Abarth 595 Competizione

Here's the photo gallery of Fiat's Abarth 595 Competizione.
Launched at a price of Rs. 29,85000 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Ford Figo Aspire

The latest entrant in the sub-four metre compact sedan segment from @FordIndia is @FigoAspire

Style that make the heads turn.

Bold front grille

Smart Key

Hatches go head to head

In a battle of hatchbacks, we pit Hyundai’s Elite i20 against Fiat’s Punto Evo to decide which one is better on-road

Are you looking for a ­premium hatch that matches both your ­personality and pocket, but are confused which one to choose? We compare Hyundai’s Elite i20 with Fiat’s Punto Evo to help you select the best set of wheels.

Exterior

Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille, pulled back head lamps and visible creases on the ­bonnet — all contribute to a stylish front end. What catches your attention is its blacked out C-pillar (that holds the sides of the rear window in place). At the rear, large LED tail lamps adorn this premium hatch. But the placement of the reverse parking camera was not to our liking.

In the case of Punto Evo, it looks significantly muscular, with design elements such as swept back headlamps, a grille outlined by a thin strip of chrome, as well as chrome ­surrounds for its fog lamps. The rear has LED tail lights, which are quite sporty, and so are the chrome embellishments around the reflectors found in the rear bumper.

Interior

Inside the cabin of the Elite i20, the first thing you will notice is its two-tone interior and the center console. This hatch is high on features like electric ORVMs (Outside Rear View Mirrors) with auto fold, a cooled glove box and a reverse parking camera, to highlight a few. The rear offers better knee room for passengers, with the facility of AC vents. 

On the other hand, in the Punto Evo, stylish ambient ­lightning is a plus point. The dashboard looks premium with the piano black finish around the AC vents, along with the music system. Though the add-on ­feature of the rain ­sensing ­wipers might attract you, the missing parking sensors might disappoint you. At the rear, the knee room is not that great.

Performance

As for the on-road performance, both hatches offer a comfy ride, even on bumpy roads, while over the corners, their handling is good. If we talk about their respective power delivery, Elite i20 scores over Punto Evo. Overtaking is swift in Elite i20 in comparison to Punto Evo, which is a bit sluggish. In Elite i20, the gear shifts are jerk free, but in Punto Evo, it feels notchy.

Verdict

After comparing both the ­hatches, we think that Elite i20 is surely a better packaged ­product, be it its exterior and interior design or its ­performance on-road. When we talk about the Punto Evo, it does aim to ­provide sporty looks, but lacks in the engine output, which is a major drawback.

Elegance on wheels

Audi’s new sedan, A3, brims with elegance and style, but will it catch the fancy of the desi buyers?

THE GOOD

True elegance is what defines the Audi A3, which bears a neat and simple design thanks, to its sleek headlamps. A pair of black spoilers in the front further contribute to a sporty look. Sharp shoulder lines rising from the headlamp cluster all the way to back, help in giving it a rich look. On the whole, the overall design is pretty similar to that of Audi A4.

On the inside, the two-tone cabin feels very airy and ­spacious. The air vents, shaped like a turbine, will instantly catch your eye. There is plenty of room in the front while the cabin comes loaded with a bunch of ­goodies such as a 7 inch ­resolution screen, sun-roof, among many other features. 

Under the hood is a 2-litre diesel engine, which is mated with a 6-speed automatic ­transmission — ideal for Indian conditions. This sedan is well-suited to city as well as highway driving conditions. Therefore, overtaking vehicles is a swift affair in both the conditions. The ride and ­handling of the A3 is top notch, as the car can adapt itself to ­corners and small bumps with utter ease.

THE BAD

There is a bit of a turbo lag in this car, especially at lower speeds (below 2000 RPM). But the moment you reach within the mid-range (2000 – 3500 RPM), this sedan glides smoothly on the road. Another flaw that we can pinpoint is that the space at the rear is just about adequate, not great. Other cars such as the Mercedes A Class and the BMW 1 Series would be competitive within the Audi A3’s price segment. 

THE UGLY

The sloping roof line of the Audi A3 does pose to be a problem, as there is ­minimum amount of head room in the rear. The raised transmission tunnel in the rear of the sedan means that only two ­people can be ­accommodated at the back.

New wheels on the block

We spin around the Mobilio, Honda’s advent into the competitive MPV segment, and find out if it works for the Indian buyer or not

THE GOOD

The Honda products are generally known to be high on style, and the brand’s latest entry, Mobilio, is no exception. Applying a modern approach to design, the MPV’s (multi-purpose vehicle) exteriors have a touch of class. Features like the chrome highlighted grill, the sharp-edged line that highlights the side profile, the floating roof line and large wrap around tail lamps with plastic reflector inserts on the back, give the car a premium look. 

When we observe the ­interiors of this car, the first thing that catches the eye is the ample space. The cabin is quite big and roomy, especially in the front. Move back to the middle row and you notice that the seats’ sliding function makes for excellent legroom for the passengers. Another ­advantage that the middle row offers is the availability of air conditioner vents, which make those long journeys quite ­comfortable. The third row, too, offers decent amount of space wherein an adult can sit ­comfortably, but for a short ­distance.

Under the hood, Mobilio ­features two engine variants — 1.5L (petrol) and 1.5L (diesel). Both the engines are refined and provide for a ­comfortable drive. Revving them hard isn’t really an issue, as the gear shifts are pretty decent. In a straight line, this MPV has good body control, while you get to know of its fine ride quality when it smoothly absorbs potholes and broken roads. Overall, 

when it comes to packaging and ­competing with other brands within the same category, Moblio makes for a good buy.

THE BAD

The similarity of the dashboard with that of the Amaze dampens the overall feel of the interiors, as one would expect a slightly spruced up layout. Another ­glaring flaw that we found in the interiors was that the third row lacks proper under-thigh support. As a result, only kids will be comfortable in this row during long journeys. If we talk about the drive, at a high speed (above 100 kmph), the steering feels really light. Now this seems like a major drawback, as the grip over the steering might loosen. The inconsistency of good quality material used in some parts, such as the door, is an area of concern as well.

THE UGLY

The NVH (Noise and Vibration Harshness) levels still leave a bit more to be desired from the car’s diesel engine. Also, the absence of a reverse camera, parking ­sensors and ­bluetooth ­connectivity are ­features that can be found in any ­segment. Their unavailability in the Mobilio is bound to put off many who are looking towards ­procuring a solid MPV from the Honda brand.

Sporty side up - Mercedes ML 63 AMG

The Mercedes ML 63 AMG promises to be an SUV combined with luxury and performance. But can it take you by surprise? Let’s find out. 

THE GOOD

An aggressive, striking front face which not only features a prominent chrome grille with a large three-pointed star logo, but also pulled back headlamps, day time running LED lights along with a sporty front, and a rear bumper with large air dams. However, the most distinct feature in this variant is the AMG badging on the rear with signature AMG quad-exhausts that give this SUV a tough look. 

When we talk about the insides of the car, the cabin feels spacious and luxurious. The front seats offer good support, with features like heating and memory function. For the middle row, passengers get two screens to keep themselves entertained while on the move. You also get performance steering for comfort. 

Under the hood is a V8, 5.5 liter, twin-turbo engine, which when unleashed, makes the SUV a thrill to drive. It comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which offers quick shifts. The exhausts note is outstanding and makes you feel like a racer. Plus, the AMG engine will make the car accelerate from 0-100 kmph in just 4.8 seconds. It has a full time all-wheel drive system with active curve system and three suspension settings — comfort, sport and sport+. Considering the size and weight of the vehicle, the brakes are impressive. Overall, the AMG version packs in quite a few punches than its other sibling — the ML.

THE BAD

If we talk about the drive around corners, there is a bit of body role at high speeds, especially when the suspension setting is on the comfort mode. Also, if you compare it with brands such as the Range Rover Sport and the Porsche Cayenne, the Mercedes ML 63 AMG’s interior space is not really very exciting.

THE UGLY

The looks of both the versions (ML and AMG) end up being quite similar. That’s because besides the badging, one cannot really spot out a major difference between a regular ML model and the AMG derived variant. Let’s not forget that at the end of the day, a consumer is paying a lot extra for this performance-oriented machine. The only added advantage for a prospective buyer of the AMG variant is that he will get a much more powerful engine compared to the ML. But whether this will be a good enough reason for the Indian buyer to go for this SUV is what remains to be seen. 

Feature high, but a bumpy ride

Despite a rich features list, Mahindra and SsangYong’s Rexton RX6 doesn’t offer you a smooth drive on high speeds

THE GOOD

By sheer description, its ­muscular appearance, a high ranking features list and massive ground clearance sets Rexton RX6 worthy of a glance. A large prominent chrome grille with pulled-back headlamps comprising both daytime running lights and projector lamps make for a striking front end. LED-studded tail lamps with a wrap-around windscreen, further enhances its profile.

When you step inside the ­vehicle, the spacious and luxurious cabin with its dual tone interior, will instantly catch your eye, as it looks quite smart and sophisticated. This SUV feels big from inside, as a result of which, there is ­plenty of legroom for the middle row too. It comes loaded with a bunch of goodies such as a sunroof, a touch-screen infotainment system with GPS, a rear parking sensor, rain-sensing wipers, ­automatic headlamps and ­powered driver’s seat with ­memory, to mention a few.

Under the hood is a 2.7-litre, 5-cylinder diesel engine with the 4-wheel-drive ‘Torque on Demand’ system, which provides power to front wheels as and when required. Therefore, the power delivery is pretty smooth. Overall, the drive experience is pretty good and comfortable, as the car ­gobbles potholes and broken road without any hassles. Facilities such as ESP, Hill Decent do come in handy while going off-road and taking on the hills. You can call it one of the best Ssang Yong ­products in the Indian market.  

THE BAD

What disappointed us was the sloppy gearbox, which seems a bit outdated, and the absence of cruise control further dampens the driving experience. A soft suspension and light steering do pose to be an issue when the SUV is on high speed and on bumpy roads. The third row caters to minimum leg and knee room, indicative of the fact that it is only suited for children, not for adults. 

THE UGLY

With no reverse parking camera on board, parking is an issue, especially in cramped spaces. In ­comparison to segment leaders like Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero-Sport, the Rexton falls short.