Ford Fiesta 1.6 vs Honda City ZX VTEC

Things that are really important for a car in this segment are cabin space, interiors, styling and overall refinement, and in these areas, the Lancer is now old hat. Tenuous links to a rally-winning cousin notwithstanding, the Lancer is a reliable old mid-size sedan, which is powered by an 88PS, 1498cc inline-four. A higher-spec Lancer - the 1.8 Invex - is also available, and features an 118PS, 1834cc inline-four. While the Lancer 1.5 offers rather feeble engine performance, the 1.8 feels quite sporty. The 1.8's Tiptronic-style gearbox is also a delight to use - it can either be left in full auto mode, or you can shift manually without using a clutch. This is the only such gearbox in the Lancer's segment.

The handling is good - you can blitz corners at high speeds without the front end washing wide - and the Lancer doesn't understeer as much as most other cars in its class. Good handling is hardly a redeeming factor though, as most people who buy the Lancer end up sitting in the back seat. The similarly priced Optra 1.6 feels bigger and more spacious, while the Honda City i-DSI is also more spacious and comfortable, more fuel efficient, and feels far more contemporary as an overall package. The Lancer 1.5 feels sluggish, but the 1.8 is fun to drive and enthusiasts will appreciate its performance. However, the Mitsubishi name has lost much credibility, and service back up and parts availability may also be suspect. How we wish HM/Mitsubishi had done enough to keep this car in the reckoning...

To a large extent, the Accent's problem is the same as the Lancer's. Not a bad car per se, but looks and feels dated. The competition - especially the Honda City i-DSI - moved the game up a couple of notches, and the Accent hasn't managed to keep up.

The base model GLE, with the old 1495cc, 94PS engine, is pegged at around Rs 5.80 lakh and though we don't really recommend buying one, it could possibly be an option for those looking at getting an entry-level three-box sedan. The GLS 1.6, with a 1599cc, 102PS engine is more like it, but costs Rs 6.65 lakh, which is perhaps not good enough value for money. At least ABS is available as an option. The Accent is a staid, but adequately competent family saloon. In terms of refinement and comfort, it's barely middle-of-the-road, though it should be fairly cheap to run and is usually quite reliable. Interiors are a bit plasticky, but don't look terribly dated. Fit and finish is okay, handling is poor, and re-sale values look set to plummet in a big way. Compared with the Accent, the City i-DSI is more fuel efficient, the City VTEC is quicker and faster, while the Fiesta feels more contemporary and rides much better.

Hyundai had unveiled an all-new Accent last year at the New York International Auto Show. Powered by a new 1600cc, inline-four, which features Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT), this could be the Hyundai that can take on the Fiesta and the City. But will it come to India? Many seem to think it will.

The Maruti name has always been associated with small(er) cars, which is probably why the Baleno has never really sold very well. At the time of its launch, the Baleno wasn't promoted aggressively enough, which is probably one of the reasons why it was never accepted as a credible enough alternative to the (old) Honda City or the Mitsubishi Lancer.

The car itself is not such a bad deal even now. It's fitted with a 1590cc, 95PS engine that offers surprisingly perky performance and very good fuel efficiency. The cabin is fairly spacious (though certainly not in the league of the new Honda City), and the ride is plush and comfortable. Handling suffers because of the small wheels and skinny rubber which Maruti fit on the Baleno, but upgrade these items, and the car actually maintains its composure quite well when on the limit. But there is no ABS, so watch out!

Problem areas are styling, which looks dated, and the rather tacky, plasticky interiors. There is no getting away from the fact that this car looks and feels like a blast from the past, which it is. The estate version - the Altura - looks much better than the saloon and could be a viable option for those looking for a ‘big' car that's reliable, easy to service and relatively cheap to run. However, we think it's only a matter of time before the Baleno is replaced with a new car from Suzuki, and once that happens, resale values are likely to take a tumble.