Chevrolet Optra Magnum [2007-2012] User Reviews

Exterior Its a good looking car. I hv a blk colour and when ever i see the same from my Top floor apartment, I again fall in love with the shape and looks.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Rich interior with 6 CD changer.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Its a Rocket in its class. On any of the highway I hv not found anyone who can beat me on the race. @ 140 it goes so smooth and still if u press the paddle it is still room left to make the needle inch further.

Ride Quality & Handling The ground clearance is little low and bad roads , you hv to dive slow.

Final Words its over 3 years now. I hv not spent a single Rupee on its maintainence.  I wish to change the car in the coming year. But still finding no other choice except to replace it with another magnum.

Areas of improvement Tyre quality should be better as Original.

Acceleration, fuel economyafter sales support

After a lot of car searches and review I narrowed down to Maggie on Diwali Oct 25 (Trident Chevy in Bangalore). For long I used to like Fiat Linea just for its beautiful looks (sexy ass). When I test drove it I was disappointed. Neither did I feel I was driving an expensive car nor the performance was good. It was then I decided to look for a powerful car. First I test-drove Verna Fluidic. Once again I didn't feel I was sitting in an expensive car. It took some time for the turbo to kick-in, but after that I was good. I was disappointed when I wanted to adjust the height of driver seat. The sales guy told me it's not there even there. I'm 5'6" and I wasn't comfortable with that. I definitely need a pillow to sit on and drive. 

Until then I didn't even know about a car by name Optra Magnum. It only after an extensive research I came to know about this car. I saw many people in the forums says "Just take a TC and see". I thought ok let me do that. And when I took the test drive, wow I felt what they said was true. There are many things missing in Optra. like "distance to empty", "fuel economy" etc. Tough I would like to have those features in the car my primary goal it to have a car with good performance and good to drive. Well Maggie exceeded my expectations in that regard. Once again I took a TC , this time with my family. As soon as we sat inside the car my 6 year old daugther said "Wow!! spacious". When I started driving she said "very smooth". I just loved the way she used these terms. Then in less than 2 weeks I got it.

I replaced the 6-cd changer with a sony DVD player (for my daughter) and a rear parking camera. That cost about 32k. Overall I'm very happy about my purchase.

Exterior It's just an average looking car.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Excellent and comforable seats. Very spacious back seats for my family.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Just love the performance of the car. It moves so smoothly in 1st giear. But I have a problem with the 2nd gear especially while riding over speed-breakers. May be I haven't mastered how to drive it. Not that I'm an ameture driver, I have over 13 years of driving experience (both local and abroad). But this is my first diesel vehicle. Fuel economy is very good on the highway, but in city traffic I got a little less than 12.

Ride Quality & Handling Car is very stable and I feel safe while driving it. Took it on highway for a total of 400 kms and most of the time I was at 90kmph. Felt like zooming past the 100 mark but I because it's a new car I didn't want to. (I've touched 110 even on a Maruti 800)

Final Words I'll keep it for a long time.

Fuel Economy I have driven only about 1600 kms. For the first time only in city driving I got 11.4 kmpl (may be attributed to my bad driving). Then the next time 440km on highway + 440 kms in city I got 15 (with premium diesel) which is ok to me. I'll update on the fuel economy after a couple of refills.

Great acceleration, very spaciousAverage looks, 6-cd changer

 

Exterior Not upto a new generation model cars. Its just ok.

 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Really really SPACIOUS which can accomodate two 6 ft passengers in front and rear seats.. leather seats are good and really comfort. Head room is better than the CRUZE. There wont be any noise inside the cabin even u cant hear the company fitted horn sound

 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Awsome Engine power.. Amazing pick up

 

Ride Quality & Handling Very smooth and comfortable for long drives. Handling is also good.

 

Final Words Great buy, specially for the college guys. And one looking for the SPACE and COMFORT. IT'S MINI DIESEL ROCKET.

 

Areas of improvement Could have some more new features which are available with compatitors in the market. Improve the AC, as more room is available add rear AC vent.  Should have USB port. Could also improve the exterior design, have parking sensor. Add steering controls, bluetooth facilities.

 

Power, Space, HandlingAge old lock for the doors, No USB port, No steering mount controls, Poor AC effect

Exterior Looks decent from all sides but not sportive and moreover it is not a sports car. Rear side should have been better designed. If your beast comes with  an 14'' rims than immeaditely you have to shift to 15'' it will make a hell lot of difference with GC.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Interior is very spacious both front and rear. You can feel leg room in the rear even after the last postion(maximum stretch) of front seats. The rear bench can accomodate 3 persons(80Kg each) easily. The main important thing is the arm rest at the front and the rear which is more relaxing on high ways. And there is a decent boot which is sufficient for day to day practical life.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Performance. I do not have words to explain this word  Except the high end cars like BMW,AUDI,etc, no one can touch the smoke of this beast. Just press the gas pedal and you will be take off. That is the main thing I like the most in my car. Fuel economy is mind blowing. I use to get around 19KMPL on sedate driving(light foot) with AC on on high ways. And 16KMPL on mad driving. Over all it never let down below 15 KMPL my figures are especially on highways where I use to race. On city you can expect 12KMPL in any worst scenario. But with the power this beast delivers I can compromise on my FE sometimes. Gearbox is not much smooth it will be a bit hard in my view.

Ride Quality & Handling It have a wonderful ride quality you will rarely feel the bump on any roads thanks for all independent suspension. The stability of this beast is very stable on high speeds. Any car can touch 150-160 KMPH but the stability of the car matters along with the control. You can easily control this car at 160 KMPH and you will not feel any vibrations or rattling noice at that speed. Thanks for all wheels disc and ABS.

Final Words I love this beast very much i bought it as a used vehicle and spent around couple of lacs to make it a showroom conditioned vehicle. I have replaced almost all mechanical parts including full body paint as well😎 It never let me down until now except with one beautiful monster Volkswagon Passat.....which blowed this beast away on high way....😲 It is more fun to drive this car and believe me once you drive this baby you will not feel the punch in any other sedans in this segment.

Areas of improvement NA.

Good Fuel economy,great space,comfort,arm rests at front & Rear,Remote boot lid open6CD changer which is of no use,Costly spares

One of the Best engines a company could ever make. Excellent pickup no doubt in that. Average 12 to 14 in cities and 14 to 18 on highways. Overall ride quality and made is fantastic. Should have got a sunroof in diesel model aswell. Honestly this is one of the best car that I have ever driven. I almost finished 2.50lakh km in this car. No major issues until now.

Looks good and cool 

😎Very comfortable, but the driver sitting position is too low

You have to drive it to feel the power punch, I have driven a lot of cars but the first time when I came out of the showroom and got empty strech of 1 Km i just pushed the pedal and felt that it will require few days to adjust the torque and power, it was amazing.. Belive it I drove that at 170 Km/hr in NH2 and since then I am proud because very few cars owners can achieve that speed.

You can not drive other cars if you have driven Optra for long, the only option is you have to go for class 1 cars like Merc, BMW or Audi.

The only disadvantage is the car is too low and I got hit in the Oil chamber and when it was replaced the service centre made some thing wrong to the engine and thereafter little uncomfortable..

The engine power and the very cool look..the music system

Exterior

 The looks and appearance is really an appreciable work done by Itallian design house, and it catches eyes even today. The overall presence on road is good and not oversized even for Indian roads and traffic.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

 The interior gives pretty elegance feeling and quality of plastic and texture/fabric of seats is good. The leather upholstry can be individual choice. The controls, nob etc..are easily approachable. It has loads of space for 5 adults of medium to above average sized physique. The thigh support is ample and one can strecth legs easily and it does not tire you on long drives. I have driven the car 625 km in one single day through highway, village raod, highway & hilly section en route.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

 I am using 10 year old Optra , and still find the engine good in terms of noise level, performance and fuel consumption. At times, the driving uphill gives a lack of punch initially before the res are build, though keeping it's weight in mind, I think that is justifiable. The recent trip gave me 13.5-14 km/ltr average with AC, which I feel is fair enough. The gear ratio in slow traffic gives bit stress on foot, otherwise one can push the car in low gear and can drive at slow speed in higher gear as well.

Ride Quality & Handling

 Optra's ride quality is really superb in it's category and feel planted on tarmac. It handles potholes and craters on Indian roads well, and I pushed the car on NH17 hilly road and negotiated curves at high speed and never felt loss of confidence.

Final Words

 This is a very good vehicle designed by Pinifarina, and I wish Chevy should have continued with this model with upgrades as it commands very respectable image with consumers.

Areas of improvement  

 I would like to get the gear ratio reviewed for bumper ot bumper traffic, and if Torque can be increased by 5% approx?

 

Internal Space, Handling, Styling, Looks, Riding Comfortnone, except narrow roads

Exterior Conventional and elegant.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) 6-CD changer, looks, space, leather seats and side doors, front and rear defogger.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Enginer performance good, mine running till now 45k and no issues, mileage is fine compare to engine size of 2.0.

Ride Quality & Handling Smooth ride and excellant handling.

Final Words Value for money and great drive comfort. ample leg space for rear passengers.

Areas of improvement Inclusion of Enginer Immobilizer, technology upgrade that could result service interval of 15000 (like skoda), side mirror automatic folding, company fit parking sensors.

Pick-up, fuel tank capacity, Driving comfortMileage, Service frequency (5k, others are minimum 10k)

Exterior NICE AERODYNAMIC DESIGN AND SHAPE.TAIL LAMPS ARE AWESOME AND UNIQUE AND REAR FOG LAMPS ARE GREAT. LONG HOOD. BROADER DOORS. 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) SPACIOUS. BEST MUSIC SYSTEM (ALPINE) (old models). boom bass. SILENT CABIN . HUGE LEGROOM WHICH CAN COMETE MERCEDES E-CLASS, 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox GREAT PERFORMER ON BOTH HIGHWAYS AND CITIES. FASTER RESPONSIVE ENGINE. CAN REACH 180KPH EASILY(my speed). Fuel economy IS NOT CONCERN WHEN UR BEAST HAS SO MUCH POWER. SMOOTH GEARBOX  EVEN MY WHEN CAR HAS COMPLETED 53240Kms. 

Ride Quality & Handling GOOD ride quality  than any other cars of that price tag. excellent handling and brakes

Final Words NICE CAR WITH LESS MAINTANANCE COST WITH WELL PACKED PERFOMANCE

Areas of improvement HEAD LAMPS NEEDS TO BE REWAMPED WITH GOOD BULBS (dual lamps will be great) ALMOND SHAPE OF LIGHT IS OKAY .needs running lamps. PROJECTOR FOG LAMPS WILL BE GOOD.

SKIRTS WILL BE GOOD. TRACTION CONTROL, AND CRUISE CONTROLS .FRONT AND REAR SENSORS. 

SPORT MODELS SHOULD BE LAUNCHED.  MODELS SHOULD NOT BE STOPPED . OPTRA SRV WAS A GREAT CAR BUT PRODUCTION DISCONTINUED.

MORE POWER LIKE THAT OF CRUZE WILL HELP THE CAR TO HIT THE MARKET WITH GOOD IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURERS CAN INCREASE THE PRICE ACCORDINGLY.

After sales services should be improved (ALL DEALERS).

POWER.HANDLING.ACCELERATION.BRAKING.SPACE.POOR HEAD LAMPS