Riding the adventure

  Im back in the Slavia 1.5 TSI after a few months, and immediately, the extra punch of the engine and the sorted handling get the corners of my mouth to curl up involuntarily. This car is a pleasure to drive at all speeds. And what stands out and draws attention is just how well it is built and put together. The brightness and luster of the paint, the quality of the sheet metal work (A-class surfaces), how beautifully the chrome bits enhance the lines, and the way Skoda’s three-dimensional grille is chamfered are the bits I love. On the inside too, it’s a similar experience. The dash is clearly a step down from international models like the Octavia and Superb, still, the quality feel of the steering wheel, the beautifully built gear lever and the manner in which the door pads impart a solid vibe make it feel special. What also feels great is that my iPhone connects in a snap, and the audio quality over phone calls is so good, you can talk softly and still be heard clearly on the o...

  The shiny red Kiger CVT has been my daily driver for over two months now, though I was already quite familiar with Renault’s compact SUV as prior to this I was driving the Kiger equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox.   The Kiger’s design is sharp in any exterior color. Be it the blue on my earlier long-termer or the dual-tone red and black on this CVT, the SUV continues to gather praise for its looks. But when it comes to driving, both are quite different. The CVT gearbox takes some time to get going, but after that, it shifts effortlessly and acceleration is quite linear, especially for a Turbo – unlike the change in performance in the manual version when the turbo kicked in. Though the smooth automatic gearbox is a boon to drive in Mumbai traffic, the absence of a clutch pedal makes me feel a bit of a lazy driver of sorts. Renault, however, has provided a dead pedal to rest your left foot, which is helpful during long drives; this isn’t common in SUVs at this pric...

  Performance and Durability The Mighty Engine Inside the Jimny The Suzuki Jimny is equipped with a small yet mighty engine that delivers impressive performance. Its engine displacement is only 1.5 liters, but it can produce up to 101 horsepower and 96 lb-ft of torque. Owner Satisfaction So, we have discussed the reliability, performance, and safety features of the Suzuki Jimny. But what do actual owners have to say about their experiences with this vehicle? Based on owner reviews, it seems that people who own a Jimny are quite satisfied with their purchase. Conclusion After a detailed analysis, it can be concluded that the Suzuki Jimny is indeed a reliable car. It has received high ratings from reputable sources such as Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. The common issues reported by owners are minor and don’t seem to affect its overall reliability. The performance of the Jimny is impressive, with its efficient engine and excellent handling capabilities. Its off-road capabilities ar...

  The 1st-gen Thar was rather controversial. Those used to old Jeeps & Gypsys appreciated the fact that it was more liveable, but there is no doubt that it was a crude hack-job full of many jugaads. The only real competition it had was the vintage Maruti Gypsy, which didn't offer a diesel engine, power steering or decent ride quality, so the 1st-gen Thar did okay. Mahindra realised the potential of a Jeep like the Thar and has gone all out with this 2nd-gen machine. It is significantly more modern, better equipped, well-finished and even comes with Automatics to expand its appeal! The Thar is available in 2 trim levels - AX (Adventure Series) and LX (Lifestyle Series) with 4 variants - AX Standard, AX, AX (Opt) and LX. You can choose from three different types of roofs – a fixed soft-top, an innovative convertible soft-top and a hard-top. It is also available in 4 and 6-seater configurations. The Thar is still not at par with similarly priced cars and crossovers in many departm...

  What makes a positive first impression is the 1,349cc aluminium engine’s refinement, which, for a three-cylinder unit, is quite silent at idle and cruising speeds, and doesn’t get too vocal or thrummy when spun faster. And while on the topic of refinement, passengers are nicely isolated from road and tyre noise, which is well contained, except on really coarse surfaces. This turbo-petrol unit delivers performance in a linear manner and if you want rapid progress, this motor obliges with impressive acceleration. For reference, it sprints to 100kph from a standstill in a respectable 10.23sec and tops out at 183kph (as measured by our GPS kit). So, while it is reasonably quick, it doesn’t ‘feel’ fast due to its relaxed power delivery, and with revs maxing out at 5,600rpm, it doesn’t quite feel sporty either. Complementing this motor is a 6-speed Aisin-sourced torque converter transmission that feels seamless on the upshifts and almost like a CVT, so you barely notice the transition ...

 Tata started its passenger car story in India with the Indica, India’s first indigenously developed motor car. The carmaker soon offered other models including various SUVs such as the Sumo, Safari, and Sierra. But all these names are long gone, although not forgotten. Tata’s Indian chapter took a big turn in terms of quality and engineering in the last decade, especially since it acquired the esteemed British brands Jaguar and Land Rover. Ever since that, Tata has been on a roll with great products that are engineered and built to high standards making them compete with European and Japanese brands. The Tata Harrier is one such car and it is the face of modern Tatas.  Built on Land Rover’s platform that underpins cars such as the Discovery Sport, the Harrier has its roots in the right place. This coupled with a contemporary design language, a great engine, a good set of features, and a commanding road presence explains why the Tata Harrier is one of the most popular SUVs in ...