Getz Prime Diesel CRDI 1.5 GVS - You will not believe it is a Diesel Car!!!

Got my Brand New Getz Diesel CRDI 1.5 GVS this Friday (13th June 2008). Ok, Friday the 13th is not exactly the greatest day to buy a new car, but what the heck!!!

I brought the car from Trident Hyundai, Bangalore. Prior to zeroing on the Getz Prime, i had test driven many cars - the Logan, Indigo, Swift, Swift Dzire, Palio, Verna (!!!) and the Ford Fiesta. I finally had to choose between the Swift Dzire and the Getz, and would have definitely gone for the Dzire if it were not for the 7 month waiting period in force now. On hindsight, I am happy I did not go for the Dzire. I would have missed the opportunity of riding this Beauty from the Hyundai Stable.

Let us start with the looks - The Getz definitely looks stylish. (It always has - atleast more stylish then the Swift). Nice curved contours give it a distinctly masculine look, and the design makes it look stylish and sleek. I chose the Midnight Grey colour. It looks really classy, and from a distance looks almost like a black car. The interiors are a combination of Beige and Grey coloured plastic, and is pretty well laid out. The only thing I did not like about the interiors is the Woodgrain finished central panel of the dashboard. The woodgrain finished plastic does not work for me - It looks pretty cheap and tasteless.

Here is a list of accessories I got for my baby!!

1. Alloy wheels 14" with Tubeless Tyres
2. Rear Spoiler
3. Remote Locking with Up-Modular
4. DVD player (USB and Aux inputs) with LCD console, and a rear mounted Camera that activates when reversing!!!
5. Leather Seat covers and steering cover
6. Body coloured rear view mirrors and door handles


And I am ready to go!!!

Start the engine, and you will be amazed at how little noise the Getz makes. This is the same engine that powers the Verna (Yes all 110bhp of it!!!), and it does not disappoint at all when it comes to power. The Getz has lots and lots and lots of power.  There is not going to be an occassion when the Getz feels underpowered. It is like a mustang, ready to run at the first go!!! The moment you shift gears and hit the road, the Getz gives you a distinct rush of adrenalin. Like all Hyundai cars, the drive is really smooth with a very efficient and stable suspension. The gears engage fluidly, the clutch is pretty smooth. The power steering is extremely smooth and easy to handle. The tilt steering gives the option of adjusting the steering to suit the driver's stature. The view from the cockpit is decent. The driver cannot see the bonnet very clearly (I am 183 cms and I could not see it) but that is not too much of a hassle - most of the small cars including the Swift are like that I guess. On the highway, the Getz performs really well and the drive is simply exhilarating!!! I did a top speed of 100 Kmph, and went a bit easy after that, considering that the car was just out of the showroom. :).I hope to touch 120 -130 shortly. Braking is decent, but can be improved specially considering the awesome power this car delivers. The headlights are a tad underpowered and I changed the factory fitted headlights to 190 halogen lights.

The ride is very smooth, and handling is good even on bad roads (we have miles of these in Bangalore!!!). Mileage is a decent 15 kms per litre with AC on for most of the time. The reverse gear is a bit different to other cars, and might confuse the driver the first few times. The fuel tank is gigantic with a capacity of 45 litres - good enough for most long drives. There is ample legroom in the front, and a very decent space for 3 average sized adults in the rear. The 60:40 bifurcation of the rear seats gives some flexibility for the rear passengers, and the 3 level adjustable rear seats give some reclining options.

As I wrote earlier, the Getz comes with the same engine that powers the Verna, and it is as refined as any other CRDI engine in the market today. There is minimal engine noise, and very little noise inside the car. At low to medium speeds, the Getz handles corners pretty well. The AC is quite powerful.  Initially I had to put it at Speed 3 for faster cooling, and about 15 minutes later I changed it to Speed 1 for the rest of my journey. Power is not impacted even with the AC at full blast (I tried this with 3 adults and 1 kid inside the car).

The Boot does not offer too much by way of space - Just enough for a couple of medium sized suitcases / bags. Speaking about the Boot - the spare wheel is placed pretty deep into the boot, so in the event of a flat tyre, be prepared to exercise your pectorals to lift out the spare tyre.

What I loved about this car? Well, the smoothness, power & pickup, mileage and refinement of the CRDI engine, and the sheer adrenalin surge whenever I get behind the wheels!!!

What I dont like - The Price. At 6,53,000/- on road(Bangalore), the Getz Prime CRDI is not cheap by any standards. The swift VDI costs almost a lakh less. Also, for this price tag, I think Hyundai should provide the following:

1. ABS and Airbags
2. Remote Locking
3. Tubeless Tyres
4. Music system
5. Rear Wiper / Defogger

Moreover, there are absolutely no dealer discounts for the Getz CRDI. No corporate discounts either :(

All in All, I think the Getz i s a very good buy. If you are looking for power, refinement and a decent mileage, you dont need to look too far. The Getz is priceier than the Swift, but is more powerful and a bit more refined. If only Hyundai reduces the price by about 25 - 40k, and spends a bit more on advertising this beauty, I am sure it will give the Swift a run for its money!!! As for me, I am really happy with the car and look forward to a loooong journey with my baby!!!

Happy Getzing.....


Vijay