Range Rover Evoque review

Range Rover Evoque

photo credits: Wikipedia

The Range Rover Evoque is the cheapest Range Rover you can buy today. But is it a proper Range Rover? I try to find out with a very short drive.

The Evoque maybe one of the best looking cars to come from Land Rover but it also shows a huge deviation from their regular cars. It is much smaller than the bigger Range Rovers and it has a more coupe like shape than the large boxy design of its elder brothers. It was the first car to sport Land Rover’s new design language.  The coupe like design gives it a sportier look. The car was designed with the help of Victoria Beckham. It maybe small but it has pretty good road presence thanks to the 18 inch alloys. It is more like a compact luxury lifestyle off-roader. At a starting price of around 70 lakhs, it is expensive.

On the inside, the Evoque is as luxurious as you expect a small Range over to be. The dash is simple and everything is made of high quality materials. But you do sit low and for a short person, the view outside is not good. You do not get the superb visibility like you get in the bigger Rangies. The front seat support is good and there is decent amount of space. But at the back, the seats are slightly small and there is not enough legroom and head room.  Thanks to its smaller footprint and the shape. The cabin is made more airy thanks to a panoramic glass roof. The boot space is a decent 575 litres.

photo credits: rangeroverpictures.com

The Evoque comes with a 9 speed automatic transmission. It comes with a beautifully finished circular gear selector which rises up when the car is switched on. The test car is powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engine producing 187 bhp and 420 Nm of torque. The engine is highly refined and a minimum noise is heard in the cabin even when it is revved up high. The petrol is a 2 litre engine producing 240ps and 340 Nm of torque. It is available in the 3 door version. The chassis is stiff and the steering feels a little dead. The car is quick with 100 coming up in 8.5 seconds but it does not feel that quick. Land Rover claims an efficiency of 12.7 kmpl for the diesel.

A low range gearbox is not available with the baby Range Rover. Instead it makes do with a Land Rover’s high acclaimed Terrain Response System. It has different settings like grass, gravel, snow, sand, and mud which can be chosen depending on the terrain. Or it can be left in auto to let the computers figure out the best setting. The ride on the Evoque is excellent though the Indian car is more firm. The dampers are filled with a fluid containing magnetized iron filings which can react in milliseconds to alter the firmness.

On the equipment front, you get a panoramic sunroof, an 8 inch high resolution touch screen and a Meridian sound system, ambient lighting, parking sensors and a rear parking camera. Unfortunately, the objects shown on the camera screen are a lot closer than they appear. This will take getting used to. For safety, you get roll stability control, dynamic stability control and hill descent control. You also get 7 airbags including a knee airbag for the driver.

The Evoque, therefore, is for those who want a stylish city runabout with road presence and a go anywhere ability. But if you think it is not stylish enough for you, then don’t worry, there is a convertible version coming soon. Even though it is completely different from its siblings, it is a proper Range Rover.

The MINI Experience

The MINI Experience

The Mini Cooper S.. the most iconic car to come out of Britain. Before I start with my experience with the Cooper S, let me give you a brief history lesson. Pictures courtesy: Google Images

Released in 1959, the original Mini, designed by Six Alex Issigonis was meant to be a 2 door 4 cylinder efficient city runabout for the British Motor Company. The car was commissioned in response to a fuel shortage and it was the first front wheeled drive car which led to a lot of space inside the cabin. At around 3m long it was extremely good for the increasingly crowded city. This small car then caught the eye of John Cooper of the Cooper car company. He launched the Mini Cooper in 1963 with a 848cc engine and the Cooper S with a 1071cc engine. This was when the Mini was introduced to the world of rallying. Now you may be wondering what a 70hp car with a 0-100 time of around 13 seconds will do around the bigger engine monsters. Yes it was slow but the light and compact body meant it cornered like a go-kart. The results speak for themselves. The Mini, with its tiny engine won the Monte Carlo rally in 1964, 65 and 67.It was also the star of the 1969 British movie “The Italian Job” . The future of the Mini was uncertain during the 80s and 90s when its ownership kept changing hands. It was rescued by BMW who bought the rights to the brand in 1994. The Mini Cooper in its latest avatar was released in 2000. It has been subjected to constant tweaks and new variants since but it is still being manufactured in the iconic Oxford plant.

So, is the latest Mini fit to carry the brand name forward?? Let us find out with the latest and most sporty Mini to date, the 3 door Cooper S.

The new Cooper S has grown in size when compared to the original. At approximately 3.8 metres long and 1.4 metres tall, it is still a very small car for today’s standards. A small car that suits my size. In flesh, the Cooper S looks attractive. It’s not a car that will let you walk by without looking at it. It is a magnet for attention. That’s what a Mini should be and this does not disappoint with its cute looks. It is even better in red with black stripes and those brilliant 16 inch black alloys. It is a highly desirable car. The same style is carried over to the interiors as well. Crafted with high quality materials, it is designed to be different and stand out. You get a circular speedo in the centre console and a digital one in front of you.

Let’s first take a look at the not so interesting bits of the car. The most important thing the Indian buyer looks for is fuel efficiency. For those people, the car will give around 13kmpl in normal drive mode. But in sport mode, the mileage drops to around 10. The luggage space for such a small car is good at 211 litres and another 540 litres available with the rear seats folded down. The sporty seats in the front are comfortable and give good support. At the rear, there is more room than you expect. They can be relaxing on a long drive as well.

Now that has been dealt with, the more important parts come into picture: the driving experience.

The power plant that gives this car a punch is a turbocharged 2 litre petrol engine producing a massive 192 bhp and 290 Nm of torque. That in a car that weighs just 1.2 tons. This means that 100kmph is dealt with in just 6.8 seconds from a stand still. Now to the key characteristic that defines every Mini Cooper S: the handling. Am happy to report that the car still retains its go-kart like handling. The steering is accurate and pretty sharp. The driving experience is something I have never experienced before. The engine that revs to 6000 rpm, the handling and that brilliant exhaust note which crackles as well, combines to bring a wide smile on your face and leaves you wanting for more. The ride is slightly on the harsh side but that is something you will not notice while enjoying the drive.

The Cooper S is expensive. Starting at 45 lakhs on road, it can go up to 55 lakhs depending on your customization. But for a petrol head, it is a must have car. All petrol heads should, at some point in their lives, drive a Cooper S. If you have the cash, you should definitely buy a MINI Cooper S. It is the best car you can enjoy driving in without any worries that the bigger cars have. For the sensation it offers, the MINI Cooper S is definitely a steal.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: A Classy Way to Travel

Mercedes-Benz S-Class: A Classy Way to Travel

(Image courtesy: Google images)

Before I start, I would like to thank Akshaya Motors, Bangalore and their best in the business customer service for giving me an opportunity to drive the latest S-Class.

The S-Class. Does it need an introduction? I guess not. But here goes..

 Launched in 1954, the S-Class has always been the segment leader demolishing its opponents in every generation. It has now become the most important car in history. Every new generation released is watched closely for all the new features it brings along. In time, these are the features you will find in smaller cars like ABS, airbags and ESP. From the very beginning, it has been the flagship car for Mercedes-Benz carrying with it the history, legacy of the company along with latest technology and modern touches. Now let’s come to the latest S-Class. Called the W222, it takes luxury to a higher level and gives a scare to the baby Rolls and the Flying Spur. It gets Hot-Stone seat massage and Magic Body Control, which sadly does not make it to the Indian market. This is the first car which does not have a single light bulb in it. It has nearly 500 LEDs, 56 in the front headlamps, 36 in the tail lamps and 300 in the interior. The rest are used for the instruments, the hood area and the boot. The latest car comes with a spectacular 2 spoke steering wheel as opposed to the 4 spoke wheel in the previous generations. The 2 spoke wheel with “Mercedes-Benz” elegantly crafted on it is used in remembrance of the first Mercedes-Benz driven by Bertha Benz to prove a point. This flagship model for Mercedes-Benz carries forward the legacy of the brand.

Walking up to the new S-Class, you get a sense that it was made with perfection in mind. The exterior design itself tells you a lot about what exactly the car is. Looking at its simple yet beautiful and elegant lines, one can conclude that the car has no sporty intent in it and is loaded with luxury and tech on the inside. The sleek design means a very low coefficient of drag value of just 0.24. This means it cuts the air more efficiently than the out-going model. Open the door and you are greeted with one of the most luxurious and equipped interiors you can find in a car. The interiors have been crafted to give a classic luxury feel combined with modern design. The clock in the centre is a nice touch. As soon as you get in and shut the door, you are completely cut off from the crazy, noisy world outside. Push the starter button and you can barely hear the engine come to life.

Put the car in drive mode, release the hand brake, leave the brake and tap the accelerator. It feels like an invisible force gently pushing the car forward. The cabin isolation is fantastic. There is absolutely no engine noise or any suspension noise coming inside. Only a small amount of road noise is audible and only sharp potholes give a slight whack when you drive fast over them. The ride on this car is sublime. The body of the car does not move at all. You can drink your coffee without spilling a drop in a moving S-Class. It remains stable even while going over a pothole. Body roll is absent.

The S-Class comes loaded with features. It comes with all features that can be put into a car. Since this car will be mainly chauffer driven, Mercedes-Benz has concentrated on making the rear seats as luxurious as possible. The rear seats come with a “Hot Stone” massage which satisfyingly relaxes you after hard day’s work. The front passenger seat can be moved by an additional 77mm and you get an electrically extended foot rest. The rear seats can recline at an angle of 43.5 degrees. In this car, you can catch up on your sleep without any disturbance. For those who would like to work on the move, you get a folding table, temperature controlled cup holders, a 230V socket and windows which can be tinted optionally. A WLAN connection can be established via COMAND Online. The rear of the S-Class can be used as your office on the move where you can have 1-to-1 meetings. For entertainment, you get two 25.4cms display screens with cordless headphones. You can access every media source like radio, TV, SD Card, internet, navigation, DVD and USB from any seat. You can also connect your game consoles.

Coming to the cabin, you get a 13 speaker Burmester audio system which has sound optimization for front and rear seats. It has Dolby Digital 5.1 for surround sound, Sub woofers integrated into body shell for bass reproduction and a 9-channel DSP amplifier with a total output of 590W. You get ambient lighting with a choice of 7 colours with 5 dimming levels-an option that has to be ticked, active perfuming system and heated armrests on the door and centre console. The COMAND screen is a 31.2cms TFT screen with its controller in the centre console along with a touch sensitive telephone keypad. It comes with a 200 GB hard disk and a sim card slot which can be used for receiving live traffic information.

Mercedes-Benz has left no stone unturned in the safety department. The new S-Class comes with 360 degree cameras which can be used while parking. But if you want a more relaxed way, then the car comes with an Auto-Park feature which uses sensors to park the car on its own taking over from the driver. The LED lights on the headlamps individually dim or brighten on their own depending on traffic so as to prevent blinding the eye of the driver in the car travelling in the opposite direction without hampering your visibility. It comes with night vision which can pick up humans and animals on the roadside. This car can even distinguish between humans and animals. If it is a human, it flashes the light a few times. But this does not happen when it picks up animals as the flashing might scare them. This shows the attention to detail employed while engineering this car. The other important safety features include Acceleration Skid Control (ASR) which reduces wheel slip to prevent the vehicle from skidding on snow, wet roads or loose ground, Pre-SAFE and a system which automatically applies brakes during emergencies. You get 8 airbags including side bags and window bags to protect the occupants. Unfortunately, the diesel I drove does not come with night vision and 360 degree cameras. You get only a reversing camera.

Technically, the latest S-Class is way ahead of its predecessor, the W221. It uses lightweight aluminum in most places and stamped steel in the important parts like the safety cell. The W222 is 50% torsionally stiffer than the W221 but slightly lighter as well. The powerhouse for this car is 2487cc V6 diesel producing 255bhp at 3600 rpm and a torque figure of 620Nm between 1600-2400 rpm. The state of the art diesel has aluminum parts and precise spray guided piezo injection. This engine is mated to the company’s proven 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission. It can skip over individual gears during multiple downshifts. The 5.2 metre long car weighing around 2.5 tons is no slouch. 100 comes up in a brisk 6.8 seconds and it hits top speed of 250kmph. The performance is brilliant but is more suited to gentle and luxurious driving than sporty. The acceleration is gradual but during overtakes, when you floor it, it takes a second to respond as the turbo spools up before the car is hurled forward. Other than that, there is no flaw in its power delivery. The diesel rides on 18 inch wheels while the petrol rides on 19 inch wheels. The turning circle at 12.3 meters in pretty impressive. The petrol (S500) is powered by a 450 horse power V8.

Now coming to the biggest question of all. At 1.4 crores (on-road price, Bangalore) is it worth it? Without a doubt, yes. If you have that kind of money and are in the market for a luxury sedan, the new S-Class is the best in the business and does its job brilliantly. If you are a Mercedes-Benz fan, then buy it without giving a second thought. If you are not a Mercedes-Benz fan, then think twice and buy it.

Mercedes-Benz GLA: review

Mercedes Benz GLA: Review

The Mercedes-Benz GLA, driven finally after a long wait.

The test car was powered by a 2143cc diesel engine producing a maximum power of 134bhp and a torque output of 300Nm. For more information on specifications and equipment list, please refer the previous article.

Based on the A-class, the GLA is a much needed vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz India line up to fight the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 in the entry level luxury SUV segment. You won’t be wrong to think it is just a jacked up A-class. But when you see the car in flesh, you can see a variety of changes to distinguish it from the A-class. It gets strong, muscular shoulder lines to make it look more like an SUV. It gets a new grille upfront and black cladding all around, below the car. It also gets silver skid plates and twin exhaust pipes. Overall, the GLA looks stunning.

The interiors is similar to the A class. This means, there is plenty of high quality materials used. The car comes with a dual tone dash with classy air vents from the SLS. The COMAND screen looks like an after-market fitment though. The seating position up front is good and you get a better view of the road thanks to a higher seating position. Just like the A-class, the gear lever is on the steering column. This has freed up a lot of space in the centre console which has allowed Mercedes-Benz to introduce a few cubbyholes. The rear though is not as nice as the front. The seats are hard and the seat itself is a tad too upright. The headroom is not great thanks to the flowing design and the windows are raked up so there is less visibility. The panoramic sunroof though helps in making the cabin more airy. The floor is not flat, so seating 3 is impossible. Only small children can be put in the middle of the rear seat. You get a 12V charging point at the rear as well.

Coming to the way the car drives, with just 134bhp from the engine, it is under powered when compared to its competition. In city conditions, the diesel does its job extremely well. But on the highway, it is not sporty enough. The engine feels sluggish and it revs up to just 4200 rpm, which is disappointing. When revved, there is some harsh engine noise which is not pleasant. But then again, if you sportiness, you are better off with a petrol. The claimed fuel efficiency for the diesel shows it to be the most fuel efficient in the segment. In real life conditions, you can expect around 12kmpl in the city and 15kmpl on the highway.

The ride in city is good and small bumps get absorbed. It is only the larger and sharper potholes that come crashing through. There is very little wind and tire noise inside the cabin. But at speed, there is quite a bit on road noise accompanied by the engine noise and small bumps do make a loud noise and slightly bouncy on a road that has not been smoothly paved. The car is extremely stable, even at 170km/hr which gives you a lot of confidence when you want to floor the accelerator. The steering weighs up nicely and it is pretty accurate as well.

The power is sent to the front wheels through a 7 speed dual clutch transmission. In manual mode, the transmission is a bit slow to respond. But in normal drive mode, it does its job perfectly. It does not allow you to rev up to the redline at 4500 rpm. Instead, up shifts early depending on your driving. In normal cruising, it up shifts at an early 3200 rpm in interest of economy. When during sportier drive, it up shifts at 4200 rpm.

The GLA diesel is best suited for those who like to cruise in style. It is mainly targeted at those who want more style than substance in this segment. The absence of 4-wheel drive may come as a disappointment but for regular runabouts, this car will do its job without complaining. For Mercedes-Benz, the GLA is the right product to enter this segment with and increase their sales.

Mercedes-Benz GLA: Launch

Mercedes-Benz GLA Class

Until recently, the cheapest Mercedes-Benz SUV you could buy was the ML 250 CDI priced at 54.8 lakhs. This meant that Mercedes lost out on a lot of sales in the entry level luxury SUV segment which had only BMW X1 and Audi Q3 fighting it out. So, they finally have released the much awaited and the much needed GLA Class. I attended the launch at Akshaya Motors, Bangalore to get a first look of the car.

Design:The new GLA class looks like a crossover. Mercedes has deliberately not made the SUV look butch and rugged. Instead it looks like a slightly raised A-class with a new grill. The car sits on 18 inch 5 twin spoke light alloy wheels. The car has a ground clearance of 183mm which is enough but not good for SUV standards. To highlight the crossover credentials of the car, the GLA does not come with the 4matic all-wheel drive system. Interiors are similar to the A-class. It comes with a dual tone dashboard with ARTICO leather upholstery. You get a 421 litres boot space which can be expanded to 1235 litres with the 60:40 rear seat folded. You also get a 50 litres fuel tank with an additional 6 litres reserve. The car has a drag coefficient of 0.29.

Drivetrain:

The GLA will be available with two engine choices- a 2143cc diesel and a 1991cc petrol. The diesel has a maximum power of 134bhp available between 3600-4400 rpm claiming an efficiency of 17.9kmpl. 0-100 is dealt with in 9.9 seconds and it has a top speed of 205kmph. The petrol on the other hand has a maximum power of 181bhp at 5500rpm claiming an efficiency of 13.78kmpl. 0-100 is dealt with in 7.6 seconds and it has a top speed of 225kmph. Both engines have a torque output of 300Nm and they are mated to a 7 speed dual clutch transmission.

Safety:

The car comes with 7 airbags including dual front airbags and window airbags. You also get ABS, ESP, hill start assist, tyre pressure warning system, acceleration skid control (ASR)which prevents individual wheels from spinning, BAS brake assist which increases brake pressure during emergency braking, reversing camera with wide angle view of 180 degrees, adaptive brake lights which flash during emergency braking and attention assist.

Equipment:

The GLA comes loaded with paddle shifters like you get on the A-class, panoramic sunroof, cushion angle adjustment for both front seats, a TFT colour display 14.7cm screen which includes integral telephone keypad, Bluetooth interface with hands free function, operated via a multi-function steering wheel, Aux-in, USB, 12 loudspeakers which include a bass speaker and a 9 channel DSP amp, an optional 450W Harman Kardon surround sound system and a rear seat entertainment package that includes 17.8 cm screens with USB, SD card slot and AV-IN for viewing pictures, movies and playing video games.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLA is available in four colours- Red, Brown, Silver and White. With prices starting from 32.75 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi) and a 3 year warranty, it seems to be a serious competition to the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 and a good package to increase Mercedes-Benz India sales significantly.

 

Tata Zest: Initial reactions

TATA ZEST

The Tata Zest was introduced to attract younger buyers into the showrooms. As far as I can see, it seems to be working. On my trip to the showroom, 80% of the potential customers were youngsters.

So, what’s so special about this car??

To, start with, Tata cars, as you know, are considered as boring and used mainly as taxis and their sales was on a steady decline. Then came the late Karl Slym. The Tata Zest and Tata Bolt were his brain child which he hoped would turn their fortunes around.

So, has it worked, the simple answer is, Yes!!
The car doesn’t feel like any Tata I’ve ever seen. Its way more advanced, and is a better weapon for Tata to fight its rivals. It may not be breath taking but it certainly is for a Tata, even though there were still a few issues with the build quality which we could make out especially when the doors closed. It’s a huge improvement especially when you consider the fact that it is still based on the old Indica. What surprised me was the amount of space available inside. My friend, a 6 footer found more than enough leg room and head room at the rear. The boot space is more than sufficient at 390 litres.

From the exterior, sitting on 185/60 R15 alloys, the car looks pretty good though the high ground clearance makes it looks a bit unusual. The car comes with new swept headlamps with projector lights and LED day time driving lights. The rear comes with wrap around tail lights. The interior features an all new dual coloured dash board design which a huge step ahead compared to the previous Indica and Manza.

The car comes loaded with features like touch screen infotainment, sms and notifications read out, 8 speakers for a surround sound effect, automatic AC, electronic power steering with speed sensitivity and active return function, ABS, EBD, corner stability control, dual SRS airbags, reverse parking camera and voice command recognition, which surprised me the most cause it actually worked. When I had to set the climate control temperature, it understood my voice command and adjusted the AC accordingly.

The car given to us was a brand new petrol car which had run only 150kms, delivered only the previous day but the drive was not more than just a few kilometres. The petrol car comes with a new Revotron 1.2 litre turbocharged engine producing 90 PS power at 5000 rpm and a torque figure of 140 Nm developed between 1750-3000 rpm. There is a bit of turbo lag which was noticeable. The main problem was that the engine overheated quickly. The diesel engine comes in two states of tune, 75 PS and 90 PS. The engine is the same Quadrajet diesel engine that powers many Tata cars. A 5 speed AMT transmission is available only on the 90 PS diesel.

Tata finally seems to have a car with which it can compete decently with. The Zest hopefully will revive Tata sales. For now, it looks like they have a winner on their hands.

Mahindra Bolero

 Mahindra Bolero

  

     The Mahindra Bolero, known for its ruggedness has been India's best selling SUV for a long time now, always making it into the top 10 models sold every month. Why is this under-powered machine so popular with the Indians when the rest of the world gave it a terrible rating?? I find out..

   This particular piece finished in metallic green gives us the answer. Acquired in 2003, it has run about 1.5 lakh kilometers. 0-100 time cannot be estimated as the 65 horsepower Peugeot sourced 2.5 litre diesel engine doesn't allow the needle in this 1.5 tonne beast to cross 80. The ride in the city is harsh and the acceleration is lethargic but decent for a machine this big, and the brakes have no bite at all. The vehicle decelerates slowly. But none of this matters. What really matters is how this car has served us, going about its duty without complaining. What this car does so beautifully is connect with you emotionally. It is not just another regular car which you buy, use and sell. This car has a soul, a desirability factor, which is missing in many cars sold nowadays. It does not have four wheel drive but it has taken us to many places where any normal car wont dare venture. You drive this car not for its performance nor its off road abilities, but for it's "that's why you drive a Bolero" feel quoting my uncle.

 

   It is nearing the end of its life now but it still does not hesitate to carry on with its work. A new car will soon replace it for the office run and weekend drives but the Bolero will always remain in our hearts.

Volkswagen Polo GT TSI review

Volkswagen Polo GT TSI

Introduction:

Welcome everyone to the brand new Polo.. err.. well.. it looks like a normal Polo yes but this is the Polo GT TSI. Considered as the hottest or let’s say, the warmest hatchback in India along with its twin, the Polo GT TDI. This is Volkswagen’s way of attracting the younger generation to the brand and adding some excitement to the line up.

Exterior and interior:

The Polo GT TSI looks like a normal Volkswagen Polo from the outside. It now has a GT badge on the grille and “GT TSI” written on the D-pillars. Moving to the rear, the “Volkswagen” and “Polo” badges have been replaced by “GT” and “TSI” badges. Other than this there are no visual differences between the regular polo and the the gt tsi which is a shame. The wheels are the same alloys found on the high end polo,. 185/60 R15 tires. It comes with fog lamps, halogen headlamps and heat insulating windscreen as standard.

Coming to the interior, it still has the same layout of the regular polo. But there is an increase in the quality of plastics used and the fit and finish is good. The accelerator and brake pedals are made from aluminium and looks sporty. The GT TSI comes loaded with equipment. You get a new 2-DIN audio system with aux-in, USB and a SD card reader. You also get ABS, dual airbags, ESP and hill hold function.

Drivetrain:

Volkswagen have concentrated on the drivetrain of the car. It comes with a direct injection, turbo charged 1197cc petrol engine producing 103bhp at 5000rpm and 17.8kgm of torque at 1500-4100rpm. It is mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. This is a dual clutch automatic transmission feeding the power to the front wheels. Turbo lag is contained and it is hardly noticeable. Turbo kicks in at about 1400rpm.The power delivery is linear and pulls well upto 150kmph. The 1140kg kerb weight allows the GT TSI to hit 100kmph in 11.34 seconds from standstill and reach a top speed of 185kmph.

The transmission comes in 3 modes- D, S and M. D is the normal drive mode, S is the sport mode and M allows you to have manual control of the gear changes.

In D, the gear changes are seamless and can hardly be noticed as there is hardly in loss in power during transition. It upshifts quickly in the interest of fuel economy. In Sport mode, it holds the gear longer and upshifts at the redline. The shifts are more brutal when compared to the drive mode.

The engine is on the noisier side and sounds pretty unpleasant. But while driving its sounds a bit sporty. Volkswagen claim a fuel efficiency of about 17-18kmpl on the highway in drive mode and 12kmpl in sport mode.

Ride:

The suspension setting for the GT TSI is different form the regular polo. But the ground clearance remains the same. Considering the name and sporty intent of the car, I was expecting a harder suspension setup. But I was surprised by it’s soft setting. This results in a smooth and comfortable ride. Only the sharper bumps are registered as a thud.

Brakes:

The only disappointing part about the drive was the brakes. They did not have a linear feel to them. The initial part of the pedal travel did not cause any reduction in the speed of the vehicle. After that, it causes a sudden reduction in speed which is unpleasant and takes some getting used. The brakes after that initial bit, were linear. The brakes issue may be down to that particular car. It needed servicing and was driven hard by prospective customers.

Specifications:

Engine
Engine Type		4 Cylinder
Displacement (cc)		1197
Max. power output [PS (kW) @ rpm]		105 (77) @ 5000
Max. torque (Nm @ rpm)		175 @ 1500-4100

Transmission
Gearbox		7-speed DSG Automatic

Exterior dimensions
Length (mm)		3970
Width (mm)		1682
Height (mm)		1453
Wheelbase (mm)		2456
Track (mm)		Front-1463, Rear-1463
Tyre size		185/60 R15
Minimum ground clearance (mm)		168