A true benchmark of Hatchbacks in India

It has been quite some time with my Swift VXi and I got to tell you all that it has indeed left an ear to ear grin on my face - how can I stop my proud smile - It has been really a very loyal performer.

Open the doors and you will be welcomed to a substandard set of interiors (when compared to the other parameters of the car). Have your seat and the front seat is more than happy to provide you support at the right places, key in and fire the engine - smooth is the word - superb and refined and a feeling of confidence would go down your mind.

Engage the "not vague", "accurate" "right in the slot" "short-stroke" "slightly hard" gearshift to the first gear, release the clutch and the vehicle surges ahead confidently - move it to second - it does it with a lot of ease. It doesn't get really racy in the first two gears and behaves like a normal car - you would at times be surprised as to where the so called power is all going but, take to the third gear and it starts behaving like a real powerhouse - 4th, 5th and you are off - hardly anything in front and even in the rear since there is nothing in the near distance to catch it. Take it to it's peak and raise the speed, touch the 3rd digit on the speedo - engine gets back with "Give me more". The car as a whole would speak of great confidence even at 130 plus kmph and handles amazingly well, accurate and precise. with the engine ready for more and you in total control even at such speeds, it is only the indian road which will make you thnik before stretching it further - Boy, this car really moves and it can take any kind of torture on the trottle - a true driver's car. Spiderman was told - with great power come great responsibilities. It holds good for this car also as the brakes have quite a bite to bring the vehicle to a standing halt quickly. the body frame and the body as whole make you feel safe as if you are wearing a strong armour around you.

A flaw in the armour being that it rattles and that severely dents the fun you have been having  - "Oh Boy!! What a dampener !!"

The suspensions on the car are firm and while being fairly good, still give you a feeling of what the tyres are going through and at times do trustfully transfer or recreate the tyre in the pothole sequence with you as the tyre and the seat as the pothole - "How dare you take me through that - got to whack your bum!!" - if only this suspension had a mouth - well, they are not bad but they ain't the best - fair deal I would say.

Having driven on a few vehicles with hydraulic power steering, I got to admit that I have personally liked the EPS - it was good precise and was providing "at times vague" but fairly good feedback to the driver - got to tell you that it doesn't firm-up that much at high speeds - well, it does, but not by a huge margin for you to notice.

The creature comforts of the AC, power windows et al behave and go about doing their job well - AC is powerful and you don't need to put it on the highest setting - ever. Accessibility to controls is quite good and everything is reachable within an arm's length - you don't need to stretch.

That's about you in the car - get in a friend of yours and provide him with the options of sitting at the rear seat or at the front - Don't be amazed if he takes the first row of seats. Bring on a couple of other guys with a big suitcase and pack the car - if you have more friends - they ain't going nowhere - for that is all this one can take. Additionally, you got to make sure that your friends in the rear seat are at the hieght of a normal indian - This car is not for large europeans of for those who are above average in terms of hieght  in the rear seat. Neither is it a car for those of us who carry a lot of luggage (A world wide survey revealed that Indians carry most baggage with them - true isn't it. If you don't believe me, go to a nearest railway station or airport and see it for yourself) - So, that is the reason why I term this one as a Driver's car - at the best a driver and 3 more average sized adults who carry nothing more than handbags.

I did mention the power, handling, ride handling aspects of the car and also stated what a fun it is to drive - so, how costly would be the drive - well, neither less nor more - This one returns with a decent fuel economy of 11 kmpl in city and 14.5 kmpl on highways (with AC at full blast) - well, I got to admit it that it probably is the best among the 1300CC - 1400 CC engine range - all the more so when this one spews up the maximum power among all of them - fair deal again - So, the fuel bills as well are reasonable.

One would be paying the fuel bills happily and with a similar ear to ear proud grin on the face because apart from the mileage, the fun it delivers is certainly a big bonus.

This to me is hence the benchmark among the hatchbacks - no wonders that anybody who is buying a hatchback as of today with a budget of 4.5 to 5.5 lakhs do certainly consider the Swift as an option.

If they don't, they are seriously experimenting !!!!

Cheers,

K Prasad

Responsive engine, Power, Fuel Economy - A Driver's Carbody Rattles, Bad Interiors