Tata Safari Storme

The Indian auto giant TATA Motors is all set to launch the new Safari Storme which is larger and even lighter avatar of the current model. Launched earlier at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo, the vehicle was codenamed Tata Merlin. Though the SUV was supposed to be launched by July this year, the company seemed to have change of plans and expects to launch the same by September. Tata Safari Storme will be built on the X2 platform, the same which is used in Aria. This hydroform chassis helps reduce weight of the vehicle as well as improves riding and handling characteristics.

Exterior

After months of hard work the engineers at Tata Motors have made the Safari Storme look quite different from existing model. The front end of the SUV looks good with low beam projector headlamps, body coloured bumpers and round shaped fog lamps placed on the bumpers. The side profile is characterized by body coloured door handles, ORVM’s with integrated turn indicator lights and the five twin spoke alloy wheels.

Onto the rear, the vehicle gets square tail lamps as well as Land Rover inspired body design which makes Storme appealing even from the rear end. Apart from this, the rear side includes rear spoiler, dual chrome plates trapezoidal exhaust pipes, rear defogger, and a wiper. Overall styling of this vehicle seems very much inspired by Tata’s sister concern, Range Rover.

Safari Storme Colours

Safari Storme comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Sardinia Red


• 
  
  
  Pearl Champagne


• 
  
  
  Pearl White


• 
  
  
  Arctic Silver


• 
  
  
  Urban Bronze


• 
  
  
  Astern Black


• 
  
  
  Arctic White

Interior

More than the exteriors, the Safari Storme is sure to surprise anyone with the fascinating elements present inside. The interiors are all reworked and superbly styled. The dashboard is given a fine wooden finish and carries integrated music system along with new instrument cluster as well as auto climate control function. The seating inside this seven seater Safari Storme is quite spacious and roomy giving the passengers maximum amount of comfort and peace.

The adjustable headrest and armrests along with separate integrated roof-mounted AC blowers add to the comfort of the passengers. Other features in this new version of Safari includes Sports meter dials with white backlight, leather covered seats, foldable passenger seats, height adjustable driver seats, power windows, power steering and 981 litres of boot space.

Engine & Performance

The Tata Safari Storme comes in two models, the one being 4×2 and the other being 4×4. Both these models will be powered by 2.2 liter DOHC 16 valve DICOR (Direct injection Common Rail) diesel engine. This engine can produce a maximum power of 140 bhp @ 4000 rpm and a max torque of 320 Nm @ 1700 rpm. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in just 16 seconds and can reach a top speed of 160 Km/hr without any difficulty. With the superb performance figures the Safari Storme is sure to give a tough competition to the now shining Mahindra XUV 500.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Diesel	2179	140/4000	320/1700-2700

Safety

Just like any other SUV’s the Safari Storme also has some of the standard safety features like the 6 airbags (which includes SRS airbags), Anti-lock Braking system, EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system for better traction control and Brake Assist. Some of the other safety features includes remote central locking system, parking sensors, collapsible steering wheel column and fog lamps. Apart from this the vehicle is also certified as per the European standards for crash test by front collision.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant
Engine	2179cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	55 L
Power	140 bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	11/13 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Tata Safari Storme	Rs. 4,21,852

Honda Jazz

After bagging the “Car of the Year” award in Japan in 2001 and 2002 and taking into consideration the outstanding acknowledgement received by Honda City, Honda Civic And Honda Accord in the Indian subcontinent, Honda launched its first ever hatchback in India in mid 2009 and tagged it as Honda Jazz. Honda Jazz used the same platform as that of Honda City thereby reducing its overall manufacturing cost. With its overall aerodynamic outline, central bonnet ridge, dashing and sporty front grille and silvery matt colored headlamps, this luxurious car is equipped with lavish features of a C-Class luxury sedan, and yet falls in the hatchback category. Due to this reason, even the base model tends to be pricey as compared to the other Indian hatchbacks and starts with Rs 6 lakhs.

Exterior

The first look of Honda Jazz car leaves an aerodynamic impression on the observer. With its super-forwarding design and sharply raked windscreen, Jazz spends least effort cutting through the air making it more efficient. The large Matt and Silver headlights extend all the way up to the back of the short and sporty hood. The front fog lamps have been integrated in the headlamps. The dynamic hexagonal grille at the front gets a chrome finish look like that of the Honda CR-V and seats the trademark Honda logo. In general, this long car gets a stylish exterior with an aerodynamic appeal which undoubtedly resembles like a scaled-down version of an MUV.

 The dynamic and bold exterior features of Honda Jazz has lured many youths in India. The spacious window graphics, large vent window and shorter bonnet make this car look long. From the side, this car is endorsed with ellipsoidal glass area, body colored side molding, corner protector and 15 inch all alloy wheels.  The tail gate spoiler, rear chrome garnish, and the all-new sharp tail lamp design give this car a bold and a strong sporty look. Honda Jazz gets a ground clearance of 160 mm and measures 3900 mm in length, 1695 mm in width and 1535 mm in height making it one of the longest hatchbacks in India.

Honda Jazz Colours

Honda Jazz comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Crystal Black


• 
  
  
  Alabaster silver


• 
  
  
  Sherbet Blue


• 
  
  
  Rallye Red


• 
  
  
  Sapphire Blue


• 
  
  
  Urban Titanium


• 
  
  
  Tafeta White

Interior

Since Honda Jazz has approximately the same length as that of other Indian hatchbacks, its shorter bonnet signifies that the car is more spacious and comfortable with additional leg space and head space when it comes to interiors. With its two options of dual interior tones; Beige Black and Blue Black, it gives an elegant and luxurious look as well as feel from the inside. The car is ergonomically designed with multiple storage places in the form of nifty little compartments. The reclining rear passenger seats provide added comfort during long drives and are placed slightly higher than the front seats so that the rear passenger can also see outside from the front.

Additional features like the amber colored instrument cluster with stereoscopic dials, audio controls on the three spoke tilt-able steering wheel, rear AC vents, dual glove box and coat hanger, power windows, rear view mirror and numerous pockets and holders makes Honda Jazz one of the most attractive and well-designed hatchback.

Engine & Performance

Although the new Honda Jazz is available in three variants namely Jazz, Jazz Select and the Jazz X, all of them are powered by the same 1.2L i-VTEC engine (Intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control) designed to give the vehicle just the right amount of power and fuel efficiency. The engine is mated to a five speed manual transmission which produces a maximum power of 90 bhp at 6200 rpm and a maximum torque of 110 Nm at 4800 rpm. Unfortunately we still have to wait for the diesel variant of Honda Jazz.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1198	90/6200	110/4800

Safety

Being one of the safest auto manufacturers in the market, Honda boasts its hi-tech multi-directional crash test facility in Japan, where Jazz goes through the most stringent crash tests. The car is built on the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body which provides improved self protection and enhanced compatibility in collisions with other vehicles. The all new G-Force Control Technology (G-CON) not only reduces impact energy during a collision but also enhances handling. ABS (Anti lock Brake System) stabilizes the vehicle while braking in order to have better control and avoid obstacles ahead, whereas the EBD distributes the work force among all four wheels based on the load for each wheel. Other safety features include the pretensioner seat belt with load limiter, driver and front passenger dual SRS airbags, rear wiper and rear windshield defogger, high mount stop lamp and driver side auto pinch guard.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (Basic)	Top End Variant (X)
Engine	1198cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	1198cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	42 L	42 L
Power	88.7 bhp @ 6500rpm	88.7 bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	12.6/16.7 km	12.6/16.7 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Honda Jazz Basic	Rs. 6,01,627
Honda Jazz Select Edition	Rs. 6,26,737
Honda Jazz X	Rs. 6,58,975

Chevrolet Beat

The 100 year old American company, General Motors started its manufacturing and assembling operation in Talegaon, Maharashtra and Halol, Gujarat in 2003. After considering the success of other Chevrolet cars in India, GM decided to launch a cheap, sporty and a funky hatchback especially for the young generation of this country and tagged it as Chevrolet Beat. This car is a finest overall package with no compromise on its features and yet so cheap. It’s the best buy among all the existing Indian hatchbacks if one is looking for efficient, trendy and vibrant design with an ultra-competitive price tag. The introduction of this car has threatened the Korean and the Japanese car manufacturers which monopolized the Indian automotive Industry. Chevrolet Beat is the cheapest hatchback in India and ranges between Rs. 3.8 – 5.8 lakhs.

Exterior

Chevrolet Beat gets a very sporty and a street smart look from the outside. The trademark Chevrolet grille right below the hood with its black honeycomb and a thick peripheral chrome finish endorsing the new Chevrolet logo gives a sleekly and a trendy look to the car from the font. The aggressive diamond shaped headlamps stretching all the way up to the back of the hood and dynamic fog lamps integrated in the front bumper also add up to the front look of the car. With a wide range of fresh and striking shades (8 colors) and its curvaceous body, this car is definitely a head turner.

The striking alloy wheels with tubeless tires not only improve the aesthetics of the car, but are also light in weight and improve the steering feel and the mileage of the car. Recessed rear door handles, satin silver finish roof rails, shark fin-shaped bezels in the front bumper, body colored tailgate handles, outside door handles and door mirror cowls, rear spoiler integrated on the roof and the overall aerodynamic shape add up to the sporty and futuristic design of Chevrolet Beat. The car measures 3640 mm in length, 1595 mm in width and 1520 mm in height with a ground clearance of 170 mm.

Chevrolet Beat Colours

Chevrolet Beat comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Super Red


• 
  
  
  Misty Lake


• 
  
  
  Olympic White


• 
  
  
  Moroccan Blue


• 
  
  
  Linen Beige


• 
  
  
  Caviar Black


• 
  
  
  Green Cocktail

Interior

Chevrolet Beat is a spacious 5-seater car with elegant interiors. The ambience of this car is upgraded by the Piano Black finish on the dashboard, illuminated ice blue superbike inspired instrument cluster, an advanced integrated central panel with a graphic infotainment display, radio and CD player with MP3, USB, Aux-in compatibility and HVAC controls. The 60:40 split rear seats, internally adaptable OVRM, tilt power steering and the power window are additional feature incorporated in this car. Interiors are spacious and are accompanied by sufficient boot space and several storage compartments capable of storing loose objects like cups, sunglasses, bottles and CDs. Additional features like cigarette lighter, sun visor, bottle holders in door trims, remote boot lid and fuel lid opener, vanity mirror, rear defogger, head restraint and driver seat head adjuster and the rear wash and wiper makes this car one of the most economic hatchback in India.

Engine & Performance

The Chevrolet Beat Petrol version is powered by a 1.2L 4 cylinder, 16 valve inline engine capable of producing 79 bhp @ 6200 rpm and a maximum torque of 108 Nm @ 4400 rpm. The diesel variant on the other hand is equipped with a 1L XDSE Smartech 3-cyliner CRDi engine capable of producing a maximum power of 58 bhp @ 4000 rpm and a maximum torque of  150Nm @ 1750 rpm. Both these engines are mated to a 5 speed manual transmission making the Beat highly fuel efficient providing an excellent mileage of 25.44 km/litre.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1199	79/6200	108/4400
Diesel	936	58/4000	150/1750

Safety

Chevrolet Beat is packed with active and passive safety features to protect against unpredicted surprises that might arise during driving. With its state-of-the-art security features, this car can be driven in a peaceful mind state even on the congested Indian roads. Child lock, high mounted stop lamp, front fog lamps, halogen headlamps, front seat belts with load limiters, dual front airbags, anti-lock braking system and high strength steel safety cage are additional safety features that are added into this car.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (PS)	Base LPG (LS LPG)	Base Diesel (PS)
Engine	1199cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	1199cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	936cc, 3 Cylinder, 12 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	35 L	35 L	35 L
Power	79bhp @ 6200rpm	79.3 bhp @ 6400rpm	57.6 bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	15.31/18.61 km	10.1/13.3 km	22.5/25.4 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Chevrolet Beat PS	Rs. 3,80,257
Chevrolet Beat LS	Rs. 4,06,475
Chevrolet Beat LT	Rs. 4,53,279
Chevrolet Beat Option Pack	Rs. 5,02,012
Chevrolet Beat LT LPG	Rs. 4,87,386
Chevrolet Beat LS LPG	Rs. 4,40,582
Chevrolet Beat Diesel PS	Rs. 4,60,715
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LS	Rs. 4,87,933
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LT	Rs. 5,32,537
Chevrolet Beat Diesel LT Option	Rs. 5,80,994

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo Mk5 is a fifth generation hatchback version launched by the Deutsche car company. After the success of its previous counterparts in Europe, the Germans decided to expand their market in Asia with India as its base thereby constructing an assembly plant in Chakan, Maharashtra in March 2009. With a new powerful engine, uncompromising features, aesthetic appeal and unbound luxury, the new Volkswagen Polo is the so called Palace on Wheels among the existing Indian hatchbacks. It has electrifying exteriors and unparalleled interiors that will leave you spellbound. The Polo, with its many impressive features costs slightly less than its hatchback competitors, and ranges from 4.5 to 6.5 lakhs.

Exterior

The Volkswagen Polo gets a simple but a uniquely stylish and dynamic look from the front due to its long bonnet, dominating front grille and sporty headlamps whereas a classy and elegant look from the rear due to its relaxed tail lamps and an elevated bumper. The front bumper poses a black color grille accommodating for hexagonal shaped fog lights at its ends which appear to be aerodynamic when viewed from side. The famous VW logo with a glossy chrome finish sits right at the center of the grille making it dominant and visible.

Body colored bumpers, handles and rear view mirrors, front and rear fog lamps, rear spoiler with a brake light, chrome-plated interior trims, spokes with R15 size of alloy wheels, stylish roof antenna and the big VW logo on the trunk, all add up to the overall personality of the car. It measures 3790 mm in length, 1682 mm in width and 1453 mm in height. The overall appearance of the car is broad, low posture and a compact hatchback. As the name of the company suggests, VW polo is a common man’s car.

Volkswagen Polo Colours

Volkswagen Polo comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Flash Red


• 
  
  
  Emotion Blue


• 
  
  
  Deep Black


• 
  
  
  Reflex Silver


• 
  
  
  Candy White


• 
  
  
  Pepper Grey

Interior

From the inside, this car is no smaller than a sedan. The dual tone interior (black and beige) gives it a professional and rich look. The seats are pushed slight lower for comfort and convenience and made out of plush material. All the buttons have been coated with a soft material as compared to the other hatchbacks. The car can comfortably accommodate 5 passengers. Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering, power steering, power windows and door locks, tinted glass, rear defogger and wiper, storage space behind front seats and front door side pockets, CD/MP3 stereo audio system with 4 speakers, remote central locking and open door warning light feature on the display make this car a complete package when it comes to interiors. All in all, the ergonomics of this machine give a pleasant feel once you enter it. After all, it’s German engineering!!

Engine & Performance

The Volkswagen Polo comes with both petrol as well as diesel engine options. For petrol there’s again two options, with the first one being a 1.2L engine and the second being 1.6L engine. The 1.2L petrol engine produces a maximum power of 75PS @ 5400 rpm and a max torque of 110 Nm @3750 rpm, whereas the 1.6L petrol engine produces a maximum power of 105PS @5250 rpm and a max torque of 153 Nm @ 3750 rpm. Coming to the diesel variant, the car gets the same displacement volume as that of the 1.2 L petrol engine. This three cylinder diesel engine delivers a maximum power of 75 PS @4200 rpm and a maximum torque of 180 Nm @ 2000 rpm.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)	0-100 (km/hr)	Top Speed (km/hr)
Petrol 1.2L	1198	74/5400	110/3750	14.2 secs	163
Petrol 1.6L	1598	105/5250	153/3750	11.1 secs	183
Diesel 1.2L	1198	74/4200	180/2000	14.4 secs	164

Safety

The in-built hi-tech safety and security features of Volkswagen Polo overrule most of the other Indian hatchbacks. Electronic anti-theft immobilizer, dual airbags for driver and front passengers, central locking, ventilated front disc brakes, seat belts with 3 point automatic safety belts and high mounted third brake light are some of the features that are incorporated in this car. Overall, one can assertively trust the safety features of this machine.

Specifications

Features	Comfortline 1.2L (P)	Highline 1.6L (P)	Comfortine 1.2L (D)
Engine	1198cc, 3 Cylinder, 12 Valve	1598cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	1199cc, 3 Cylinder, 12 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	45 L	45 L	45 L
Power	74 bhp @ 6000rpm	103.5 bhp @ 4000rpm	74 bhp @ 4200rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	14/17 km	12/15 km	19/22 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.2L (P)	Rs. 4,87,200
Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 1.2L (P)	Rs. 5,52,800
Volkswagen Polo Trendline 1.2L (D)	Rs. 6,03,971
Volkswagen Polo Highline 1.2L (P)	Rs. 6,50,201
Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 1.2L (D)	Rs. 6,69,600
Volkswagen Polo Highline 1.6L (P)	Rs. 6,71,600
Volkswagen Polo Highline 1.2L (D)	Rs. 7,16,600

Hyundai I-Gen i20

The South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai has launched the new i-Gen i20 after considering the overwhelming success of its previous counterparts in the Indian subcontinent. With additional interior space, enhanced fluidic design, latest technology, sporty, aggressive and sleekly looks, the i-Gen i20 promises to be a revolution in the hatchback category. Targeted for the young generation, the car is inspired basically from its premium hatchback model Hyundai i30, launched in Europe and Korea. With several new features like the Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), Smart Key with Push Button Start, Tilt and Telescoping steering, its price tends to peak a bit higher than the previous versions, ranging between Rs 5-8 lakhs.

Exterior

The signature fluidic design of Hyundai ensembles brilliantly on the i-Gen i20, giving it an eye-catching and alluring look leaving a spellbound effect on the buyer. Decorated with high-gloss front grille, diamond shaped multi reflector front fog lamps, turn indicators on the outside rear view mirrors and spoiler comprising integrated stop lamps, this car is a visual treat to people fond of style and sporty looks. The car undoubtedly resembles like a scaled-down version of an SUV.

 

A ground clearance of 6.5 inches makes the Hyundai i-Gen i20 a comfortable ride on our desi roads. It encompasses a few first to-be features on a hatchback like the Auto Headlight Control Function, Sunroof (optional), Electro Chromic Mirror (providing anti-glare vision during night), rear parking cameras and the Rain Sensing Wipers. The wheels get athletic looks with 8 spoke 14 inch wheels as standard. The car measures 3940 mm in length, 1505 mm in width and 1505 mm in height, giving it a long and a sleekly look as compared to the other Indian hatchbacks.

Hyundai I-Gen i20 Colours

Hyundai I-Gen i20 comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Black


• 
  
  
  Silky Silver


• 
  
  
  Silky Beige


• 
  
  
  Sparkle Blue


• 
  
  
  Berry Red


• 
  
  
  Dark Gray Metallic

Interior

In comparison with the other Indian hatchbacks, the 5-seater Hyundai i-Gen i20 is a spacious car with graceful interiors. The rear seats accommodate added leg space of 56 mm providing comfort to the passengers whereas the front seats get a height varying headrests to made driving comfortable. The car is decked with sophisticated features like Clutch footrest, Power Window with time delay operation, Cloth Seat Upholstery and Rear AC cooling ducts with Heater. Additional features like Luggage Lamp, Bench flopping rear seat, Rear wiper and washer, Rear defogger with timer and Power outlet of 12V makes it an ultimate option for a buyer who doesn’t want to compromise on the interiors.

 

Engine & Performance

The new Hyundai i-Gen i20 gets the option for both petrol as well as diesel engines. The petrol version of the car is powered by a 1.2L Kappa engine having dual VTVT. This engine is mated to a five speed manual gearbox delivering a maximum power of 83 PS @ 6000 rpm and a maximum torque of 114 Nm @ 4000 rpm. The diesel version gets 1.4L CRDi engine delivering a maximum power of 90 PS @4000 rpm and a max torque of 220Nm @ 1500-2750 rpm.

 

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1197	83/6000	114/4000
Diesel	1396	90/4000	220/1500-2750

Safety

When it comes to safety, no other Indian hatchback can beat the Hyundai i-Gen i20. With its state of the art safety features, this car can be driven in a relaxed state even on the overcrowded Indian roads. Central locking, impact sensing auto door unlocking, speed sensing auto door locking, seatbelt arresters during collision, six airbags including the driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags switches, front and rear fog lamps during adverse weather conditions, reverse parking sensors and cameras offer high tech safety and security features to this mean machine.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (Era 1.2 petrol)	Base Variant (Era 1.4 CRDi)
Engine	1197cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	1396cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	45 L	45 L
Power	82.8bhp @ 6000rpm	88.7bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	13.3/18.5 km	18.4/21.9 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Hyundai i20 Era 1.2 (Petrol)	Rs. 4,81,000
Hyundai i20 Magna (Petrol)	Rs. 5,06,151
Hyundai i20 Magna Optional (Petrol)	Rs. 5,36,652
Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.2 (Petrol)	Rs. 5,85,474
Hyundai i20 Era 1.4 CRDi (Diesel)	Rs. 6,06,936
Hyundai i20 Magna 1.4 CRDi (Diesel)	Rs. 6,31,269
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.2 (Petrol)	Rs. 6,32,124
Hyundai i20 Magna Optional 1.4 CRDi (Diesel)	Rs. 6,32,124
Hyundai i20 Asta Optional with sunroof 1.2 (Petrol)	Rs. 6,77,733
Hyundai i20 Sportz 1.4 CRDi (Diesel)	Rs. 7,10,595
Hyundai i20 Asta 1.4 CRDi (Diesel)	Rs. 7,57,239
Hyundai i20 Sportz AT 1.4 (Petrol)	Rs. 7,81,048

Hyundai Elantra

The Korean automotive company Hyundai Motors in India has launched the all new Hyundai Elantra at a function held in the capital city of India. This new avatar from Hyundai is claimed to be a segment leader both in terms of performance and style. Launched in US last year, the car has received quite good response worldwide, and the company is confident to get the same response in India too. Based on the new fluidic design philosophy from Hyundai, Elantra petrol version cost will start from Rs 12.51 lakh, while the diesel version will start from a price tag of Rs 12.91 lakh.

Exterior

Looking at the exterior of the Hyundai Elantra one can definitely tell that the design team at Hyundai Motors have worked hard to make it look like a fifth generation sedan. The front end of the car gets sharp and edgy curves with enhanced grille, stretched out headlamps, and effective rain sensing wipers, making the car look more stylish and trendy. On the side the car has body coloured door handles, clear side view mirrors and trendy wheel arches with alloy wheels. Finally on the rear, the bumpers have been held a bit high with tail lamps being quite prominent.

 

Overall the car measures 4530 mm in length, 1775 mm in width and 1470 mm in height.

Hyundai Elantra Colours

Hyundai Elantra comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Coral White


• 
  
  
  Bronze


• 
  
  
  Sleek Silver


• 
  
  
  Twilight Blue


• 
  
  
  Phantom Black


• 
  
  
  Maharajah Red

Interior

Even though the Hyundai Elantra is reasonably priced, its interiors definitely look more impressive than its competitors. The base model will be loaded with quality fabric upholstery on seats, high end sound system with CD player and six speakers, iPod USB, satellite radio, solar glass, Active Eco System, power steering with audio controls and illuminated vanity mirrors. Apart from this the high end model of Elantra would have provision for sport sophisticated leather seats, solar glass, power steering with Bluetooth technology as well as heated rear and front seats.

 

In addition to all these the car has ample amount of space for five people to easily adjust without any problems. The legroom as well as the headspace is quite good so that even tall persons can sit comfortably. There is a boot space of 420 litres as well.

Engine & Performance

Hyundai Elantra is powered by a 1.8L VTVT petrol engine producing max power of 146 bhp and a max torque of 182 Nm in the international market. The same engine will also be available for the Indian market, however as per the increasing demand of diesel cars in India, Hyundai has decided to introduce the Diesel variant for Elantra as well. The diesel model will be powered by a 1.6L CRDi VGT engine producing a max power of 126 bhp and a peak torque of 265 Nm.

 

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1797	149/6500	177/4700
Diesel	1582	128/4000	259/2200

Safety

Safety for passengers is given top priority in this new Hyundai car. The base model gets two air bags and ABS as standard. However the top end version will be fitted with six airbags, electronically adjustable seats, button start, cruise controls, alarm system for theft and harm as well as power door locks.

 

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (S petrol)	Base Variant (CRDi diesel)
Engine	1797cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	1582cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	56 L	56 L
Power	147.5bhp @ 6500rpm	126.3bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	13/16	19/23

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Hyundai Elantra S (Petrol)	Rs. 12,51,000
Hyundai Elantra SX (Petrol)	Rs. 13,74,000
Hyundai Elantra CRDi Base (Diesel)	Rs. 12,91,000
Hyundai Elantra CRDi S (Diesel)	Rs. 13,64,000

Renault Pulse

Renault Pulse is the third product from the French Auto manufacturer in India after Fluence & Koleos. Launched at the 2012 Auto Expo in Delhi, this car is targeted for the mass population of the country going gaga for Hatchbacks. Being developed at the Renault’s design Center in Mumbai, the engineers have tried to make it different from the rest of the breed by making it look sportier and aggressive. The Pulse is specifically designed for the Indian market and hence the price for the car is also made affordable ranging between Rs 4-7 lakhs.

Exterior

The Renault Pulse uses the existing V-platform from Nissan to help reduce the development costs for the car. And that why Pulse looks very much similar to the Nissan Micra in terms of front grille, headlamps, front bumpers, rear bumper, tail lights as well as the positioning of the logo. The front end of the car looks sharper and carries a big Renault logo in centre, a black matte finish grille below it as well as round shaped clear lens fog lamps.

 

The side profile of Pulse is marked by body color door mirrors, pull type door handles and green tinted glass. The wheels get sporty looks with 5 spoke 14 inch wheels as standard. Coming to the rear, one can hardly find any difference between the Micra and Pulse, as this car gets the same curvy and wavy looks as that of Nissan Micra along with a Renault logo and Pulse insignia written below it. The car measures 3805 mm in length, 1665 mm in width and 1530 mm in height.

Renault Pulse Colours

Renault Pulse comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Solid Black


• 
  
  
  Champagne Gold


• 
  
  
  Pearl White


• 
  
  
  Metallic Grey


• 
  
  
  Metallic Silver


• 
  
  
  Metallic Red

Interior

When compared to the other hatchbacks, the 5-seater Renault Pulse gets a good amount of space inside. Though most of the design and parts are taken from Micra, one can see good amount of difference especially when it comes to the dashboard, steering wheel, color schemes on seats and the door pads. The car gets a boot space of 251 litres which can easily accommodate 2-3 suitcases. Other exiting features inside the car includes power steering, power windows, remote central locking, air-conditioner, rear washer/wiper, dash integrated music system, rear parcel tray and central console with silver finish.

 

Engine & Performance

The Pulse is powered by K9K (diesel) and XH5 (petrol) engine, both being already performing under the hood of Nissan Micra. These engines have been ranked for being the best-in-class in terms of fuel consumption & performance not only in India, but also worldwide. The 1198 cc, 3 cylinder inline DOHC 12 valve petrol engine produces a peak power of 75 bhp at 6000 rpm, while generating a maximum torque of 104 Nm at 4000 rpm. Whereas the 1461 cc, 4 cylinder CRDI diesel engine produces a peak power of 64 bhp at 4000 rpm and generates a maximum torque of 160 Nm at 2000 rpm.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1198	75/6000	104/4000
Diesel	1461	64/4000	160/2000

Safety

The Renault Pulse showcases another benchmark for the company standards when it comes to safety & quality. The car gets driver side airbags (standard) as well as passenger side airbags as option. The top end variant gets distinct Fog lamps which are however missing in the RXL model.  Some of the other standard safety features includes front & rear seat belts, anti punch safety function for driver side window, engine immobilizer, head restraints for front & rear seats, speed sensing auto door locks and high mount stop lamps.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (RxE)	Top End Variant (RxZ)
Engine	1198cc, 3 Cylinder, 12 Valve	1461cc, 4 Cylinder 8 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	41 L	41 L
Power	74.9bhp @ 6000rpm	63.1bhp @ 4000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	14/18	20/23

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Renault Pulse RxE Petrol	Rs. 4,21,852
Renault Pulse RxL Petrol	Rs. 5,05,908
Renault Pulse RxZ Petrol	Rs. 5,61,299
Renault Pulse RxL	Rs. 6,04,730
Renault Pulse RxL Airbags	Rs. 6,17,556
Renault Pulse RxZ	Rs. 6,56,744
Renault Pulse RxZ Airbags	Rs. 6,69,726