The French car maker is thinking in line with its Japanese partner, Nissan which has planned to launch low cost cars under the Datsun brand name in emerging markets like India, Indonesia and Russia.

Photo: Renault will soon launch a small car to take on the Alto and the Eon targeting the masses

Renault has appointed Gerard Detourbet, as the alliance managing director for developing the upcoming small car. Detourbet is known in-house, for his expertise in developing low-cost cars.

“We are the most successful car maker globally in entry-level cars as our design cost is the lowest and this is linked to the Indian preference for frugality,” Carlos Tavares, chief operating officer, Renault, was quoted as saying by The Hindustan Times. He added that Renault is trying to evaluate an entry-level strategy for emerging markets and the company is eager to kick off with India.

Expect the Renault global small car to debut in the Indian market and later to be exported to other markets. Also, to keep the costs under check, Renault may share its small car components with the Datsun brand cars.

At present, the most affordable cars from Renault and Nissan are the Pulse and the Micra respectively which are priced in the Rs. 4 lakh – 6.5 lakh range. The majority of small cars sold in India have a price tag in the range of Rs. 2.5 lakh – Rs. 4.5 lakh as models such as Maruti Suzuki Alto, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R and Hyundai Eon which belong to this price range sell at more than 10,000 units per month. Keeping this in mind, over the next few years, expect the Renault-Nissan-Datsun alliance to dish out many small cars with low prices targeting the masses.

The Tata Nano is a classic example, of how low cost car projects even when offered by an established Indian car maker like Tata Motors can end up struggling on the sales charts. That said, it will be interesting to observe the market success of the Renault-Nissan-Datsun low cost cars as these brands are less popular and are yet to establish their sales and service network in tier-II and tier-III cities where the demand for low cost cars would likely be high.

We asked the CarToq community which of these two cars they would buy; take a look at what the poll revealed. You can see the poll here: Tata Vista versus Maruti Suzuki Ritz

The Ritz got the 80% of the votes while the Vista managed to get only 20% votes. This is surprising because the Vista is competitively priced, is well equipped and also offers more space and comfort than the Ritz. Here we try to find out why the CarToq community so strongly believes that the Ritz is a better hatchback than the Vista based on a quick comparison.

Photo: The Tata Vista wins against the Ritz when it comes to space, comfort and features

Where Vista is better than the Ritz

Space and comfort

The Vista is the more spacious hatchback with plenty of headroom, shoulder room and legroom for five passengers. Comfort wise, the seats have a plush feel and the dual tone black-beige interiors together with the large glass area give an airy feel to the cabin. The 232 litres of boot space is pretty decent for a car in this segment as well.

The Vista with its wide interiors offers adequate shoulder room for three passengers at the back whereas in the Ritz, the rear seat is best for two passengers. However, the Ritz being a tallboy offers slightly more headroom than the Vista. Summing up, the Vista is more spacious and feels a bit more comfortable than the Ritz. Also read: Community Speak: Maruti Suzuki Swift vs. Ritz

Features

The Vista has an intelligent rear wiper that switches on when engaging the reverse gear provided the front wipers are kept on.  With regard to gizmos, the Vista has two 12V power sockets and a music system with ‘Blue 5’ (Bluetooth) feature that allows you to pair up to five mobile phones. Besides, audio streaming and phone books integration is also supported by the factory fitted music system.

The Vista also offers steering mounted audio and Bluetooth controls (starting from the LX variant). The fully loaded Vista ZX comes with dual front airbags, while the Ritz VDI doesn’t offer airbags, though it comes with ABS as optional feature. Overall, the Vista is a better equipped car than the Ritz, especially when comparing the top-end variants.

Price

The Vista is marginally cheaper than the Ritz. The base variant of the Vista is Rs. 1,000 – Rs. 9,000 cheaper than the Ritz depending on the variant. The following table will help give you a clear idea of how the prices of Vista stack up against the Ritz.

Photo: The Ritz is popular thanks to Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs

Where Ritz is better than Vista

Performance

The Ritz and the Vista are powered by the same Fiat-derived 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine that puts out 74 Bhp of power. However, the gear ratio of the Ritz and its light body allow it to accelerate faster and perform better than the Vista. The fuel efficiency of the Ritz is also slightly better than the Vista in real world driving conditions. Add to this, the ergonomics, gear shift action, light clutch and light steering and it’s easy to see why people love the Ritz more. Summing up, the Ritz performs and is slightly more fuel efficient than the Vista.

Reliability

Tata cars are known for niggling issues especially in the long run. Though the Vista is a big improvement, its fit, finish and some plastic bits are still not at par with the Ritz. Hence, in the long run, buyers may find the Ritz, a bit more reliable than the Vista.

Maintenance costs

Buyers are worried about maintenance costs especially once they go past the free service schedule. With rising labor charges, maintenance costs are important for buyers who wish to keep their cars for many years. When compared to Tata, the maintenance costs for Maruti cars is generally considered to be less and the Ritz is no exception. Hence conscious buyers prefer the Ritz. Also see: Video: Find out which hatchback suits a large family!

After sales services

Though the quality of service centres vary from dealer to dealer and place to place, overall Maruti Suzuki service centres offer better service and have also have earned good will among customers unlike Tata. Tata service centres have improved over the last couple of years, but still Maruti Suzuki leads in terms of overall customer satisfaction in after sales services.

Conclusion

Summing up, in terms of space, comfort, features and price, the Vista is better than the Ritz. However, with regard to performance, mileage, reliability, maintenance costs and after sales service, the Ritz scores more than the Vista. Hence, it isn’t surprising that the majority of CarToq readers have voted for the Ritz.

In the international market, the A-Class will be offered in six engine variants which include three diesel variants namely the A 180 CDI, A 200 CDI and the A 220 CDI. The three petrol variants will be: The A 180, A 200 and A 250. It is not yet known as which among these engine variants will make into India-bound A-Class.

Photo: The Mercedes Benz A Class will be the most affordable Mercedes in India

A-Class Diesel

The diesel engines for the A-Class get hydraulic mounts that help reducing the vibration and engine noise. Among the A-Class diesel engines, the base variant A 180 CDI is powered by a 1.5-litre motor that puts out 108 Bhp of power and 260 Nm of torque and returns a claimed mileage of 62 mpg (26.35 Kmpl). The car’s emission is 98 g/km of CO2, which is the lowest for any Mercedes model so far. It has to be noted that this 1.5-litre engine is derived from Renault.

The mid-variant, A 200 CDI is powered by Mercedes-Benz’s tried and tested 1.8-litre motor that puts out 134 Bhp of power and 300 Nm of torque. The A 200 CDI has a claimed mileage of 55 mpg (23.38 Kmpl) and emits 111 g/km of CO2.

The top-end variant, A 220 CDI is powered by a 2.1-litre engine that churns out 168 Bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque and can accelerate from 0 – 100 kmph in 7.8 seconds. The mileage and emission detail of this motor is yet to be revealed.

A-Class Petrol

The A-Class will be offered in three turbo petrol engines. The base variant, A 180 is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that puts out 120 Bhp of power and 200 Nm of torque. The claimed mileage for this engine is 43 mpg (18.28 Kmpl) and emits 128 g/km. The mid variant; the A 200 is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine that puts out 154 Bhp of power and 250 Nm of torque.

The top-end variant, A 250 is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine that churns out 208 bhp of power and 350 Nm of torque. The claimed mileage for this engine is 39 mpg (16.5 Kmpl) and emits 143 g/km of CO2. Despite offering impressive mileage, this 2.0-litre engine accelerates from 0 – 100 kmph in 6.6 seconds and hits a top speed of 240 kmph.

A few months ago, press photos of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class surfaced the internet ahead of the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. The A-Class looked similar to the A-Class concept showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo. The new A-Class is a low-set, coupe-like and radically styled as against the tallboy designs of the present A-Class models.

The A-Class is an important car for Mercedes-Benz in the Indian market because it will likely be the most affordable Mercedes in India. The company may launch the B-Class Sports Tourer in November 2012 and the A-Class by end 2013 or early 2014.

The A-Class and B-Class will likely be the key contributors to the sales volume for the German luxury brand. However, it is yet to be known if buyers with Rs. 20 lakh budget may go for hatchbacks such as A-Class and B-Class when there are plenty of SUVs such as Toyota Fortuner and premium sedans such as Skoda Superb available in this budget.

The chances of the Verito CS being launched seem slim post spy shots of a face lifted Verito, but if Mahindra launches the compact sedan, it will primarily compete with the following cars: Hyundai Accent, Tata Indigo eCS, Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Toyota Etios.

Photo: If launched the Mahindra Verito CS will be roughly Rs.40,000 cheaper than the regular sedan

Answering Charu’s question CarToq Expert Roshun Povaiah        said, “There is no confirmed news of when the Verito CS will be launched. For now, only a face lifted Verito has been spotted, which may come out in a couple of months.” He mentioned that the Verito is an entry-level sedan that competes with the Indigo CS / Indigo Manza, Toyota Etios and Maruti Dzire.

CarToq Expert Aravindhan said, “If you ask me, I would say that Verito CS is worth waiting for. Because, the Indigo CS doesn’t offer as much rear seat space and comfort as the Verito and the Dzire feels a bit cramped for three people in the rear seat.” Which according to you is a better alternative to the Verito compact version? Please comment below.

Hyundai Accent

Photo: The Accent may be dated but its still serves the purpose of a practical and affordable family sedan

The Hyundai Accent has long been in the market but still offers pretty good space for five passengers. The Accent comes with a 1.5-litre petrol motor that puts out 95 Bhp of power. But for running cost conscious buyers, the Accent is also offered with a factory-fitted LPG kit and CNG kit for an additional Rs. 57,500 to the Accent petrol variant.  The Accent is priced at Rs. 5.15 lakh for the petrol variant, Rs. 5.52 lakh for the LPG variant.

Tata Indigo CS

Photo: One of the most popular compact sedans the Indigo eCS is practical and spacious

The Tata Indigo eCS is the first compact sedan and pioneered India’s the modern compact sedan segment. The Indigo eCS is available in both petrol and diesel engine versions. The diesel Indigo eCS is powered by 1.4-litre motor that puts out 68 Bhp of power while the petrol lndigo eCS is powered by 1.2-litre motor that puts out a modest 64 Bhp of power. The Indigo eCS has a claimed mileage of 25 Kmpl and is priced in the range of Rs. 4.77 lakh – Rs. 6.14 lakh.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Photo: The new Dzire looks much better than the old model and is quite popular among compact sedan buyers

The new Dzire launched in February 2012 is a hot selling entry-level sedan with sales crossing 15,000 units consistently for the past three months. The Dzire looks as sporty like the Swift hatchback but is also practical as it comes with a 316 litre boot. The Dzire is offered in two engine versions: the 1.2-itre petrol that puts out 86 Bhp of power and the 1.3-litre diesel that puts out 74 Bhp of power. The ARAI-certified mileage of the Dzire petrol is Kmpl and that of the diesel is Kmpl. The Dzire is priced in the range of Rs. 4.88 lakh – Rs. 7.34 lakh.

Toyota Etios

Photo: The Etios is a proper three box sedan which is affordable and economical to run as well

Toyota Etios is one of the practical sedans and known for its spacious cabin and a cavernous luggage space of 595 litres. The Etios is powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine that produces 89 Bhp and 132 Nm, and has an ARAI-certified mileage of 17.64 km/litre mileage. The Etios diesel is powered by a 1.4-litre engine that makes 68 PS of power and 170 Nm of torque and returns ARAI-certified mileage of 23.59 Kmpl.

Thanks to its chopped boot the Verito compact sedan will quality for excise duty sops and hence will carry a cheaper (approx. Rs. 40,000 lower) price tag when compared with the full-sized Verito.  The car will likely be powered by two engines: a1.2 litre petrol motor and a 1.5 litre diesel motor which are used in the current model. The 1.5 litre diesel engine makes 65 Bhp of maximum power and 160 Nm of maximum torque.

At present, Mahindra is testing the face lifted Verito which will be launched in the next couple of months. Read more: Mahindra Verito face lift spotted testing. The facelift version has new grille, revamped headlamps, fog lamps and a new tail lamp cluster. There may be slight changes in the interior as well. Mahindra has plans to launch five models in the current fiscal year (April 2012 – March 2013) and as per the company, the Verito CS launch is scheduled only for March 2013. Also read: Upcoming launches from Mahindra

Photo: The Reva NXR will be an affordable and practical electric car that can be used for daily commutes

CarToq Expert Aravindhan said, “For daily commutes covering less than 160 Kms or so, the Reva NXR will likely not cause any trouble. The Reva NXR will have two power options: a lead-acid battery with 80 km range/80 Kmph top speed and a lithium ion battery 160 km range/ 104 Kmph top speed.

Another CarToq Expert Babychen Mathew said that for short driving distances the Reva is definitely capable. CarToq Expert Roshun Povaiah said, “For instance in a city like Bangalore where daily commutes are not more than 30 km both ways, the Reva NXR is an ideal car. No pollution. Low running cost.”

You can see the question here: Will the Reva NXR be fit for daily commutes or will it be another electric car with limitations?

Now the Reva NXR will likely be launched in two variants; one with a lead-acid battery with a range of 80 Kms per charge and a maximum speed of 80 Kmph and the other with a lithium ion battery variant. The range of the lithium ion battery powered Reva will be 160 km per charge and its top speed will be 104 Kmph. Now that makes at least the Lithium ion battery powered version pretty practical! As long as you are in the city you will hardly ever be on a road that legally allows you to drive at speeds of over 100 Kmph. Also most people use their cars to drive to work and back which is usually a round trip of under 100 Kms, which means you will still have enough charge for 60 more kilometres. Also read: Mahindra Reva NXR electric car video review: Live from Auto Expo 2012

However both the cars will require an eight hour charging period to get completely charged using a standard household outlet. The Reva is expected to come with: AC, power windows, power steering, a 12 V power socket and an audio player. The car will feature the new Revive technology that acts like a reserve fuel tank, if the drivers run out of charge.

Further with an expected price tag of around Rs. 6 lakh not taking into account government subsidies on the electric cars (which may reduce its price substantially), the Reva NXR will also be an affordable car. Mahindra & Mahindra are on the final stages of development and the Reva should be launched around September 2012. What do you think about the Reva? Share your views in the comments section below.

Photo: The Trax looks like a compact and more sporty version of the Captiva SUV sold in the market at present

If the Trax is launched in India, it will compete with upcoming compact SUVs such as the Renault Duster and the Ford EcoSport. Earlier, CarToq had reported that General Motors (GM) India is planning to launch a compact SUV. Read more: GM may launch compact SUV to take on Ecosport and Duster! Hence, there is a fat chance that the Chevrolet Trax will hit Indian shores.

The Trax is a badge-engineered Opel Mokka to be launched in the European market later this year. The Trax has Chevrolet’s trademark bowtie grille and side swept headlamps giving it the appearance of a baby Captiva.

The Trax is compact in dimensions for it has a length of 4.2 m and a wheelbase of 2.55 m. Hence, dimensionally, the Trax lies in between the Ford EcoSport and the Renault Duster. Also, the small size hints that the Trax could be a five seater similar to the other two SUVs.  Do you think the Trax is an interesting model? Share your views in the comments below!

Photo: Mercedes Benz MD and CEO Peter Honegg with the new M Class at its launch in Delhi

The new M-Class looks clean, sharper and more elegant than its predecessor. The new M-Class is 23 mm longer and 15 mm wider than the outgoing model. The interiors of the new M-Class have many changes such as redesigned AC vents, new central console layout and refreshed instrument cluster.

The ML350 is powered by a 3-litre, six-cylinder, common-rail diesel motor that puts out 258 Bhp of power and 619 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-gtronic (7-speed) automatic transmission. The new ML 350 can accelerate from 0 – 100 Kmph in 7.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 224 Kmph.

The new M-Class comes with a long list of standard equipment such as ECO start/stop function, reversing camera, active parking assist, airmatic suspension, tail lights featuring LED fiber-optic technology, attention assist feature, memory seats, thermotronic auto climate control, media interface,  electric parking brake and electric sliding sunroof. The airmatic suspension has an auto leveling feature which keeps the vehicle at the same level no matter what load it is carrying. It also allows the driver to select various comfort settings of the suspension.

The M-Class features an all-wheel drive system with selectable low-range gearbox as well for challenging off-road conditions. It can handle tarmac and testing off-road conditions with equal ease. The M-Class will face stiff competition from the segment leader, Audi Q7 and the BMW X5.

Photo: The summer camp will help Mitsubishi garner better relations with their customers

In the summer camp, the company will offer free services such as checking the AC, assessment on the vehicle’s overall condition, topping up of all vehicle fluids, battery check and washing. Mitsubishi is also offering a special price on labor and parts if the vehicle is brought for servicing within one month and also a special price on car care products and additives.

Owners can check with their Mitsubishi dealers and fix appointments during the three days (17^th – 19^th, May 2012) to avail the benefits of the Mitsubishi Summer Camp. Besides Mitsubishi, car makers like Skoda and Toyota have already announced their summer holiday camps. Such camps help companies build better relationships with their customers and help sustain the customer base in the long run.

Photo: The Swift is one of the best handling cars in its segments and is a complete drivers car

Driving and Handling

The Swift diesel is powered by a 1.3-litre motor that puts out 74 Bhp of power. The Liva is powered by a 1.4-litre motor that puts out 68 Bhp of power while the Micra is powered by a 1.5-litre dCI motor that puts out 68 Bhp of power. The Micra has a refined engine with good noise insulation and no turbo lag, the Swift on the other hand suffers from some turbo lag.

In city traffic, driving the Micra is slightly easier than driving the Swift as the engine demands lesser gear shifts, but the Swift does have a smoother gearbox. The Liva, on the other hand, offers linear acceleration, but a lot of the engine noise filters into the cabin and reminds you that there’s a diesel engine under the hood. Also read: Community Speak: Maruti Suzuki Swift vs. Ritz

When it comes to handling, the Swift beats the Micra and the Liva, hands down. The stiff suspension and precise steering makes the Swift, lot more fun to drive. The electric power steering of the Liva is very light at low speeds and makes it easy to cruise at low speeds. The Micra’s steering doesn’t offer much feedback but is fine for daily chores.

Photo: The Liva has a lot of space inside although it is not as comfortable as some of its competition

Space and Comfort

The Liva is the most spacious car among the three. The Micra comes next and then the Swift. This is because there is ample shoulder room in the rear seat and the full flat floor allows three passengers to sit more comfortably in the Liva than in the Micra or the Swift. In terms of boot space the Liva and Micra offers 251 litres each while the Swift offers a 204 litre boot.

With regard to comfort the Swift offers plush seats and the Micra too offers a decent level of comfort. The rear seats of the Micra though lack under thigh support. The Liva has thin seats and just adequate comfort it may not be as well done as the Swift or the Micra but it is quite comfortable. Read more: Upcoming Chevrolet Sail versus the Toyota Etios Liva!

Summing up, the Liva has an edge over the Micra and Swift in terms of space while the Swift and Micra are good in terms of comfort.

Photo: The Micra has a unique design which may not be liked by all but is very cute and attractive

Looks

The Micra has retro theme wide headlamps, unique protruding tail lamps and a pressed boot door. The interiors of the Micra have a bubble theme.  The central console layout with buttons arranged in a circular fashion is quite retro to. Also read: New Hyundai i20 vs. Nissan Micra: Diesel comparison

Toyota has been too conservative as far as the styling of the Liva is concerned. Though the Liva looks better than the Etios, it is still no match for other sporty and funky hatchbacks that have a youthful appeal. The Liva also looks dull on the inside. The centrally mounted instrument cluster has a classic theme, but its design may not be liked by all.

The Swift has sporty looks and a strong road presence unlike the Micra and the Liva. The interiors of the Swift have a refreshed instrument cluster and neatly laid out central console. The plastic feels durable and fit and finish is pretty decent. Summing up, the Swift looks appealing and the Micra looks cute, but the Liva fails to stand out in a crowd.

Features

The top-end variants of the Swift and the Liva get dual front airbags and ABS while the Micra comes only with driver airbag. With regard to comfort features, the Swift and the Liva get steering mounted audio controls which the Micra lacks. But the Micra and the Swift offer automatic climate control which the Liva misses out on. The Micra comes with push button (engine) start and electric folding mirror which the Liva and the Swift do not offer. The Swift comes with ORVM mounted side turn indicator and speed based auto volume for music system not offered in the Micra and the Liva.

Overall, the Swift and the Micra have an edge over the Liva, when it comes to features in the diesel variants.

Price, mileage and overall VFM

The Micra diesel is priced in the range of Rs. 5.96 lakh – Rs. 6.41 lakh while the Liva is priced in the range of Rs. 5.77 lakh – Rs. 6.08 lakh. The Swift is priced in the range of Rs. 5.53 lakh – Rs. 6.76 lakh making it slightly cheaper than the other two cars when it comes to starting price (base variant). However, the top-end variant of the Swift has a premium price over the other two variants.

With regard to mileage, the Swift has an ARAI-certified mileage of 23.4 Kmpl while the Micra has an ARAI-certified mileage of 23.08 Kmpl and the Liva offers 23.59 Kmpl. In real driving conditions, these cars will offer similar mileage of around 19 Kmpl and hence, there is no clear winner here.

Overall, the Swift is a great VFM as it performs and handles better than the other, has sporty looks and quality interiors.

Verdict

At the end of the comparison, it is clear than each car has its own character. Pick the Swift if you want looks, comfort, features and handling from a diesel hatchback. Choose the Micra if city drivability is of utmost importance. Go for the Liva if interior space for five passengers is your top priority. But as an overall package, the Swift is the winner in this comparison. Which car do you think is better and why? Share your views in the comments section below!

This means, in Delhi, people may have to shell out more money to park their vehicles in malls and shopping complexes. The proposal has been devised in order to encourage public transport and as a way to account for the high cost of lands which are currently misused for parking.

The municipal corporations’ proposal comes at a period when the special task force (STF), appointed by the High Court, has also suggested for a substantial hike in parking rates. The STF has proposed two different parking rates for peak and non-peak hour traffic. During peak hours, the STF has recommended a parking fee of Rs. 50 per hour and Rs. 50 for the next consecutive hour and during non-peak hours, the STF has recommended a parking fee of Rs. 30 per hour and Rs. 30 for the next consecutive hour.

What may cause worry among public is the STF’s recommendation of levying a monthly parking fee of Rs. 1,500 per vehicle per family or shop. Trader (shopkeeper) associations are already against these proposals for they feel that the government and civic agency should provide adequate parking spaces before increasing the fee. The transport department has already issued a public notice to residents in Delhi and has given a one month period for people to respond. Later, the STF will make suggestions based on the suggestions and objections of the public and later, will pass the proposal to the municipal corporation to implement it. Do you feel that the proposed parking fee is justified? Leave your comments below.