of. And, while it would appear that the seating position leans towards the extreme, it isn't. If you are tall-ish, you'll have no problems with the ZMR and its low-set clip-on handlebars. Our backs didn't whine on daily commutes, though we would think long rides, especially ones lasting several days, would have you probably wishing, despite the well-padded seat, for a more upright seating position, and better ergonomics in general.

5. We don't know if it's just us, but we felt the front brake had way more bite than the one at the rear.

6. It might not look like one, but the ZMR is a decent handler, and capable of delivering moderate fun.

7. Shouldn’t a motorcycle that costs about

G A R A G E LO G B O O KHERO KARIZMA ZMR

◆ Not an EBR, but an interesting bike nonetheless

◆ Pretty quick, if not very pretty

◆ Engine vibrates a bit too much

◆ Great ride quality

MILEAGE AND KPL THIS MONTH2k m 4 8 38

Spec: 223cc, 1cyl, 20bhp, 19.7Nm; Price: ̀ 1.22 lakh; Test kpl: 38; Total mileage: 3748km; Rider: Murali K Menon; Why it’s here: To see how well Hero has updated its big motorcycle

IN DETAIL

H E RO K A R I Z M A Z M R

Rs 1.20 lakh have an engine-kill switch? That seems to be a strange omission on Hero’s part.

8. The tank capacity of the Karizma ZMR — 15.3 litres — is pretty good, and you can almost touch Goa from Mumbai on a single tank.

9. A lot of people think the ZMR’s proportions are not quite right. The front end is where all the actions is, and the bike really, sort of, tapers towards the rear. And, while that is true, I don’t think it’s so bad. It still looks better than some abominations on Indian roads.

10. The motorcycle should have been about 20kg lighter.

11. The ride is excellent, but here’s hoping that a monoshock is on its way.

he other night I saw a young chap blitz away right outside my residential complex on a two-wheeler. Twenty minutes later, another

high-revving 'speed demon' vanished noisily before my eyes. Both these chaps were on the Hero Karizma ZMR, and they looked like they were having fun. That made me revaluate Hero's biggish motorcycle that has been a part of TG's garage for the past many months, and is now about to head back to its, well, maker. The Karizma didn't impress me too much when I first got astride it, but over time I didn't quite mind riding the brawny motorcycle. Here, in no particular order, are a few things about the motorcycle that I scribbled in my notepad in the time it was with me:1. The ZMR might not be everyone's

idea of a good-looking motorcycle, but it has its fans. Lots of them. All you need to do is ride one around, and you'll notice those envious stares. Every young, impressionale guy appears to want a Karizma ZMR.

2. The motorcycle's air-cooled single cylinder vibrates a fair bit, and we're sure Hero is looking into it. But, it is also a very sorted motor. Each of the

Big BrashGOODBYE


W

Feels as stable at 140kph as it does at standstill. Really

years that the Polo has been around. A few tweaks to the design and a few chrome inserts here and there. The overall styling – obviously – has remained more or less the same.

And the wonderful thing about this German automobile is that it still continues to look good despite its age. Its perfect proportions, timeless design and sporty stance make it look so good.

Mechanically, too, few things have changed. This one now gets a 1.5-litre diesel block – downsized by 100cc – but still puts out as much power as the old 1.6. The 89 horses and 230Nm are spread though the rev range. You don’t need to work the gear knob to stay in the power band all the time. I quite like this engine.

I haven’t had the Polo for too long now, and as a result, only a couple of trips on the expressway have been possible. A car that's designed for autobahns needn’t worry about our expressways, right? It's stable at high speeds, and around corners, it won't give you a heart attack if you go in too hot. You’ll come out of the corner smiling.

One major difference between Japanese hatches and this one is that VW hasn’t compromised on the handling and safety front as much as the

G A R A G E LO G B O O KVW POLO 1.5 TDI HIGHLINE

◆ Super stable at high speeds

◆ No unexpected surge. Exhibits a clean torque spread

◆ Regular updates have kept the styling fresh

◆ Decently specced, but misses out on a reverse cam

◆ Efficient engine will keep fuel expenses in check


k m 4 0 0 14.5

IN DETAIL

V W P O LO

competition has. Others have opted for harder-

compound low-rolling resistance rubber, but this one comes with decently sticky tyres. I understand that the Japanese do it to boost fuel efficiency, but I'd rather be safe than save a few drops of fuel.

Another improvement is that the Polo now gets USB and Aux inputs for the media system. It doesn't look like I'll get to enjoy the Polo even this time, as Devesh has his eyes on it again. But it’s okay, I'll go back to driving an automatic. A win-win situation for both of us, then.

e’ve had the Polo in the Garage on two occasions before this. The first time it was here (a long time ago), it was the first

India-spec model. That was the time Indians were just about getting used to German standards and the sort of engineering that goes into their cars. It proved its mettle soon, and we realised it was probably the best-handling hatchback in its segment. The second time, an even nicer version was delivered to us – the Polo GT TSI. We were even more excited to drive that – great handling coupled with a turbo-petrol engine in a hatchback for the first time, and topping it off was a brilliant piece of kit: a seven-speed, dual-clutch auto gearbox. It was simply awesome to drive, and I have fond memories of scorching drives in that one.

Back then, both Devesh and Sriram pulled rank on me and made sure I didn’t get it for more than two days. But the Polo is back. Not with the turbo-petrol and the DSG, but the diesel, which is still a pretty good drive. And, in the meantime, I am now in charge of the Garage fleet. So, yes, I decide who gets to drive what. Well, mostly.

A few bits have changed over the

HELLO

Third time luckySpec: 1498cc, 4cyl, turbo-diesel, 89bhp, 230Nm; Price: ̀ 8.43 lakh (on-road, Mumbai); Test kpl: 14.5; Total mileage: 16700km; Driver: Agasti Kaulgi; Why it’s here: To see if the Polo can shine despite intense competition


EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW CARS THIS MONTH

01 TG ChoiceChoosing the right variant can be confusing. It’s not necessarily the cheapest one. . . or the diesel.

02 The TG RatingSimply translated: how good is the vehicle in numbers? Out of say, 10?

03 Price in your cityIndicative ex-showroom prices. On-road for Mumbai and Delhi. Accurate at the time of going to press.

04 India SalesDon’t just go by what we write. See how fellow buyers treated the company in the recent past.

05 Company descriptionJust who are you dealing with here? The low-down on the company behind the automobile.

06 More stuff to readAdded insight into the world of TopGear via these little oases of slightly grumpy opinion

07 Fuel efficiency‘Average kitna hai?’ The real-world figure for real-world situations.

08 DimensionsMaking sure you know if your car will fit in your parking slot. Yeah, that’s going to be important too.

THE GUIDE TO USING OUR GUIDE




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TATATA continued

ENGINE Engine configuration – either V, W or F (flat), otherwise in-line – plus the number of cylinders and capacity in cubic centimetres.

POWER (BHP) Engine’s maximum power output in brake horsepower. (Hybrid cars show combined elec/fuel bhp figure)

TORQUE (Nm) The engine’s peak torque figure – measured in Nm.

0–100KPH Our very own test time in seconds to reach 100km from a standing start.

TOP SPEED As the title suggests, the fastest a car can go.

SAFETY & GADGETS

BLUETOOTH For you to know if you can pair your smartphone to your new car lPARKING AID Parking sensors Reverse camera

* indicates ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi

l✔ Yes l✖ No l■ Optional

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4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 6/104cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ 6/104cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/104cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/10

4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/104cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/104cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/104cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/104cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

Big, heavy, ponderous and somehow likeable. Colossal comfort, great off-road ability.

as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain.Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour

Tata’s taken its time, but it has now rolled out a compact sedan that will make waves in the market


A compact sedan available with a turbo-petrol motor, and an automated manual ’box, but only with a diesel engine for now

as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy.Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire


www.toyotabharat.com

The handsome new Camry is fast and spacious, and has a great cabin. Build: Assembled

Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata

The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refi ned, comfortable businessman’s sedan.

would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

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LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 13.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.09 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 16.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

XE 1.2 P 4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ XM 1.2 P 5.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XT 1.2 P 6.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XE 1.3 D 5.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ XM 1.3 D 6.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XT 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔






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TG Awards: -India sales in 2013: naFor full listings and data please visit:

Company description: Massive world-player but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening


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LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖

EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 13.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖

VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.09 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 16.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

XE 1.2 P 4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖

XM 1.2 P 5.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖

XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖

XT 1.2 P 6.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

XE 1.3 D 5.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖

XM 1.3 D 6.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖

XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖

XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖

XT 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

Hybrid 29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

2.5l 25.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

JS 12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖

G 13.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

GL 15.58 17.65 15.60 18.64 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

G (CVT) 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.23 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

V L 17.09 19.36 17.11 20.44 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

D-4D J 13.27 15.02 13.29 16.10 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖

D-4D G 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.49 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

D-4D GL 16.88 19.12 16.90 20.48 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

D-4DJS 13.84 15.67 13.86 16.79 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖






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*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi ●✔ Yes ●✖ No ●■ Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide T O P G E A R . C O M O C T O B E R

LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 13.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.09 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 16.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

XE 1.2 P 4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ XM 1.2 P 5.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XT 1.2 P 6.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XE 1.3 D 5.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ XM 1.3 D 6.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ XT 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

Hybrid 29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 2.5l 25.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔

JS 12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ G 13.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ GL 15.58 17.65 15.60 18.64 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ G (CVT) 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.23 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ V L 17.09 19.36 17.11 20.44 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ D-4D J 13.27 15.02 13.29 16.10 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ D-4D G 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.49 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ D-4D GL 16.88 19.12 16.90 20.48 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ D-4DJS 13.84 15.67 13.86 16.79 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔

J 5.35 5.46 5.40 6.64 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ G 5.89 6 5.96 7.25 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●■ ●■ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ V 6.61 7.22 6.65 8.04 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ VX 6.99 7.72 7.04 8.49 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ GD 6.97 7.30 7.04 8.58 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●■ ●■ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ VD 7.68 8.39 7.73 9.38 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ VXD 8.07 8.90 8.12 9.85 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔






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Hybrid 29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/1025.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/1013.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10


TG Choice: VX 4x4 as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain.465cm W: 193cm H: 192.2cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour




NEW

ENTRY


TG Choice: XMA as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy.399.5cm W: 170.6cm H: 157cm Boot: 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire





TG Choice: The Hybrid is you want low running costs.482.5cm W: 182.5cm H: 148cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata


TG Choice: The diesel GL would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.454cm W: 176cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

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03


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10.30 9.95* 10.30 12.13 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 6/1011.22 10.82* 11.21 13.03 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ 6/1013.00 12.40* 12.98 15.09 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/1014.32 13.67* 14.30 16.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/10

4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/105.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/105.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/106.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/105.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/106.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/106.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/107.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/107.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 298 213 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 6/1025.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10

12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/1013.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1015.58 17.65 15.60 18.64 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1015.24 17.26 15.26 18.23 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1017.09 19.36 17.11 20.44 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1013.27 15.02 13.29 16.10 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 7/1015.24 17.26 15.26 18.49 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1016.88 19.12 16.90 20.48 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/1013.84 15.67 13.86 16.79 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10


VX 4x4 as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain. 193cm H: 192.2cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour





XMA as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy. 170.6cm H: 157cm Boot: 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire





The Hybrid is you want low running costs. 182.5cm H: 148cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata


The diesel GL would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven. 176cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

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4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/105.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10

XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/106.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/105.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/106.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10

XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/10

7.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10




TG Choice: VX 4x4 as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain.W: 193cm H: 192.2cm Boot: 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour





TG Choice: XMA as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy.399.5cm W: 170.6cm H: 157cm Boot: 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire





TG Choice: The Hybrid is you want low running costs.482.5cm W: 182.5cm H: 148cm Boot: 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata


TG Choice: The diesel GL would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.W: 176cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.


TG Choice: The V should be just fi ne as this car is for people who put logic over excitement.426.5cm W: 169.5 cm H: 151cm Boot: 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift DZire, Mahindra Verito

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4.63 4.64* 4.68 4.84* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/105.25 5.25* 5.31 5.48* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/105.43 5.43* 5.49 5.66* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/106.01 5.99* 6.06 6.26* 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/105.67 5.64* 5.73 5.88* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ 7/106.31 6.27* 6.37 6.54* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/106.49 6.45* 6.55 6.72* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/107.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 7/107.05 6.99* 7.10 7.30* 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ 7/10



5.35 5.46 5.40 6.64 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 4/105.89 6 5.96 7.25 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●■ ●■ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ ●✔ ●✖ ●✖ ●✖ 4/106.61 7.22 6.65 8.04 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/106.99 7.72 7.04 8.49 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ ● ●✖ ●✔ ●✔ ●✔ ●✖ 4/10

Big, heavy, ponderous and somehow likeable. Colossal comfort, great off-road ability.

as it’s a great off-roader and can go places without fearing the terrain. 980 litres Fuel Tank: 55litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Ford Endeavour





as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy. 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire


Company description: Massive world-player but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening

Dealers 152 Warranty na Website www.toyotabharat.com


The Hybrid is you want low running costs. 484 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Nissan Teana, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata

The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refi ned, comfortable businessman’s sedan.

would be just fi ne, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven. 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

Made not to excite but just smack you with the practicality and comfort of a Toyota.

should be just fi ne as this car is for people who put logic over excitement. 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift DZire, Mahindra Verito

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THE TOPGEAR NEW CAR & BIKE

DDUUII EEGG

Gadgets & Safety Guide l✔ Yes l✖ No l■ Optional *Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai and Delhi


TOPGEAR NEW CAR GUIDE

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DB9 6.0 V12 na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 510 620 306 4.8 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10DB9 6.0 V12 Volante na na na 200* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 510 620 304 4.8 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ na

Rapide 6.0 V12 na na na 220* 12cyl 5935cc 6A 552 630 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Vantage V8 4.7 Coupe na na na 155* 8cyl 4735cc 6M 420 470 302 4.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Vantage 4.7 V8 Roadster na na na 165* 8cyl 4735cc 6M 420 470 302 4.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Vantage V8 S* na na na 165* 8cyl 4735cc 7A 430 490 305 4.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Vantage 4.7 V8 420 Roadster na na na 152* 8cyl 4735cc 6M 420 470 290 4.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10V12 Vantage na na na 190* 12cyl 5935cc 6M 510 570 305 4.2 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

35TDI Attraction na 22.95* na 29.62 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/1035TDI Premium na 25.95* na 34.69 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/1035TDI Premium Plus na 29.95* na 39.55 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1035 TDI Technology na 32.66* na 42.90 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1040TFSI Premium Plus na 28.95* na 38.30 4cyl 1798cc 7A 177 250 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1040TFSI Cabriolet na 44.75* na na 4cyl 1798cc 7A 177 250 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

2.0TDI Std 38.62 37.86* 38.62 39.16 4cyl 1968cc 8A 148 320 210 9.47 13.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/1035TDI Premium na na na 45.11 4cyl 1968cc 8A 174 380 220 8.37 13.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/1035TFSI Premium 35.62 34.91* 35.62 39.98 4cyl 1798cc 8A 168 320 210 8.77 9.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/1035TDI Technology 57.31 56.22* 57.31 50.32 4cyl 1968cc 8A 174 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10S4 52.12 51.11* 52.12 50.26* 6cyl 2995cc 7A 329 440 na 4.63 8.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

35TDI Business na 47 na 50.64 4cyl 1968cc 7A 174 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/1035TDI Premium 62.73 61.50* 62.73 58.80 4cyl 1968cc 7A 174 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -35TDI Technology na 39.90* na 65.50 4cyl 1968cc 7A 174 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -2.0 TDI 51.67 50.64* 51.67 59.55 4cyl 1968cc CVT 174 380 222 8.2* na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/102.0 TFSI 50.98 49.96* 50.98 na 4cyl 1984cc CVT 177 320 250 9.21 10 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10RS6 Avant 139 135* na 135* 8cyl 3993cc 8A 552 700 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

3.0 TDI Quattro 88.00 85.88* 88.00 84.85* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 241 500 250 6.07 8.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10RS7 Sportback 130 127* 130 125* 8cyl 3993cc 7A 552 700 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

60 TFSI Quattro 130 144 130 166 8cyl 3993cc 8A 429 600 250 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/103.0 TDI 115 130 115 147 6cyl 2967cc 8A 246 580 250 6.5 7.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

TG Awards: Most improved supercar of the year 2014: Rapide S 'As far as improvements in road dynamics goes, there's been nothing as impressive as the ones on the Rapide S'

Company description: Arguably the UK’s most desirable marque, thanks to genuinely good supercars.

ASTON MARTIN Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.astonmartin.com

DB9: Overshadowed by the DBS and undercut by the Vantage, the DB9 is still the quintessential Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: Well not the Volante. So that only leaves the fixed head. Which will do nicely.L: 471cm, W: 206cm H: 128cm Boot: 186 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California and Maserati GranTurismo.

Rapide: A ball-aching beauty of a saloon and a proper poke in the eye for Porsche’s Panamera turbo. Build: Import

TG Choice: There is only one and it’s got a 552bhp V12 with 630Nm torque. So we’ll take it.L: 502cm, W: 214cm H: 136cm Boot: 317 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche Panamera, Ferrari FF, Maserati Quattroporte

Vantage: The car that took on the 911. And lost. But hey, it’s an Aston. Build: Import

TG Choice: The full 510bhp V12 Vantage experience please.L: 439cm, W: 187cm H: 125-127cm Boot: 144 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Porsche 911.

TG Awards: Saloon of the Year 2015: Audi A3 'The A3 has every creature comfort you'd need.'

Company description: Classy and understated alternative to the driver-oriented BMW and the staid Mercedes. Oozing Teutonic quality.

AUDI Dealers 35 Warranty 2yrs Website www.audi.in

A3: Audi’s brought the three-box version of the A3 to compete with the A-Class and the 1-Series. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 40TFSI as its combination of the brilliant TSI motor and the quick-witted 7-speed S-tronic auto ‘box is excellent.L: 445.6cm, W: 179.6cm, H: 141.6cm Boot: 425 litres, Fuel Tank: 50 litre, Grond Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 1-Series, Mercedes-Benz A-Class

A4: Audi’s best-seller gets plastic surgery. And becomes a nagging worry for other Germans in the game. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.0 TDi as its a great value-for-money proposition and runs on a more affordable fuel.L: 470cm, W: 183cm H: 142.7cm Boot: 480 litres, Fuel Tank: 63 litre, Grond Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C -Class

A6: Good-looking, accomplished executive saloon – now with that beardy front grille after the redesign. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 35TDI Premium has loads of toys for you to play with, while still managing a figure of 9.6kplL: 491.5cm, W: 187.4cm H: 145.5cm Boot: 546 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre, Ground Clearance: 11.8cm Also try: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80

A7: Perfect mix of sportiness, comfort and styling evokes instant desire. You’ll never feel you’re in a four-door. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, is powerful and sips fuel frugally. L: 496cm, W: 191cm H: 141.9-142cm Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes CLS, BMW 6 series Gran Coupe

A8 L: You can’t ask for a more perfect car than this. Not for ordinary mortals. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 4.2 TDI gives you a great mix of luxury and power.L: 526.7cm, W: 194.9cm H: 147.1cm Boot: 510 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: 12.4cm Also try: BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

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4.2 TDI Quattro 126 141 126 161 8cyl 4134cc 8A 345 800 250 5.16 8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

35TDI q Premium na na na 39.59 4cyl 1968cc 7A 174 380 212 7.94 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1035TDI q Premium Plus na na na 46.78 4cyl 1968cc 7A 177 380 212 7.94 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10S Edition 24.91 24.99* 24.91 na 4cyl 1968cc 6M 138 320 na 7.94 11.04 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

30 TDI Technology na 44.89 na 54.25 4cyl 1968cc 7A 174 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/1045 TDI Technology na 52.10 na 67.45 6cyl 2967cc 7A 241 580 225 6.5 12.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

45TDI q Technology 80.70 79.12* 80.70 104.95 8cyl 4134cc 8A 335 800 242 6.4 5.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/103.0TFSI Quattro na 59.40 na 65.3* 6cyl 2995cc 8A 333 440 215 7.4 7.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ na/1030TDI q Technology 71.95 70.52* 71.95 95.50 6cyl 2967cc 8A 241 550 243 9.1 9.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

RS 5 100 98.32* 100 96.90* 8cyl 4163cc 7A 444 430 250 5.07 4.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

V8 4.2FSI 163 163* 163 157* 8cyl 4163cc 7A 424 430 300 4.6 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10V10 5.2FSI 191 187* 191 184* 10cyl 5204cc 7A 517 540 314 4.1 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/105.2FSI V10 Plus na na na 205 10cyl 5204cc 7A 542 540 314 3.5 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10Spyder 210 206* 210 202* 10cyl 5204cc 7A 525 530 311 4.1 7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

TT 45 TFSI 60.34 60.34* 60.34 60.34* 4cyl 1984cc 6A 226 370 250 6 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

GT na 356* na 356* 12cyl 5998cc 8A 582 720 318 4.8 6.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10GT Speed na 400* na 400* 12cyl 5998cc 8A 626 820 330 4.5 6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Flying Spur V8 na 310* na 310* 8cyl 3993cc 8A 500 660 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Flying Spur W12 na 340* na 340* 12cyl 5998cc 8A 626 820 320 5.2 5.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10GT V8 na 329* na 329* 8cyl 3993cc 8A 500 660 303 4.8 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10GTC na 388* na 388* 12cyl 5998cc 8A 567 700 314 5.1 5.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Mulsanne na 567* na 567* 8cyl 6752cc 8A 505 1020 296 5.3 5.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

116i 21.27 20.9* 21.27 27.97 4cyl 1598cc 8A 134 220 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Q3: Audi says this rivals the Range Rover Evoque! Not sure about that, but it’s definitely capable. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The High grade, comes with a easy-to-use MMI system and a bunch of other useful features.L: 438.5cm, W: 183.1cm H: 160.8cm Boot: 460 litres, Fuel Tank: 64 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW X1

Q5: It may not have the panache of the Q7 that Bollywood loves, but the Q5 does mean business. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0 TDI Quattro, with the engine carried over from the Q7 but this is quicker, thanks to half-a-tonne less weight L: 462.9cm, W: 188cm H: 165.5cm Boot: 540 litres, Fuel Tank: 75 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: BMW X3, Mitsubishi Montero

Q7: Odd-looking and enormous seven-seat sports utility vehicle that’ll put the frighteners on Mercedes and BMW. Build: Import

TG Choice: 4.2 TDI Quattro is big on muscle and since it’s a diesel, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket.L: 509cm, W: 198cm H: 173.7cm Boot: 755 litres, Fuel Tank: 100 litre, Ground Clearance: 20.5 cm Also try: BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover,

RS5: Artful lesson in understatement, the RS5 does desirable minus the flash. Build: Import

TG Choice: Just hand us the keys to the 444bhp V8. Thank you. L: 464cm, W: 186cm H: 136.6cm Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 61 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW M4

R8: The supercar to have right now. Beautiful, sophisticated, quick as the wind and comfortable to boot. Build: Import

TG Choice: Buy the V10, it’s borrowed from the Lamborghini Gallardo and sells at half the price.L: 443cm, W: 190cm H: 124.4-125.2cm Boot: 100 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911

TT: Still the cheapest two-seat sportscar around. Now more thorough than ever before. Build: Import

TG Choice: Audi doesn’t want you to have choices here.L: 417.7cm, W: 183.2cm H: 135.3cm Boot: 305 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW Z4, Merc SLK

TG Awards: -Company description: Has got a new lease of life with an injection of Volkswagen cash, but still as British as the monarchy.

BENTLEY Dealers 1 Warranty 3 Website www.bentleymotors.com

Continental: Sumptuous, superb over distances, with more appeal to younger millionaires. Build: Import

TG Choice: The GT Super Sports should be just fine. It will be good to the environment as it runs on ethanol too. Tree huggers rejoice.L: 480.0cm, W: 222.5cm H: 140.1-148.8cm Boot: 358 litres, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Other Bentleys, really? That’s about it

Mulsanne: Replacement for the Arnage, and every bit as opulent. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on how you want to spec it. The rich are spoilt for choice (aren’t they always?).L: 557.5, W: 192.6cm H: 152.1cm Boot: 443 litres, Fuel Tank: 96 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Rolls Royce Ghost

TG Awards: Performance Car of the Year 2015: M3 ‘ The M3 sticks to its line brilliantly, and plasters a wide smile on your face'

Company description: A model of German efficiency, the firm still prides itself on making supremely engineered cars aimed at the driver.

BMW Dealers 21 Warranty 3yrs Website www.bmw.in

1 Series: The country’s only RWD hatchback. Fun to drive, but is it as good as the A-Class? Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 118d Sport Plus has a frugal yet powerful diesel engine and comes with all the thrills and frills. L: 432.4cm W: 176.5cm H: 142.1cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 52 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mini Countryman

Audi continued

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118d 23.3 22.9* 23.3 32.07 4cyl 1995cc 8A 140 320 215 8.91 13.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10118d Sport Line 26.36 25.9* 26.36 35.69 4cyl 1995cc 8A 140 320 215 8.91 13.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10118d Sport Plus 30.43 29.9* 30.43 40.54 4cyl 1995cc 8A 140 320 215 8.91 13.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

320d 28.9 33.68 28.9 42.75 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 235 7.33 14.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10320d Sport Line 31.5 36.65 31.5 47.17 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 235 7.33 14.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10320d Luxury Line 31.5 36.65 31.5 47.17 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 235 7.33 14.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10320d Luxury line Plus 36.9 42.83 36.9 45.69 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 235 7.33 14.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10328i Sport Line 37.9 43.96 37.9 51.92 4cyl 1997cc 8A 241 350 250 6.16 10.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10320d GT 42.75 42.75* 42.75 53.13 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 NA NA NA l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10M3 121 121* 121 121* 6cyl 2979cc 7A 425 550 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

M4 Coupe 119 119* 119 119* 6cyl 2979cc 7A 425 550 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

520d Modern 47.7 54.37 na 61.90 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 226 8.3 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10520d Luxury 47.7 54.37 na 61.90 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 226 8.3 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10525d Luxury Plus 52.8 60.08 na 68.17 4cyl 1995cc 8A 214 450 226 8.3 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10530d M Sport 58.9 62.37 na 73.32 6cyl 2993cc 8A 254 560 250 6.13 11.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

640d Eminence na 114 na na 6cyl 2993cc 8A 313 630 250 5.5 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10640d Design Pure Exp na 121 na na 6cyl 2993cc 8A 313 630 250 5.52 8.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

750Li 86.8 113.3 86.8 175 8cyl 4395cc 6A 442 650 250 6 7.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10730Ld 73.6 96.06 73.6 126 6cyl 2993cc 6A 254 560 245 6.69 9.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10760Li 129 150.7 129 244 12cyl 5972cc 6A 536 750 250 4.6 7.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10ActiveHybrid 7 135 135* 135 135* 6cyl 2979cc 8A 369 450 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

i8 229 229* 229 229* 3cyl 1499cc 6A 356 570 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

30d 64 65.10 64 82.32 6cyl 2993cc 8A 245 540 240 7.13 5.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

20d Expedition NA 27.9* NA 38.38 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.89 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1020d Sport Line NA 32.5* NA 44.83 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.18 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1020d xLine NA 32.5* NA 44.83 4cyl 1995cc 8A 181 380 205 7.18 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

20d Expedition 44.90 44.90* 44.90 55.76 4cyl 1995cc 8A 188 400 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/1020d xLine 49.90 49.90* 49.90 61.90 4cyl 1995cc 8A 188 400 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

30d 7-str 55.7 62.25 55.7 87.69 6cyl 2993cc 8A 254 560 210 8.3 10.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

3 Series: The 3 has always been the best sport saloon since it was born. The new 3 is still so. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 320d Sport Line visually striking with its sporty cues and has the all purpose 2-litre diesel. L: 482.4cm W: 181.1cm H: 142.9cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class

M4: The M3 Coupe lives on, but with a new name: the M4. Now powered by a turbocharged six-pot motor. Build: Import

TG Choice: Only the Coupe is available for now. L: 467.1cm W: 187cm H: 138.3cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 00 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Jaguar F-Type

5 Series: A return to form for the ‘5’, with more palatable styling, a better ride and BMW’s stock-in-trade quality. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 530d M Sport is the most fun you will have in a 5 series, unless you throw the M5 into the mix.L: 490.7, W: 186cm H: 146.2cm Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.8 cm Also try: Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Volvo S80

6 Series Gran Coupe: The best all-round tourer in India. Now fresher thanks to a mid-life facelift Build: Import

TG Choice: You’re restricted to trim levels for now. L: 489cm, W: 189cm H: 139.2cm Boot: Na, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: 123cm Also try: Mercedes SL class

7 Series: Much improved. BMW’s super saloon is now a half-decent match for the class-whipping S-Class. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 730Ld should be fine, as it’s a car to be driven in.L: 517.9cm, W: 213.3cm H: 148.1cm Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 88 litre Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

i8: A sci-fi fantasy brought to life. A hybrid sportscar. The i8 is a combination of both, and it is spectacular Build: Import

TG Choice: You wouldn’t be bothered with variants when it looks the way it does, would you?L: 423.9cm W: 179cm H: 129.1cm Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Looking for an abandoned spaceship.

GT 5: According to BMW the GT 5 is for an older BMW buyer who has a family and children to ferry around. Build: Import

TG Choice: A BMW for the ageing? For this price, you can get the ‘530d’ and the K1200R bike.L: 499cm, W: 190cm H: 150.8cm Boot: 520 litres, Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: none

X1: Right size, right price, perfect for the urban yuppie. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 20d Expedition will be perfect. 380Nm of torque is more than enough for city and highway driving. L: 445cm W: 180cm H: 154.5cm Boot: 420 litres, Fuel Tank: 80 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5

X3: A well-sorted car tailored for the world we live in, now with squared-off corona rings. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 20d Expedition, as it has ample power and is cheaper, too. L: 465.7cm W: 188cm H: 167.8cm Boot: NA, Fuel Tank: 67 litre, Ground Clearance: 19.4cm Also try: Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Land Rover Freelander 2

X5: Fatter new seven-seat X5 places it firmly in a size category above the X3 now – thankfully, it’s bigger inside too. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 30d should work well as this car is more at home in the urban jungle’s stop-and-go traffic.L: 485.4, W: 219.7cm H: 176.2cm Boot: 620 litres, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cmAlso try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport

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50i 84.1 98.49 84.1 109 8cyl 4395cc 8A 407 600 240 5.4 7.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 4/1040d 66.9 79.35 66.9 87.3 6cyl 2993cc 8A 306 600 240 6.18 8.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 4/10

Z4 SDrive 35is na 98.49 84.1 109 6cyl 2979cc 8A 301 400 250 6.07 5.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Veyron 8.0 W16 Grand Sport na 4500* na na 16cyl 7993cc 7A 1001 1250 407 2.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

Base 4.03 4.19 4.03 5.32 4cyl 1199cc 5M 77 106 150 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10LS 4.29 4.49 4.29 5.64 4cyl 1199cc 5M 77 106 150 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10LT 4.71 4.97 4.71 6.14 4cyl 1199cc 5M 77 106 150 na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ l✖ 5/10LT Opt 5.20 5.29 5.20 6.47 4cyl 1199cc 5M 77 106 150 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Base Diesel 4.86 5.11 4.86 6.44 3cyl 936cc 5M 56 142 150 na 17 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10LS Diesel 5.13 5.42 5.13 6.78 3cyl 936cc 5M 56 142 150 na 17 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10LT Diesel 5.55 5.88 5.55 7.30 3cyl 936cc 5M 56 142 150 na 17 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ l✖ 6/10LT Opt Diesel 6.04 6.07 6.04 7.90 3cyl 936cc 5M 56 142 150 na 17 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10

2.2 LT 23.54 21.88 23.54 30.66 4cyl 2231cc 6M 183 400 178 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/102.2 AWD LTZ 25.67 25.62 25.67 33.47 4cyl 2231cc 6A 183 400 178 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

LT 14.02 16.15 14.02 17.80 4cyl 1998cc 6M 164 360 200 9.83 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10LTZ MT 15.54 17.88 15.54 19.66 4cyl 1998cc 6M 164 360 200 9.83 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10LTZ AT 16.57 18.93 16.57 20.93 4cyl 1998cc 6A 164 360 200 9.5 11.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

1.0 3.50 3.51 3.50 4.61 4cyl 995cc 5M 60 87 145 16.9 13.6 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/101.0 LS 3.77 3.89 3.77 4.93 4cyl 995cc 5M 60 87 145 16.9 13.6 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/101.0 LT 4.06 4.21 4.06 5.28 4cyl 995cc 5M 60 87 145 16.9 13.6 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l■ l✔ l✖ 4/10

LS Petrol 8STR 5.84 5.49* 5.84 7.61 4cyl 1399cc 5M 99 131 na 13.9 12.1 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10LS Petrol 7STR 5.87 5.54* 5.87 7.64 4cyl 1399cc 5M 99 131 na 13.9 12.1 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10LTZ Petrol 7STR 7.23 7.12* 7.23 9.28 4cyl 1399cc 5M 99 131 na 13.9 12.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10LS Diesel 8STR 7.10 6.69* 7.10 9.31 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 172 na 19.7 15 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10LS Diesel 7STR 7.13 6.76* 7.13 9.34 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 172 na 19.7 15 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10LTZ Diesel 7STR 8.27 8.00* 8.27 10.74 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 172 na 19.7 15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

X6: It’s an SUV! No, it’s a coupe! No, it’s both. BMW has stretched the boundaries for a ‘niche’ product. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 50i, as the car doesn’t make much sense to begin with. But it’ll at least be fast while being confused.L: 487.7cm W: 198cm H: 170.2cm Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 85 litre, Ground Clearance: 21.2 cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport

Z4: BMW’s answer to Merc’s SLK and Porsche’s Cayman. It’s fast. It’s topless and it drives well. Build: Import

TG Choice: No option but the 35i for now. Same engine but tuned for more power.L: 423.9cm W: 179cm H: 129.1cm Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 90 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz SLK, Porsche Boxster.

TG Awards: -Company description: VW-owned purveyor of the fastest, most extreme hypercars on the planet. Builder of the fastest car in the world.

BUGATTI Dealers 1 Warranty 2yrs Website www.bugatti.com

Veyron: The fastest, most expensive car in the world. Enough said... Build: Import

TG Choice: Grand Sport, 1001bhp, 0-100kph in 2.7 seconds 407kph top end. Veyron is the ultimate.L: 446cm W: 199cm H: 115.9cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 100 litre Ground Clearance: NA Also try: The space shuttle, hard drugs

TG Awards: Saloon of the year 2009: Cruze ‘ That the Cruze is a better buy than its immediate competitors - Civic and Corolla - will be as obvious to you as Salman Khan's biceps"

Company description: Madee its mark with confident design and products like the Cruze and the Beat. Buyers are slowly showing that confidence too.

CHEVROLET Dealers 279 Warranty 3 Website www.chevrolet.co.in

Beat: Another smart new Chevy design. Tries hard to play city car and highway cruiser roles. Succeeds reasonably.

TG Choice: The LT packs a lot of features at a reasonable price.L: 364cm W: 159cm H: 155cm Boot: na, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai i10, Maruti Suzuki Ritz

Captiva: At long last, Chevy is adding new cars to Daewoo knock-offs. This seven-seat SUV isn’t a bad effort either. Build: Import

TG Choice: Two lakh cheaper than the AWD variants, the 2.2 LT has no all-wheel-drive, but hey, you won’t need one in a city SUV.L: 467 cmW: 187cm H: 175.5cm Boot: 465 litres, Fuel Tank: 65 litre , Ground Clearance: 17.7cm Also try: Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail

Cruze: This car can leave wet spot marks on the trousers of the Civic and the Corolla.

TG Choice: The LTZ MT for the true enthusiast.L: 459.7 cm W: 178.8cm H: 147.7cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis

Spark: Cute, cheap runabout, now with the oomph to keep it up in town thanks to the new 1.0L engine. Also available in LPG.

TG Choice: 1 as it is the cheapest of the lot and other variants do not offer any significant upgrades.L: 349.5, W: 149.5,cm. Boot: 104 litres, Fuel Tank: 38 litre , Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Hyundai Santro Xing, Maruti’s tall boy pair

Enjoy: The Enjoy is Chevrolet’s answer to the Maruti Ertiga. Petrol pretty quick, diesel decently efficient. Reasonably priced too.

TG Choice: LTZ Diesel as it is offers a good mix of features along with the goodness of diesel. Mid-spec LT trim available too.L: 430.5, W: 168cm H: 175cm Boot: 195 litres, Fuel Tank: 50 litre , Ground Clearance: na Also try: Maruti Ertiga, Mahindra Xylo, Nissan Evalia

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LT ABS Petrol 5.68 6.11 5.68 7.55 4cyl 1199cc 5M 82 108 na 13.85 13.2 l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10LT ABS Diesel 6.73 7.53 6.73 8.99 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✔ l■ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l■ l✖ l✖ 5/10

1.2 5.24 4.99* 5.24 6.85 4cyl 1199cc 5M 82 108 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 LS ABS 6.02 5.70* 6.02 7.85 4cyl 1199cc 5M 82 108 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 LT ABS 6.49 6.41* 6.49 8.38 4cyl 1199cc 5M 82 108 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/101.3 TCDi 6.45 6.29* 6.45 8.47 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10 1.3 TCDi LS ABS 7.05 6.80* 7.05 9.32 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.3 TCDi LT ABS 7.67 7.51* 7.67 10.04 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10

D 3.23 3.57 3.29 4.02 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10A 3.58 3.88 3.65 4.44 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10T 4.04 4.13 4.12 4.98 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

D 3.79 3.79* 3.86 4.66 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10A 4.14 4.15* 4.22 5.08 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10T 4.61 4.61* 4.69 5.67 3cyl 1198cc 5M 67 104 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

Active 7.25 7.85 7.23 8.34 4cyl 1368cc 5M 90 115 168 15.6 8 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10Dynamic 8.27 7.95 8.25 8.77 4cyl 1368cc 5M 90 115 168 15.6 8 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10Active D 8.30 9.12 8.28 10.14 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Dynamic D 9.35 10.25 9.23 11.58 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 5/10Emotion D 9.72 10.66 9.70 12.24 4cyl 1248cc 5M 91 209 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10T-Jet 8.82 9.65 8.92 na 4cyl 1368cc 5M 113 207 165 11.1 12.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10T-Jet+ 9.32 10.19 9.43 na 4cyl 1368cc 5M 113 207 165 11.1 12.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Classic Multijet Diesel 6.95 8.00 6.95 8.60 4cyl 1248cc 5M 76 197 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10Classic Plus Multijet Diesel 7.50 8.62 7.50 9.25 4cyl 1248cc 5M 76 197 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10Classic Petrol 5.99 6.63 5.99 7.28 4cyl 1368cc 5M 90 115 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10

Active 1.2 4.67 4.55* 4.65 6.02 4cyl 1172cc 5M 67 96 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Dynamic 1.2 5.24 5.12* 5.22 6.57 4cyl 1172cc 5M 67 96 175 na 13 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Emotion 1.4 6.80 6.66* 6.78 8.68 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 175 12.5 13 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Active 1.3 D 5.40 5.27* 5.37 7.24 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na na 17 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Dynamic 1.3 D 6.35 6.21* 6.33 8.04 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na 15.7 17 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Emotion 1.3 D 6.98 6.83* 6.96 8.80 4cyl 1248cc 5M 75 197 na 15.7 17 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Emotion 1.3 D Sport 7.35 7.20* 7.33 9.24 4cyl 1248cc 5M 92 209 170 13.65 12.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Avventura 1.4 Dynamic na 7.05* na 8.72 4cyl 1368cc 5M 92 115 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Avventura 1.3 D Emotion na 8.17* na 10.29 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 209 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

Sail U-VA: It’s a no-nonsense car in a country with way better no-nonsense cars

TG Choice: LT Diesel as it has a proven engine, rides well and is spacious. (Available in Base and LS variants too)L: 394.6cm W: 196cm H: cm Boot: 248 litres, Fuel Tank: 42 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.4 cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Ritz

Sail: Pocket-friendly pricing, neat styling and good ride. Should put Chevrolet back in to the entry-sedan game

TG Choice: 1.3 TCDi LT ABS as it gets all the safety features and decent amount of features.L: 424.9 cm W: 169cm H: 150.3cm Boot: 370 litres, Fuel Tank: 42 litre, Ground Clearance: 17.4cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki DZire, Mahindra Verito, Ford Classic

TG Awards: -Company description: It's back from the dead: Nissan has revived Datsun, only this time, it's to sell inexpensive hatches and micro-MPVs

DATSUN Dealers 141 Warranty 2yrs Website www.datsun.co.in

Go: Essentially a Micra that doesn’t look like one, and cheaper too. Win-win!

TG Choice: T is the one to go for, as it is the one with all the features that you’d need.L: 378.5cm W: 163.5cm H: 148.5cm Boot: 265 litre Fuel Tank: Na, Ground Clearance: Na Also try: Maruti Alto 800, Hyundai Eon.

Go+: A Go that thinks it’s an MPV. It does have seats for seven, yes, and it is just as barebones as the hatchback

TG Choice: T is the one to go for, as it is the one with all the features that you’d need.L: 378.5cm W: 163.5cm H: 148.5cm Boot: 265 litre Fuel Tank: Na, Ground Clearance: Na Also try: Spending more and buying a proper MPV

TG Awards: Facelift of the Year 2015: Punto Evo ‘We didn't expect the Punto to feature such significant changes’

Company description: Seems to make characterful and beautiful cars even in their sleep. The Punto and Linea are brilliant.

FIAT Dealers 64 Warranty 18months Website www.fiat-india.com

Linea: Big sedan loaded to the brim with features at a bargain price.

TG Choice: T-Jet should have been here the first time around – still, better late than never.L: 456, W: 173cm H: 148.7-149.4cm Boot: 500 litre, Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Honda City, Ford Fiesta, VW Vento

Punto Evo: Looks incredible, drives well, priced competitively. Needs better engines, though.

TG Choice: The Emotion Sport diesel is still the pick of the lot, but the 1.3-litre motor lacks grunt compared to rivals.L: 398.9cm W: 168.7cm H: 152.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance 18.5-20.5cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20, Volkswagen Polo

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EX 10.84 na 10.79 10.72* 4cyl 2149cc 5M 81 230 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10SX 12.20 14.45 12.14 11.98* 4cyl 2149cc 5M 140 321 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 4/10LX 4x4 na 14 na na 4cyl 2149cc 5M 140 321 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 4/10

Hard-top 4x4 8.65 8.50* 8.61 8.50* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10Soft-top 4x4 8.49 8.35* 8.46 8.35* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10Soft-top 4x2 6.36 6.25* 6.33 6.25* 4cyl 2596cc 5M 81 230 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

1.6 LXI Duratec 5.84 6.15 5.83 6.41 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/101.6 cLXI Duratec 6.49 7.05 6.50 7.26 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/101.6 Titanium Duratec 7.75 7.35 7.52 8.22 4cyl 1596cc 5M 99 146 175 11.2 12.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/101.4 LXI Duratorq 7.04 7.82 7.04 8.14 4cyl 1399cc 5M 67 160 155 17.1 16.1 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/101.4 Titanium Duratorq 7.48 8.29 7.48 9.61 4cyl 1399cc 5M 67 160 155 17.1 16.1 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10

2.5L 4x2 20.01 21.29 20.01 24.82 4cyl 2499cc 5M 142 330 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10 3.0L 4x2 19.50 22.89 19.41 26.63 4cyl 2953cc 5M 153 380 160 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/103.0L 4x4 AT 23.29 24.82 23.29 28.81 4cyl 2953cc 5A 153 380 165 13.86 8.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

1.5 Ambiente D na 7.69* 7.82* na 4cyl 1498cc 5M 89 204 na na 13 l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.5 Trend D na 8.55* 8.71* na 4cyl 1498cc 5M 89 204 na na 13 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.5 Titanium D 9.46* 9.29* 9.46* 9.69* 4cyl 1498cc 5M 89 204 na na 13 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

1.2 LXi 3.96 4.30 3.96 5.34 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 EXi 4.35 4.70 4.35 6.02 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 ZXi 4.65 5.10 4.66 6.42 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 Titanium 5.16 5.60 5.16 6.91 4cyl 1196cc 5M 71 102 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/101.4 LXi D 4.96 5.45 4.96 6.66 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 14.62 14.1 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.4 EXi D 5.35 6.19 5.30 7.35 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 14.62 14.1 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.4 ZXi D 5.67 6.28 5.73 7.74 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 14.62 14.1 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.4 Titanium D 6.17 6.69 6.17 8.23 4cyl 1399cc 5M 68 160 150 14.62 14.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

1.5 Ambiente P 5.68 5.59* 5.68 8.80 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Trend P 6.61 6.5* 6.61 9.94 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Titanium P 7.64 7.51* 7.64 11.12 4cyl 1499cc 5M 110 140 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Titanium P AT 8.60 8.45* 8.60 12.44 4cyl 1499cc 6A 110 140 na 13.75 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.0 Titanium P 8.04 7.90* 8.04 11.64 3cyl 999cc 5M 123 170 na 12.6 13.7 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.0 Titanium + P 8.43 8.29* 8.43 12.42 3cyl 999cc 5M 123 170 na 12.6 13.7 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Ambiente D 6.81 6.69* 6.81 10.45 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na 13.24 15.1 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

TG Awards: -Company description: After selling UV to the rural market, Force has decided to join the ranks of Tata and Mahindra with home-grown SUVs.

FORCE Dealers NA Warranty 2yrs Website www.forcemotors.com

One: Mechanically sound car, refined engine and good ride. Let down by interior quality and cabin design execution.

TG Choice: Safety is of utmost importance so we suggest going for the ABS.L: 486cm W: 178cm H: 188.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio

Gurkha: Want a luxurious off-roader? Look away. Want a no-frills, no-holds-barred mountain goat? Step right this way.

TG Choice: Soft-top 4x4 will let you fit in one more friend, apart from looking a little cooler than the hardtop.L: 399.2cm W: 182cm H: 205.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 63 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mahindra Thar

TG Awards: Family Car of the Year 2014: EcoSport ‘ The EcoSport is the first of its kind, and so far, the only one of its kind'

Company description: Makes some of the best driver’s cars in India. Right now in a period of transition. Good thing is their best is yet to come.

FORD Dealers 65 Warranty 2yrs Website www.india.ford.com

Classic: Ford’s big player in India is a well-sorted, well thought-out car. Facelifting has made it expensive. Still competent.

TG Choice: The 1.6 is what BMW would look at if it needed a low-cost front-wheel-drive car.L: 428.2cm W: 168.6cm H: 146.8cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea.

Endeavour: Big hunky old-school SUV, just revised. New interior and punchier engine lifts it up considerably.

TG Choice: Go for the 2.5 4x2 and save Rs 3 lakh, as this SUV will mostly be used for highway driving.L: 506cm W: 178.8cm H: 178.8cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 71 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Toyota Fortuner

Fiesta: The new Fiesta is a changed animal with its new Aston Martin-esque front end, but still familiar.

TG Choice: The 1.5 diesel Titanium equipped with all the frills is quite a package to reckon with.L: 429 cm W: 172cm H: 146.8cm Boot: 430litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: 15.6cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City.

Figo: Not the best-styled hatch out there, but it worries everything from the tiny i10 to the premium Polo.

TG Choice: The 1.4 diesel Titanium is an honest-to-goodness car with great pricing, space and highway ability.L: 379cm W: 168cm H: 142.7cm Boot: 284litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto, Volkswagen Polo.

EcoSport: This compact SUV will be a game changer for the company. Looks good and drives well too.

TG Choice: The EcoBoost Titanium + gives you the right combination of performance and features.L: 399.5cm W: 176.5cm H: 170.8cm Boot: 346litre Fuel Tank: 52 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Renault Duster, Nissan Terrano

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1.5 Trend D 7.74 7.61* 7.74 11.33 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na 13.24 15.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Titanium D 8.77 8.62* 8.77 12.64 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na 13.24 15.1 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Titanium + D 9.16 9.00* 9.16 13.37 4cyl 1498cc 5M 90 204 na 13.24 15.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10

E 5.05 5.82 5.09 6.48 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10S 5.74 6.56 5.79 7.38 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10SX 6.09 7.12 6.14 8.02 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

VX 6.68 7.78 6.73 8.48 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10S AT 6.75 7.85 6.80 8.57 4cyl 1198cc 5A 87 109 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10VX AT 7.61 8.79 7.69 9.55 4cyl 1198cc 5A 87 109 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10EX i-DTEC 6.41 7.16 6.45 8.30 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na 12.21 16.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10S i-DTEC 6.72 7.91 6.78 8.70 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na 12.21 16.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10SX i-DTEC 6.97 8.19 7.03 9.20 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na 12.21 16.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

VX i-DTEC 7.59 8.86 7.64 9.61 4cy l 1498cc 5M 99 200 na 12.21 16.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

E 7.30 8.34 7.30 9.18 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

S 7.96 9.04 7.96 9.94 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

SV 8.52 9.63 8.51 10.64 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10

SV CVT 9.52 10.73 9.51 11.96 4cyl 1497cc CVT 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10

V 9.06 10.24 9.06 11.33 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

VX 10.01 11.27 10.01 12.58 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

VX CVT 11.06 12.76 11.07 13.87 4cyl 1497cc CVT 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

E i-DTEC 8.76 9.82 8.77 10.83 4cyl 1498cc 6M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

S i-DTEC 9.39 10.53 9.40 11.61 4cyl 1498cc 6M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

SV i-DTEC 9.82 11.09 9.83 12.35 4cyl 1498cc 6M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10

V i-DTEC 10.33 12.08 10.34 13.10 4cyl 1498cc 6M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

VX i-DTEC 11.29 13.18 11.29 14.29 4cyl 1498cc 6M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

E 4.10 4.71 4.11 5.26 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na 16.5 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10EX 4.30 4.93 4.30 5.52 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na 16.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10S 4.63 5.27 4.63 5.95 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na 16.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10V 5.05 5.68 5.06 6.36 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na 16.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10VX 5.35 6.02 5.37 6.82 4cyl 1198cc 5M 87 109 na na 16.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10VX AT 6.12 7.03 6.14 7.76 4cy l 1198cc 5A 87 109 na na 16.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 8/10

2L MT 20.92 23.37 20.89 25.79 4cyl 1997cc 6M 154 190 na 11.44 9.15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/102L AT 21.94 24.51 21.91 27.91 4cyl 1997cc 5A 154 190 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/102.4L AT AVN 25.10 28.04 23.56 30.60 4cyl 2354cc 5A 187 226 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

E 6.80 6.49* 6.83 8.26 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10S 7.82 7.51* 7.85 9.50 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10V 9.06 8.77* 9.06 10.98 4cyl 1497cc 5M 117 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10E Diesel 8.29 7.89* 8.25 10.16 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10S Diesel 9.01 8.60* 9.00 11.04 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10V Diesel 10.17 9.76* 10.18 12.53 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10RS 11.39 10.86* 11.31 13.86 4cyl 1498cc 5M 99 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

TG Awards: Family Car of the Year 2015: Honda Mobilio ‘ The Mobilio bridges the gap between looking snazzy and being practical'

Company description: Enjoys a brand value only premium German cars can beat. City continues to dominate its segment.

HONDA Dealers 80 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hondacarindia.com

Amaze: Honda’s answer to Maruti’s DZire. First oil-burning Honda to hit Indian shores

TG Choice: The VX i-DTEC as it gets the much talked about diesel engine that’s efficient and gets all the goodies too.L: 399cm W: 168cm H: 150.5cm Boot: 400 litres Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Chevrolet Sail, Toyota Etios

City: Looks like a facelift but its all-new underneath. Brings in more space, features and upmarket feel.

TG Choice: V gets you everything you would need and nothing you don’t.L: 444cm W: 169.5cm H: 149.5cm Boot: 510L Fuel Tank: 40 litre, Ground Clearance: 165cm Also try: Skoda Rapid, VW Vento, Hyundai Verna, Maruti SX4

Brio: A complete young family hatch, comes with an aggresive price tag.

TG Choice: The VX should work well as it comes with all the features you’d want.L: 361cm W: 168cm H: 150cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat, Maruti Ritz

CR-V: Suave, comfortable, handles well and has a great engine. It has a terrific image as well. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2L AT is the pick of the lot, but where the hell is that diesel?L: 454.4cm W: 182cm H: 168.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 58 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Nissan X-Trail

Mobilio: Honda’s first shot at the budget MPV segment, the Mobilio sports a touch more design flair than the rest.

TG Choice: The S Diesel is the one that has all the bases covered.L: 438cm W: 168cm H: 160.3cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 42 litre Ground Clearance: 18.9cm Also try: Maruti Ertiga, Chevrolet Enjoy

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D-Lite 2.92 3.10 2.94 3.81 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10D-Lite + 3.22 3.40 3.23 4.15 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Era + 3.37 3.60 3.38 4.31 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Magna + 3.67 3.90 3.69 4.67 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10Sportz 3.96 4.15 3.98 5.01 3cyl 814cc 5M 55 75 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/101.0 Magna 3.85 4.24 3.87 5.03 3cyl 998cc 5M 68 94 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10

1.8 S VTVT 12.92 14.39 12.92 16.12 4cyl 1797cc 6M 147 177 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/101.8 SX VTVT 14.17 15.75 14.17 17.58 4cyl 1797cc 6M 147 177 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.8 SX AT VTVT 15.19 16.89 15.19 18.76 4cyl 1797cc 6A 147 177 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.6 L CRDi 13.32 15.15 13.33 16.96 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 10.34 13.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/101.6 S CRDi 14.07 15.96 14.07 17.84 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 10.34 13.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.6 SX CRDi 15.30 17.44 15.30 19.29 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 10.34 13.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.6 SX AT CRDi 16.32 18.55 16.32 20.50 4cyl 1582cc 6A 126 260 190 11.37 12.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Era 1.2 P 4.98 4.90* 4.98 6.61 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 115 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Magna 1.2 P 5.51 5.42* 5.51 7.25 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 115 na 15.5 na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Sportz 1.2 P 6.04 5.94* 6.04 7.89 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 115 na 15.5 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Sportz (O) 1.2 P 6.36 6.25* 6.36 8.27 4cyl 1396cc 5M 82 115 na 11.91 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Asta 1.2 P 6.58 6.47* 6.58 8.54 4cyl 1396cc 5M 82 115 na 11.91 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Era 1.4 D 6.20 6.10* 6.20 8.16 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na 11.91 na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Magna 1.4 D 6.73 6.62* 6.73 8.81 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na 13.1 na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Sportz 1.4 D 7.26 7.14* 7.26 9.46 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na 11.91 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Sportz (O) 1.4 D 7.58 7.45* 7.58 9.85 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Asta 1.4 D 7.80 7.67* 7.80 10.12 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Active 1.2 S P 7.80 7.67* 7.80 8.83 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 115 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Active 1.4 SX D 7.80 7.67* 7.80 11.13 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Era 4.41 4.33* 4.41 5.82 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Era D 5.36 5.27* 5.36 7.03 3cyl 1120cc 5M 71 180 na 15.94 16.3 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10Magna 4.61 4.53* 4.61 6.05 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10Magna D 5.56 5.46* 5.56 7.26 3cyl 1120cc 5M 71 180 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10Sportz 5.01 4.92* 5.01 6.51 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Sportz D 5.96 5.86* 5.96 7.74 3cyl 1120cc 5M 71 180 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Asta (O) 5.61 5.51* 5.61 7.21 4cyl 1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Asta D 6.56 6.45* 6.56 8.06 3cyl 1120cc 5M 71 180 na na na l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

Era 4.19 4.49 4.20 5.14 4cyl 1086cc 5M 66 99 140 15.5 14 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10Magna 4.35 4.65 4.35 5.41 4cyl 1086cc 5M 66 99 140 15.5 14 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10Sportz 5.15 5.15 5.15 5.76 4cyl 1086cc 5M 66 99 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

2WD MT 25.51 25.08* 25.51 33.33 4cyl 2199cc 6M 194 421 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/102WD AT 26.34 25.89* 26.34 34.81 4cyl 2199cc 6A 194 436 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/104WD AT 28.37 27.89* 28.38 37.36 4cyl 2199cc 6A 194 436 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

TG Awards: Manufacturer of the Year 2015: Hyundai ‘ Hyundai has reinforced its image as a manufacturer of feature-rich, value-for-money products'

Company description: With the i10, i20 and the new Verna, their cars are actually scoring pretty high on the desirability quotient.

HYUNDAI Dealers 240 Warranty 2yrs Website www.hyundai.co.in

Eon: The Eon is an interesting little number. It has what you want from an entry-level city car, even if not in the best possible way.

TG Choice: Sportz as it has all the features that a premium hatchback should get.L: 349.5cm W: 155cm H: 150cm Boot: 215 litre, Fuel Tank: 32 litre, Ground Clearance: 17 cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Alto

Elantra: Hyundai brings the Elantra back from the dead. Flamboyant and feature-rich. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: SX Auto as it gets all the bells and whistles and the convenience of an auto ’box.L:453cm W: 177.5cm H: 147cm Boot: 420 litre, Fuel Tank: 56 litre, Ground Clearance: 15 cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, VW Jetta, Toyota Corolla Altis

Elite i20: The brand-new i20 is as good as most others in its class. A premium hatch in the truest sense of the term.

TG Choice: The Asta 1.4 D makes for a good value for money offering considering it’s a big diesel hatchback with lots of goodies.L: 398.5cm W: 173.4cm H: 150.5cm Boot: 295 litre Fuel Tank: 45 litre, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: VW Polo, Maruti Suzuki Swift.

Grand i10: Hyundai finds and fills a gap between the i10 and the i20, and this one fits the bill perfectly.

TG Choice: The Asta (O) has some features that no other hatchback in the country gets.L: 376.5cm W: 166cm H: 152cm Boot: 235 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Maruti Swift, Nissan Micra.

i10: Another excellent compact hatch from Hyundai. Massively practical, very sophisticated for such a small car.

TG Choice: The Magna 1.2 has the best combination of equipment and priceL: 358.5cm W: 159.5cm H: 155cm Boot: 235litre Fuel Tank: 35 litre, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Datson Go

Santa Fe: Hyundai takes the fight to Honda CR-V’s door step. Also comes with diesel engine. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Go the whole hog and get the 4x4 and it’s not that expensive eitherL: 469cm W: 188cm H: 169cm Boot: 969litre Fuel Tank: 64 litre, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Honda CR-V, Renault Koleos

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1.4 VTVT 7.36 7.99 7.36 9.43 4cyl 1396cc 5M 105 135 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/101.6 VTVT 8.30 8.85 8.30 10.77 4cyl 1591cc 5M 121 155 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/101.6 SX VTVT 9.50 10.33 9.50 12.60 4cyl 1591cc 5M 121 155 na 11.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.6 S (O) VTVT AT 10.02 11.09 10.02 12.36 4cyl 1591cc 4A 121 155 na 11.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10 1.4 CRDi 8.62 9.55 9.40 11.04 4cyl 1396cc 6M 89 220 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/101.6 CRDi 8.29 10.65 9.66 12.63 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 11.07 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/101.6 SX CRDi 10.87 11.21 10.87 14.39 4cyl 1582cc 6M 126 260 na 11.07 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.6 SX (O) CRDi AT 11.61 13.15 11.61 15.27 4cyl 1582cc 4A 126 260 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

1.2 Kappa Base 4.69 4.69* 4.75 6.28 4cyl1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.2 Kappa S 5.36 5.35* 5.42 7.08 4cyl1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/101.2 Kappa SX (O) 6.54 6.47* 6.59 8.50 4cyl1197cc 5M 82 114 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.2 Kappa SX (O) AT 7.27 7.22* 7.32 9.34 4cyl1197cc 4A 82 114 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.1 CRDi Base 5.64 5.60* 5.70 7.51 3cyl1197cc 5M 71 180 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.1 CRDi S 6.32 6.26* 6.37 8.34 3cyl1197cc 5M 71 180 na na na l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/101.1 CRDi SX (O) 7.49 7.41* 7.55 9.78 3cyl1197cc 5M 71 180 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

MU-7 High 22.31 21.95* 22.25 27.05 4cyl 2999cc 5M 161 360 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

3.0L Diesel Premium 96.49 94.8* 94.15 94.26* 6cyl 2993cc 8A 271 600 230 6.6 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/102.0L Petrol Portfolio 97.67 95.97 na 95.42* 4cyl 1999cc 8A 237 340 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -3.0L Diesel Portfolio 104 102 na 101* 6cyl 2993cc 8A 271 600 230 6.6 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

2.2 D Luxury 51.44 50.54 na 50.01* 4cyl 2179cc 8A 188 450 250 9.31 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/103.0L D 59.90 58.86 65.77 58.32* 6cyl 2993cc 8A 272 600 250 7.1 7.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/102.0 P 51.12 50.23 na 49.69* 4cyl 1999cc 8A 237 340 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

5.0L 94.18 100.4 95.39 150 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 625 250 4.8 5.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/105.0L Convertible 99.9 104.6 101.2 159 8cyl 5000cc 6A 503 625 250 4.8 5.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10XKR-S na na na 205 8cyl 5000cc 6A 543 680 300 4.4 5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

V8 S Convertible 182 179* 181 179* 8cyl 5000cc 8A 488 625 250 4.19 5.35 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10R Coupe 190 186* na 186* 8cyl 5000cc 8A 542 680 na 4.2 4.45 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

4S Verna: Hyundai’s champion mid-size warrior. Now with the power of four Ses

TG Choice: The Diesel manual gives the best combination of power and economy. The Auto’s nice in the city, thoughL: 437cm W: 170cm H: 145.7cm Boot: 465 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litre, Ground Clearance: Na Also try: Ford Fiesta, Honda City, VW Vento, Fiat Linea, Maruti SX4.

Xcent: Hyundai has a go at the under-four metre sedan segment with the weirdly-named Xcent.

TG Choice: 1.2 SX (O) boasts of a smooth engine, a good gearbox, and it has all the features that you’d ever need.L: 399.5cm W: 166cm H: 152cm Boot: 470 litre Fuel Tank: na litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Maruti DZire, Honda Amaze

TG Awards: -Company description: Known for their low-cost, reliable diesel engines. Full local manufacture begins in 2015.

ISUZU Dealers 23 Warranty na Website na

MU-7: Think Fortuner, but not from Toyota. Lots of space and brute force. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: They are importing it. So, there is only one option.L: 495.5cm W: 180.0cm H: 180.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 76 litre, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner

TG Awards: Entertainer of the year 2015: F-Type R Coupe‘ It's the car that has brought Jaguar back’

Company description: Turning out brilliant driver's cars. The XF is lovely, and the new engines are as good as anything out there.

JAGUAR Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.Jaguar.in

XJ: British engineering at its finest, good option for buyers looking for a big non-German luxury sedan. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 3.0L Diesel as this car is more about luxury than sheer power.L: 525cm W: 210cm H: 145.7cm Boot: 520 litre Fuel Tank: 82 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 7-Series, Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

XF: This model has brought Jag to the same level as its German counterparts. It drives as good as it looks. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The R 5.0 for those rare moments when you get to use all that power.L: 496cm W: 187.7cm H: 146cm Boot: 500 litre Fuel Tank: 70 litre, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

XK: Recently face-lifted and the new engines make things better with the R version getting staggeringly fast. Build: Import

TG Choice: Definitely the Convertible for that perfect pleasure drive.L: 539cm W: 212.5cm H: 131.2-132.9cm Boot: 374 litres Fuel Tank: 96 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes SL, Porsche 911

F-Type: The F-Type continues the legacy of the E-Type, never mind the 50 year break between the two. Build: Import

TG Choice: Go for the V8 only for the sound. Don’t forget to tick the Sport exhaust on the feature list.L: 447cm W: 192 cm H: 130.8-132.1cm Boot: 200 litres Fuel Tank: 72 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes SL, Porsche 911

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LP700-4 na 370* na 485* 12cyl 6500cc 7A 691 690 350 2.9 4.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10LP700-4 Roadster na 477* na na 12cyl 6500cc 7A 691 690 350 3.0 4.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

LP610-4 na 343* na na 10cyl 5204cc 7A 602 540 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Discovery 4 3.0 HSE 121 119* 63.14 119* 6cyl 2993cc 6A 245 600 180 8.99 6.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

Pure 60.54 59.48* 45.75 48.73* 4cyl 2179cc 9A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Prestige 69 67.80* 52.95 56.21* 4cyl 2179cc 9A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Dynamic 68.69 67.49* 52.01 52.40* 4cyl 2179cc 9A 188 420 na 9.8 10.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Dynamic Si4 (Coupe) 57.17 67.1 57.95 81.91 4cyl 1999cc 9A 238 340 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

2.2d SE 46.23 45.42* na 44.87* 4cyl 2179cc 6A 150 420 179 10.69 11.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/102.2d HSE 51.92 51.01* na 50.46* 4cyl 2179cc 6A 190 420 181 9.76 8.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

3.0 TDV6 184 181 na 181* 6cyl 2993cc 8A 244 600 215 7.9 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/104.4 L SDV8 Vogue LWB 260 256* na 256* 8cyl 4367cc 8A 335 740 215 7.21 8.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/104.4 SDV8 Autobiography LWB 271 266* na 266* 8cyl 4367cc 8A 335 740 215 7.21 8.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10 5.0L V8 Supercharged 279 274* na 274* 8cyl 4999cc 8A 503 625 230 5.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

3.0L SDV6 HSE 153 150* na 150* 6cyl 2993cc 8A 288 600 208 8.6 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10 5.0L V8 Supercharged 177 173* na 173* 8cyl 4999cc 8A 503 680 222 7.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

SLE 6.99 7.06 6.88 8.62 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10SLX 7.50 7.58 7.38 9.25 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/10 ZLX 7.66 7.75 6.54 9.44 4cyl 2523cc 5M 63 195 132 27.6 11.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/10

TG Awards: Supercar of the Year 2015: Lamborghini Huracan 'Lambo's engineers have, in every way, bettered what they are replacing'

Company description: Audi-owned Lambo is firing on all cylinders, with its strongest model range yet and enough attitude to keep devotees happy.

LAMBORGHINI Dealers 1 Warranty na Website www.lamborghini.com

Aventador: Stays true to its illustrious supercar heritage. Brute force meets top-notch luxury. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on whether you care about your hairdo or not.L: 434.5cm W: 190cm H: 113.6cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Riding a bull, Ferrari 599 GTB

Huracan: The successor to the hugely-popular Gallardo, the new baby Lambo packs an incredible punch. Build: Import

TG Choice: LP610-4 is the only one available, and we’re not complaining.L: 434.5cm W: 190cm H: 116.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 90 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi R8, Ferrari 458 Italia

TG Awards: Luxury Car of the Year 2014: Range Rover Sport 'The RR shuts out the world on the other side of the glass, no matter what terrain you're on'

Company description: Builder of the best 4x4 by far? An old advertising slogan that’s now coming true with the latest range of Landies.

LAND ROVER Dealers 4 Warranty na Website www.landrover.com

Discovery 4: Thirsty but rather good-looking and fantastic all-round. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 3.0 as there are no options available.L: 483cm W: 200.9cm H: 183.7cm Boot: 535 litres Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC90, BMW X5

Evoque: If looks could kill, the Range Rover Evoque would be a serial killer. Build: Import

TG Choice: The Dynamic as it is a proper five-door and has a decently efficient engine.L: 435.5cm W: 212cm H: 160.5-163.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Volvo XC60, BMW X5

Freelander 2: Your first ascent up the true blue off-roading hill. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.2d HSE as this might be a crossover but can still handle off-road very well.L: 450 cm W: 219.5 cm H: 174cm Boot: 755 litres Fuel Tank: 68 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60

Range Rover: Still the Rolls-Royce of the SUVs. Now, in a much lighter avatar, with a much heavier price tag. Build: Import

TG Choice: 4.4L SDV8 Autobiography, as you get loads of torque to play with and all the gizmos under the sun.L: 499.9cm W: 207.3cm H: 183.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 105 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes GL Class, BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne

Range Rover Sport: Rangie’s smaller, sportier brother – more practical and clever, but not quite as charming. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 5.0L Supercharged to smoke the other cars between red-light drag races.L: 479cm W: 193cm H: 178cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 84 litres, Ground Clearance: 22.7cm Also try: Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

TG Awards: People's SUV of the Year 2015: Scorpio ‘The third-generation Scorpio is a marked improvement over the car it replaces and looks set to continue Mahindra's sweet SUV run'

Company description: Crossed the fence from crude to refined. They do look intent on making it big on the world stage over the decade.

MAHINDRA Dealers 150 Warranty 1 year, unlimited km Website www.mahindra.com

Bolero: Dinosaur bones, but surprisingly competent. Cheap, rugged, but cramped..

TG Choice: The SLE as economy works best on a utility vehicle.L: 410.7cm W: 174.5cm H: 188cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo Victa



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T01 na 6.44 4.99 5.33 3-phase DC AT 25 53 80 na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10T2 na 6.75 5.55 6.30 3-phase DC AT 25 53 80 na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 5/10

C2 6.42 5.99* 6.38 7.90 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.36 13.7 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10C4 6.95 6.53* 6.92 8.55 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.36 13.7 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10C6 7.40 7.05* 7.37 9.10 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.36 13.7 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10C8 7.90 7.57* 7.87 9.70 3cyl 1493cc 5M 100 240 145 15.36 13.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

S2 8.43 8.40* 8.30 10.10 4cyl 2523cc 5M 75 200 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ -S4 9.07 8.99* 8.95 10.87 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10S6 10.15 10.15* 10.14 12.43 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10S6+ 10.43 10.43* 10.43 10.04* 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10S8 11.40 11.32* 11.28 13.77 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10S10 12.04 11.95* 11.92 14.53 4cyl 2179cc 5M 120 280 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Thar AC 7.40 6.97 7.37 9.17 4cyl 2498cc 5M 105 247 138 15.2 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 5/10

1.5 D2 6.44 6.33 6.39 7.77 4cyl 1461cc 5M 65 160 165 17.4 18.9 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/101.5 D6 7.35 7.45 7.29 8.84 4cyl 1461cc 5M 65 160 165 17.4 18.9 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10

D2 5.73 5.69* 5.68 6.88 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10D4 6.00 5.95* 5.94 7.19 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10D6 6.60 6.55* 6.54 7.95 4cyl 1461cc 5M 64 160 na 16.57 14 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10

W4 11.34 11.20* 11.34 11.12* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10 W6 12.54 12.47* 12.55 12.30* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10W8 14.27 14.17* 14.27 14* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 190 12.3 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10W8 AWD 15.14 14.99* 15.14 14.84* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 180 13.1 10.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10W10 15.10 14.99* 15.10 14.82* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10W10 AWD 16.15 15.99* 16.15 15.84* 4cyl 2179cc 6M 140 330 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

D2 7.81 8.43 7.77 9.51 4cyl 2489cc 5M 95 220 155 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10D4 8.24 9.11 8.19 10 4cyl 2489cc 5M 95 220 155 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10H4 8.38 9.74 8.43 10.55 4cyl 2179cc 5M 122 280 155 15.2 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10H8 9.49 10.21 9.56 12.14 4cyl 2179cc 5M 122 280 155 15.2 na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10H9 10.86 12.06 10.82 13.62 4cyl 2179cc 5M 122 280 155 15.2 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Std 2.62 2.49 2.65 2.70 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na 18 16 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

e2o: If you’re the kind who loves the Arctic icebergs and is concerned about global warming, this one is for you..

TG Choice: The T2 as it has space-age toys to play with.L: 328cm W: 151cm H: 156cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: na, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Trikke

Quanto: Based on the Ingenio platform, the Quanto is the Xylo’s baby-brother. Still ferries seven, albeit at a pinch.

TG Choice: The C8 as it gets all the goodies that you’d want in your compact SUV.L: na W: na H: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Premier Rio

Scorpio: Ever-improving SUV offers great value, excellent practicality for India and now-decent road manners. Top car.

TG Choice: The S8 as it provides good value-for-money. L: 443cm W: 181.7cm H: 197.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Tata Sumo Grande, Tata Safari Storme

Thar: Old-school SUV with go-anywhere attitude.

TG Choice: No choices, but it now comes with an aircon, no hard-top though.L: 392cm W: 171cm H: 193cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 20cm Also try: Mahindra Tractor

Verito: Spacious, solid and a super ride. To top that, it comes with mouth-watering price tags.

TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 has a good diesel engine, which is low on maintenance and easy on the pocket.L: 424.7cm W: 174cm H: 154cm Boot: 510 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Tata Indigo

Verito Vibe: A Verito minus the boot. But don’t mistake it for a hatch, it’s a super-compact sedan with 330litres of boot space.

TG Choice: The 1.5 D2 has a good diesel engine and easy on the pocket.L: 399cm W: 174cm H: 154cm Boot: 330 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.2cm Also try: VW Polo, Maruti Swift

XUV 5OO: Its heart is in the right place, but the dynamic chinks need ironing out.

TG Choice: W8 AWD as it comes with feature list that runs in to multiple pages and it manages to do that at a mind-blowing price tag.L: 450cm W: 185cm H: 178.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Tata Aria, Tata Safari Storme

Xylo: Innova-slayer with the sedan market in sight. Big, spacious and value-for-money

TG Choice: D2 as it will be more of a people mover than your personal set of wheels.L: 450cm W: 185cm H: na Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.6cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Tata Sumo Victa

TG Awards: Idea of the year 2015: Alto K10 AGS ‘ With the addition of the automated manual, the K10 is as easy to use as a Nokia 3310.’

Company description: A brand most Indians trust more than they do their spouses. And for good reason. Cars are good. Service and support, brilliant.

MARUTI SUZUKI Dealers 1127 Warranty 2 Website www.marutisuzuki.com

Alto 800: Maruti’s idea of cheap transportation. Gets the tried-and-tested engine and Alto’s platform

TG Choice: The LXi as power steering and air-con is a must in the city.L: 339.5cm W: 147.5cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 117 litre Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Tata Nano, Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Eon

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T O P G E A R . C O M → A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 1 1 7Buyers Guide continued

LX 2.99 2.86 3.02 3.08 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na 18 16 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10LXi 3.21 3.08 3.25 3.31 3cyl 796cc 5M 47 69 na 18 16 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

LXi 3.47 3.33 3.51 3.57 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VXI 3.64 3.50 3.68 3.74 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VXi AGS 4.14 3.99 4.18 4.26 3cyl 998cc 5A 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

VXi 7.58 7.17 7.54 7.65 4cyl 1373cc 5M 91 130 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10ZXi 8.88 8.45 8.84 8.95 4cyl 1373cc 5M 91 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10ZXi AT 9.98 9.58 9.99 10.14 4cyl 1373cc 4A 91 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10VDi 8.68 8.25 8.64 8.78 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VDi + 9.29 8.85 9.25 9.41 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10ZDi (O) 10.51 10.05 10.47 10.63 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

LXI 4.01 3.90 4.03 4.10 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10LXI AGS 4.52 4.40 4.53 4.63 3cyl 998cc 5A 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VXI 4.27 4.20 4.32 4.42 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VXI AGS 4.78 4.70 4.83 4.94 3cyl 998cc 5A 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10ZXI 4.58 4.50 4.63 4.73 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10ZXI (O) 5.05 4.96 5.10 5.21 3cyl 998cc 5A 67 90 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10LDI 4.78 4.65* 4.79 5.72 2cyl 793cc 5M 48 125 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10VDI 5.04 4.95* 5.09 6.07 2cyl 793cc 5M 48 125 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10ZDI 5.34 5.25* 5.39 6.43 2cyl 793cc 5M 48 125 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10ZDI (O) 5.81 5.71* 5.86 6.98 2cyl 793cc 5M 48 125 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

5 STR AC 3.73 3.12 3.69 3.67 4cyl 1196cc 5M 73 101 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/107 STR 3.59 na 3.56 3.54 4cyl 1196cc 5M 73 101 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/10

LXi 6.45 5.99 6.42 6.45 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10VXi 7.17 6.79 7.13 7.19 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10ZXi 7.99 7.59 7.95 8.00 4cyl 1373cc 5M 94 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10LDi 7.85 7.41 7.82 7.90 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10VDi 8.51 8.06 8.47 8.57 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5 l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10ZDi 9.18 8.72 9.14 9.23 4cyl 1248cc 5M 88 200 165 12.7 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

LXi 4.57 4.38 4.58 4.67 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10VXi 4.93 4.78 4.95 5.04 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10ZXi 5.56 5.38 5.60 5.70 4cyl 1198cc 5M 85 113 na 13.8 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10LDi 5.65 5.46 5.65 5.73 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 14.6 16 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10VDi 5.99 5.79 5.83 6.07 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 14.6 16 l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10

LXi 4.72 4.58 4.73 4.82 4cyl 1197cc 5M 83 115 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10VXi 5.41 5.31 5.42 5.52 4cyl 1197cc 5M 83 115 160 na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10ZXi 6.34 6.16 6.35 6.48 4cyl 1197cc 5M 83 115 160 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10LDi 5.96 5.76 5.91 6.07 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10VDi 6.57 6.22 6.55 6.69 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10ZDi 7.40 7.20 7.41 7.54 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10

LXi 5.12 5.08 5.16 5.36 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

Alto K10: New engine and transmission mean you can say ‘Alto’ and ‘performance’ in the same sentence.

TG Choice: The VXi gives good bang for your buck.L: 354.5cm W: 151.5cm H: 147.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Hyundai Eon

Ciaz: Maruti’s answer to the Citys and the Vernas of the world. Available in petrol and diesel, manual and automatic guises.

TG Choice: The VDi + is a very well-equipped variant, at a very reasonable price.L: 449cm W: 173cm H: 148.5cm Boot: 510 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Volkswagen Vento

Celerio: Another no-frills commuter from Maruti. But there’s a pleasant surprise this time – an automated manual gearbox.

TG Choice: The VXi AGS will, in most cases, be your first time with an auto. And now, there’s a diesel, too.L: 360cm W: 160cm H: 156cm Boot: 235 litre Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Hyundai Grand i10

Eeco: Don’t let the marketing gimmick fool you. The Eeco is a stripped-down Versa at a rock-bottom price.

TG Choice: 5STR AC, you deserve to be treated like royalty.L: 367.5 cm W: 174 cm H: 180cm Boot: 147.5 litres Fuel Tank: 40 litres, Ground Clearance: 16cm Also try: Watching the IPL instead on a dull evening

Ertiga: Maruti jumps on the people-mover bandwagon with the Ertiga. Drives like a car, seats seven and it’s compact.

TG Choice: The ZXi. as it’s actually fun to drive, perfect for those spirited white-van drivers.L: 426.5 cm W: 169.5 cm H: 168.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Mahindra Xylo, Toyota Innova

Ritz: If there’s ever a fill-it-shut-it-forget-it car, this is it.

TG Choice: The VDi . As there is no ZDi variant for the Ritz. L: 371.5cm W: 168cm H: 162cm Boot: 178 litre Fuel Tank: 43 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Ford Figo, Chevrolet Beat

Swift: The most popular Maruti ever. Looks fab, drives well, has two great engines and lots of equipment.

TG Choice: ZXI as it offers all the safety features not found in the diesel variant.L: 385cm W: 169.5cm H: 153cm Boot: 204 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Chevrolet Sail U-VA, Hyundai i20

Swift DZire: Recently refreshed, looks better but reduces some of its boot space.

TG Choice: ZDI as it has a frugal yet powerful powerplant and comes with a set of safety features.L: 399.5cm W: 169.5cm H: 155.5cm Boot: 316 litre Fuel Tank: 42 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Tata Indigo, Nissan Sunny

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VXi 5.87 5.85 5.92 6.10 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10 VXI AT 6.71 6.67 6.77 6.93 4cyl 1197cc 4A 86 114 155 14.8 10.5 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10 ZXi 6.84 6.80 6.87 7.08 4cyl 1197cc 5M 86 114 160 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10 LDi 6.40 5.99 6.43 6.65 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10 VDi 6.91 6.85 6.97 7.16 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10 ZDi 7.89 7.81 7.93 8.12 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 160 na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10

LX 3.86 3.67 3.87 3.85 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Lxi 4.13 4.00 4.14 4.22 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Vxi 4.35 4.25 4.39 4.48 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10Stingray LXi 4.33 4.19 4.34 4.42 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Stingray Vxi 4.57 4.47 4.61 4.71 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Stingray Vxi (O) 4.86 4.76 4.91 5.02 3cyl 998cc 5M 67 90 155 15.4 na l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10

A 180 Sport 33.96 31.10 35.26 35.23 4cyl 1595cc 7A 121 200 na 9.85 12.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10A 200 CDI Sport 35.18 32.93 36.95 36.53 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 na 9.9 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

B 200 CDI Sport 37.63 35.22 39.33 38.28 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 210 9.36 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10B 180 Sport 36.41 33.34 37.80 36.98 4cyl 1595cc 7A 120 200 200 10.5 10.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

C 200 Avantgarde 51.38 46.50 53.38 48.80 4cyl 1991cc 7A 181 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10C 220 CDI Style 49.18 46.50 51.09 48.38 4cyl 2143cc 7A 168 400 na 8.22 15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10C 220 CDI Avantgarde 52.85 49.93 54.91 52.28 4cyl 2143cc 7A 168 400 na 8.22 15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

200 Sport 43.19 39.85 46.01 42.99 4cyl 1991cc 7A 181 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10200 CDI Sport 44.29 41.76 44.86 43.97 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10200 CDI Style 38.91 36.70 40.41 41.06 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10CLA45 AMG 87.24 78.90 91.78 89.53 4cyl 1991cc 7A 355 450 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

CLS 250 CDI 94.09 86.37 97.80 98.46 4cyl 2143cc 7A 201 500 250 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

E 200 58.30 53.80 61.04 56.71 4 cyl1991cc 7A 181 300 na 9.2 9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10 E 250 CDI 60.99 57.53 63.84 60.34 4cyl 2143cc 7A 202 500 na 8.31 11.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10E63 AMG 158 146 160 244 8cyl 5461cc 7A 550 720 na 8.31 11.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10E 350 CDI 73.59 69.53 77.08 72.73 6cyl 2987cc 7A 261 619 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10E400 Cabriolet 96.53 88.62 100 101 6cyl 2996cc 7A 328 480 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

GL 350 CDI 95.31 89.79 99.83 94.13 6cyl 2987cc 7A 255 619 na 7.9 13.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10GL63 AMG 216 196 231 224 8cyl 5461cc 7A 550 760 250 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Wagon R: More spacious than its predecessor and much nicer to look at. Definitely for the family man... or woman

TG Choice: The VXI offers features available in more expensive cars at a reasonable price.L: 359.5cm W: 147.5cm H: 167cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 35 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Spark, Hyundai Santro Xing

TG Awards: Luxury Car of the Year 2015: S-Class‘ The S-Class has been the choice of tycoons and dictators for over half a century’

Company description: The men from Stuttgart are on a roll. A truckload of products have arrived in the recent past, and many more are on their way

MERCEDES-BENZ Dealers 64 Warranty 3yrs Website www.mercedes-benz.co.in

A-Class: Merc’s newest offering is dressed to kill. Now the stepping stone to Benz ownership. Build: Import

TG Choice: The A 180 Sport, as it’s got enough go to match the show.L: 429.2cm W: 178cm H: 143.3cm Boot: 341litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Fiat 500, Mini Cooper

B-Class: Merc’s B-Class is ultimately a large luxury hatchback. Now a more practical alternative to the A-Class. Build: Import

TG Choice: The B 180 Sport, as it has the same equipment as the B 180 but comes with Sport pack enhancements.L: 435.9cm W: 178.6cm H: 155.7cm Boot: 486litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Audi Q3, BMW X1

C-Class: Excellent new C-Class returns to traditional Merc values and quality. As soothing as a champagne jacuzzi. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The C 220 CDI Avantgarde is the one to go for.L: 468.6cm W: 181cm H: 144.2cm Boot: 480litres Fuel Tank: NA, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A4, BMW 3-Series

CLA-Class: Looks smashing. AMG-fettled version powered by the most powerful four-pot in production. Also, looks smashing. Build: Import

TG Choice: If you want something sensible, the 200 CDI Sport. Don’t give a flying firetruck? The 45 AMG is for you.L: 469cm W: 177cm H: 141.6cm Boot: 470litres Fuel Tank: 56 litres Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi A3

CLS: Superb alternative to a luxury sedan. Goes well, turns heads too. Build: Import

TG Choice: The CLS 250 CDI is the only option. L: 494cm W: 188cm H: 141.6cm Boot: 520litres Fuel Tank: 80litres Ground Clearance: 12cm Also try: Audi A7, BMW GT 5

E-Class: Fresh new styling with a touch of character, great engine and new features make it an irresistible offer Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Definitely the E 250 CDI makes enough power and easy on the wallet too.L: 486.8cm W: 185cm H: 147.4cm Boot: 540litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Volvo S80

GL-Class: All the creature comforts you need, and a boot that can easily swallow your camping equipment. Build: Import

TG Choice: There’s just one variant in petrol and diesel each. Pick as per your wallet’s contents.L: 509.9cm W: 192cm H: 185cm Boot: 520 litres Fuel Tank: 100litre, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Audi Q7, 1BHK apartment.

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200 Sport 44.42 40.1 46.47 43.97 4cyl 1991cc 7A 181 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10200 CDI Style 40.44 38.14 42.34 42.65 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -200 CDI Sport 45.52 42.92 47.62 45.27 4cyl 2143cc 7A 134 300 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -GLA 45 AMG 90.29 81.55 94.95 92.59 4cyl 1991cc 7A 355 450 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

ML 350 CDI 83.47 78.74 87.51 82.58 6cyl 2987cc 7A 254 620 225 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10ML 250 CDI 69.65 65.74 73.14 68.98 4cyl 2143cc 7A 204 500 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10ML63 AMG 183 169 197 192 8cyl 5461cc 7A 550 760 250 na 5.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

S 350 CDI 139 131 145 137 6cyl 2987cc 7A 255 620 250 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10S 500 L 176 163 185 171 8cyl 4663cc 7A 453 700 250 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10S 600 Guard na 890* na na 12cyl 5531cc 7A 522 830 210 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

SLK 350 94.18 82.60 97.37 94.28 6cyl 3498cc 7A 306 370 250 6.6 7.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10SLK55 AMG 154 142 160 161 8cyl 5461cc 7A 420 540 250 5.6 5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

G63 AMG 242 215 231 244 8cyl 5461cc 7A 536 760 210 5.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Cooper D 3-door 31.85 31.85* 31.85 31.85* 3cyl 1496cc 6A 114 270 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Cooper D 5-door 35.20 35.20* 35.20 35.20* 3cyl 1496cc 6A 114 270 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Cooper S na 34.65* na na 4cyl 1998cc 6A 189 280 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

Countryman S NA NA NA 31.99* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 184 260 210 8.2 8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10ONE 23.50 23.50* 23.50 32.66 4cyl 1598cc 6A 96 153 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Cooper D 25.60 25.60* 25.60 35.68 4cyl 1598cc 6A 112 270 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10Cooper D High 28.90 28.90* 28.90 28.90* 4cyl 1598cc 6A 112 270 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

4x4 MT 23.07 23.80* 23.41 28.27 4cyl 2477cc 5M 178 400 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/104x2 AT na 23.55* na na 4cyl 2477cc 5A 176 350 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ na

GLA-Class: A bigger A-Class. Offers a good ride, enough features and also, it’s fun to drive Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 200 Sport as it is a sweeter drive.L: 441.7cm W: 180.4cm H: 149.4cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 50litre Ground Clearance: 183mm Also try: Audi Q3, BMW X1.

M-Class: Second-gen M is vastly better, great quality, good on-road. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 250 CDI for locally assembled and a more value for money proposition.L: 480.4cm W: 192.6cm H: 179.6cm Boot: 690 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Volvo XC90

S-Class: Not just the best car in the world. It redefines what a car will be expected to do in the future. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The S500 L, as it allows you a broader scope for customisation. L: 524.6cm W: 189.9cm H: 149.4cm Boot: 530 litres Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi A8, BMW 7-Series, Jaguar XJ

SLK: The new SLK is now a proper baby SL. We like! Build: Import

TG Choice: Still waiting for the SLK 200 CDI which makes 400Nm of torque.L: 413.4cm W: 200cm H: 130.1cm Boot: 335 litre Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW 6-Series

G-Wagon: The G-Wagon is still going strong. The AMG V8 gives it hot-rod performance. Build: Import

TG Choice: The G63 AMGL: 410cm W: 201cm H: 193.8cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Army tank.

TG Awards: Car of the Year 2012: Mini Cooper S 'If you keep the body type out of the equation, the Mini is more fun than anything with two seats'

Company description: Mini has managed what other carmakers struggle to do -- make a small, fun car, and charge a premium

MINI Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www. mini.in

Mini: The basics are wrong: transverse engine, FWD, but tell that to yourself when you are smiling end to end Build: Import

TG Choice: The Cooper D 3-door is the one to go for if you want to have real fun.L: 398.2cm W: 193.8cm H: 142.5cm Boot: 278 litres Fuel Tank: 44 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Fiat 500 Abarth

Countryman: When four-door practicality meets the Mini badge, what you have is the Countryman Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The Cooper D is perfect and the Mini-est of the Countrymans.L: 410cm W: 178cm H: 156.1cm Boot: 350 litres Fuel Tank: 47 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes B-Class

TG Awards: SUV of the Year 2012: Pajero Sport 'The Pajero Sport's simplicity translates into reliability and when the road disappears, reliability can be the difference between life and death'

Company description: Japanese industrial giant that now sells a single SUV in our market - the Pajero Sport.

MITSUBISHI Dealers 42 Warranty na Website www.mitsubishi-motors.co.in

Pajero Sport: This is for those forever looking for shortcuts through the bushes. Fantastic off-road, adequate on it.

TG Choice: The 4x4 MT comes with all the goodies that you’ll ever want. L:469.5cm W: 181.5cm H: 184cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21.5cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Nissan X-Trail, Renault Koleos

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XE 8.50 8.49* 8.64 11.25 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XE+ 8.93 8.92* 9.08 12.02 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 11.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XL 9.73 9.49* 9.90 13.03 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 12.20 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10XV 10.38 9.99* 10.56 13.88 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 160 15.5 12.81 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

XE Active 4.29 4.70 4.37 4.38 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XE Diesel 5.44 5.57* 5.55 7.14 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XE Plus 4.57 5.00 4.66 5.61 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XL 5.43 5.42 5.54 6.34 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XV Active 6.41 6.15 6.53 5.79 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 104 na na 13.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Diesel XV 6.80 6.67 6.92 8.76 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na 11.5 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Diesel XV - Premium 7.03 7.41 7.16 9.20 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na 11.5 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10XV S Active 4.79 4.71 4.79 6.16 3cyl 1198cc 5M 63 104 na na 13.3 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

XE na 6.99* na 9.00 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 185 11.9 11 l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10XL na 7.61* na 9.91 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 185 11.9 11 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10XL CVT na 8.91* na 11.62 4cyl 1498cc CVT 100 134 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10XE Diesel na 7.99* na 10.59 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10XL Diesel na 8.60* na 11.36 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10XV Diesel na 9.33* na 12.37 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10XV Diesel Safety na 9.60* na 12.72 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

1.5D XE 9.46 10.87 9.64 12.69 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5D XL 10.48 12.46 10.68 13.95 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/101.5D XL 110PS 11.07 13.23 11.28 14.53 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 216 11.96 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 8/101.5D XL Plus 10.83 12.78 11.04 14.35 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 8/101.5D XV 110PS 11.99 14.19 12.21 15.70 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/101.5D XV Premium 110PS 12.28 14.53 12.52 16.07 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 248 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/101.6P XL 9.51 10.95 9.69 12.50 4cyl 1598cc 5M 104 145 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10

Turbo 219 214* 217 210* 6cyl 3800cc 7A 513 660 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Turbo Cabriolet na 228* 232 223* 6cyl 3800cc 7A 513 660 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -GT3 213 201* 204 197* 6cyl 3799cc 7A 469 440 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Carrera 213 138* 140 135* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 345 390 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Targa 4S 213 178* 181 175* 6cyl 3800cc 7A 394 440 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

Boxster S na 102* 103 100* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 315 360 277 5.4 8.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Boxster GTS na 115* 117 113* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 335 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Cayenne S Diesel na 121* 123 119* 8cyl 4134cc 8A 380 850 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Cayenne S na 118* 120 116* 6cyl 3604cc 8A 414 550 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

TG Awards: Interior of the year 2009: Teana ‘ Step inside the Teana and you'll be reminded of plush lobbies and expensive suites’

Company description: A big Japanese car maker with a factory in England. Its portfolio becomes more respectable as each new model appears.

NISSAN Dealers 65 Warranty 2 years/ 50,000km Website www.nissan.in

Evalia: A spacious MPV with decent on-road dynamics. But its looks are a challenge, and there’s already the Ertiga.

TG Choice: XV as it comes fully loaded. ABS, airbags and alloys come standard. No climate control though.L:440cm W: 170cm H: 186cm Boot: Na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra Xylo, Maruti Ertiga

Micra: Nissan’s budget small car armed with features you won’t see even in cars twice its price. Peppy and fun to drive too.

TG Choice: The XL is perfect, avoid the temptation of buying the dieselL:378cm W: 166cm H: 153cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 15cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Chevrolet Beat

Sunny: Lots of passenger space, safety features like driver airbag and ABS, even on the base variant

TG Choice: XL Diesel is a head-over-heart decision as it comes with safety features, and you save a fair bit over the XV variant.L:442.5cm W: 169.5cm H: 151.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maruti DZire, Toyota Etios

Terrano: The Duster gets new clothes and lots of chrome. Looks a tad more premium than its French cousin Build: Assembled

TG Choice: XV for all the thrills, frills and comforts.L:433.1cm W: 182.2cm H: 167.1cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Renault Duster, Ford Ecosport

TG Awards: Car of the year 2015: Macan 'The Macan’s prowess as a driver’s car is phenomenally real, despite the traits it inherits because of the segment in which it is designed to operate.'

Company description: A big name in sports car manufacture and motorsport and deservedly so. It produces cars of immense capability and quality.

PORSCHE Dealers 7 Warranty 2yrs/unlimited kms Website www.porscheindia.com

911: Iconic. Instantly recognisable, fantastic to drive, near-perfect. Build: Import

TG Choice: Straight Turbo.L:443cm W: na H: 130.3cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing gets close

Boxster: Step 1 into Porsche-land is still a divine experience. Build: Import

TG Choice: S feels so inherently right. Just get the sports exhaust.L:432.9cm W: na H: 128.2cm Boot: 150 litres Fuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Mercedes-Benz SLK350

Cayenne: Big bad mutha. Perfect if you want a Porsche, but are scared of our roads. Build: Import

TG Choice: Go Turbo. The environment is doomed anyway.L:479.8cm W: na H: 170.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz M-Class

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Cayenne Turbo na 178* 181 174* 8cyl 4806cc 8A 512 750 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Cayenne Diesel na 104* 105 102* 6cyl 2967cc 8A 241 550 214 7.07 9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Cayman S na 104* 106 102* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 321 370 275 4.99 4.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Cayman GTS na 117* 119 115* 6cyl 3436cc 7A 335 380 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

S Diesel na 100* 101 98.18* 6cyl 2967cc 7A 241 580 na 6.4 10.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10Turbo na 111* 112 108* 6cyl 3604cc 7A 394 550 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10

Panamera 119 119* 119 119* 6cyl 3605cc 7A 305 400 285 5.6 5.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Panamera 4 122 122 122 122 6cyl 3605cc 7A 305 400 285 5.6 5.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Panamera D 149.8 149.8* 149.8 149.8* 6cyl 2967cc 8A 296 650 282 6.75 9.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Panamera Turbo 200 200* 200 200* 8cyl 4806cc 7A 512 700 303 4.2 5.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10Panamera GTS 161 161* 161 161* 8cyl 4806cc 7A 434 520 303 4.2 5.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Panamera Turbo S na na na na 8cyl 4806cc 7A 562 750 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

DX Multijet 6.96 7.88 7.12 7.62 4cyl 1248cc 5M 72 183 na 15.03 14 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10LX Multijet 7.24 8.20 7.41 7.93 4cyl 1248cc 5M 72 183 na 15.03 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

RXE 7.82 9.75 7.79 9.40 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 148 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10RXL 9.10 10.84 9.06 10.49 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 148 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10RXE D 85 8.68 9.75 8.64 10.74 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na 14.71 14 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10RXL D 85 9.67 10.84 9.63 12.07 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na 14.71 14 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10RXL (O) D 85 10.93 11.97 10.88 13.61 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na 14.71 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10RXL D 110 10.88 12.47 10.78 13.52 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 245 na 11.76 14.1 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10RXZ D 110 11.47 13.57 11.36 14.85 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 245 na 11.76 14.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10RXZ (O) D 110 11.99 13.73 11.89 14.90 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 245 na 11.76 14.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10RXZ 110 AWD 13.22 13.00* 13.10 16.24 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 245 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

E2 Diesel 13.86 16.32 13.68 17.64 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 240 170 11.7 21 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10E4 Diesel 15.49 18.05 15.38 20.89 4cyl 1461cc 6M 108 240 170 11.7 21 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

4x2 MT 21.65 24.85 21.55 28.43 4cyl 1995cc 6M 148 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/104x4 MT 23.97 27.95 23.97 32.28 4cyl 1995cc 6M 171 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/104x4 AT 25.42 29.10 25.30 35.57 4cyl 1995cc 6A 171 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

STD 85PS 8.30 8.19* 8.32 10.21 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10

Cayman: Baby 911 is a great sports car. Supernatural handling. Build: Import

TG Choice: The S for everyday driving.L:444cm W: na H: 129.4cm Boot: 150 litresFuel Tank: 64 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Dreaming about the Cayman GT4

Macan: Want a sportscar that’s actually an SUV? This is as close as it gets. Build: Import

TG Choice: The Turbo is the variant you want.L:468cm W: 192cm H: 162.4cm Boot: 500 litresFuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Range Rover Evoque

Panamera: A 911 for the family man, with two extra doors and a rear seat. Build: Import

TG Choice: The base S is actually quite good. Turbo is very fast.L:497cm W: na H: 141.8cm Boot: 820 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: BMW M5, Mercedes E63 AMG

TG Awards: -Company description: Gone are the glory days, market share that the company enjoyed. Now a company selling niche products.

PREMIER Dealers 55 Warranty 3years/50,000kms Website www.premierrio.com

Rio: If you are adamant on being different, this is your ride.

TG Choice: Gx as it is the cheapest. L: 397cm W: 157cm H: 173cm Boot: 454 litres Fuel Tank: 46 litres, Ground Clearance: 20 cm Also try: Maruti DZire ZXi, Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2, visiting a psychiatrist

TG Awards: Variant of the Year 2015: Duster AWD ‘ The Duster can do serious off-roading, and is a massive improvement overall'

Company description: Renault's journey in India is going rather nicely, thanks in no small measure to the Duster.

RENAULT Dealers 80 Warranty na Website www.renault.co.in

Duster: Finally a cheap SUV that won’t go belly-up around a corner.

TG Choice: The 110bhp RxZ. Gives you everything you need. L: 431.5cm W: 182.2cm H: 169.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres Ground Clearance: 20.5cm Also try: Mahindra XUV, Mahindra Scorpio

Fluence: Pretty safe bet of a car. Comfortable, refined and built to last.

TG Choice: The E4 is our pick of the lot.L: 462cm W: 180cm H: 148.8cm Boot: 530 litres Fuel Tank: Na, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Toyota Corolla Altis

Koleos: French take on the softroader, and a pretty good one at that. Build: Import

TG Choice: The 4x2 MT should do just fine.L: 452cm W: 185.5m H: 169.5cm Boot: NA Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 20.6 cm Also try: Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe

Lodgy: Ticks all the right boxes. Highly practical MPV capable of rewriting the rules of the game.

TG Choice: The RXL 110PS should do just fine, unless you need the added kit.L: 449.8cm W: 175.1m H: 169.7cm Boot: 207-1,861 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres Ground Clearance: 17.4 cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Honda Mobilio, Maruti Ertiga

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RXE 85PS 9.10 8.99* 9.12 11.18 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10RXL 85PS 9.70 9.59* 9.72 12 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10RXL 110PS 10.20 10.09* 10.22 12.61 4cyl 1461cc 6M 109 245 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10RXZ 85PS 11 10.89* 11.02 13.58 4cyl 1461cc 5M 84 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10RXZ 110PS 8-str 11.60 11.49* 11.62 14.31 4cyl 1461cc 6M 109 245 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10RXZ 110PS 7-str 11.90 11.79* 11.92 14.68 4cyl 1461cc 6M 109 245 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Stepway 12.52 12.29* 12.12 15.37 4cyl 1461cc 6M 109 245 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

RXL 8.84 9.96 8.30 11.13 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na 13.8 18 l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10RXZ 9.75 10.95 8.81 12.36 4cyl 1461cc 5M 85 200 na 13.8 18 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 4/10RXE Petrol 7.21 8.05 7.19 8.66 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 4/10RXL Petrol 7.99 8.89 7.97 9.59 4cyl 1498cc 5M 98 134 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10RxL CVT 9.50 9.41* 9.47 11.37 4cyl 1498cc CVT 100 134 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10RxZ CVT 10.37 10.34* 10.37 12.60 4cyl 1498cc CVT 100 134 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

RXL 6.13 6.97 6.11 7.20 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na na na l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10RXZ 6.97 7.89 6.95 8.02 4cyl 1461cc 5M 63 160 na na na l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10RXE Petrol 4.41 4.88 4.41 5.19 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10RXL Petrol 5.15 4.66 5.14 5.79 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10RXZ Petrol 5.74 6.27 5.72 6.78 3cyl 1198cc 5M 75 104 na na na l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

Phantom na 600* na 600* 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.9 6.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10Phantom Coupe na na na na 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.6 6.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10 Drophead Coupe na na na na 12cyl 6749cc 6A 453 720 250 5.8 6.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Ghost na 403* na 403* 12cyl 6592cc 8A 562 780 250 4.9 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Ghost EWB na 455* na 455* 12cyl 6592cc 8A 562 780 250 4.9 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Active 1.4 TSI 14.20 16.00 14.20* 16.72 4cyl 1395cc 6M 138 250 210 9.62 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Ambition 1.4 TSI 15.21 17.14 15.21* 19.52 4cyl 1395cc 6M 138 250 210 9.62 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Elegance 1.8 TSI AT 18.57 20.94 18.57* 21.75 4cyl 1798 cc 7A 177 250 210 8.1 11.85 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Active 2.0 TDI 15.82 18.26 15.82 18.98 4cyl 1968cc 6M 140 320 210 8.91 12.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Ambition 2.0 TDI CR 16.84 19.42 16.84 21.87 4cyl 1968cc 6M 140 320 210 8.91 12.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Ambition 2.0 TDI CR AT 17.86 20.58 17.86 22.69 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 210 8.6 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Elegance 2.0 TDI CR AT 19.79 22.79 19.79 25.37 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 210 8.6 13.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

1.8 TSl Ambition MT 18.38 22.35 18.38 21.63 4cyl 1798cc 6M 158 250 210 9 8.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.8 TSl Elegance AT 22.33 24.00 22.33 28.17 4cyl 1798cc 7A 160 250 210 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.8 TSI Elegance MT 20.72 NA 20.72 26.20 4cyl 1798 cc 6M 158 250 210 9 8.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/102.0 TDI 25.24 26.20 25.24 32.22 4cyl 1968cc 6A 140 320 206 10.38 11.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Active 1.6 MPI 7.24 7.85 7.24 9.12 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 195 11.3 10.7 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

Scala: The French version of the Sunny.

TG Choice: The RXZ as it comes with the goodness of diesel and all the features that you’d need. L: 442.5cm W: 169.5m H: 150.5cm Boot: 490 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.1cm Also try: Maruti DZire, Nissan Sunny, Toyota Etios

Pulse: The masculine version of the Nissan Micra.

TG Choice: The RXL makes more sense, because you’d rather buy the Swift instead of the RXZL: 380.5cm W: 166.5m H: 153cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 41 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Nissan Micra, Maruti Swift

TG Awards: -Company description: A century after Mr Royce built his first car, the world’s most luxurious carmaker is still going strong.

ROLLS-ROYCE Dealers 5 Warranty 4yrs Website www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

Phantom: Take first-class, multiply by 10, square that, and you’re getting close. Build: Import

TG Choice: Ideal for driving off with her from the wedding reception.L: 583.4cm W: 199cm H: 163.8cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Maybach 57S

Ghost: The baby Rolls isn’t much of a baby, really. Larger than most sedans and more luxurious than a private jet. Build: Import

TG Choice: The EWB offers more space and tall the luxury you’d ever needL: 583.4cm W: 199cm H: 155cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 100 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Bentley Mulsanne

TG Awards: Saloon of the year 2014: Octavia‘ The new Octavia is the ultimate saloon that keeps you happy no matter what seat you're in'

Company description: New products like the Octavia and Yeti make it rather exciting. But service and support still have issues.

ŠKODA Dealers 106 Warranty 2yrs Website www.skoda-auto.co.in

Octavia: Skoda gets its chart-busting Octavia back, but will it change Skoda’s fortunes once again in India? Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 1.8 TSI AT ticks all the right boxes as far as economy and performance go. Did we mention the long features list?L: 465.9 cm W: 181.4cm H: 147.6cm Boot: 590 litres Fuel Tank: 50 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla Altis

Superb: The real big car for reasonable money at the high end of the market. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: The 2.0TDI if you are paying for fuel. V6 if the company pays for it.L: 483 cm W: 181.7cm H: 148.2cm Boot: 565 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 15.8cm Also try: Toyota Camry, VW Passat, Hyundai Sonata

Rapid: Does most things right, very few wrong. With all the nice touches of the Vento, you can’t go wrong.

TG Choice: The Ambition 1.6 TDI as it is a lakh cheaper and comes with all the safety features.L: 438.6 cm W: 169.9 cm H: 146.6cm Boot: 460ltr Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8 cm Also try: VW Vento, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki SX4, Hyundai Verna, Ford Fiesta

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Ambition 1.6 MPI 8.13 8.36 8.13 10.30 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 195 11.3 10.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10Elegance 1.6 MPI 9.11 9.32 9.11 11.02 4cyl 1598cc 5M 103 153 195 11.3 10.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10Elegance 1.6 MPI AT 10.09 10.45 10.09 12.27 4cyl 1598cc 6A 103 153 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10Active 1.6 TDI 8.41 9.38 8.41 10.72 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na 10.9 14.5 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10Ambition 1.6 TDI 9.38 9.40 9.38 13.21 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na 10.9 14.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10Elegance Plus 1.6 TDI 10.15 9.90 10.15 12.66 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na 10.9 14.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10Ambition 1.6TDI DSG 10.68 10.49* 10.68 10.76* 4cyl 1498cc 7A 103 250 na 12.1 14.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10Elegance 1.6TDI DSG 11.03 10.84* 11.03 14.01 4cyl 1498cc 7A 103 250 na 12.1 14.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10

Elegance 4x2 19.32 18.99* 19.32 24.66 4cyl 1968cc 5M 108 250 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Elegance 4x4 20.90 20.53* 20.90 26.71 4cyl 1968cc 6M 138 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

RX5 NA 17.75* NA 22.87 5cyl 2696cc 5M 162 340 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10RX6 20.19 23.10 20.17 24.34 5cyl 2696cc 5M 162 340 180 12.33 10.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10RX7 NA 19.67* NA 25.80 5cyl 2696cc 5A 184 402 na 10.25 7.75 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Pride 4X4 1.6.81 19.35 16.73 18.79 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Pure 4X2 12.05 NA 11.98 12.60 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10Pleasure 4X2 13.40 15.45 13.32 15.31 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

XE Petrol 4.43 4.45* 4.50 5.55 4cyl 1193cc 5M 88 140 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10XM Petrol 5.15 5.16* 5.22 6.38 4cyl 1193cc 5M 88 140 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10XMS Petrol 5.40 5.40* 5.46 6.66 4cyl 1193cc 5M 88 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10XT Petrol 6.07 6.06* 6.14 7.46 4cyl 1193cc 5M 88 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XE Diesel 5.52 5.50* 5.59 6.90 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10XM Diesel 6.15 6.11* 6.21 7.64 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10XMS Diesel 6.38 6.34* 6.45 7.92 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10XT Diesel 7.05 7.00* 7.12 8.72 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10

CX 8.11 8.41 8.03 9.73 4cyl 2179cc 5M 119 250 140 18.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10LX 8.56 8.86 8.46 10.07 4cyl 2179cc 5M 119 250 140 18.4 na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10

LS D 4.00 5.28 4.16 5.60 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 140 16.44 15 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10LX D 5.34 5.65 5.93 6.11 4cyl 1396cc 5M 70 140 140 16.44 15 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

LS 4.99 4.50 4.96 6.61 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 15.62 15.3 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10VX Tech 6.94 6.83* 6.91 7.39 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na 15.62 15.3 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

Yeti: It’s cleaner, greener, smaller and smarter than any SUV out there. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Elegance for sure as it gets the cool touchscreen audio system.L:422cm W: 179cm H: 169.1cm Boot: 416 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Tata Aria

TG Awards: -Company description: Bought by Mahindra a few years back, now sells the Rexton in India. The entire SUV range will follow.

SSANGYONG Dealers na Warranty na Website www.ssangyongrexton.in

Rexton: Packed with equipment, at a mouth-watering price. A big soft-roader that won’t eat into your wallet. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: RX7 for the extra power and a convenient auto transmission.L: 475.5cm W: 190cm H: 178.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 78 litres Ground Clearance: 25.2cm Also try: Toyota Fortuner, Hyundai Santa Fe, Chevrolet Captiva

TG Awards: Comeback of the Year 2015: Zest‘Tata's taken tough decisions, and the Zest is a result of that renewed purpose'

Company description: Still struggling with quality and dynamics, but it has the best cars if you want the maximum for the minimum.

TATA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.tatamotors.com

Aria: Big bully of an MPV. Nice engine and lots of gizmos to keep you interested.

TG Choice: Pride for sure, after giving into the crossover marketing gimmick and before the fall, Pride shall do just fine.L: 478cm W: 189.5 cm H: 178cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: 18.5cm Also try: Toyota Innova, Mahindra XUV 500

Bolt: The two-box version of the Zest. Quite capable, but priced precariously close to established rivals

TG Choice: The XT Petrol should do just fine.L: 382.5cm W: 169.5 cm H: 156.2cm Boot: 210 litres Fuel Tank: 44 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Hyundai Grand i10, Maruti Swift

Movus: Utilitarian Sumo knocks hard on upmarket SUV doors. Really hard.

TG Choice: LX for the sheer value-for-money that the MUV offers.L: 442cm W: 179 cm H: 194cm Boot: 150 litres Fuel Tank: 65 litres, Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Tavera

Indica eV2: The Indica has more than delivered on the ‘more car per car’ promise. If only it were more refined.

TG Choice: For this price, its rivals have better cars.369cm 166.5 cm H: 148.5cm 220 litre 37 litres, 16.5cm Also try Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Hyundai i10

Indica Vista: A completely new platform offering more space and refined new engines to go with it.

TG Choice: VX with the brilliant diesel engine from Fiat.L: 379.5cm W: 169.5 cm H: 155cm Boot: 232 litre Fuel Tank: 37 litres Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Swift, Fiat Punto

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A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 → T O P G E A R . C O M1 24

eGLX P 4.86 5.21 4.83 5.53 4cyl 1193cc 5M 64 100 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10eGLS P 5.09 5.45 5.93 5.78 4cyl 1193cc 5M 64 100 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 4/10LS D 5.36 6.20 5.68 6.61 4cyl 1399cc 5M 69 140 na 16.5 16.3 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10VX D 5.87 6.45 5.08 6.92 4cyl 1399cc 5M 69 140 na 16.5 16.3 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 4/10

XE 2.14 1.99 2.16 2.61 2cyl 624cc 4M 37 51 105 29.6 19.3 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10XM CNG na 2.25 na 3 2cyl 624cc 4M 37 51 105 30.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ –XT 2.62 2.49* 2.63 3.19 2cyl 624cc 4M 37 51 105 30.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10

XMA 2.81 2.69* 2.82 3.43 2cyl 624cc 5AMT 37 51 105 30.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10XTA 3 2.89* 3 3.66 2cyl 624cc 5AMT 37 51 105 30.4 na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10

Safire GLX 5.66 6.32 5.66 7.47 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10Safire GVX 6.02 6.72 6.02 7.92 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10Safire GEX 7.12 8.10 7.11 9.05 4cyl 1368cc 5M 89 115 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Quadrajet LX 6.44 7.55 6.44 8.39 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14 l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10Quadrajet VX 6.89 8.50 6.89 9.17 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14 l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10 Quadrajet EX 7.98 9.29 7.98 10.31 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 160 14.22 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

LX 4x2 10.30 9.95* 10.30 13.07 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10EX 4x2 11.22 10.82* 11.21 14.01 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 6/10VX 4x2 13.00 12.40* 12.98 15.87 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 14.2 10.5 l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10VX 4x4 14.32 13.67* 14.30 17.45 4cyl 2179cc 5M 138 320 na 15.13 10 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

XE 1.2 P 4.63 4.64* 4.68 6.07 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10XM 1.2 P 5.25 5.25* 5.31 6.81 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XMS 1.2 P 5.43 5.43* 5.49 7.05 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XT 1.2 P 6.01 5.99* 6.06 7.75 4cyl 1193cc 5M 89 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10XE 1.3 D 5.67 5.64* 5.73 7.39 4cyl 1248cc 5M 74 190 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/10XM 1.3 D 6.31 6.27* 6.37 8.20 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XMS 1.3 D 6.49 6.45* 6.55 8.34 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XMA 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 9.08 4cyl 1248cc 5A 89 200 na na na l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 7/10XT 1.3 D 7.05 6.99* 7.10 9.13 4cyl 1248cc 5M 89 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Hybrid 29.36 29.75 29.12 33.56 4cyl 2494cc 6A 202 213 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/102.5l 25.46 24.77 25.08 28.95 4cyl 2494cc 6A 178 233 na 8.93 9.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

JS 12.19 13.79 12.20 14.52 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10G 13.94 15.78 13.96 16.68 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10GL 15.58 17.65 15.60 18.64 4cyl 1798cc 6M 138 173 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10G (CVT) 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.23 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10V L 17.09 19.36 17.11 20.44 4cyl 1798cc 7A 138 173 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10D-4D J 13.27 15.02 13.29 16.10 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10D-4D G 15.24 17.26 15.26 18.49 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10D-4D GL 16.88 19.12 16.90 20.48 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10D-4DJS 13.84 15.67 13.86 16.79 4cyl 1364cc 6M 87 205 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10

Indigo eCS: Smallest sedan on the market is more like a hatch with a boot.

TG Choice: eLSD the variant sounds cooler than the actual car.L: 399cm W: 193cm H: 154cm Boot: 300 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Inventing a segment.

Nano: Gets a much-needed shot in the arm with the introduction of an AMT. A much nicer package now

TG Choice: The XTA is the perfect choice for the city. Well-equipped, too.L: 310cm W: 150 cm H: 165.2cm Boot: 94-110 litre Fuel Tank: 15 litres Ground Clearance: 18cm Also try: Maruti Suzuki Alto, Chevrolet Spark, public transport

Manza: Sedan derivative of the Indica Vista, the big rear means it can gobble down huge amounts of luggage. 77

TG Choice: Go for the Quadrajet Aqua, as this will fulfill most of your requirements of a daily runabout.L: 441cm W: 170cm H: 155cm Boot: 460 litres Fuel Tank: 44 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.5cm Also try: Mahindra Verito, Maruti DZire.




TG Choice: XMA as it’s got the perfect combination of a diesel motor paired to an automated manual gearbox that makes life easy.L: 399.5cm W: 170.6cm H: 157cm Boot: 390 litres Fuel Tank: 44litres Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Hyundai Xcent, Honda Amaze, Maruti DZire

TG Awards: -Company description: Massive world-player but also churns out the reliably unexceptional in frightening numbers.




Corolla Altis: The new one is not all-new but still very good. Altis is a refined, comfortable businessman’s sedan.

TG Choice: The diesel GL would be just fine, as Corollas are usually chauffeur-driven.L: 454cm W: 176cm H: 147.5cm Boot: 475 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Chevrolet Cruze, Renault Fluence.

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J 5.35 5.46 5.40 6.64 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10G 5.89 6 5.96 7.25 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10V 6.61 7.22 6.65 8.04 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10VX 6.99 7.72 7.04 8.49 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 180 11.2 12.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10GD 6.97 7.30 7.04 8.58 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10VD 7.68 8.39 7.73 9.38 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10VXD 8.07 8.90 8.12 9.85 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 170 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

GD 6.11 6.20 6.14 7.48 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 160 na na l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10J 4.63 4.48 4.65 5.62 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 na 14.33 14.4 l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10G 4.85 5.12 4.88 5.87 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 na 14.33 14.4 l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10V 5.64 5.63 5.64 6.77 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 na 14.33 14.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10VX 6.02 6.57 6.02 7.22 4cyl 1197cc 5M 79 104 na 14.33 14.4 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Cross V 7.46 8.25 7.46 8.93 4cyl 1496cc 5M 89 132 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Cross VD 7.46 8.44 7.46 9.08 4cyl 1364cc 5M 67 170 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10

4x4 Manual 23.41 22.93 23.36 28.74 4cyl 2982cc 5M 168 343 170 11.2 12 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/104x2 Auto 23.15 24.10 23.10 28.41 4cyl 2982cc 4A 168 360 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/104x2 Manual 22.78 24.50 22.11 27.21 4cyl 2982cc 5M 168 343 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

GX 7S D 12.53 12.33 12.55 15.15 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10GX 8S D 12.59 12.37 12.60 15.21 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10VX 7S D 14.63 14.38 14.57 17.64 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10VX 8S D 14.67 14.42 14.61 17.69 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Z 15.16 na 15.10 18.28 4cyl 2494cc 5M 100 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Prado 86.14 84.87* 85.87 98.51 4cyl 2982cc 5A 170 410 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

V8 115 85* 115.5 103 8cyl 4461cc 6A 261 650 na 11.4 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Z3 27 30.7 27 32 4cyl 1798cc 6A 98 149 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10Z4 28 32.22 28 34 4cyl 1798cc 6A 98 149 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Trendline 14.37 16.40 14.31 18.35 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 206 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 5/10Comfortline 15.79 18 15.72 20.64 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 187 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10Highline 17.36 19.80 17.29 22.90 4cyl 1968cc 6M 139 320 187 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10Highline AT 18.18 20.68 18.10 24.33 4cyl 1968cc 6A 139 320 187 10.1 10 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10Trendline P 13.84 13.60* 13.84 16.61 4cyl 1390cc 6M 121 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 6/10Comfortline P 15.33 15.07* 15.33 18.39 4cyl 1390cc 6M 121 200 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10


TG Choice: The V should be just fine as this car is for people who put logic over excitement.L: 426.5cm W: 169.5 cm H: 151cm Boot: 595 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift DZire, Mahindra Verito

Etios Liva: A practical, no-nonsense family car that we need, but not necessarily want.

TG Choice: The V makes perfect sense for a hatchback that tilts more towards practicality.L: 377.5cm W: 169cm H: 151cm Boot: 251 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 17cm Also try: Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, VW Polo.

Fortuner: Brutal power and great value. Interiors are practical but not very well finished. Powerful engine though.

TG Choice: Despite two new variants, we would still stick to the old school 4x4 Manual.L: 470.5cm W: 184cm H: 185cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 80 litres, Ground Clearance: 22 cm Also try: Ford Endeavour, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva

Innova: Incredible. Does absolutely everything, and does it with gusto. Also available in CNG variant for ` 85,000 extra.

TG Choice: VX 7S, as it comes with all the creature comforts, and captain seats at the back.L: 455.5cm W: 177cm H: 176cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 17.5cm Also try: Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Sumo Grande, Mahindra Xylo

Land Cruiser Prado: Big, thirsty and not ballerina-like on-road, but a great SUV despite that. Build: Import

TG Choice: Try the Mitsubishi Montero, it’s a better SUV on and off the road. L: 478.0cm W: 188.5cm H: 188cm Boot: 620 litres Fuel Tank: 87 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mitsubishi Montero, Volvo XC 90

Land Cruiser: Bigger, thirstier version of the Prado, with a V8. The best off-roader that money can buy. Build: Import

TG Choice: Comes with a long list of features to choose from, only one engine option, the V8 diesel.L: 495cm W: 187 cm H: 186.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 83 litres, Ground Clearance: 22cm Also try: Mercedes GL-Class, Audi Q7

Prius: Toyota gets its green face to India at a price. Well, who said going green was cheap? Build: Import

TG Choice: Any variant you choose, you’ll have done your bit for Mother Nature.L: 446cm W: 174.5cm H: 152.5cm Boot: na Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: NA Also try: Nothing yet.

TG Awards: Most improved car of the year 2014: Polo GT TSI‘ It's like watching a good ol' movie from the 1960s in technicolor’

Company description: The international giant has been getting good response in India , thanks to German engineering with an affordable pricetag.

VOLKSWAGEN Dealers 110 Warranty 2yrs/ unlimited km Website www.volkswagen.co.in

Jetta: More than just a bigger Vento, even if some equipment is missing. Build: Assembled

TG Choice: Highline AT, pity there’s no auto in the other variants.L: 464.4cm W: 177.7 cm H: 145.3cm Boot:na Fuel Tank: 55 litres , Ground Clearance: 13.9cm Also try: Toyota Corolla Altis

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1.2 Trendline P 4.57 6.05 4.6 6.38 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.47 14.3 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 Comfortline P 5.1 6.69 5.1 7.10 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.47 14.3 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/101.2 Highline P 6.04 7.38 6.1 7.59 3cyl 1198cc 5M 74 110 175 14.47 14.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/101.5 Trendline D 5.6 7.54 5.63 8.08 4cyl 1498cc 5M 88 230 160 13.6 14 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/101.5 Comfortline D 6.1 8.22 6.15 8.82 4cyl 1498cc 5M 88 230 160 13.6 14 l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/101.5 Highline D 7.06 8.74 7.12 9.31 4cyl 1498cc 5M 88 230 160 13.6 14 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.2 GT TSI na 9.50 na 9.91 4cyl 1197cc 7A 103 175 172 10.85 12.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.5 GT TDI 8.22 9.83 8.22 10.08 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 180 10.27 13 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10Cross Polo na 9.36 na 8.29 3cyl 1199cc 5M 74 180 na 15.66 15.9 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

1.2 TSI na 11.83 na 12.30 4cyl 1197cc 7A 103 175 172 11.52 12.45 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.6 Trendline P 7.12 9.26 7 9.24 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 153 185 na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/101.6 Highline P 8.23 10.68 8.3 10.86 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 153 185 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/101.5 Trendline D 8.12 10.48 8.06 10.89 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na na na l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 7/101.5 Highline D 9.23 12.04 9.31 12.53 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/101.5 Comfortline D 9.05 11.16 9.01 11.96 4cyl 1498cc 5M 103 250 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/101.5 Comfortline D DSG 9.05 11.16 9.01 13.23 4cyl 1498cc 7A 103 250 na 11.5 15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/101.5 Highline D DSG 9.05 11.16 9.01 13.80 4cyl 1498cc 7A 103 250 na 11.5 15 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

D4 Kinetic 25.50 28.88 na 44.55 5cyl 1984cc 6A 160 400 220 9 11.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10D4 Summum 28.5 32.32 na 47.92 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 220 9 11.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10D5 Summum 31.60 35.76 na 51.71 5cyl 2400cc 6A 211 440 230 8.1* 14.1* l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

D4 Kinetic 33.90 38.32 na na 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 240 9.6 10.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10D4 Summum na na na 57.57 5cyl 1984cc 6A 163 400 240 9.6 10.8 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10D5 Summum 40.00 45.19 na 62.28 5cyl 2400cc 6A 202 400 225 9 13.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

D4 Kinetic 35.95 40.62 na 58.08 5cyl 2400cc 6A 160 400 220 10.5 10.2 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10 D4 Summum 42.00 49.10 na 62 5cyl 2400cc 6A 211 440 200 7.8 11.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10D5 Summum 42.00 49.10 na 66.60 5cyl 2400cc 6A 211 440 200 7.8 11.1 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 6/10

Momentum na na na 64.90* 4cyl 1969cc 8A 222 470 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10 Inscription na na na 77.90* 4cyl 1969cc 8A 222 470 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

D3 Cross Country na 28.5* na 44.22 5cyl 1984cc 6A 148 350 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10T4 Cross Country na 27* na 27* 4cyl 1596cc 6A 177 240 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Kinetic na 24.75* na 33.36 5cyl 1984cc 6A 150 350 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10R-Design na 27.70* na 37.23 5cyl 1984cc 6A 150 350 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

Polo: Smart, sophisticated, German. Sticks to all the norms and is affordable too.

TG Choice: The GT TSI is our pick of the lot.L: 397cm W: 168.2cm H: 146.9cm Boot: 280 litres Fuel Tank: 45 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz, Fiat Punto, Maruti Swift

Vento: Fantastic value for a VW sedan; tarmac-smothering ride and still a great looker.

TG Choice: 1.5 Highline diesel, for German build quality with diesel economy.L: 438.4cm W: 169.9 cm H: 146.6cm Boot: 527 litres Fuel Tank: 55 litres, Ground Clearance: 16.8cm Also try: Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Maruti SX4, Fiat Linea, Ford Fiesta

TG Awards: -Company description: The company has been very subtle with its presence, just like its cars, but things are changing with the S60 and the XC60.

VOLVO Dealers 15 Warranty 2yrs/60,000km Website www.volvocars.com/in

S60: The S60 comes as a breath of fresh air; it’s a comfortable tourer and a worthy adversary to the German trio. Build: Import

TG Choice: Kinetic D5, comes pretty well equipped minus the leather seats.L: 463.5cm W: 209.7 cm H: 148.4cm Boot: 380 litres Fuel Tank: 67.5 litres, Ground Clearance: 13.6cm Also try: Audi A4, Merc C-Class, BMW 3 series, and perhaps a safety vault

S80: Stealth luxury car that promises top-flight comfort and safety, and decent dynamics. At a great price. Build: Import

TG Choice: D5 is a good engine, S-Class luxury at E-Class price.L: 485.1cm W: 210 cm H: 149.3cm Boot: 480 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 14.8cm Also try: Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class

XC60: If you crash this car, you’re either unfit to drive or you’re running an insurance scam. Build: Import

TG Choice: Comes with a long list of optional features.L: 464.4cm W: 163 cm H: 171.3cm Boot: 495 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander

XC90: All-new avatar moves the game forward. Is now a real threat to its German compatriots Build: Import

TG Choice: Inscription, if you want to treat yourself to the finest of Swedish luxury.L: 462.1cm W: 163.2 cm H: na Boot: 615 litres Fuel Tank: 70 litres, Ground Clearance: 21cm Also try: Mercedes-Benz M-Class, BMW X5, Audi Q7

V40: A Swedish hatch that looks rather good and is backed by strong driving dynamics. Build: Import

TG Choice: Depends on your usage, really. There’s a petrol and a diesel (and a ‘cross’ version), so you pick.L: 437cm W: 178.3 cm H: 145.8cm Boot: 335 litres Fuel Tank: 60 litres, Ground Clearance: na Also try: Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Mini Countryman D

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220 0.78 0.76 0.77 0.90 1cyl 220cc 5M 19.03 17.5 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 5/10

100 M 0.49 0.48 0.48 0.56 1cyl 102cc 4M 9.2 9.2 na na 70 l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l■ l✔ l✖ 5/10125 M 0.51 0.50 0.49 0.59 1cyl 124cc 5M 13 10.8 na na na l■ l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l■ l✖ 7/10150 F na na na 0.58 1cyl 145cc 5M 14.3 12.75 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 7/10150 S na na na 0.54 1cyl 145cc 5M 14.3 12.75 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 7/10

135 LS 0.60 0.58 0.59 0.69 1cyl 134cc 5M 13.5 11.4 na na 35 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 6/10150 0.67 0.66 0.67 0.76 1cyl 149.5cc 5M 15.06 12.5 na na 52.6 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 4/10180 0.70 0.69 0.70 0.81 1cyl 178cc 5M 17 14.22 na na 45 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 4/10220 0.83 0.81 0.82 0.95 1cyl 220cc 5M 21 19.2 na na 35 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 5/10200NS 0.86 0.84 0.85 0.99 1cyl 200cc 5M 23 18.3 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10RS200 ABS 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1cyl 199.5cc 5M 24 18.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10AS150 0.86 0.84 0.85 0.99 1cyl 149.5cc 5M 17 13 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10AS200 1.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 1cyl 199.5cc 5M 23 18 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10

300 3.53 3.37 2.88 3.54 2cyl 300cc 6M 37.7 26.5 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

600i 6.12 5.96 5.24 6.15 4cyl 600cc 6M 84 54.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

600GTS 6.67 6.50 6.09 6.70 4cyl 600cc 6M 84 54.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

899 10.94 10.77 9.65 11 3cyl 898cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

1130 13.55 13.36 12.02 13.63 3cyl 1131cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

R 1200 GS na na na 29.23* 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 120 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -R 1200 GS Adventure na na na 29.98* 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 120 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

R 1200 R na na na 23.86* 2cyl 1170cc 6M 110 119 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -K 1300 R na na na 26.88* 4cyl 1293cc 6M 173 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

TG Awards: -Company description:The Pulsar saw them shoot to fame and they’ve kept the momentum going with frequent updates.

BAJAJ Dealers na Warranty na Website www.bajajauto.com

Avenger: The Eliminator with a Pulsar 220 DTS-i engine. It’s swanky and seen as a true-blue affordable cruiser.L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: The Enfield range

Discover: Bajaj’s salvo in the exec segment. Quite a looker if you opt for alloys and disc-brake variant. L: 204cm Seat Height: 795 Wheelbase: 130.5cm Weight: 118kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 8 litres Also try: Gladiator, Victor 125, Glamour

Pulsar: Arguably, India’s most popular bike for those who crave power and flamboyance. Near-perfect bike, fast, fun and practical.L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 137-165kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Unicorn, CBZ X-treme, Apache

TG Awards: -Company description:Say hello to the other Italian bikemaker: Benelli is now in India, with its entire range of TNT motorcycles.

BENELLI Dealers 9 Warranty na Website www.dskbenelli.com

TNT 300: The most affordable twin-cylinder Italian in our land.L: 213cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 141cm Weight: 196kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Kawasaki Z250

TNT 600i: The world of four-cylinder motorcycles is now more accessible, thanks to the reasonably-priced 600iL: 216cm Seat Height: na. Wheelbase: 148cm Weight: 231kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Kawasaki er-6N

TNT 600GT: Think 600i with a half-fairing and hard saddlebags, but only better in every single way.L: 215cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 147cm Weight: 243kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 27litres Also try: Kawasaki Ninja 650

TNT 899: A characterful, large-hearted three-pot naked that’s priced a little too high.L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Kawasaki Z800 and Z1000

TNT R: The pinnacle of the TNT range. Massive, eye-catching (in gold), and just as explosive as the name.L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Triumph Speed Triple

TG Awards: Superbike of the year 2011: BMW R1200GS'The BMW R1200 GS spans the whole range of split personalities, from tyre burner to world traveller.'

Company description: Today, Bavaria’s famed two-wheeled company still makes their ever-lovin’ boxer-engined monuments.

BMW Dealers na Warranty na Website www.motorrad-navnitmotors.in

Enduro: A real-life legend. Will go on forever, taking a couple of armageddons in its stride.L: 221/224cm Seat Height: 85/89cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 234/259kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 20/33litres Also try: Ducati Multistrada

Roadster: Hooliganism, the BMW way – pick a boxer or a more conventional inline-four.L: 214/222cm Seat Height: 80/82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 227/243kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18/19litres Also try: Honda CB1000R

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*Indicates Ex-showroom prices for Mumbai l✔ Yes l✖ No l■ Optional Gadgets & Safety Guide



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S1000 RR na na na 28.32* 4cyl 999cc 6M 193 112 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -K1300 S na na na 28.10* 4cyl 1293cc 6M 172 140 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

K 1600 GT na na na 35.78* 6cyl 1649cc 6M 158 175 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -K 1600 GTL na na na 39.19* 6cyl 1649cc 6M 158 175 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

795 na 7.57 na 6.57* 2cyl 803cc 6M 85 78 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -796 S2R na 8.70 na 6.57* 2cyl 803cc 6M 87 78 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -821 na 10.96 na 6.57* 2cyl 821cc 6M 110 89 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 7/10

Hypermotard na 11.58 na 11.16* 2cyl 821cc 6M 108.6 89 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Hyperstrada na 12.65 na 11.16* 2cyl 821cc 6M 108.6 89 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

Dark na 15.90 na 14.02* 2cyl 1198cc 6M 160 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Carbon Red na 19.45 na 14.02* 2cyl 1198cc 6M 160 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Carbon White na 19.98 na 14.02* 2cyl 1198cc 6M 160 130 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

1299 na na na 32.94* 2cyl 1285cc 6M 202 144 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -899 na 14.99 na 11.16* 2cyl 898cc 6M 148 99 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

Icon Red na 7.61 na na 2cyl 803cc 6M 74 68 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10Icon Yellow na 7.72 na na 2cyl 803cc 6M 74 68 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 8/10

Street Bob 10.38 10.20 10.38 11.92 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -Super Glide Custom 11.93 11.73 11.93 13.66 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -Fat Bob 13.04 12.82 13.04 14.90 2cyl 1585cc 6M na 126 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 5/10

Fatboy 15.10 14.84 15.10 17.19 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10Heritage Classic 16.47 16.19 16.47 18.72 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 8/10

Super Low 5.95 5.85 5.95 6.69 2cyl 883cc 6M na 69 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -Iron 883 6.75 6.64 6.75 7.86 2cyl 883cc 5M na 69 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -Forty Eight 8.82 8.67 8.82 10.17 2cyl 1202cc 5M na 95 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -

Street 750 4.17 4.10 4.17 4.92 2cyl 749cc 6M na 60 na na na l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 8/10

Sport: Quite simply, the best litre-bike there is.L: 205cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 204kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Honda CBR1000RR, Suzuki GSX-R 1000

Tour: Long-range missiles. The only question is, two cylinders or six?L: 223cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 263kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 25litres Also try: Suzuki Hayabusa

TG Awards: -Company description:Indian Ducatisti, rejoice! The Italians have returned in full force. No Multistrada for the moment, though.

DUCATI Dealers 3 Warranty na Website www.ducati.com

Monster: The most iconic modern-day Ducati. The 821 has now joined the ranks.L: 210cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 145cm Weight: 188kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 13 litres Also try: Benelli TNT 899, Kawasaki Z800

Hypermotard: A Ducati that’s really pushing the limits. Loaded to the gills with kit.L: 209.5cm Seat Height: 83cm Wheelbase: 149cm Weight: 204kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 16 litres Also try: Triumph Tiger 800

Diavel: Now refreshed, the Diavel is just as big and bad as it used to be.L: 223.5cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 158cm Weight: 234kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 17 litres Also try: Hitching a ride with the devil

Panigale: Road-going version of Ducati’s WSBK entry. Promises to be a blast to ride.L: 207cm Seat Height: 83cm Wheelbase: 143.7cm Weight: 190kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 17 litres Also try: BMW S1000RR, Yamaha R1

Scrambler: There was a Scrambler back in the day, and this new one’s just as simple (and as much fun) as the original.L: 216.5cm Seat Height: 79-77cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 186kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 13.5 litres Also try: Triumph Bonneville

TG Awards: Value for Money Bike of the Year 2015: Street 750 ‘ It proves that the terms 'cost-effective' and 'Harley-Davidson' can be used in the same sentence.’

Company description: They define cruisers. Local assembly has allowed them to drop prices and made their bikes even more appealing.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON Dealers 5 Warranty na Website www.harley-davidson.in

Dyna: This one’s on a diet and has all unnecessary weight sawed off. Great if you aren’t much of a fan of bulky tourersL: 235.7cm Seat Height: 64.7cm Wheelbase: 163cm Weight: 302.5kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Sporter range, Honda CB 1000R, Yamaha

Softail: Must have one for all Arnie/Terminator fans. Lots of chorme and scope for customisation, not necessarily a comfortable ride.L: 240cm Seat Height: 70cm Wheelbase: 164cm Weight: 328kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Suzuki Intruder, DYNA range.

Sportster: Still short, sharp-handling motorcycle, although bigger = more power, Always a good thing.L: 218cm Seat Height: 99cm Wheelbase: 152cm Weight: 254kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda CB 1000R, DYNA range.sx

Street: H-D’s entry motorcycle that looks like a scaled down Night-Rod Special, rides like a mini hot-rod tooL: 222.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 153.5cm Weight: 222kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 13.1litres Also try: Hyosung Aquila GV 650.

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Street Glide 29.51 29 29.51 32.72 2cyl 1198cc 6M na 118 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -

NightRod Special 22.13 21.75 22.13 24.62 2cyl 1247cc 6M na 111 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 8/10

0.70 0.71 0.70 0.83 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 3/10

0.70 0.69 0.70 0.83 1cyl 149cc 5M 14.4 12.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 3/10

0.60 0.59 0.60 0.72 1cyl 124cc 5M 11 11 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 4/10

0.70 0.68 0.70 0.82 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 13.4 na na na l■ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 6/10

Karizma R 0.79 0.78 0.79 0.94 1cyl 223cc 5M 17.6 18.3 125 3.8 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 5/10ZMR Fi 0.99 0.97 0.99 1.16 1cyl 223cc 5M 17.6 18.3 126 3.7 na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 5/10

0.49 0.46 0.48 0.59 1cyl 109cc V 8 9.1 na na 43.6 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

X Pro 0.53 0.52 0.53 0.64 1cyl 109cc 4M 12 9.4 na na na l✔ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 2/10Pro 0.51 0.50 0.51 0.61 1cyl 97cc 4M 10.5 7.95 na na na l✔ l■ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 2/10

0.46 0.42 0.44 0.53 1cyl 102cc V 7 7.8 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ 5/10

Activa 125 Std 0.64 0.60 0.67 0.65 1cyl 124.9cc V 8.6 10.12 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ 7/10Activa 3G 0.57 0.53 0.60 0.58 1cyl 109cc V 8 9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10Activa-i 0.54 0.50 0.55 0.54 1cyl 109cc V 8 9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

Drum 0.59 0.55 0.61 0.59 1cyl 109cc V 8 8.77 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

1000R na 12.91 na 13.92 4cyl 998cc 6M 123.3 100 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

Touring: It’s quite literally what the name suggests. You can slap on a lot of touring gear to lug around your house with you.L: 241cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 161cm Weight: 368kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 22litres Also try: Heritage Classic, Ultra Classic.

V-Rod: HD fans have Porsche to thank for this one. One high-revving, smooth-pulling power cruiser, if that’s your thing.L: 244cm Seat Height: 67.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 302kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 18.9litres Also try: Ducati Diavel, Yamaha V-Max

TG Awards: -Company description: ‘The Honda name has been striked out. Now its Hero vs Honda as the Japanese bike maker tries to grab market share from its old ally.

HERO Dealers na Warranty 5 years Website www.heromotocorp.com

CBZ Extreme: There’s nothing understated about the bike’s looks, quite unlike its predecessor.L: 201.2cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

Hunk: Hero’s third variant in the 150cc category. We wonder whether the name makes sense at allL: 208cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12.4litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

Ignitor: This is Hero’s attempt at stunning you. Looks a bit different, offers more features than the Stunner. L: 201cm Seat Height: 109.5cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: na Also try: Honda CBF Stunner

Impulse: The only option if you like it dirty.L: 210cm Seat Height: 83.5cm Wheelbase: 136cm Weight: 134kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 11.1litres Also try: Unicorn, Pulsar 150, Apache

Karizma: The only challenger to the Pulsar 220 DTS-i. Finally gets a much-needed facelift and fuel-injection system.L: 212cm Seat Height: 79.5cm Wheelbase: 135 Weight: 150kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 220 DTS-i, Yamaha YZF R-15

Maestro: A testosterone-charged scooter aimed at men. Big size and proven mechanicals. L: 178cm Seat Height: 77cm Wheelbase: 124 Weight: 110 Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: Honda Activa, Mahindra Duro, TVS Wego

Passion: A facelifted effort which is still chugging along? The passion is all lost but the will to move on is in abundance.L: 198cm Seat Height: 78.5cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 18 inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Platina, Discover

Pleasure: Hero’s first automatic scooter is aimed at women only! And women are buying it with pleasure.L: 175cm Seat Height: 76.5 Wheelbase: 124.1 Weight: 104kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5 litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Wave, Kinetic 4S

TG Awards: Scooter of the year 2015: Activa 125‘There’s an amplified premium quotient to the 125, with added power and good levels of comfort.’

Company description: Japanese giants have decided to go the full hog themselves and have motorcycles in every segment.

HONDA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.honda2wheelersindia.com

Activa: Bland styling that now looks dated in the face of fresher competition. You could swear on its quality and reliability though.L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.3litres Also try: TVS Jupiter, Suzuki Access

Aviator: Just like the Dio, it uses the same engine as in the Activa. But all-new bodywork that’s supposed to appeal to men. Really?L: 180cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Dio, Access

CBR 1000R: The most pocket friendly and usable litre bike that you can buy today. Crazy single-side swingarm takes the cakeL: 210.5cm Seat Height: 82.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 217kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17liquids Also try: Ducati Monster, Yamaha MT01

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0.63 0.59 0.65 0.65 1cyl 124.6cc 4M 10.3 10.5 na 5.3 65 l■ l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ 4/10

0.79 0.76 0.83 0.80 1cyl 149cc 5M 14 12.5 na na na l✔ l■ l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

CB Unicorn 150 0.77 0.74 0.81 0.78 1cyl 149cc 5M 13.3 12.8 101 5 60 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 4/10

Std 0.83 0.79 0.83 0.84 1cyl 162cc 5M 14.5 14.6 na 5 60 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 8/10CBS na 0.74 na 0.90 1cyl 162cc 5M 14.5 14.6 na 5 60 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ 8/10

Stunner 0.68 0.64 0.71 0.68 1cyl 125cc 5 11 11 na 5.2 na l■ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l■ l■ l✖ 5/10

150R 1.39 1.34 1.45 1.42 1cyl 149cc 6M 18 13 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ 5/10250R STD 1.79 1.74 1.87 1.82 1cyl 249cc 6M 25 22.9 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10250R ABS 1.85 1.80 1.85 2.15 1cyl 249cc 6M 25 22.9 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

1000RR na 16.90 na 18.13 4cyl 999cc 6M 175.6 112 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

0.55 0.51 0.56 0.55 1cyl 109cc V 8 8.77 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

CD 110 0.50 0.47 0.51 0.52 1cyl 109cc 4M 8.25 8.63 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ -Neo 0.52 0.50 0.54 0.59 1cyl 109cc 4M 8.25 8.63 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Yuga 0.59 0.55 0.62 0.60 1cyl 109cc 4M 8.25 8.63 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

Audio Comfort na 28.50 na 28.50* 6cyl 1832cc 5M 117 167 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -Airbag na 31.50 na 31.50* 6cyl 1832cc 5M 117 167 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

0.58 0.54 0.61 0.58 1cyl 109cc 4M 9 9 na na na l✔ l■ l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10

1200F na 19.26 na 20.60 4cyl 1237cc 6M 170 129 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10

1300CX na 15.21 na 16.66 2cyl 1312cc 5M 57 107 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

Pro 6.14 6.03 5.17 6.20 2cyl 647cc 5M 74 62.1 na na 23 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10250 3.39 3.26 na 3.38 2cyl 249cc 5M 26 21 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10

CB Shine: It’s now got a fair bit of ‘shine’ with bits like alloy wheels, electric start and sporty decals.L: 201.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 122kg Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 11litres Also try: Discover 125, Victor, Super Splendor.

CB Trigger: Honda takes another shot at the urban buyer in the 150cc segmentL: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132.5cm Weight: 138 Wheel size: 17litres Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Bajaj Pulsar 150, Yamaha Fazer

CB Unicorn 150: Still the best powertrain in the business and boasts extremely good quality.L: 209.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 146kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CBZ X-Treme, Apache

CB Unicorn 160: The trusty Honda, now available with a bigger 160cc motor.L: 204.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 132.4cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: TVS Apache 160

CBF Stunner: A performance bike packed in a 125cc bike? Take that with a pinch of salt. Looks sporty though.L: 201.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 127.1cm Weight: 129kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Gladiator SS, Discover, Glamour, Flame

CBR: The 250 has been around for sometime and now you get it in 150 too!L: 200cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 136.7cm Weight: 138kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13litres Also try: Ninja 300. Yamaha YZF R15 2.0

CBR 1000RR: Another insanely quick bike to tear up our roads.L: 208cm Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: na Weight: 199kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17 litres Also try: Suzuki GSX 1000R, Yamaha R1

Dio: The refreshingly new Dio is a stunner. One of the best lookers in the country, though it needs more firepower.L: 176cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 102kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Activa, Nova 135, Kristal, Pleasure, Accesskg

Dream: Honda’s attack deep into Hero territory. Wing riding for the commuter. L: 202.2/2009cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 128.5/125.8cm Weight: 108/105kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try:Hero Splendor

Gold Wing: The ultimate touring machine is here. You can also have one equipped with an airbag!L: na Seat Height: 73.9cm Wheelbase: 168.9cm Weight: 421kg Wheel size: 18(f), 16(r) inches Fuel tank: 25 litres Also try: Indian Chief Vintage

Twister: Honda’s entry into the high volume 100cc segment. Hero MotoCorp had better watch out.L: 197.2cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 125.2cm Weight: 108kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Bajaj Discover DTS-i 100, Hero Honda Splendor NXG

VFR: Brilliant all-rounder, the V4 engine and the dual-clutch transmission makes this bike extra special.L: 225cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 154.5cm Weight: 267kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18.5litres Also try: Yamaha V-Max, Suzuki Hayabusa

VT 1300 CX: Honda’s only cruiser for India. L: 257cm Seat Height: 67.8cm Wheelbase: 180.5cm Weight: 303kg Wheel size: 21/18inches Fuel tank: 12.8litres Also try: Harley Davidson V-Rod

TG Awards: Surprise of the Year 2014: Hyosung Aquila Pro‘A fitting Korean reply to the idea that only the Japanese and the Americans can make cruisers to fall for.’

Company description: The Korean manufacturer tries to give the same thrills as its Japanese and American rivals at a more affordable price.

HYOSUNG Dealers 2 Warranty na Website www.dskhyosung.com

Aquila: A V-twin cruiser that offers bling and power (with the Pro) and value for money (with the 250)L: 243cm Seat Height: 70.5cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 218kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16 litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Super Low

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250R 3.57 3.43 2.78 3.50 2cyl 249cc 5M 28 22.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 4/10650R 5.65 5.52 4.71 5.68 2cyl 647cc 6M 72.7 61 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 5/10

650N 4.06 3.73 3.80 4.52 2cyl 647cc 6M 72.7 61 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10

ST7 6.99 6.03 5.89 6.20 2cyl 678cc 6M 61.6 57.3 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 5/10

Classic na 26.5* na na 2cyl 1811cc 6M na 138.9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

Vintage na 29.5* na na 2cyl 1811cc 6M na 138.9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

Chieftain na 33* na na 2cyl1811cc 6M na 138.9 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10

na 11.99* na na 2cyl1133cc 6M 100 97.7 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

ER-6N na 4.96 na na 2cyl649cc 6M 71 64 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

300 3.44 3.64 3.44 3.80 2cyl 296cc 6M 39 27 na 6.7 21.5 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10650 5.00 5.37 5.00 5.53 2cyl 649cc 6M 72 64 na 6.7 17.3 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/101000 na 12.5 na na 4cyl 1043cc 6M 140 111 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10ZX-10R na 15.70 na na 4cyl 998cc 6M 197 112 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10ZX-14R na 16.90 na na 4cyl 1441cc 6M 210 162.5 300 2.6 16.7 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10H2 na 29* na 33.56 4cyl 998cc 6M 197 133 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

na 3.11 na na 2cyl 249cc 6M 31.5 21 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

na 7.90 na na 4cyl 806cc 6M 111.3 83 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

Z1000 na 12.50 na na 4cyl 1043cc 6M 140 111 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

GT: A poser’s bike for all those who want a looker and could not care less about performance L: 206cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 171kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 8litres Also try: Ninja 300.

GT N: The more fun, naked version of the GT650R, the GT650N is a perfect ride for the city.L: 209cm Seat Height: NA Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 196kg Wheel size: NA Fuel tank: NA Also try: Ninja 300.

ST7: It’s hard to see why someone would pick the ST7 over a Harley, unless Hyosung offers a solid bargain.L: 247cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 169cm Weight: 244 Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Sportster XL 883 L

TG Awards: Cruiser of the Year 2015: Indian Chief Vintage ‘Very few people can resist the laid-back cool of the Indian Chief Vintage.’

Company description: The oldest American motorcycle brand comes to India to take on its oldest American rival.

INDIAN Dealers na Warranty na Website http://www.indianmotorcycle.com

Chief Classic: A genuine alternative to a Harley with classic looks and a torquey engine, though the pricing could’ve been better.L: 263cm Seat Height: 66cm Wheelbase: 173cm Weight: 370kg Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 20.8litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Super Low

Chief Vintage: If you are into leathers. If you know what we mean.L: 263cm Seat Height: 66cm Wheelbase: 173cm Weight: 379kg Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 20.8litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Street Bob

Chieftain: A powerful motorcycle which comes with a fairing to stop those wind blasts for comfortable rides.L: 257.1cm Seat Height: 66cm Wheelbase: 166.8cm Weight: 385kg Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 20.8litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Fat Bob

Scout: The smallest new Indian motorcycle, the Scout is here to take the fight to Harley’s Dyna range. L: 231cm Seat Height: 63.5cm Wheelbase: 156.2cm Weight: 253kg Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 12.5litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Dyna range

TG Awards: Bike Design of the Year 2015: Kawasaki Z1000 'It's the kind of bike that'd star in a Batman movie.’

Company description: Reviving an old partnership with Bajaj has seen them return to India. They are playing it safe but may be too safe for their own good.

KAWASAKI Dealers na Warranty 2 years/30,000kms Website www.kawasaki-india.com

ER-6N: A middleweight naked bike based on the Ninja 650R that’s primed to take on Triumph’s Street Triple.L: 211cm Seat Height: 80.5cm Wheelbase: 141cm Weight: 204kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Triumph Street Triple

Ninja: Handles like an R15, comfort levels as good as a Karizma and more power than both put together.L: 208.5cm Seat Height: 76.2cm Wheelbase: 139.9cm Weight: 172kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: Three Karizma ZMRs

Z250: The Ninja 250 that’s been stripped down to create a stunning street bike. Expensive, but hey, an extra cylinder costs money.L: 201cm Seat Height: 78.5cm Wheelbase: 140cm Weight: 168kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Suzuki Inazuma

Z800: If the mighty Z1000 is too powerful for you, the Z800 is the perfect choice.L: 210cm Seat Height: 83.4cm Wheelbase: 144.5cm Weight: 231kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Ducati Monster 795

Z1000: With looks that could sear the soul, the Z1000 is a naked bike that you absolutely want. Immensely powerful inline-four adds the ‘X-factor’.L: 204.5cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 143.5cm Weight: 221kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Honda CB1000R, Yamaha FZ-1

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200 1.32 1.38 1.33 1.47 1cyl 199.5cc 6M 25.5 19 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 8/10 390 1.83 1.90 1.84 2.04 1cyl 373.2cc 6M 43 35 na na 33 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 9/10

200 na 1.66 na na 1cyl 199.5cc 6M 25.5 19 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ - 390 na 2.13 na na 1cyl 373.2cc 6M 43 35 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -

N1 Disc 0.45 0.56 0.48 0.62 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10

0.47 0.43 0.46 0.56 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

0.41 0.41 0.42 0.57 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 3/10

Dx na 0.43 na 0.57 1cyl 110cc V 8 9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10Vx na 0.47 na 0.62 1cyl 110cc V 8 9 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 5/10

na 0.43 0.44 0.49 1cyl 106.7cc 4M 8.4 8.5 na na 49 l■ l■ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ 5/10

0.50 0.46 0.48 0.59 1cyl 124cc V 8 9 80 na 45 l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10

350 1.00 0.98 1.00 1.22 1cyl 346cc 5M 19.8 28 na na na l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l■ l■ l✖ 4/10500 1.44 1.41 1.44 1.75 1cyl499cc 5M 26 40.9 117 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ 6/10Electra 1.12 1.10 1.13 1.37 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 na na na l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l■ l■ l✖ 4/10

350 1.20 1.17 1.20 1.45 1cyl 346cc 5M 19.8 28 120 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 4/10500 1.53 1.50 1.54 1.86 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 5/10Desert Storm 1.56 1.53 1.56 1.89 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 5/10Chrome 1.63 1.60 1.63 1.98 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 5/10

Continental GT 1.88 1.84 1.88 2.23 1cyl 535cc 5M 29.1 44 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10

TG Awards: Readers’ Choice Bike of the Year 2014 + Bike of the Year 2014: KTM 390 Duke ‘Bike of the year twice in a row? Sounds tough, but the Duke just did it.’

Company description: Hooligans par excellence come to India, courtesy Bajaj, and bring along their unparalleled sense of mayhem.

KTM Dealers na Warranty 2years/30,000kms Website www.bajajauto.com

Duke: True to its heritage, the Duke 200 is a machine that is easily swayed into almost anti-social antics. Top shelf parts and value for moneyL: na Seat Height: 81cm Wheelbase: 136.1cm Weight: 125kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10.5litres Also try: Pulsar 200NS

RC: KTM decided to take the Duke brothers racing, and so, with some help from the KTM Moto3 team, the RCs were born.L: na Seat Height: 82cm Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 137-147kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 10litres Also try: Becoming a Moto3 rider

TG Awards: -Company description: After buying the defunct Kinetic motors, Mahindra has taken its first step into the highly competitive two-wheeler market.

MAHINDRA Dealers na Warranty na Website www.mahindra2wheelers.com

Centuro: Loaded with a list of features that are a first in its class.L: 203cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12.7litres Also try: Honda Dream Yuga

Duro DZ: The all-new Duro, well not all that new. Remember the Kinetic Nova?L: 181.9cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 114kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access

Flyte: Inherited from the erst while Kinetic-SYM collaboration.L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 105kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access

Gusto: Mahindra’s first all-new scooter. Developed in Pune, styled in Italy. A decent alternative to other offerings.L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 126cm Weight: 105kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, TVS Jupiter

Pantero: The Mahindra manages to impress with little value features that are usually not seen in this segment.L: 200cm Seat Height: 80.5cm Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 120kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.7litres Also try: Bajaj Discover 100T

Rodeo UZO: More focused on youngsters. Takes on the likes of Activa, Dio.L: 179cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 124.5cm Weight: 106kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 4.5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Suzuki Access

TG Awards: Most Beautiful Bike of the Year 2014: Royal Enfield Continental GT ‘If looks could kill, the 2013 Royal Enfield Continental GT tops the list of mass murderers.’

Company description: They’ve kept alive the charisma of big bore singles although emission norms have muted them to a fair extent.

ROYAL ENFIELD Dealers na Warranty na Website www.royalenfield.com

Bullet: The thump is enough to buzz your senses. However, this one is basic, tough and macho. Can ride on almost any surface.L: 212 Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 137 Weight: 163kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 14.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.

Classic: A true beast. The 500 features the all-new fuel-injected TwinSpark engine. This is the most refined bike in the Bullet stable.L: 213cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 137cm Weight: 187kg Wheel size: 18-19inches Fuel tank: 13.5litres Also try: Electra, Machismo.

Continental GT: Most powerful RE, best-looking RE, and the 2013 Indian Motorcycle of the Year. Need we say more?L: 206cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 136cm Weight: 184kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 13.5litres Also try: Triumph Thruxton (which is way more expensive)


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350 1.31 1.28 1.31 1.58 1cyl 346cc 5M 20 28 120 na 45 l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 5/10500 1.66 1.63 1.66 2.01 1cyl 499cc 5M 27.2 41.3 130 na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 6/10

0.50 0.47 0.48 0.56 1cyl 124cc V 8.6 9.8 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

1250 11.01 10.75 10.94 10.07* 4cyl 1255cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

0.82 0.80 0.87 0.84 1cyl 155cc 5M 14.6 14 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ 9/10



R-1000 16.34 15.95 16.23 15.95* 4cyl 999cc 6M 191 na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10S1000 12.55 12.25 12.46 12.25* 4cyl 999cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -S1000 F 13.01 12.70 12.92 12.70* 4cyl 999cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

GSX 13000 R 16.34 15.95 16.23 15.95* 4cyl 1340cc 6M 198 154 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10

M800 10.29 10.05 10.22 10.05* 2cyl 805cc 5M 52 68 na na 22 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 5/10 M 1800 R 16.34 15.95 16.23 15.95* 2cyl 1780cc 5M 127 160 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10

0.52 0.47 0.53 0.52 1cyl 113cc V 8.7 9 na na na l✔ l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ 6/10

Sling shot 0.55 0.53 0.53 0.59 1cyl 124cc 5M 8.5 10 na na 60 l✔ l■ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 4/10

0.51 0.48 0.50 0.57 1cyl 124cc V 8.5 9.8 na na na l✔ l■ l✖ l✔ l✖ l■ l✖ l✖ 7/10

1000 ABS 15.32 14.95 15.21 14.95* 2cyl 1037cc 6M na na na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10

Thunderbird: The cruiser in the crowd. Quite comfortable on the highway and an extremely steady bike. L: 204cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 124cm Weight: 179kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Avenger

TG Awards: Street Sport Bike of the Year 2015: Suzuki Gixxer ‘Spend some time with it, and you will realise why the Gixxer is so much fun.’

Company description: Maker of the fastest production motorcycle of the world has found the going tough in India.

SUZUKI Dealers na Warranty na Website www.suzukimotorcycle.co.in

Access: Suzuki’s attempt to redefine practicality is great for college-goers. 125cc power for the price of an Activa.L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 109kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6.4litres Also try: Honda Activa, Dio, Kinetic Flyte

Bandit: Proper cross-country tourer for those who aren’t fans of the Harley way.L: 213cm Seat Height: 81/83cm Wheelbase: 1485cm Weight: 250kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Harley Davidson XR1200 Sportster, Ducati Monster

Gixxer: Suzuki’s 155cc naked bike has got the Yamaha FZ square in its sights.L: 205cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 133cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Yamaha FZ

Gixxer SF: Just as good as the naked Gixxer, only with a fairing. Looks cooler in the MotoGP livery.L: 205cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 133cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Yamaha FZ

GS 150 R: Possibly the most refined bike in India with good ride and handling. The six-speed gearbox is super-smooth.L: 209.5cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 134cm Weight: 134kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar, Unicorn, FZ-16, Apache

GSX: Suzuki’s litre bike completes a Japanese trio. Arguably the most comfortable of the lot.L: 204.5cm Seat Height: 81cm Wheelbase: 140.5 Weight: 205kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.5litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1, Honda Fireblade

Hayabusa: Not the fastest production motorcycle anymore, but the 1300cc motor still pack a lot of punch.L: 219cm Seat Height: 805cm Wheelbase: 148cm Weight: 260kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 21litres Also try: Yamaha YZF-R1 or a few hundred Pulsars put together

Intruder: This is a mammoth motorcycle with an engine big enough to put most cars to shame.L: 248cm Seat Height: 705cm Wheelbase: 171cm Weight: 347kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: Most cars that you can think of or maybe even a boat

Let’s: A decent little scooter that doesn’t offer anything path-breaking. Needs to catch up with Honda in terms of refinement. L: 180cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 98kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5.2litres Also try: Honda Dio

Sling Shot: Reskinned Zeus to break the lull, or so Suzuki hopes. Stylish design, quality of materials not very good though.L: 203.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 18inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Honda Shine, TVS Flame, Discover, Hero Honda Splendor

Swish: Want a peformance scooter with a bit of style? The Swish is what the doctor ordered. L: 178cm Seat Height: 78cm Wheelbase: 125cm Weight: 128kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 6litres Also try: Honda Dio

V-Strom: Suzuki attempts to wander in the Multistrada territory. Is it a right step?L: 228.5cm Seat Height: 85cm Wheelbase: 155.5cm Weight: 228kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 20litres Also try: Ducati Multistrada, Triumph Tiger

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Bonneville na 5.7 na 6.67 2cyl 865cc 5M 67 68 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10Bonneville T100 na 6.6 na 7.67 2cyl 865cc 5M 67 68 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 7/10Thruxton na 6.7 na 7.79 2cyl 865cc 5M 68 69 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10

Daytona 675 na 10.15 na 11.57 3cyl 675cc 6M 126 74 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ naDaytona 675 R na 11.4 na 13.05 3cyl 675cc 6M 126 74 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 9/10

Speed Triple na 10.4 na 11.93 3cyl 1050cc 6M 133 111 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 8/10Street Triple na 7.5 na 8.69 3cyl 675cc 6M 104 68 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ -

Rocket III Roadster na 20 na 23.05 3cyl 2294cc 5M 146 221 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ 6/10

Thunderbird Storm na 13 na 15.08 2cyl 1699cc 6M 97 156 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ na

Thunderbird LT na 15.75 na na 2cyl 1699cc 6M 93 151 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ na

Tiger 800 XC na 12 na 13.67 3cyl 799cc 6M 94 79 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ naTiger Explorer na 17.9 na 20.25 3cyl 1215cc 6M 135 121 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ na

RTR160 0.69 0.68 0.68 0.85 1cyl 159cc 5M 15.2 13.1 105 na 42 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 4/10RTR180 0.73 0.72 0.72 0.89 1cyl 178cc 5M 17.1 15.5 119 4.15 33 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 7/10RTR180 ABS 0.83 0.82 0.82 1.01 1cyl 178cc 5M 17.1 15.5 119 4.15 33 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ na

0.49 0.44 0.48 0.62 1cyl 109cc V 7.8 8 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 8/10

0.53 0.52 0.53 0.63 1cyl 124.5cc 4M 10.8 10.8 95 na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l■ l✖ l✔ 4/10

Streak 0.42 0.43 0.41 0.54 1cyl 87cc V 5 5.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10Pep Plus 0.40 0.41 0.39 0.52 1cyl 87cc V 5 5.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 4/10Zest 110 na 0.42 na 0.59 1cyl 109.7cc V 7.9 8.7 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 6/10

0.52 0.49 0.50 0.63 1cyl 110cc V 8 8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

TG Awards: Bike of the Year 2015: Triumph Daytona 675R ‘In a segment obsessed with power, the cracking middleweight 675R focuses on being fun.’

Company description: British bike maker not to be mistaken with the lingerie company of the same name.

TRIUMPH Dealers 10 Website www.triumphmotorcycles .in

Bonneville: The quintessential Triumph. Also the most inexpensive bike of the range. Couldn’t get any better.L: 211.5cm Seat Height: 74cm Wheelbase: 149cm Weight: 225kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Harley SuperLow.

Daytona: 675cc three-pot, racing-derived genes and looks to make your heart melt. An expensive, but fine machine.L: 204.5cm Seat Height: 83cm Wheelbase: 137.5cm Weight: 184kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17.4litres Also try: Resisting the temptation.

Roadsters: These are the stripped-down Daytonas, one with a 675cc motor, the other with a 1050. Proper Brit muscle.L: 210cm Seat Height: 82.5cm Wheelbase: 143.5cm Weight: 214kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 17litres Also try: Harley’s Sportster range, Kawasaki Z1000.

Rocket III Roadster: With the biggest engine for any production bike, the Rocket III is big enough to dwarf most other cruisers.L: 250cm Seat Height: 75cm Wheelbase: 169.5cm Weight: 367kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 24litres Also try: Harley Night Rod, Ducati Diavel, Suzuki Intruder.

Thunderbird Storm: The poor man’s Rocket III. Not inexpensive or inconspicous in any way.L: 234cm Seat Height: 70cm Wheelbase: 161.5cm Weight: 339kg Wheel size: 19inches Fuel tank: 22litres Also try: A Harley Softail, Honda VT 1300 CX.

Thunderbird LT: A Thunderbird that’s built for the long haul. Slightly detuned motor, but still sufficiently powerful.L: 254.6cm Seat Height: 70cm Wheelbase: 166.5cm Weight: 380kg Wheel size: 16inches Fuel tank: 22litres Also try: Harley-Davidson Softail Classic

Tiger: Triumph’s go-anywhere soldier, the Tiger is all the touring motorcycle you’d ever want. Also available with a bigger engine.L: 221.5cm Seat Height: 86.5cm Wheelbase: 154.5cm Weight: 215kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 19litres Also try: BMW R 1200 GS, Ducati Multistrada.

TG Awards: Scooter of the Year 2014: TVS Jupiter ‘The everyday family scooter that ran rings around the competition this year.’

Company description: They’ve had their ups and downs but seem sorted out now. Strong presence in southern India, rest of India needs some attention.

TVS Dealers 618 Warranty 2 years or 30,000km bikes,Model dependent for scooters Website www.tvsmotor.in

Apache: Into its second generation now with a bigger engine and more ‘race effects’. Still a great looker.L: 202cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 130cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17/18inches Fuel tank: 16litres Also try: Pulsar 150, Achiever, Unicorn.

Jupiter: TVS’s latest offering to take on the Honda Activa, just that it looks too similar to its rival. L: 183.4cm Seat Height: 65cm Wheelbase: 127.5cm Weight: na Wheel size: 12inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Yamaha Ray

Phoenix: A straight forward commuter bike. What you see is what you get. L: 198.5cm Seat Height: na Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 116kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Discover 125

Scooty: It’s tiny, petite and peppy. Convenient for city errands. But buy a bike for regular commuting. Perfect as your first two-wheeler.L: 168.5cm Seat Height: 106cm Wheelbase: 123cm Weight: 85-97kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Nothing really

Wego: With the Wego, TVS has set its eyes on Honda’s share of the gearless two-wheeler market.L: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Activa, Honda Aviator


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S 0.76 0.75 0.76 0.92 1cyl 125cc V 10 10.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10VX 0.72 0.71 0.72 0.87 1cyl 125cc V 10 10.6 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ 6/10

0.49 0.47 0.48 0.60 1cyl 113cc V 7.1 na na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ 7/10

na 0.52 na 0.64 1cyl 113cc V 7 8.1 na na na l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ -

Fazer 0.78 0.77 0.78 0.91 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 13 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✖ 6/10

FZ na 0.76 na na 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 12.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 5/10S na 0.78 na na 1cyl 149cc 5M 13 12.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 5/10

FZ 1 11.63 11.86 12.10 13.65 4cyl 998cc 6M 147.9 106 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 8/10

Ray 0.46 0.45 0.46 0.56 1cyl 113cc V 7 8.1 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10Ray Z 0.48 0.47 0.48 0.58 1cyl 113cc V 7 8.1 na na na l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✖ 7/10

SZ-RR 0.62 0.61 0.62 0.73 1cyl 153cc 5M 12.1 12.8 na na na l✖ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ 4/10SZ-S 0.59 0.58 0.59 0.66 1cyl 153cc 5M 12.1 12.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ 4/10

na 0.52 na 0.67 1cyl 125cc 4M 8 10 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✖ l✖ l✖ l✔ l✔ -

27.83 29.02 29.60 33.09 4cyl 1679cc 5M 200 166.8 na na na l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ -

R1 na 22.34 na na 4cyl 998cc 6M 197 112.4 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -R1M na 29.43 na na 4cyl 998cc 6M 197 112.4 na na na l✔ l✔ l✖ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ -

1.14 1.10 1.11 1.27 1cyl 150cc 6M 16.8 15 140 na 40 l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l✔ l■ l✔ 7/10

TG Awards: Two wheeler design of the year 2012 'Could've called this Automotive Fashion Statement of the Year. But it already was, so never mind.'

Company description: If there ever was a company that married history and tradition with a modern outlook, Vespa is it.

VESPA Dealers 8 Warranty na Website www.vespaindia.com

Vespa: This 125cc scooter is undoubtedly one of the best-looking scooters out there. Sticker price is a shocker, thoughL: na Seat Height: na Wheelbase: na Weight: na Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish, Yamaha Ray

TG Awards: Scooter of the year 2012: Ray'Yamaha finally enters scooter market in India. Pulls a winner out of the hat.'

Company description: Have made a name out of manufacturing fast bikes. Great products, but dealer network not good enough to back them up.

YAMAHA Dealers 400 Warranty 2 years or 20,000km Website www.yamaha-motor-india.com

Alpha: Yamaha’s attempt to take on the scooter segment dominated by Honda’s ActivaL: 179.5cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 104kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 5.2litres Also try: Honda Activa, Honda Aviator

Fascino: Styled to fight the Vespa, priced to snatch a piece of the Activa’s pie. A style-conscious Alpha, in essence.L: 181.5cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 103kg Wheel size: 10 inches Fuel tank: 5.2 litres Also try: Vespa, Honda Activa

Fazer: Purely a commuter. Surprisingly a good handler and has a refined engine. Now with lesser power, and lesser weight.L: 197cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133.5cm Weight: 135kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 13.2litres Also try: Pulsar 150, CB Unicorn Dazzler

FZ FI V2.0: Boldest of the 150cc lot with tyres to chew and spit out the competition. Less powerful now, but also lighter.L: 199cm Seat Height: 79cm Wheelbase: 133cm Weight: 132kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Pulsar 180, Apache RTR

FZ 1: Street fighter looks and performance to go with it. Will give you all the thrills of a litre class bike. L: 214cm Seat Height: 81.5cm Wheelbase: 146cm Weight: 214kg Wheel size: na Fuel tank: 18litres Also try: CB 1000 R

Ray: Aimed at ladies, but not surprisingly, it endears itself to the opposite sex too. Fun to ride, looks good and is a YamahaL: 183.5cm Seat Height: 76cm Wheelbase: 127cm Weight: 104kg Wheel size: 10inches Fuel tank: 5litres Also try: Honda Dio, Suzuki Swish

SZ: Cheaper alternative to FZ16, cuts down on essentials like disc brakes and pass beamL: 205cm Seat Height: 80.2cm Wheelbase: 132cm Weight: 132kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 14litres Also try: Hero Honda Hunk

Saluto: Yamaha’s having another crack at the 125cc commuter bike segment with the oddly-named SalutoL: 203.5cm Seat Height: 80.5cm Wheelbase: 126.5cm Weight: 112kg Wheel size: 18 inches Fuel tank: 7.6 litres Also try: Honda CB Shine, Bajaj Discover 125

V-Max: Be ready for some seriously fast acceleration, and hope no one is crossing while you are at it. L: 239.5cm Seat Height: 77.5cm Wheelbase: 170cm Weight: 310kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 15litres Also try: Apollo 11, SR 71

YZF-R1: Want to be like Rossi? Well, you can start with at least looking like him on a Yamaha.L: 205.5cm Seat Height: 85.5-86cm Wheelbase: 140.5cm Weight: 200kg Wheel size: 17 inches Fuel tank: 17 litres Also try: Ducati Panigale 1299, BMW S1000RR

YZF-R15 2.0: Same old R15 tweaked for better performance. Though no power upgrade will put off a few peopleL: 197cm Seat Height: 80cm Wheelbase: 134.5cm Weight: 136kg Wheel size: 17inches Fuel tank: 12litres Also try: Karizma ZMR, Bajaj Pulsar 220


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bbc top gear india - august 2015

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