Comparison between Chevrolet Beat and Chevrolet Spark

American car maker Chevrolet is known for making cars that are modern and fun to drive. The point was clearly proved in India when they decided to bring their Beat hatchback to our car market. The Chevrolet Beat was an instant hit especially in metropolitan cities with the old and young along. For example, Chevrolet car dealers in Mumbai have had a field day selling the Beat to people who were looking to replace their boring and staid hatchbacks which had mediocre performance with something that was never been before and looked totally cool.

The Chevy Beat can be bought with either a petrol or a diesel engine under its bonnet. There even is the option of teaming the petrol engine with an LPG unit for the more eco friendly among us. The petrol engine is a 1.2 litre, 4 cylinder motor that puts out a healthy 79 bhp. If you are running the car in LPG mode, that figure drops down marginally to 76 bhp. The diesel engine powering the Beat is a 936 cc, 3 cylinder motor that manages to deliver 58.5 bhp. Both these engines are connected to a 5 speed manual transmission. The Beat is agile and quick in city traffic. You can point this car at small gaps and dart in there thanks to its peppy engine and slick gearbox. Even the diesel Beat, despite having some turbo lag, manages to put up a good show of driving around in rush hour traffic and narrow roads.

Without doubt, the USP of the Chevrolet Beat is its design. The car looks unlike any other hatchback plying our roads today. A rakish looking body, sharply sculpted headlamp clusters, angular stance, stylish rear and even a rear door handle that’s fitted vertically in the window assembly, all come together to make the car look really funky and space age. And talking about space age, the interiors do their bit to contribute to that look with blue illumination, silver instrument binnacle and a futuristic dashboard layout. Also, with the Chevrolet Beat price in Mumbai ranging from INR 4.68 lakhs to INR 7.28 lakhs, it can be agreed upon that this hatch is within reach of a vast majority of the car buying population as well.

Another car that the American manufacturer has on offer in our country is the Chevrolet Spark. Those who have keen eyes can immediately tell that the Spark was originally the Daewoo Matiz, which Chevrolet rebadged and reintroduced as the Spark. With the prices of the Chevrolet Spark in Mumbai hovering between INR 4.03 lakhs and INR 4.69 lakhs, the company has positioned this car as a more affordable option of inexpensive transportation for the masses. The Chevrolet Spark has only one engine option – a 1.0 litre petrol motor that makes 63 bhp. Power is directed to the front wheels through a 5 speed manual gearbox. The engine is surprisingly refined and zippy enough to make city driving an effortless affair.

The interiors of the Spark are still quite spartan and there is not much in the way of creature comforts. The car gets an air conditioner, power windows all round and a 2 DIN stereo system. There are cubby holes, storage recesses, cup holders, door pockets and a glove compartment for putting things away. The instrument binnacle is plonked on top of the centre console and it gets a digital tachometer. The front seats are still quite uncomfortable and while its ramifications might not be so apparent on a short hop, it becomes quite pronounced on long drives. Overall, the plasticky quality of the interiors was a big letdown as well. From the outside, the Spark is not going to win any beauty pageants! The car has received some minor modifications to distinguish it from its earlier self such as clear lens headlamp clusters, a two part front grille, fog lamps with a chrome lip for a bit of bling, oval tail lights and roof rails. But despite all this, since the asking rates of the Chevy Spark are so low, one cannot really gripe about its foibles. Also, ignore the boring interior and the dull styling and you end up with a car that is actually pretty decent for daily chores and commutes.

Compare Mahindra XUV500 Vs Renault Duster in Mumbai

Two of the most popular SUVs plying on Indian roads presently are the massively successful Renault Duster and the home-grown Mahindra XUV500. These two vehicles have been trying to eat into each others’ market shares ever since their launch.

The Renault Duster offers its buyers the option of selecting from 3 different engines – a 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder petrol engine that produces a maximum power output of 102.5 bhp; a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine that puts out 84 bhp of power and a 1.5 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine that develops a peak power figure of 108.5 bhp. Transmission for the petrol and the 84 bhp diesel variants are done by a 5 speed manual gearbox and for the 108.5 bhp diesel, shifting is taken care of by a 6 speed manual gearbox.

The interiors of the Duster generally feel quite solid. The quality of some plastics are not that great but overall, the fit and finish inside this car is good. The Duster gets features like a satellite navigation system, an audio system with touchscreen controls, rear air conditioning vents and a 475 litre boot that can be enlarged to 1064 litres by folding down the rear seats. Some ergonomics of this car are not very well thought out like the air conditioning vents that are a bit out of reach and audio controls on the steering wheel that are pretty much hidden.

The Mahindra XUV500 does not have choices in the engine department. No matter which variant you buy, you will get Mahindra’s mHawk 2.2 litre, 4 cylinder diesel engine. This is a pretty good engine and it has a maximum power output of 140 bhp. The power is harnessed by a 6 speed manual transmission. The XUV500 finishes the 0-100 kph sprint in 12.34 seconds, not bad at all for a car of this size. Despite this level of performance, this SUV has the highest fuel economy figure in its segment.

The party piece of the XUV500 is its feature list. For a car of its segment and price, it is absolutely packed to hilt with all sorts of gadgetry. The car comes equipped with steering mounted controls, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, a touchscreen that displays navigation and also works as a DVD player, aux-in and USB connectivity, parking sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and cruise control. Seating is also extremely comfortable in all rows. However, you get luggage space only if you fold down some seats and that’s tricky if there are a lot of people travelling on a long journey.

The Renault Duster price in Mumbai ranges from INR 8.2 lakhs for the base petrol variant to INR 12.5 lakhs for the top end diesel version. The Mahindra XUV500 price in Mumbai starts at just under INR 11.5 lakhs for the front wheel drive W4 version and goes up to INR 15.5 lakhs for the top end, all wheel drive W8 variant. All prices mentioned here are ex-showroom, Mumbai.

Maruti 800 vs Alto 800 - Which One is better to Take Home?

Maruti cars are known and trusted for their unmatched long-lasting performance delivery that has won hearts of hundreds of auto owners in Bangalore. And with a slew of efficient cars, Maruti has been on track and offering auto customers affordable, comfortable, safe, fuel efficient and simple yet good looking cars. Leaving aside all other mid-to-high range cars, let's check out the differences and best quality about the immensely popular Maruti 800 and Alto 800 in Bangalore to pick one out.

Maruti 800 had ruled the Indian auto space in Bangalore for decades and still you can see a good number of them plying on the metropolitan busy roads. And with Maruti Alto 800, the auto brand brings a fresh breath of air with new features and enhancements to meet modern day's mobility demands. If you look at the exterior design pattern Maruti 800 rather features simple yet elegant styling cues with clear headlamps and rear tail lights. Coming to the Alto 800, Maruti has added a little more spice and decorated it with eye-catching headlamps, upgraded front and taller stance that give more space to passengers.

While in the interior front, Maruti 800 has enough features and equipment that can make every journey fun and memorable. Designed simply, the 800 brings comfortable seats, front door pocket and lots of luggage space that makes every journey of yours happy and comfortable. The inside of Alto 800 on the other hand, comes with dual-tone interior upholstery, organized dashboard with tech features and spacious legroom that makes every drive easy and smooth.

If you ask me about the performance of Maruti 800, I would give my honest review about its easy manoeuvrings capacity that helps you to turn around in just 4.4m radius. And it does not end here, with sleek and slimmer stance the 800 can take you through busy and narrow lane or roads giving you the flexibility to reach any destination easily. And about the Alto 800, the hatch is good enough to hold your drive smoothly within and outside the city of Bangalore. With great power and torque, Alto 800 is ready to add thrill to your daily life.

With Maruti 800, you can feel safe and secure as it comes with crumple zone which absorbs the force of impact on the move. Maruti Alto 800 too is loaded with safety features such as head light leveling, immobilisers, collapsible steering column and tubeless tyres which ensure that you enjoy every drive without the need to worry about anything.

And to finally decide on one vehicle will not be that easy. In my personal opinion both are great hatches, but to pick one I will go with Alto 800 as it has more enhanced features and looks tad better. However, Maruti 800 is not less in any aspect and is great for first time vehicle owner. Maruti Suzuki 800 price in Bangalore ranges between Rs. 2.1 to Rs. 2.7 lakh and New Maruti Alto 800 price in Bangalore falls between Rs. 2.5 to Rs. 4 lakh.

Mahindra Bolero vs Maruti Suzuki Ertiga – A Competitive Comparison

Mahindra Bolero is one of the highest-selling SUVs which have made a grand mark in the increasingly competitive SUV market in India. Powerful, unmatched performance caliber, masculine looks, exceptional features and great safety, makes this off-roader an unbeatable choice for many Indians. Coming to Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, this massive vehicle has set a new benchmark in the LUV segment. Great looks, powerful performance, easy handling, fuel efficiency, spacious interior and high safety, has made Ertiga a new darling in the Indian automotive scenario. Let's dig in more details and compare the vehicles to know better.

Exterior: 

Design to awe, the exterior looks of Mahindra Bolero leaves you speechless as soon as you set your eye balls on it. Featuring new hawk-eye headlamps, signature front grille with a classy honey-comb mesh, contemporary body decals and spare-wheel cover lends a sporty and masculine look to the SUV. Every exterior style detail of the Maruti Ertiga set it apart in the LUV segment. Stylish cluster lamps, aerodynamic styling, alloy wheels, classy tail lights and others lend it a superior charm that delights your senses instantly.

Interior: 

The inside of Bolero treats your eyes with pleasant wood-finish instrument bezel, ergonomic steering wheel, new dual-tone premium upholstery and new drop-down armrest which welcomes you to a luxurious interior. On the other hand, Ertiga's interior invites you to its elegant zone which is packed with comfort and practical features such as high-quality upholstery, chrome door handles, 2nd row armrest, steering with audio control and stylish meter control.

Performance: 

The Bolero is built to deliver outstanding off-road performance and hence carries a powerful 2523 CC m2DiCR engine which spews maximum power of 46.3 kW @ 3200 rpm and maximum torque of 195 Nm @ 1400-2200 rpm. Powered by K14 VVT petrol engine and D13A diesel engine, the Ertiga delivers a decent mileage of 16.02 kmpl (petrol) and 20.77 kmpl (diesel). Its 15-inch wheels take every pressure on the move efficiently and give better maneuverability capacity.

Prices: 

Both the vehicles are priced competitively. Mahindra Bolero price in Mumbai ranges between Rs. 5.5 lakh to Rs. 7.5 lakh and the Price range of Maruti Suzuki Ertiga in Mumbai falls between Rs. 7 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. For more information on Mahindra Bolero price in Mumbai visit NBS Mahindra and to get detailed price information of Maruti Ertiga price in Mumbai visit KTS Automotors.

Safety: 

Mahindra Bolero features key less entry and remote fuel lid opener. And Maruti Ertiga is equipped with a host of safety features such as SRS airbags, 3 point ELR seat belts and ABS with EBD that ensures safety of all occupants on the move. In terms of safety Ertiga has better equipment than Bolero.

To pick any one of the two vehicles, I will leave that decision up to you. As the vehicles are unique and offer best-in-class features and efficiency in many aspects, one vehicle cannot be singled out. Compare and choose your car which is just perfect for your personal mobility requirements.