Mercedes-Benz says it will go all-electric by 2030, but with conditions. The German automaker says it will only sell electric vehicles “where market conditions allow,” implying that Mercedes may still sell gas-powered vehicles after 2030 in countries that lack consumer demand for EVs.

The company made the announcement during an EV strategy update Thursday morning, the latest in a series of automaker events to declare a major pivot to electric powertrains. But while other car companies have similarly promised to shift to all-EV production, Mercedes is notable by hedging its promise on external factors.

Other major automakers have included similar caveats. GM, for example, said it would be carbon neutral by 2040, but wouldn’t commit to ending the sale of gas-powered vehicles by that date. And GM’s top executives described the goal of eliminating tailpipe emissions from its new light-duty vehicles by 2035 as “an aspiration” rather than a certainty.

Still, Mercedes says it will commit €40 billion ($47 billion) to the electrification of its lineup by 2030. “We are convinced, we can do it with strong profitability, and we believe that focus on electrical is the right way to build a successful future and to enhance the value of Mercedes Benz,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of Daimler and head of Mercedes-Benz.

In the world of SUVs, there is one manufacturer which is not ready to give up on the premium sedan space and that’s Skoda and I absolutely love Skoda for that. Even after seeing cars like the Hyundai Elantra and the Honda Civic get crushed by the SUVs, Skoda just launched the all new Octavia and I can’t be more excited.

Octavia is the car that laid the bricks for Skoda in the Indian market. After all the Octavia has always been an extremely desirable product. I can still remember me as a kid in the 4th grade turning my neck every time a yellow Octavia stopped at the signal. The looks, the interior, the power, the comfort and much more has made the Octavia a very loved product.

In the Indian market today, the Octavia doesn’t really compete with any of its rivals in its class since there aren’t any but that isn’t a good news. This makes the Octavia compete directly against the much more popular SUV segment. Some of its rivals are the Jeep Compass, Hyundai Tucson and the Citron C5.

Though looks are subjective, but if you tell me that you don’t like how the new gen Octavia looks, I’ll have no option but to judge your taste. The design of the Octavia is the typical Skoda styling. It looks so cunning with those sharp headlamps but also sophisticated at the same time, thanks to those elegant creases running over its body. The Sportback design just puts so much more character in the Octavia. The overall styling of the Octavia is really eye catchy and helps it easily distinguish itself among other cars. What I am not a fan of is the alloy wheels which I feel just look too overdone, I somewhat hate them to be honest. I hope Skoda gets rid of them as soon as possible. 

Another area where the Octavia really impresses is its drivability. It does not compromise on power in any way. Powered by a big 2.0 litre TSI engine which produces 190 ps and 320 nm of torque, the Octavia is more than enough to provoke you to reach illegal speeds. Also the figures are the most impressive when compared to the SUVs. And this has always been the essence of the Octavia, its a car that urges you to play with it. Although this time there is no Diesel engine for the Octavia which might make some buyers unhappy but you won’t miss it when drive the 2.0 TSI. The Octavia is based on the same platform as the Audi A3 which makes it very agile yet stable. The Octavia comes with a 7 speed DSG automatic transmission which works well enough. Upshifts and downshift are precise and smooth. Also what you get for the enthusiast inside you are paddle shifters so that you can take out the best from the engine. The claimed figures by Skoda state that the Octavia can do 0-60 km/h in 3.22 seconds and 0-100 km/h in less than 8 seconds which is very impressive. Octavia has a lot to offer when it comes to driving it. It is happy to be pulled around corners and gives you the confidence you want when doing risky turns. This is where sedans like the Octavia are superior than the SUVs. You don’t have to care about the body roll or stress about driving a machine that’s so massive. Nothing matches the feel of positioning your seat as low as possible with those paddle shifters in your hands and just going for a ride in the hills. 

When I first took a glance at the interiors of the Octavia I was genuinely impressed. I have always been a fan of how simple and elegant Skoda interiors are but this time it Skoda just aced it. I absolutely love how the interior is laid out and the 2 spoke steering just compliments it in a very beautiful way. Everything you touch and feel is of great quality. You do realise that your money was spent at the right place. Sadly, now is where things start going downhill for the Skoda Octavia.

There are two variants of the Octavia on sale, Style and the L&K variant priced at close to 26 lakhs and 29 lakhs. Although the Octavia offers a lot, it just doesn’t offer enough to justify its price. Things get even worse when you start to compare it with its competitors. It lacks out on features which some of the much cheaper alternatives are offering and which Indians have developed a taste for. A major missing for the Indians is a sunroof which according to me is a very hyped up feature but I just can’t overlook its popularity. Some of the other features which I feel should’ve been given at this price point are 360° parking camera, ventilated seats, driving modes, headlight washers, buttons for climate control, automatic wipers. But if you don’t care about the features, Octavia should hold its position in your list. Apart from these features, Skoda Octavia offers you enough to be more than happy.

MY VERDICT

Skoda has done a great job with the new generation Octavia. It is absolutely fun to drive, offers great space, is a delight to look at and feels premium from inside. Yes, the feature list might not be as interesting like most of us would’ve like but if you don’t care a lot about features and just want the thrill of driving, you are good to go. Coming to comparing it with the SUVs, the fact is you just can’t compare a sedan to the SUVs, its like comparing apples and oranges. There is a lot both the segments offer individually. So, if you’re out in the market looking for a full size sedan, you should definitely check out the new Skoda Octavia.

In the already crowded and explored midsize compact SUV, when Renault announced their entry, everyone tried to figure what Renault could offer apart from what the other manufacturers are already offering. At the first glance of the Renault Kiger, it seemed to be a very average compact SUV which didn’t have the wow factor that Indians like. But where Renault proved us all wrong was when it introduced the pricing of the Kiger. Starting at just 5.45 lakhs and topping out at 9.72 lakhs, it is the cheapest in the segment. But does that mean the Kiger is worthy of your money? Let’s find out.

By the looks of the Kiger, it does not disappoint. With its wide stance, ground clearance and big bonnet, the Kiger can’t be mistaken for anything but a compact SUV. The Kiger looks rugged and can be easily differentiated from the car with which it shares the same platform, Nissan Magnite. And yes, from the front it looks like the Kwid on steroids but it doesn’t matter, because the dual headlamp set up really suits the Kiger, thanks to the hunky bonet and the greases running over its body. The back of the Kiger is very distinctive too. The C-shaped fully LED tail lamps really suit the shape of the Kiger. You can option the Kiger with a blacked out roof. The Kiger is offered with 16 inch machine cut alloy wheels which are just fine, though Renault have saved them for just the top variant. The Kiger definitely looks more SUV-ish than its direct rival, the Magnite. The design department of Renault has done a really good job in giving character to the car and they definitely deserve to be appreciated.

Kiger is offered with two engine options, a 1.0 litre naturally aspirated engine and a 1.0 litre turbo charged engine. The 1.0 litre engine makes 72 hp and 95 nm of torque. These figures are not sufficient considering the the size of the car. The power delivery is slow and the engine gets noisy as it reaches high speeds. Insulation inside the cabin is not the best in the segment either. I won’t recommend the 1.0 litre engine naturally aspirated engine since it just doesn’t go with the character of the car and is best suited for grandmas. Things change drastically when the 1.0 litre turbo charged engine comes to the picture. The turbo charged unit produced 100 horses and 160nm of torque. The engine feels no short of power. It feels punchy to drives and there is a surge of power as soon you put your foot down . Though the engine is not the most refined in the segment and does get noisy when you push it hard but that’s pretty much all you can complain with it. Yes, it might not be as good as the ones offered by the Hyundai and Tata in their compact SUVs but it isn’t far from them either, also you can’t ask for more at the price at which the Kiger is being offered. If Kiger is going to be your primary car, I’ll strongly recommend the upgrade to the 1.0 litre turbo engine.

There isn’t anything flashy about the Kiger’s interior but its not dull either. It is decently feature packed too. The plastics used in the cabin are just fine and there are almost no soft touch materials. But the way how every plastic panel has a different texture to them doesn’t let the cabin feel hard to the user. What stands out is the 7 inch instrument cluster which looks very premium and the graphics are sharp too. Also, on offer are 3 drive mode and is controlled by a nob in the centre panel. Some other stand out features include wireless charger, ambient lighting, LED headlamps and tail lights, puddle lamps,8 inch touchscreen with wireless Android auto and Apple CarPlay. Arkamy’s 8 speaker audio system, PM 2.5 Air filter. In general, Yes, you won’t get that luxury feel that you might get from some of its rivals but the Kiger offers just enough to keep you happy alongside the money you saved.

Another area where the Kiger impresses the most is the backseat space. The car has more than enough legroom and knee room to fit your family of 5. Kiger offers a 12 Volt USB socket in the back to keep your phone charged. Now when it comes to the boot space of the Kiger, it leaves all of it competitors behind with a massive boot of 405 litres. The suspension of the Kiger is stiff and allow shocks inside the cabin while going through potholes but for casual city driving, they do a good job.

MY VERDICT

Renault has proved that it has the lineup to leave a mark in the Indian Market. Kiger is a very capable product. It gives the experience of a compact SUV at the price of a hatchback. With a very vast option list, the Kiger has something to offer to every buyer. If you’re on a budget and are looking for an SUV, you should definitely take a loot at the Kiger.

The Superb has been one of Skoda’s most successful product in the Indian market. Back when the Superb was first launched in 2004, it really caught the eyes of the Indian buyers. It suited the Indian premium sedan buyers perfectly. The Superb clearly shattered its competitors like the Toyota Camry and Nissan Tiana back then. But a lot has changed since. The position that was enjoyed by the sedans has now swiftly been taken over by the SUVs. The consumers now prefer big and hunky SUVs over lengthy and boring sedans. This happened in India too. Now when you look at the full sized sedan segment of the Indian car market, the Skoda Superb is second to none since its the only car available in the segment. That puts the Superb against competitors like the big and strong Toyota Fortuner, MG Gloster and the Ford Endeavour. Does that mean its all over for the Superb? Let’s find out.

Skoda has tried hard to keep the Superb relevant and it has achieved some success too. While all the competitors in this segment gave up, Skoda still kept trying and this year they have came up with the facelifted Skoda Superb.

The 2021 Skoda Superb looks eye catching just as before. With sharp greases running all over its body, the Superb looks a class apart. The front looks aggressive and dominating with those sharp LED headlights. Though the rear of the Superb is something that might divide the people into two groups but I personally have no problems from the Superb’s rear but I am not a fan either. The massive length and the aggressive styling does make the Superb look apart from the other sedans and has a road presence of its own. All in all, Superb is fantastic looking sedan which you can proudly show off to the world.

The Superb is offered in 2 trim levels, the Sportline, which is a more driver focussed variant and the Laurin and Klement variant which is focussed towards the rear seat passenger. Under the hood of both the models is a 2.0 litre TSI engine which produces 190 hp and 320 nm of torque. The figures of the engine are equally impressive as the engine itself. The engine of the Superb delivers power seamlessly. The 2.0 litre TSI puts a smile on your face as you put your foot down on the accelerator. Skoda has claimed 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds for the Superb which is very impressive for a car of that size. The engine is very refined with very little turbo lag. Considering its competition with the full sized SUVs, the Superb is right at par with the best in the segment. In terms of engine and driving pleasure, you won’t regret choosing the Superb over the SUVs.

The suspension of the Superb has been stiffened by a bit and which was needed since the old generation’s was very soft. So, the ride that you get is very pleasant and composed. The suspension absorbs most of the bumps but does feel short while going through the big ones.

Let’s talk how to Superb is on the inside.

The Superb on the inside is superb as well(sorry, couldn’t control it anymore). What really stands out is how every material touch and feels. Almost everywhere there are soft touch materials and the quality of the plastics is more than satisfactory too. The dash of the Superb is very simple or maybe a little too simple for to my liking. The wow factor is missing in the dashboard which I feel should’ve been there considering its price but it still does the job fairly well. The feature list of the Superb is really impressive. From park assists to 360 degree camera, it has got pretty much everything that you expect from 30 lakh+ rupee car. Since it would get too long if we talk about all the features, I’ll list them down below. Yes, the 8 inch touchscreen could’ve been bigger and more intuitive. The Skoda misses out on connected car features, which are in trend these days, but you can easily do without it since you’ve so much else to keep you entertained. Comparing it with SUVs, the Superb wins over almost every but 1, the MG Gloster. But the thing is that you can’t say that something is missing in the Superb until you compare it with a list against the Gloster.

Now, let’s jump to the highlight of the Superb where the most owners will spend their most time, the backseat. Like always, the Superb doesn’t disappoint at all. There is acres of legroom for everyone. Though, it would be fair to call the superb a 4 seater because of the massive transmission tunnel in the back. Also offered in the Laurin and Klement variant is the “boss mode” which shifts the front passenger seat all the way ahead with the touch of a button so that you can have that first class experience in the back. The backseat passengers also have their own climate control as the Superb is offered with a 3 zone climate control so the back passengers can set the temperature according to their own liking. A major advantage of the Superb being a sedan over the SUVs is controlled body roll. Unlike the big macho SUVs which offer loads of body roll and the fear of the car toppling over, the Superb sticks to the ground and remain planted as you go around the corners. So, if you’re looking for a backseat focussed car and you’re confused between the SUVs and the Superb, you can go for the Superb without any hesitation.

Due to only two variants on sale in India, the price chart of the Skoda Superb is pretty simple. Starting at 31.99 lakhs for the Sportline variant, the Laurin and Klement variant is priced at 34.99 lakhs.

MY VERDICT

Undeniably, the comparison here is tough. Both the sides have a lot to offer and there isn’t a clear winner here and there never can be. You won’t get the toughness from the Superb that you’ll get the from the SUVs but you don’t won’t get the driving pleasure either. But one thing is for sure, the Superb has everything to stand against the whole lineup of SUVs even though it is currently standing alone.

Sportline variant	Laurin and Klement
8 Airbags
Virtual Cockpit
12-way electrically adjustable front seats with programmable memory functions
sports seats with integrated headrests
black alcantara upholstery
leather rapped gear knob
Alu pedals
8 inch touch screen
3 zone climate control
cruise control
Carbon decor with LED ambient lighting
diffused footwell lighting
Parkatronic system

The launch of the first gen I20 in India gave name to a new segment in Indian car Industry, the premium compact hatchbacks segment. And since then the love for the premium hatchbacks has only grown. It is also one of most up to date and happening segment of the Indian market. With almost every manufacturer keeping an eye on this segment, it has given the Indian buyers some amazing products. Today, if you plan on buying a premium hatchback, you’ll most probably face a lot of confusion between these 3 cars: Hyundai I20, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Tata Altroz. Now let’s talk about which one these actually deserves to be the king of the segment.

MS Baleno/Toyota Glanza

One of the highest selling cars in the market is the MS Baleno which in terms of sales figure of this month was just second to the Swift. Also the Baleno is the oldest in this competition though it received a facelift almost 2 years back. Powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine which produces 82 horses is at par with its competition. The 1.2 litre unit is a very refined, rev happy engine which won’t give you a frown when you press the accelerator but won’t make you rush with adrenaline either. The steering is light at low speed for easy manoeuvre and does fairly good at high speeds too. The Baleno is offered with a 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic. The suspension of the Baleno is finely tuned and suits the city drive quite well. While going over bumps, the suspension does feel a little stiff. Overall in terms of drivability, the Baleno does not leave you with anything to complain.

Switching to the interiors, the chances of you getting disappointed increase a lot here. The interior of the Baleno have clearly started to show its age and is in dire need of an update considering the competition has taken the interior game to the another level. You get all the necessary kit like push button start, a 7 inch touchscreen unit, climate control, coloured TFT multi information display etc. The Baleno doesn’t offer any first in class features. The plastic quality of the interior is not the very best either but just does the job. Maruti Suzuki should definitely give the Baleno is refreshment in terms of features since there is no news of a new gen Baleno.

Although its backseat is something that really impresses. Its very spacious and can fit 3 in the back. It is also offered with leather seats in the top most Alpha trim. The baleno has got a impressive spacious boot at 339 litres. The Baleno is offered with only 2 airbags even in the topmost trim, also considering the build quality, Baleno disappoints big time when it comes to safety. But what the Baleno does offer is Value for Money. And of course its the easiest to maintain as its a MS product. Starting at 5.96 lakhs and at 9.25 lakhs for the top model, The Baleno is still a no brainer for many.

Tata Altroz

Tata’s first ever product in this segment is the Altroz. And it offers a lot to impress you. First let’s talk about its styling. The Altroz is easily a winner for me when it comes to appearance. It has a very sharp character with lines running all over its body. The Altroz undeniably looks very aggressive and pulsating.

The Altroz comes with two engine options, a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and 1.5 litre diesel engine. Sadly, there is no automatic gear box on offer only a 5 speed manual transmission. The Altroz’s engine has its fair share of problems. The engine of the Altroz isn’t as refined as its competitors. Vibrations can be felt in the first gear. Torque is lagging in the low rev range but the Altroz picks up as you increase the gears. The Altroz feels punchy and eager as you reach speeds upto 60km/h and more. Where the Altroz stand out is it the driving dynamics. The feedback from steering is at point. The steering makes you feel very connected to the car, it is light at low speed and gain weight at high speeds . Also what’s remarkable is the suspension set up. The suspensions absorb potholes and uneven roads seamlessly. The suspension is by far the best in the segment.

The Altroz impresses you as soon as you get inside it. The interior is very well put together, the quality of the plastics and the fit and finish is more than satisfactory. The feature is list of the Altroz is very long. Some of the stand out features are cruise control, 7 inch digital instrument cluster, Harman Kardon music system, ambient lighting, wearable keyband, 2 driving modes(city and eco), auto folding ORVMs. Stands tall on the centre console is a 7 inch touchscreen unit which you might feel could’ve been bigger and more responsive but it works well overall. The single colour mood lighting does uplift the ambience of the cabin significantly.

For back seat occupants there is enough knee room and leg room though fitting 3 adults in the back will be a task. The Altroz has got doors which can be opened upto 90° which makes ingress and egress extremely easy. It has got the biggest boot in the segment at 345 litres. Talk about safety and Tata Altroz outshines with its 5 star safety rating making it one of the safest Indian cars out there. Where Tata could’ve done better is with the engine by giving it more refinement and power. Still, the engine isn’t something that you can’t easily live with. All in all the Tata Altroz is a very compelling product with its sharp design, feature list, build quality, suspension and handling. The Altroz starts at 5.95 lakhs and goes all the way upto 9.45 lakhs.

Hyundai I20

The latest entrant in the segment is the new gen Hyundai I20. The I20 has been always been in the good books since its first launch in 2008. With the bold stying, refined engine and up to date interiors, it has never been a controversial choice for the Indian consumers. Hyundai has tried to up the their game by introducing the all the new I20.

The I20 is offered with 2 engine options for petrol, a 1.2 litre naturally aspirate engine producing 82 hp and a 1.0 litre turbo engine producing 120 hp. For diesel, it is offered with 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine producing 99 hp. The gearbox options that come with the i20 are plentiful. There is just little you can complain with I20’s engine. The engine of the I20 is the most refined in the segment. You get enough power even in the low torque band. Though you might feel the need of more power as you cross speeds above 80 km/h. The suspension of the i20 is on the stiffer side which can easily be felt while going through harsh road conditions but it does absorb small potholes without any hassle. While cruising, the car feels planted and secure. In general, the I20 is very smooth to drive and doesn’t leave you with any complaints. The I20 easily turns out at the top when it comes to driving pleasure in this list.

Now, where the I20 really impresses is with its feature lists and interior. The I20 has a bigger feature list than even most of the cars above its segments. Features like a 10.25 inch touchscreen, sunroof, fully digital instrument cluster, air purifier, 7 speaker Bose sound system, cruise control and ambient lighting really enhance your driving pleasure and put a smile on your face. The colour scheme of the interior is all black which does make the car feel less spacious. Although I do feel that that the layout of the interior could’ve been better and Hyundai could’ve used better materials in its cabin considering its price. The climate control feels a little weird if you think about it. The plastic quality of the I20 is at par with its rivals and does the work.

The I20 is the biggest in its segment in terms of width and wheelbase and it clearly as you sit in the backseat. It has got acres of knee room and leg room, the seats also offer good thigh support. I20 clearly wins over its competitors when it comes to backseat comfort. Disappointing is the boot space which is the smallest in the segment at285 litres. The I20 is offered with 2 airbags as standard and top variant gets 6 airbags which puts it right in between the Baleno and Altroz in terms of safety. The dealbreaker is the price of the I20. It wouldn’t be wrong to call the I20 overpriced. With the base model Magna starting 6.85 lakhs for the 1.2 litre engine, the I20 comes out as the priciest in the segment. And for top models prices crossing 13 lakhs is just not acceptable in the Indian market. The top Asta variant(1.2 litre engine) costs 9.25 lakhs which is way too much even considering the features it has to offer. Keeping this aside, I20 comes out on top in this comparison with its refined engine and loads of features and gets the crown for being the King of this segment.

STAY TUNED 🙂

You don’t need an introduction to the Scorpio and if you do, you are probably not an Indian Citizen. One of the biggest names in the Indian car industry is the Mahindra Scorpio. First launched in 2002, tagged as the first Indian urban SUV, it has won millions of hearts since its launch. It has been one the biggest success of the Mahindra group. Indians have drooled over the Scorpio for years for its spacious cabin, hunky design, road presence, practicality and the charisma it brings it to its owner. It wouldn’t be false to call it the India’s gangster car, thanks to Bollywood. But even after all these years, three generations and numerous facelifts, the Scorpio has not slowed down in any form. It is Mahindra’s second highest selling car in the market today. Today, the competition in the Indian automobile market is more fierce than ever. With manufacturers doing their everything to make their mark.

But the Scorpio has indeed started to show its age. Competitors like the Creta, Seltos, Harrier, Hector etc offer better engines, interiors and features. The Scorpio is offered with a 2.2 litre, 4 cylinder Diesel engine that produces 140 horses which frankly is not enough looking at what the competition offer. For reference, the Tata Harrier’s 2.0 litre turbocharged engine makes out almost 168 horses. Not only is it about the horsepower, but the the Scorpio’s engine doesn’t come close to the competition in terms of refinement either. Putting all this together, the Scorpio definitely needs a more powerful and refined engine to put up with the competitors.

Coming to the interiors and features of the Mahindra Scorpio. Things aren’t very mellow here either. When the Scorpio came out, its interiors weren’t something that people got gaga over. Even at that time it was a very functional and decent interior to look at with a just adequate feature list. But we are talking about 2014 here, its 2021 today and the automotive world has gone through a massive change in all these years. Now, the Scorpio’s interior is just as lifeless as my dead granny. With hard plastics everywhere, Scorpio’s interior just feels disappointing. Even some of the entry level hatchbacks have better interiors to offer. Also disappointing is the feature list, with competitors offering technology of the aliens, the Scorpio doesn’t even offer a push button start. The scorpio lacks the very trending features like a good audio system, a sunroof, smart entry, digital instrument cluster and the list just goes on.

All this criticism doesn’t mean that its all bad news for the Scorpio. There are plenty reasons behind why it sells so much. The strongest point of the Scorpio according to me is how it looks. It is easily one of the most rad looking SUV out there especially in black. With 7 seats to offer, it is very comfortable and practical as well. And yes, it doesn’t offer any fancy features but that’s what makes it so reliable as well. You don’t need to treat it like a barbie, you know you can treat it like the way it is supposed to be treated, harsh and rugged. The scorpio can easily take you through most of the roads in India and if you want to make it a go to anywhere vehicle, it is also offered in 4 wheel drive option.

MY VERDICT

This blog was indeed a harsh on the Scorpio. But it is a fact that Scorpio is in a dire need of a new generation. And the good news here is that Mahindra is expected to launch the new gen Scorpio somewhere in the end of 2021 or in 2022. But till then, Scorpio will remain the most outdated machine in its segment, no matter what its sale figure says.

India’s love for the mid sedans has proved to be ever growing and never ending. They offer practicality, space, punchy engines and features as a package that Indians admire. Before now their wasn’t a lot of buzz in the segment as the competitors were getting old. Thankfully, the segment has received the much awaited make over with the launch of the all new Honda City and Hyundai Verna and also the new engine options for the Skoda Rapid. We can say the the segment is now much more up to date. This was much needed since the compact SUV segment was grabbing more and more attention of the Indian buyers. While the Hyundai Verna and Honda City have got a complete make over, the Skoda Rapid has only got a new engine and a new price tag. There is no news about the upgradation of the MS Ciaz, VW Vento and the Toyota Yaris. Let’s take a look at the offerings

1. The Honda City

The City needs no introduction. It is the car that established Honda in India. The City is known for its powerful I-VTEC engine which redlines all the way upto 6500 RPM. And it only gets better with the All-New 5^th Generation Honda City. It has grown bigger in size and offers more space. The new City comes with a whole lot of first in class features as well, like the lane watch camera and Alexa connectivity. Many buyers will be relieved as the new City doesn’t offer a turbo engine but a 1.5 litre internal combustion engine. The new city is also bigger than ever. Now the city is the biggest in the segment both in terms of length and width, taking the crown from the Ciaz. The City never lacked in back seat space but now it is simply undefeatable. Honda has always played it safe with the City, just like it has now. There is no particular area where the city lacks, it still remains a very safe pick like it always has been. Though the Honda City doesn’t come cheap, starting at 11 lakhs ex-showroom and going all the way upto 14.84 lakhs.

2. Hyundai Verna

The ravishing Hyundai Verna now looks better than ever. Not is it only impressive from the outside but it is equally impressive under the hood too. The Verna packs the most first in the segment features like a wireless charger, ventilated seats, automatic trunk opening and a fully digital instrument cluster. The Verna continues to stand upon its sporty drive lineage. It definitely looks the most sporty in its segment. What sadly is a bit disappointing is that Hyundai has downsized the engine from a 1.6 litre to a 1.5 litre unit. Now let’s talk about the Verna’s weakest link, its backseat space. Yes, its backseat isn’t something that you won’t be able to survive with but when you look at what the competition is offering it becomes something you wish your car had more of. But still the Verna has a lot to offer to cover for it. You can either have the Verna with a 1.5 litre, petrol/diesel engine with a 1 litre turbo charged petrol engine. It starts at 9.3 lakhs ex-showroom and goes all the way upto 16.22 lakhs.

3. Skoda Rapid

If there existed an award for the car with the least haters, Skoda Rapid will be the most deserving candidate on this list. It is true that this car has not really changed in almost 10 years, but you still can’t really call it old. Skoda has tried their best to keep the up to date. The biggest change we saw with this car was when Skoda gave it the 1.0 litre turbo charged engine. The engine is what makes the Skoda Rapid the most enthusiastic car in this segment, and also the fastest. Like every Skoda, Rapid offers a very robust build quality which can’t be questioned. Another highlight of the Skoda Rapid is the Rider variant which is priced at just 7.79 lakhs, making it the most affordable car in the segment. The Rider variant is probably the most value for money variant in the whole automobile market. The Skoda Rapid ranges from 7.79 lakhs to 13.29 lakhs. Features do get plenty as you go up the variant line but even the top variants don’t get any mention worthy features. In fact, the Rapid misses out on the common modern day features like smart entry, push button start, sunroof and a wireless charger. Apart from its best in the class engine, the Skoda Rapid remains a decision made more from the heart than the mind.

4. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

How can we not talk about the Maruti Suzuki ciaz when we’re talking about the mid size sedans. One of the most loved car in this segment is the Maruti Ciaz, which its sale figures clearly shows. The Ciaz is offered with a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder mild hybrid petrol engine which produces a little over 103 horses. The performance are clearly not the best when compared to its competition. In fact the figures are underperforming but still you can not say that the Ciaz in underpowered, it gives you sufficient power for almost situation but its just not exciting. Another downside of the Ciaz is its very questionable build quality which is not a surprise since it is a Maruti Suzuki in the end. Gladly, the Ciaz scores fairly good in almost every category. The highlight is its back seat. There is more than enough leg room and knee room for even the tallest with decent under thigh support. The top variant even gets leather upholstery. Although the Ciaz is fairly equipped and does not misses out on any important feature, but it doesn’t offer any first in class feature or in fact it misses out on some of the fancy features like a sunroof, wireless charging and automatic boot. But, when you look at the price of the Ciaz you start to understand its popularity. Starting at 8.41 lakhs and going all the way upto 11.3 lakhs, the Ciaz is the most overall value for money sedan in the list. Yes, you don’t get a lot to boast infront of your friends and families but what you get is a car that does almost everything.

Indians are pretty much gaga over the SUV segment, and thankfully, Indians have got some amazing players in this segment. If you compare it with the other segments in the Indian market like the compact SUVs, the hatchbacks or the sedans, you might feel like this segment is lacking in its offerings. Agree or not, the segment had started to show its age. No doubt products like the Endeavour, Fortuner, Alturus G4 etc are really good, but, they are just ‘good’. And we Indians, need something much more than just ‘good’.

MG has revived the SUV segment with the launch of its all new GLOSTER!

Gloster is exactly what we call as ‘a modern SUV’. Be it the looks, interior or the tech, Gloster simply excels in all the criteria. MG has really checked all the boxes when it comes to make a true urban SUV. The Gloster is the biggest in the segment, that too not by a margin. In fact, the Gloster is even bigger than the Toyota Land Cruiser. I can only imagine the amount of on road presence it has to offer. It also weighs whopping 2.5 tons. To make sure that this mammoth SUV does not feel underpowered, MG has given it the most powerful engine in this segment. The Gloster is powered by a 2.0 litre, twin turbo charged, 4 cylinder diesel engine making almost 218 horses and producing 480 NM of torque. For making you understand better, it does 0-60 km/h in 4.67 seconds and 0-100 km/h in 11.21 seconds. These figures makes it the fastest in its segment. Though Endeavour has a plus when it comes to gearshifts as the Endeavour offers a 10 speed automatic while the Gloster comes with an 8 speed automatic transmission. So, if we compare it with its competition in terms of engine specifications, The Gloster beats all of them quite easily.

Enough of what’s under the hood, let’s talk about what’s inside the Gloster. Here, not only does the Gloster simply comes ahead of its rivals, it comes ahead with style. The interior of the Gloster looks far better than any of its rivals. The interiors of its rivals had clearly started showing their age. The segment was in dire need of new and fresh interiors and the Gloster provides it all. The Gloster comes with a load of segment first features. What stands out is its ADAS autonomous drive tech which basically lets the car drive itself by following the road markings and it also has adaptive cruise control which automatically maintains the set distance from the car ahead of it. As you sit in the driver’s position, you are greeted with a massive 12.3 inch infotainment console which by the way, is a segment first(Oof! I am tired of saying “segment first” by now). Have a look at the notable features of the car.

lane departure warning	powered front seats	12 speaker music system	ventilated seats
blind spot monitoring	semi autopark assist	60 colour mood lighting	connected car tech
panoramic sunroof	powered tailgate	driving modes	electric parking break
massage function	3 zone climate control	driver seat memory	heated wing mirrors

Though what does seem uncanny is the interior’s resemblance with that the BMW’s X5. If you look it that way, the Hector’s interior also had an uncanny resemblance to that of the Volvo’s XC60. Are all these resemblances mere coincidence or plagiarism? Only MG knows!

MG is expected to release the prices somewhere in October. Though what for sure is that the top variant of the Gloster will be priced less than 40 lakhs which make its pricing quite aggressive.

MY VERDICT

The MG’s Gloster is definitely a very solid product. One of its very strong point is its road presence, which is something that an SUV owner craves for. It leaves its competitors behind in almost every department. The Gloster is going to be product that will really shake its segment. With the current generation of Endeavour and Fortuner, Gloster isn’t going to face a tough time during comparisons. Brands will have to launch their best products to keep up with the MG’s new offering. A facelift of Fortuner is expected to hit the Indian markets in 2021, but according to me, Toyota is going to need much more than a facelift. What is going to be a challenge for MG is the current diplomatic state of India. With the boycott China movement going on, MG might find a hindrance in its sales. Let’s see how that turns out. Though what will be really interesting is the competition’s fight back. So, let’s wait and watch and keep reading the Car Guy.

And now we finally talk about the most underrated launch of the year, the Mahindra THAR. We are all well familiar with the THAR. We’ve all seen one, drooled over one and frankly desired to own one too. THAR is not just a car, it is more of a status symbol. This jeep can take you through the worst roads in the toughest weathers without a squeak. Basically, it can take you freakin’ anywhere. But somewhere it was losing its charm. From the engine to interior to suspension, everything about it was well…..ancient. Thankfully, Mahindra is back in the game with the all new THAR.

It is bigger and better than ever while still maintaining the THAR’s DNA. It still doesn’t come near the similarly priced SUVs in terms of features but the fact is that it was never supposed too. The good thing is that the THAR is now much more warranted. It has got all the necessary gizmos. You can take it off-roading with your family with reasonable comfort. Comparing it with the old THAR which didn’t even have power windows, the new THAR has that and even electrically adjustable mirrors. Have a look at the feature list at the bottom of the blog.

Back then, THAR used to be an enthusiasts’ car. It was not for the common family. The engine was noisy, the suspension was stiff and it really compromised on safety. Now the, THAR is much more sophisticated while still being the off-roader that it is meant to be. You can reason with your family about why the new THAR is an all rounder which you really couldn’t with the old one. Yes, it might lose from the its rivals like the Creta, Harrier, Seltos etc in some categories but none of its competitors offer the feel of the THAR. For example you can’t take off the doors and rooftop of a Creta and enjoy the hilly view but you can do that with the THAR. The new THAR will be available with a soft top and a hard top.

Coming to its looks, it undeniably looks similar to the Jeep Wrangler. In fact, it looks more Jeep Wrangler than a Jeep Wrangler. But when you look closely THAR has a soul of its own. And also, it is almost 50 lakhs cheaper than a Jeep Wrangler. The price of the THAR will be announced on 2nd October and is expected to be around 10-15 lakhs.

MY VERDICT

If you were to ask me whether you should buy a THAR 1 year back, I would’ve probably said no. But Mahindra has come up with a product that doesn’t feel outdated and pushes you to give it a thought. With the new THAR, you can really consider buying one. New THAR really makes it hard for your inner adventurist to ignore it. You’ve a strong case while arguing with your family about whether to fulfil your teenage dream of owning a THAR or not. THAR is one of the most exciting vehicle out there in the market and it also comes at a reasonable price considering its competition. THAR was always an amazing product and Mahindra has just made it better.

front power windows	DRLs	cruise control
driver and passenger side airbag	fog lamps	steering mounted controls
central locking	front and rear disc breaks	6 speaker audio system
7 inch touchscreen infotainment system	Aircon	USB charging ports

We all know that supercars are not very suitable for the Indian roads. In fact not just Indian roads, they are not very well suited for India. For example, you can’t just park you Lamborghini on the Indian streets without thinking of somebody scratching it or without the paparazzi clicking pictures of it. But what if you want a really fast car that doesn’t look really fast. That’s when you decide to buy a car with a performance badge.

So, what comes to your mind when you see a Mercedes E class? or BMW 5 series? or an Audi A6? probably nothing more than they are some beautiful, comfortable cars. But what if you want the same cars but with the performance figures of a supercar while retaining the same luxury, looks(mostly), practicality and features? You buy their performance version. To make it more simple, if a normal car is a cat, its performance version is a tiger. Not all performance badges are as crazy as the ones we are going to talk about . In this blog we will talk about some renowned performance badges.

You must be imagining what difference would a performance badge make to a car, what if I tell you that if a standard Mercedes E class 200 CGI does 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, it’s performance version i.e the Mercedes E class AMG E63 S does the same in just 3.4 seconds. They only look same from the outside but under the hood, they are completely different cars. The performance versions come with different engines, suspensions and much more track focused bodies. Undoubtedly, these advancements come at a hefty price. You might have to shed more than a crore for some models. Where a normal BMW 5 series would cost somewhere around 50-55 lakhs, the BMW M5 would cost you around 1.55 crores. But the price is justified looking at what you get for the extra bucks. Today, almost all the companies have their performance version line up. Let’s see some of the famous performance versions which are on sale in India.

1. AUDI RS7

This is undeniably one of the best looking performance car out there (call me a fanboy, I don’t mind). It doesn’t only look sporty, it packs some crazy performance figures under its hood. It houses a 4.0-liter TFSI®twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 591 horses and an impressive 799.9 Nm of torque. It comes with quattro all-wheel drive and quattro sport rear differential. It does 0-100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds. It will be launched in India somewhere in the end of 2020 at an expected price of 1.5 crores.

2. The BMW M5 competition

This is one of the most track focused performance car. This car has a fan following of its own. It comes with a powerful M TwinPower Turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine which produces 625 horses and  750 Nm of torque. It’s not just fast on a track but also in a straight line as it does 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds. The BMW M5 competition comes at around 1.6 crores in India.

3. Mercedes AMG E63 S

The AMG badge takes the India’s favourite luxury saloon, the E class to a whole new level. It packs the lush interiors of an E class with the behemoth engine, which is a 603-hp twin-turbo V-8 and produces 850Nm of torque. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. It is priced at Rs. 1.53 crore.

4. Mercedes AMG G63

Famously called the G wagon, this vehicle is a crush of many. The G class is a superb all rounder in itself and the AMG badge just makes it even more better. This go anywhere vehicle isn’t only rugged, but its also one of the fastest SUVs out in the market if not the fastest. It packs an AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine which produces 572 hp and 850 Nm of torque. It does 0-100 in an acclaimed 4.4 seconds. The AMG G63 has sticker price of Rs 2.19 crores.

MY VERDICT

Performance cars are simply great. They offer you all the amenities while providing you the fun of a sports car. You can drop your kids to school and go for a race in the same car. In fact, they are even better than sports cars in many aspects. They are perfect all rounders. For India, these performance cars are really suitable. The taxes makes these cars really expensive but that doesn’t stop Indians from buying them. It would be lovely to see performance versions of the affordable cars in the Indian market.

Here are some performance version of different car companies

Company	version
Ford	Team RS
Mercedes	AMG
Nissan	Nismo
Hyundai	N
BMW	M Sport
Audi	RS
Hyundai	N
Fiat	Abarth
Toyota	TRD