Maruti Ertiga versus Chevrolet Tavera

Maruti Ertiga is the latest entrant in the light utility vehicle segment and comes at a fantastic value. Maruti its manufacturer is India’s largest car maker and also the best in after sales and service. This has given it a good boost in sales and the recently launched Ertiga is already creating waves in the market. We take it up against the tried, tested and proven Chevrolet Tavera and compare two amazing value for money cars from this segment. Tavera is a popular MUV and has been around for a long time and has sold in good numbers over the years. See how they fare against each other in our comparison today and just in case if you were considering buying either of these two, then continue reading.

Looks and design:

maruti-ertiga-1

Maruti Ertiga brings plenty of new features to a segment that is already crowded with plenty of options however it is a new LUV of the segment and brings contemporary new looks and styling. It has large windscreen and swooping back headlamps with chromed Suzuki logo up front and neatly designed fog lamps on body colored bumpers. It has indicator mounted rear view mirrors and mildly flared wheel arches which combined with the multi-spoke alloy wheels looks sporty and adds to the character of this multi-utility vehicle. It brings clear lens tail lamps and the design is in proportion with the rest of the MUV. Maruti Ertiga has been constructed very well and the fit, finish and exterior quality is excellent.

chevrolet-tavera-2

Chevrolet Tavera brings new looks in its recently launched new Neo 3 avatar and brings new brings new design and style elements with its large headlamps and large trademark Chevy bow tie logo up front. It has stylish 15 inch 10 spoke alloy wheels which adds character to the MUV and gives it sporty looks. It has stylish bumpers with integrated fog lamps. It has stylish decals on either side which adds to the styling element. It brings useful side steps and the rear has been well designed and matches the overall design of the car. It has been well constructed and the build quality is very good.

Looks overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Looks overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

maruti-ertiga-0

Maruti Ertiga brings plenty of features with its steering mounted audio controls, classy dial arrangements of its instrumentation panel with organgish backlight. It has power windows and brings comfortable seats which offer excellent comfort and support to the back and thighs. Maruti Ertiga has a powerful music system with CD changer and USB and Aux-in support. The interiors feel spacy and roomy and it has black and beige interior color combo which looks elegant. Maruti Ertiga has plenty of storage areas such as a spacious glove box, cubby holes, and cup holders while the total boot space with all seats up is a minimal 135 liters.

chevrolet-tavera-4

Chevrolet Tavera with its new looks and upgraded cabin brings much better interiors over its predecessor. It has very good cabin space and brings comfortable seats which offer good support to the back. There is sufficient leg and headroom for taller passengers. The dash is quite simple and the beige upholstery looks quite elegant. Chevrolet Tavera has blue illumination with night mode for its instrumentation panel and it also brings a powerful stereo music system with AUX-in and brings out very good sound quality through its 4 speakers and 2 tweeters. It has a powerful air conditioning system which is an absolute chiller. It has plenty of space with cubby holes and other small storage areas and the boot can hold your travel luggage easily while accommodating passengers.

Interiors overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8.5/10
Interiors overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

maruti-ertiga-4

Maruti Ertiga is available in two different powerful engine options. In it petrol engine avatar the Maruti Ertiga brings a K14 1.4 litre petrol engine which produces 93 BHP at 6000 RPM and 130 NM of torque at 4000 RPM. It has plenty of performance and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 16.02 kmpl. The diesel engine variant brings the 1.3 liter DDiS engine which produces 89 BHP of power at 4000 RPM and maximum of 200 NM of peak torque at 1750 RPM. The variable geometry turbo helps this engine make more power over its counterparts in the hatchbacks. The diesel Maruti Ertiga has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 20.77 kmpl by ARAI.

chevrolet-tavera-1

Chevrolet Tavera brings a powerful diesel engine which develops a maximum of 104 BHP at 4000 RPM and 263.7 NM of torque between 1700-2500 RPM. Chevrolet Tavera has manual transmission gearbox which offers smooth and easy gearshifts. The engine isn’t too noisy and ensures cabin comfort is maintained. It is a tractable motor as it brings plenty of low end torque and highway performance is satisfactory. Chevrolet Tavera has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 12.2 kmpl.

Engine overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 7.5/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

maruti-ertiga-3

Maruti Ertiga brings good suspension and impeccable ride quality. It has slight bounciness owing to the softer tune of the suspension but overall it’s a fantastic car and eats up all the bumps and undulations on the road effectively. The steering unit is effective and it provides ample feedback and its easy to turn and well weighted. The body roll is minimal and the LUV is stable at higher speeds and has plenty of ground clearance to go over potholes. Maruti Ertiga has good brakes and comes with ABS + EBD for that extra stopping power and manages to slow down quickly from higher speeds.

chevrolet-tavera-3

Chevy Tavera has a smooth and comfortable ride and the suspension unit is well tuned to battle the bad road conditions often encountered here. It has well controlled body roll however it will still bounce quite a bit given that the suspension is tuned for comfort. The steering unit provides decent feedback and is light at low speeds to turn and manages to keep you in control at higher speeds. The brakes have a satisfactory bite but with the ABS + EBD they manage to slow you down very quickly. Tavera was built to carry as many people as possible and hence comfort is the main aspect of this MUV.

Suspension overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Maruti Ertiga comes loaded with features and is available from an excellent ex-showroom Delhi pricing of 5.88 lakhs for the Maruti Ertiga LXI Petrol variant, Maruti Ertiga VXI Petrol is priced at 6.59 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga VXI ABS Petrol is priced at 6.92 lakhs while the entry level diesel Maruti Ertiga LDI is priced at 7.29 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga ZXI top variant Petrol is priced at 7.29 lakhs and the middle variant diesel Maruti Ertiga is priced at 7.89 lakhs and the top variant diesel Maruti Ertiga ZDI is priced at 8.44 lakhs.

Chevrolet Tavera brings the excellent Chevrolet warranty of 5 years or 1.5 lakh km on the engine and transmission and 2 year bumper to bumper warranty. It has been priced from an ex-showroom Delhi price of 7.27 lakhs for Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 Max 10 Seats BSIV, 7.40 lakhs for Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 Max 7 Seats BSIV, Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 LT 8 Seats BSIV is priced at 9.65 lakhs. Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 LT 7 C Seats BSIV has been priced at 9.89 lakhs.

Value for money overall – Maruti Ertiga – 9/10
Value for money overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Verdict:

Maruti Ertiga is a sure winner for Maruti as it brings excellent features, space and comfort at excellent pricing. It also brings the goodwill of the Maruti brand which is a common household name in India. It has excellent and a very fuel efficient engine which keeps the costs low and the warranty and service from Maruti is unmatched. Chevrolet Tavera is a tried and tested car in the market and has been around for a very long time. It is popular amongst the taxi crowd as their choice of car as it brings plenty of space, performance and comfort which are some of the main requirements of buyers from this segment. Chevrolet however is yet to match its competitor’s dealer network and service backup but it has a fantastic product at hand. So make a wise decision when you are out buying your own multi-utility vehicle.

Maruti Ertiga Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3
Car version ZXi VDi ZDi LS LT
Ex-showroom price NA NA NA NA NA
DIMENSIONS
Length 4265 4265 4265 4435 4435
Width 1696 1695 1695 1680 1680
Height 1685 1685 1685 1765 1765
Wheelbase 2740 2740 2740 2685 2685
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight NA NA NA NA NA
Turning radius 5.2 5.2 5.2 NA NA
Tank capacity 45 45 45 55 55
Clearance 185 185 185 NA NA
ENGINE
Displacement 1373 1248 1248 2000 2000
Max. Power 93bhp@6000rpm 88bhp@4000rpm 88bhp@4000rpm 105bhp@4000rpm 105bhp@4000rpm
Max. Torque 130@4000rpm 200Nm@1750rpm 200Nm@1750rpm 263.7@2500rpm 263.7@2500rpm
Fuel economy 16.02 20.77 20.77 12.2 12.2
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 185/65 R15 185/65 R15 185/65 R15 Tubeless Tubeless
SUSPENSION
Front McPherson Strut McPherson Strut McPherson Strut NA NA
Rear Torsion Beam Torsion Beam Torsion Beam NA NA
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Mahindra Xylo versus Chevrolet Tavera

Mahindra Xylo is a popular MUV from the segment in the market and brings plenty of features and has been selling in good numbers for Mahindra. It is available at good pricing and has been climbing up the sales chart ever since its launch. We compare it with its rival from Chevrolet; Chevrolet Tavera. The multi-utility people carrier has been a popular car for over long time and has been selling in good numbers. Popular amongst the taxi owners owing to the good pricing and features of the car it was successful in improving sales for Chevrolet in the past. If you were planning to buy either of these two cars then keep reading to know how well they fare against each other.

Looks and design:

mahindra-xylo-0

Mahindra Xylo has stylish and aggressive styling and beautiful and appealing exteriors thanks to its well styled front end with the large grill and headlamps. It has well designed fob lamps housed in a trendy housing and also brings the large Mahindra logo on the hood. It has body colored bumpers front and rear and brings well designed tail lamps. It has stylish alloys which combined with the wide tyres adds to the overall sporty character of the multi-utility vehicle. Mahindra Xylo has a high ground clearance and has a long wheelbase adding to the length of the car. It has been well constructed and the build quality is solid and the fit and finish are excellent.

chevrolet-tavera-1

Chevrolet Tavera looks fantastic in its most recent facelifted iteration and brings new design and style elements with its large headlamps and large trademark Chevy bow tie logo up front. It has stylish bumpers with integrated fog lamps and neatly designed air dam. It has stylish decals on the both sides and large windows and windscreen adding to the looks of the car. Chevrolet Tavera has sporty looking 15 inch, 10 spoke alloy wheel which adds to the sportiness of this multi-utility vehicle. It has a well designed rear and side steps which adds to the looks of the car. It has been well constructed and retains excellent build and paint quality.

Looks overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Looks overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

mahindra-xylo-1

Mahindra Xylo features plenty of interior features with its modern dash and elegant interior design with quality plastics it makes it an excellent vehicle to travel with everyday. Mahindra Xylo has a 2 DIN MP3 tuner and CD player with very good quality speakers. It also has USB and Bluetooth connectivity and brings voice command, blue drive system and cruise control amongst other modern features. Mahindra Xylo has a spacious interior which feels roomy and there’s plenty of space for taller passengers inside. The seats are comfortable offer excellent support to the back while the driver seat is an adjustable unit and top class Italian leather upholstery on the seats. Mahindra Xylo has adjustable steering with audio controls and dual AC vents which cools the car quickly. It has plenty of storage area with space in the glove box, cup holders, cubby holes and plenty of boot space to carry your luggage.

chevrolet-tavera-4

Chevrolet Tavera has a spacious cabin area with plenty of leg room and headroom. It brings comfortable seats which offer excellent support to the back and thighs. It has a simple dashboard and a large 3 spoke steering wheel and high quality beige upholstry. The instrument cluster on the Chevrolet Tavera has blue illumination with night mode. It has a powerful stereo music system with AUX-in and brings out very good sound quality through its 4 speakers and 2 tweeters. It has a powerful air conditioning system which is an absolute chiller. It has Airbags and other safety features such as child locks on the doors. It has plenty of space with cubby holes and other small storage areas and the boot can hold your travel luggage easily while accommodating passengers.

Interiors overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8.5/10
Interiors overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

mahindra-xylo-3

Mahindra Xylo has two engine options and is available in two different diesel engine configurations. The diesel engine variant is a 2.5 liter mEagle CRDe diesel engine provides excellent performance and produces maximum of 112 BHP at 3800 RPM and peak torque of 260 NM between 1800-2200 RPM. It is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox. Mahindra Xylo is also available in a second diesel engine variant which is a 2.5 liter mDI CRDe engine which produces a maximum power of 95 BHP at 3600 RPM and 220 NM of torque between 1400 to 2600 RPM. It has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.6 kmpl.

chevrolet-tavera-2

Chevrolet Tavera brings a powerful diesel engine which develops a maximum of 104 BHP at 4000 RPM and 263.7 NM of torque between 1700-2500 RPM. This amount of torque really gives the engine that excellent bottom end performance. The motor is very tractable and it makes for a very good performer on the highways and capable of easily doing triple digit speeds. It manages to carry plenty of load and have enough power to get around. Chevrolet Tavera has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 12.2 kmpl which is not much compared to some other MUVs from the segment but it is quite decent performance from the diesel engine.

Engine overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

mahindra-xylo-4

Mahindra Xylo comes with a suspension setup which keeps you comfortable in the car on good roads. However on bad roads it gets quite bouncy owing to the softer setup of the suspension. It experiences quite a bit of body roll on bad roads due the soft suspension. Mahindra Xylo has plenty of ground clearance to get you over the worst of craters on our roads but at high speeds it is not confidence inspiring. Mahindra Xylo comes with disk brakes but they lack bite but the ABS + EBD employed on the Xylo helps improve the stopping power and increases safety of the passengers. It has a steering unit which provides ample feedback and is easy to turn at lower speeds.

chevrolet-tavera-3

Chevrolet Tavera brings a comfortable drive and manages to keep the passengers comfortable. It has a compliant ride quality and the suspension unit absorbs all the bumps and undulations on the road. There is some amount of body roll due to the softer tune of the suspension but it doesn’t cause too much bounciness inside the cabin and won’t certainly throw the passengers around inside. Chevrolet Tavera has a responsive steering unit which is easy to handle at lower speeds and gives you satisfactory feedback at higher speeds. Chevrolet Tavera comes with ABS + EBD and combined with good brakes has very good stopping power to help you slow down from high speeds safely.

Suspension overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Suspension overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Mahindra launched the Xylo at an attractive price tag starting from ex-showroom Delhi price of 7.47 lakhs for Mahindra Xylo D2 BS IV Diesel, Mahindra Xylo E4 BS IV Diesel has been priced at 8.25 lakhs, Mahindra Xylo E4 ABS BS IV Diesel is priced at 8.48 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS BS IV has been priced at 9.28 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 Airbag BS III is priced at 9.54 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS Airbag BSIV has been priced at 9.66 lakhs and the top variant Mahindra Xylo E9 Diesel has been priced at 10.47 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. It has been priced well given all the standard features that comes with the different variants and Mahindra’s after sales is better than most of its competitors.

Chevrolet Tavera is a fantastic vehicle and brings plenty of modern features in its latest avatar. It also brings the excellent Chevrolet warranty of 5 years or 1.5 lakh km on the engine and transmission and 2 year bumper to bumper warranty. It has been priced from an ex-showroom Delhi price of 7.27 lakhs for Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 Max 10 Seats BSIV, 7.40 lakhs for Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 Max 7 Seats BSIV, Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 LT 8 Seats BSIV is priced at 9.65 lakhs. Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 LT 7 C Seats BSIV has been priced at 9.89 lakhs.

Value for money overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Value for money overall – Chevrolet Tavera – 8/10

Verdict:

Mahindra Xylo brings more than just modern features and styling, it brings Mahindra’s excellent dealer network and superior after sales service which fares better than many competitors in the segment. It has been priced appropriately and has been steadily climbing up the sales ladder. Chevrolet is another competitor in the segment and has been doing fairly well over the past few years. Tavera has been an excellent product in their portfolio and continues to sell very well. It’s a tough choice between these two as the cars themselves are very good and feature packed and available at good pricing.

Mahindra Xylo Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3
Car version D2 D4 E9 LS LT
Ex-showroom price 747000 NA 1047000 NA 989000
DIMENSIONS
Length NA NA NA 4435 4435
Width NA NA NA 1680 1680
Height NA NA NA 1765 1765
Wheelbase NA NA NA 2685 2685
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight NA NA NA NA NA
Turning radius 5.5 5.5 5.6 NA NA
Tank capacity 55 55 55 55 55
Clearance NA NA NA NA NA
ENGINE
Displacement 2489 2489 2179 2000 2000
Max. Power 95bhp@3600rpm 95bhp@3600rpm 120bhp@4000rpm 105bhp@4000rpm 105bhp@4000rpm
Max. Torque 220Nm@1400-2600 220Nm@1400-2600 280Nm@ 2400-2800rpm 263.7@2500rpm 263.7@2500rpm
Fuel economy 13.6 13.6 13 12.2 12.2
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 205/65 215/75 215/75 Tubeless Tubeless
SUSPENSION
Front Independent coil Independent coil Independent coil NA NA
Rear Multi-link coil Multi-link coil Multi-link coil NA NA
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Maruti Ertiga versus Mahindra Xylo

Maruti recently launched the Ertiga light utility vehicle and it has been a hit owing to the features and the excellent pricing it is made available to the market. Maruti is known for build very reliable passenger cars which offer overall performance and value for money. Mahindra is not far behind with its excellent line up of vehicles and offers the Xylo in the segment. Mahindra Xylo is a multi-utility vehicle and has been around for some time and has been a very good seller for Mahindra. See how well they compare against each other in our comparison today. Both these vehicles are feature packed and it is going to be a difficult choice selecting between the two.

Looks and design:

maruti-ertiga-4

Maruti Ertiga is the latest Multi-Utility Vehicle from the stable of Maruti and brings modern and contemporary stylish design to the segment. It has well designed front end which is aggressively styled front end design with chromed Suzuki logo up front and large swooping back headlamps. It has a large windscreen and the fog lamps are housed in trendy housing. It has body colored bumpers and wide air dam. The mildly flared wheel arches combined with the multi-spoke alloy wheels looks sporty adding to the aggressive styling of the car. Maruti Ertigo has a well designed rear and the tail lamps look beautiful. It has been well constructed and the fit, finish and paint quality is excellent.

mahindra-xylo-4

Mahindra Xylo has beautiful and has stylish and aggressive front end with large grill and headlamps and the chromed Mahindra logo on the hood. It stands tall thanks to the high ground clearance and has a long wheel base. It has large headlamps which look trendy and it comes with 215/75 size tyres on 15 inch alloy wheels which are multi-spoke and add to the sportiness of the vehicle. It has a well designed rear which looks in proportionate with the rest of the car and the Xylo brings body colored bumpers at both ends of the vehicle. It has been well constructed and the fit and finish is all very good. Mahindra has paid attention to little details and the paint quality is excellent on the Xylo MUV.

Looks overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Looks overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

maruti-ertiga-0

Maruti Ertiga has very good quality interiors and feels spacious and roomy while the large windows give a fresh and airy feel to the interiors. It has black and beige interior color combination and looks simple yet elegant. It has comfortable seats which provides very good support to the back and offers very good space. There is ample leg and head room for the passengers. Maruti Ertigo has steering mounted audio controls, instrumentation panel with classy dial arrangement and orangish backlight. It has power windows and the air conditioning is excellent. It also brings a CD changer with USB/Aux-in support and has good sounding speakers. There are plenty of storage areas such as a spacious glove box, cubby holes and cup holders while the total boot space with all seats up is a minimal 135 liters.

mahindra-xylo-1

Mahindra Xylo brings plenty of modern features such as voice command and blue drive system and it also has cruise control amongst other gadgetry. It has spacious interiors and brings good quality plastics. It has steering mounted audio controls and the unit itself is adjustable. The seats are comfortable and offer excellent lower back support and they are shod with Italian leather upholstery. The ergonomics are good and all the controls are within the reach of the driver. It has a 2 DIN MP3 and CD player with good speakers with USB support. There is plenty of space to carry your travel luggage and there are storage areas like the glove box, cubby holes and cup holders for your smaller items.

Interiors overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Interiors overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8.5/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

maruti-ertiga-1

Maruti Ertiga is available in two different powerful engine options. In it petrol engine avatar the Maruti Ertiga brings a K14 1.4 litre petrol engine which produces 93 BHP at 6000 RPM and 130 NM of torque at 4000 RPM. It has plenty of performance and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 16.02 kmpl. The diesel engine variant brings the 1.3 liter DDiS engine which produces 89 BHP of power at 4000 RPM and maximum of 200 NM of peak torque at 1750 RPM. The variable geometry turbo helps this engine make more power over its counterparts in the hatchbacks. The diesel Maruti Ertiga has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 20.77 kmpl by ARAI.

mahindra-xylo-3

Mahindra Xylo has two powerful diesel engine choices lined up for you. The 2.5 liter mEagle CRDe diesel engine provides excellent performance and produces maximum of 112 BHP at 3800 RPM and peak torque of 260 NM between 1800-2200 RPM. It is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox. Mahindra Xylo is also available in a second diesel engine variant which is a 2.5 liter mDI CRDe engine which produces a maximum power of 95 BHP at 3600 RPM and 220 NM of torque between 1400 to 2600 RPM. It has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.6 kmpl. Both the engines deliver excellent performance and pack plenty of low end power which makes it easy to drive the big MUV around the city and on the highway.

Engine overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Engine overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8.5/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

maruti-ertiga-3

Maruti Ertiga has a dynamic ride quality and offers good level of comfort. It has a softer suspension setup yet it offers an impeccable ride quality as it manages to absorb all the bumps and undulations of our roads without causing the passengers to bounce around a lot. It is stable at higher speeds and at lower speeds it manages to eat up all the potholes and craters. It has slight amount of bounciness owing to the softer suspension and the body roll is minimal. The steering unit on the Ertiga provides satisfactory feedback and is quite easy to handle at lower speeds and the MUV itself is very stable at higher speed. Maruti Ertiga has good brakes and comes with ABS + EBD for that extra stopping power.

mahindra-xylo-2

Mahindra Xylo comes with a suspension setup which is tuned towards maximum comfort however it is too soft and the ride quality is compliant. There is significant amount of body roll owing to the softer suspension setup on the Xylo and the tall nature of the car owing to the higher ground clearance. At high speeds it does feel stable however it does not inspire too much confidence if you push it around corners. Mahindra Xylo comes with disk brakes but they feel a little but the ABS + EBD does a fair job of improving the stopping power of this huge MUV.

Suspension overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Maruti Ertiga comes loaded with features and considering the brand value and the top notch dealer network and after sales and service back up from Maruti the pricing is the key and the Ertiga wins here as it is available from an excellent ex-showroom Delhi pricing of 5.88 lakhs for the Maruti Ertiga LXI Petrol variant, Maruti Ertiga VXI Petrol is priced at 6.59 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga VXI ABS Petrol is priced at 6.92 lakhs while the entry level diesel Maruti Ertiga LDI is priced at 7.29 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga ZXI top variant Petrol is priced at 7.29 lakhs and the middle variant diesel Maruti Ertiga is priced at 7.89 lakhs and the top variant diesel Maruti Ertiga ZDI is priced at 8.44 lakhs. The pricing is a lot lower than the competition in the market and that makes it incredibly good value for money.

Mahindra has an excellent product and has positioned it very well in the market. It offers plenty of features and good performance and brings Mahindra’s excellent dealer network and service backup. Mahindra Xylo is available from an attractive price tag starting from ex-showroom Delhi price of 7.47 lakhs for Mahindra Xylo D2 BS IV Diesel, Mahindra Xylo E4 BS IV Diesel has been priced at 8.25 lakhs, Mahindra Xylo E4 ABS BS IV Diesel is priced at 8.48 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS BS IV has been priced at 9.28 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 Airbag BS III is priced at 9.54 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS Airbag BSIV has been priced at 9.66 lakhs and the top variant Mahindra Xylo E9 Diesel has been priced at 10.47 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

Value for money overall – Maruti Ertiga – 9/10
Value for money overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10

Verdict:

Maruti has done a fantastic job producing the Ertiga and filled in a few gaps in the market and is now catering to a lot more customers than before. It has the best dealer network and service backup amongst all auto manufacturers combined and a solid brand value in the country. Ertiga is a VFM vehicle and is finding many buyers in the market. Mahindra Xylo is also a fantastic vehicle and brings plenty of space and features and is an excellent car for long distance travel. Mahindra is known to build quality and sturdy vehicles and it continues with the Xylo. If you are planning to buy either of these two MUVs then the decision on which two buy of these two feature packed vehicles won’t be an easy one for sure.

Maruti Ertiga Mahindra Xylo
Car version ZXi ZDi D2 D4 E9
Ex-showroom price 729000 844000 7470000 NA 1047000
DIMENSIONS
Length 4265 4265 NA NA NA
Width 1696 1695 NA NA NA
Height 1685 1685 NA NA NA
Wheelbase 2740 2740 NA NA NA
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight NA NA NA NA NA
Turning radius 5.2 5.2 5.5 5.5 5.6
Tank capacity 45 45 55 55 55
Clearance 185 185 NA NA NA
ENGINE
Displacement 1373 1248 2489 2489 2179
Max. Power 93bhp@6000rpm 88bhp@4000rpm 95bhp@3600rpm 95bhp@3600rpm 120bhp@4000rpm
Max. Torque 130@4000rpm 200Nm@1750rpm 220Nm@1400-2600 220Nm@1400-2600 280Nm@ 2400-2800rpm
Fuel economy 16.02 20.77 13.6 13.6 13
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 185/65 R15 185/65 R15 205/65 215/75 215/75
SUSPENSION
Front McPherson Strut McPherson Strut Independent coil Independent coil Independent coil
Rear Torsion Beam Torsion Beam Multi-link coil Multi-link coil Multi-link coil
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Toyota Fortuner versus Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Toyota makes one of the world’s best passenger cars and has been selling successfully in India for over a decade. The Toyota Fortuner is one of the most popular sports utility vehicles in India and also one of the highest selling SUV in the market today. It brings plenty of features at very good value and is known for its reliable engine and performance. We compare it with the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. Mitsubishi has been manufacturing in India for a very long time. It is a popular manufacturer since its early days of selling the Lancer sedan and Pajero Sport is an outstanding sports utility vehicle which will take you places you want to you go. Keep reading to find out more about how they fare against each other in our comparison today.

Looks and design:

toyota-fortuner-2

Toyota Fortuner has stylish new design and looks similar to its bigger and more capable SUV; the Toyota Landcruiser. The new Fortuner has oodles of chrome and bears the huge Toyota logo on the grill and has projector style headlamps and looks stunning with its body colored bumpers and wide air dam which houses the round fog lamps. It has a large scoop on the bonnet for the intercooler mounted on top of the engine. The new Fortuner has a massive road presence and brings 12 spoke alloy wheels shod with 265 sized tyres which adds to the overall muscular character of this sports utility vehicle. Toyota has paid attention to detail and has ensured that the build quality on the Fortuner remains excellent and fit, finish and paint quality is top notch. Toyota Fortuner is available in 3 different color options.

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-1

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has excellent modern and contemporary design which gives it a sturdy and strong exterior appearance. It has projector headlamp cluster with chromed front grill with slanting bars. It has chromed outer door handles which looks elegant. It has 17 inch light weight alloy wheels which add to the sport character of this SUV. It has body colored bumpers both front and rear and the rear is well styled and looks proportionate when compared to the front. It has a slightly aggressive front end design. It has been well constructed and has a solid feel to the build quality. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has excellent fit and finish and the paint quality is absolutely top notch.

Looks overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8/10
Looks overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

toyota-fortuner-1

The new Toyota Fortuner has excellent interiors with very good driving position and the ergonomics is spot on and the controls are intuitive and easily reachable by the driver. It has steering mounted audio controls, MID and Bluetooth and gets faux wood on the upper rim of the steering wheel. It has a double-DIN head unit with DVD player, USB + Aux-in and Bluetooth for connectivity. The drivers seat is a height adjustable 6 way electrically operated unit and offers excellent lateral support. There is plenty of leg and head room for passengers in the Fortuner owing to its large, spacious and roomy cabin area. The visibility is excellent owing to large windscreen. There is plenty of storage space and the Fortuner brings a total boot capacity of 363 liters. The instrument console is easy to read thanks to the analog meters and has back-blue lighting which is a nice touch.

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-4

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport brings plenty of features inside its roomy and spacious cabin area. The interiors on the Pajero Sport is great and of very good quality. It has tons of features such as the multi-mode center information display, 2 DIN touch screen stereo system with 6 speakers and the air conditioning is excellent with the smart climate control system. The seats provide excellent comfort and provide very good support to the back. The driver seat is height adjustable and provides very good lateral support. There is ample leg room and headroom even for taller passengers. Pajero Sport has a large windscreen and feels roomy and airy. There is also plenty of space inside to store your small items thanks to the cubby holes, cup holes and spacious glove box. Pajero Sport comes with ample space to carry some travel luggage.

Interiors overall – Toyota Fortuner – 7.5/10
Interiors overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport –
8.5/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

toyota-fortuner-3

Toyota Fortuner has a powerful turbo charged diesel engine which produces class leading power thanks to its 3.0 liter engine which has minimal turbo lab and provides oodles of low end torque. It is capable for driving the Toyota Fortuner from standstill in 2nd gear easily. Fortuner produces 169 BHP of maximum power and maximum torque of 343 NM from 1400 RPM to 3400 RPM. It is available in 3 different gear box options; full time all-wheel drive, automatic transmission and a 4×2 option as well. It has a limited slip differential for your off-road needs and the smooth engine and gearbox lets you enjoy a power packed drive while ensuring there is minimal noise and vibes inside the cabin area. Toyota Fortuner has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13 kmpl by ARAI.

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-3

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport comes with a 2.5 liter, 2477cc DOHC diesel engine which produces a class leading 175 BHP of maximum power at 4000 RPM and a peak torque of 400 NM from 2000 RPM to 2500 RPM. It has a four wheel drive system and a five speed manual transmission gearbox. It is a very tractable motor which performs extremely well in on road and off road conditions. It is a mile muncher and loves to go fast. It revs high and packs a solid punch during acceleration. It has excellent low end torque and high RPM performance is also very good. It has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 11 kmpl making it an efficient yet powerful sports utility vehicle.

Engine overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8/10
Engine overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport –
8.5/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

toyota-fortuner-4

Toyota Fortuner is a terrific mile muncher and does well off road as well with its Limited Slip Differential (LSD) and all wheel drive options. It has good ride quality that is compliant but a little on the firmer side. The suspension being on the firmer side you can feel every bump on the road. It has a well weighted steering which is a hydraulic unit. The suspension despite being on the firmer side manages to ensure a comfortable ride. It keeps you in control in off-road terrain and the EBD + ABS is standard across all variants and given the weak brakes on the Fortuner is a blessing in disguise. It ensures you have all the stopping power you need. The Fortuner is pretty stable at higher speeds of over 150 kph and the grippy tyres keep the stability in check.

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-2

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has excellent suspension setup which ensures that the SUV drives in a calm and composed manner even at high speeds. It has a well tuned suspension which does a perfect job of keeping the passengers very comfortable and absorbs all the bumps and undulations on the road. The high ground clearance ensures that the Pajero Sport will gobble every crater, large or small that the roads can throw at it. It has a very good steering unit which provides excellent feedback at low and highspeeds and feels well weighted. It also comes with excellent brakes and also brings ABS + EBD as standard which further improves the stopping power of this versatile sports utility vehicle.

Suspension overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8/10
Suspension overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8.5/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Toyota Fortuner has been priced very well given all the features it brings and off-road capabilities it possesses. It has been built well and Toyota is known for its excellent reliability and positive after sales and services experience of its customers. Toyota Fortuner ex-showroom price in Delhi starts from 20.90 lakhs for the base variant Toyota Fortuner 4×2 Manual. The middle variant Toyota Fortuner 4×2 AT has been priced at 21.73 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The top variant of the Toyota Fortuner 4×4 MT has been priced at 22.04 lakhs. Toyota has a large dealership network in comparison and has been catering to customers successfully for over a decade.

Mitsubishi has done a good job in India over the years, selling passengers cars and sports utility vehicles which offer very good value for money. It is however yet to scale up and expand its reach to be able to cater to more customers than it is today. Despite a few short comings it has had a wonderful tenure in the Indian automobile scene. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has been priced from ex-showroom Delhi price of 23.53 lakhs for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. It is however slightly expensive over its rivals but given that it is imported as completely built unit into the country the pricing seems pretty good.

Value for money overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8.5/10
Value for money overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8/10

Verdict:

Toyota Fortuner is an excellent SUV in the segment and brings plenty of performance and features. It has also been very well priced amongst its rivals and has done extremely well for Toyota over the years. It is one of the highest selling SUVs in the country and given its value for money pricing it’s not too hard to figure out why it is do so. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is an all rounder. It is a versatile SUV which is excellent on road and its off-road dynamics are praise worthy and one of the best. It easily beats its rivals in this department. However it is more expensive and also the Mitsubishi network isn’t as large as its rivals. So keep all these in mind when you are ready to put down your money for either of these massive SUVs.

Toyota Fortuner Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Car version 2WD MT 4WD MT Sport
Ex-showroom price 2090000 2204000 2353000
DIMENSIONS
Length 4705 4705 4695
Width 1840 1840 1815
Height 1850 1850 1840
Wheelbase 2750 2750 2800
Boot space 500 NA NA
Kerb Weight 1885 1970 2065
Turning radius NA 5.9 NA
Tank capacity 80 80 70
Clearance 220 220 215
ENGINE
Displacement 2982 2982 2477
Max. Power 174 @3600rpm 171 175bhp@4000rpm
Max. Torque 200@2000 343 400Nm @2000-25000rpm
Fuel economy 13 12.55 NA
Cylinders 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre Tubeless Tyre Tubless Radials 265/65 R17
SUSPENSION
Front Independent Wheel, Helical Coil springs Double Wishbone Double wishbone with coil spring suspension
Rear 4-Link with Lateral Rod Four Link with Lateral Rod 3 link, coil spring suspension
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Maruti Ertiga versus Toyota Innova

Maruti Ertiga is the latest and Maruti’s first entrant in the Light Utility Vehicle/Multi-Utility Vehicle segment. Maruti is known for building extremely good value for money passenger cars for decades and has the best dealer network and after sales service in the auto industry. Today we compare the Maruti Ertiga with its rival from Toyota. Toyota Innova is one of the highest selling MUVs in the market today and since its launch over 6 years ago it still continues to sell strongly in the market. Both these are catered to the masses and are feature rich; so keep reading to find out more about these two new cars in the market today.

Looks and design:

maruti-ertiga-2

Maruti Ertiga is the latest MPV/MUV from Maruti and brings fantastic modern and contemporary looks to the segment. It has an aggressively styled front end design with the chromed Suzuki Logo up front and large headlamps which swoop back towards the windscreen. It has fog lamps in neatly designed housing with body colored bumper and a wide air dam. It has indicator mounted rear view mirrors and mildly flared wheel arches which combined with the multi-spoke alloy wheels looks sporty and adds to the character of this multi-utility vehicle. The rear of the Ertiga is well designed and brings clear lens tail lamps and the design is in proportion with the rest of the MUV. Maruti Ertiga has been well constructed and the fit and finish is of good quality.

toyota-innova-1

Toyota Innova has innovative design and looks fantastic for a MUV with its long bodywork and aggressive styling of its headlamp unit. It has a well designed grill and clear lens headlamps and fog lamps which look fantastic as they are housed on body colored bumpers. Toyota Innova has a well designed rear with elegant tail lamps and has stylish side steps which adds to the overall macho looks of the Innova and gives it a muscular character. It is a tall MUV and has a towering stature thanks to its long wheelbase and considerable length. Toyota has ensured it gives the Innova the best quality it can for the segment. It shows in the fit, finish and paint quality of this MUV, all of which are excellent.

Looks overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Looks overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

maruti-ertiga-0

Maruti Ertiga has good quality interiors which feel spacious and roomy. The driver seat is height adjustable and it has comfortable seats which provide excellent support to the back and there is ample head room and leg room. It has black and beige interior color combo and looks elegant. It has steering mounted audio controls, instrumentation panel with classy dial arrangement and orangish backlight. It has power windows and the air conditioning is excellent. It has a CD changer with USB/Aux-in support and has good sounding speakers. Maruti Ertiga has a fresh and airy feel to it inside the cabin owing to the large windows. It has plenty of storage areas such as a spacious glove box, cubby holes, cup holders while the total boot space with all seats up is a minimal 135 liters.

toyota-innova-2

Toyota Innova has well designed interiors with very good plastic quality. It brings very comfortable seats which provide excellent support to the lower back for the driver and the passengers; both front and rear. It has modern features such as the dual tone interior color, center faux wooden finish control panels looks elegant. It has a instrument console with MID, Optitron Combimeter with Illumination control and tachometer with tripmeter. It has other features such as cubby holes for storage along with a spacious glove box and overhead map light. Toyota Innova brings a total boot capacity of 620 liters which is plenty enough to carry your travel luggage.

Interiors overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Interiors overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

maruti-ertiga-1

Maruti Ertiga is available in two different powerful engine options. In it petrol engine avatar the Maruti Ertiga brings a K14 1.4 litre petrol engine which produces 93 BHP at 6000 RPM and 130 NM of torque at 4000 RPM. It has plenty of performance and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 16.02 kmpl. The diesel engine variant brings the 1.3 liter DDiS engine which produces 89 BHP of power at 4000 RPM and maximum of 200 NM of peak torque at 1750 RPM. The variable geometry turbo helps this engine make more power over its counterparts in the hatchbacks. The diesel Maruti Ertiga has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 20.77 kmpl by ARAI.

toyota-innova-3

Toyota Innova is available in two engine variants; petrol and diesel engine variants. The petrol engine is a smooth and sporty engine which is very refined. The vibes and noise levels are low and the engine is a 2.0 liter unit which produces a maximum power of 130 BHP at 5600 RPM and 181 NM of torque at 4000 RPM. The petrol engine variant of Toyota Innova has been certified by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 10.35 kmpl. Toyota Innova in its 2.5 liter diesel engine variant develops 100 BHP at 3600 RPM and 200 NM of torque from 1400 RPM and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 12.99 kmpl.

Engine overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8/10
Engine overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

maruti-ertiga-3

Maruti builds comfortable cars and it holds true with the Maruti Ertiga MUV as it brings a ride which is compliant. It has a comfortable ride due to the softer suspension setup and has impeccable ride quality as it manages to absorb the worst of our roads at lower speeds and evens out all the bumps and undulations on the road at higher speeds. It has slight amount of bounciness owing to the softer suspension and the body roll is minimal. The steering unit on the Ertiga provides satisfactory feedback and is quite easy to handle at lower speeds and the MUV itself is very stable at higher speed. Maruti Ertiga has good brakes and comes with ABS + EBD for that extra stopping power.

toyota-innova

Toyota Innova is a comfortable MUV which rides very well and has soft suspension which ensures maximum comfort to its passengers. It has suspension which has been fine tuned to handle the bad roads and will absorb all the bumps and undulations. It is not built to corner hard given its tall road presence and high ground clearance but will easily get you across miles and miles across the country. It has minimal body roll and the steering provides positive feedback and is comfortably weighted at lower speeds. Toyota Innova is capable for safely cruising at over triple digit speeds and has power brakes with ABS + EBD for improved stopping power.

Suspension overall – Maruti Ertiga – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Toyota Innova – 8.5/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Maruti Ertiga comes loaded with features and is available from an excellent ex-showroom Delhi pricing of 5.88 lakhs for the Maruti Ertiga LXI Petrol variant, Maruti Ertiga VXI Petrol is priced at 6.59 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga VXI ABS Petrol is priced at 6.92 lakhs while the entry level diesel Maruti Ertiga LDI is priced at 7.29 lakhs, Maruti Ertiga ZXI top variant Petrol is priced at 7.29 lakhs and the middle variant diesel Maruti Ertiga is priced at 7.89 lakhs and the top variant diesel Maruti Ertiga ZDI is priced at 8.44 lakhs. The pricing is a lot lower than the competition in the market and that makes it incredibly good value for money.

Toyota has done very well in India with their Toyota Innova and the latest iteration brings plenty of features and has been priced very well and since Toyota has excellent reputation in the market it is good value for money. Toyota Innova bears a starting price (ex-showroom Delhi) tag of 9.21 lakhs for the 8 seater base petrol variant Toyota Innova 2.0 G and the top petrol variant is priced at 12.14 lakhs for Toyota Innova 2.0 VX 8 Seater petrol. The diesel variant of Toyota Innova is priced from 8.48 lakhs for the base variant 8 seater diesel Toyota Innova 2.5 E Diesel MS and for the top variant 8 seater Toyota Innova 2.5 V is priced at 12.45 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

Value for money overall – Maruti Ertiga – 9/10
Value for money overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Verdict:

Maruti Ertiga is a fantastic product from Maruti India and is sure to be a huge success for the company. It is positioned well and carves a niche for itself at an amazing value for money pricing. It has plenty of features and most importantly the Maruti brand name lends itself its vast dealer network. Toyota also has had great success with its Innova and with its recently facelifted avatar is bound to be more successful. It has plenty of features and is available at very good value for money. It is a tried and tested MUV on the Indian roads and still retains plenty of goodwill and popularity in the automotive market today.

Maruti Ertiga Toyota Innova
Car version VXi ZXi ZDi GX 7-Seater G 8 seater (Petrol)
Ex-showroom price 659000 729000 789000 NA NA
DIMENSIONS
Length 4265 4265 4265 4585 4585
Width 1695 1696 1695 1760 1760
Height 1685 1685 1685 1760 1760
Wheelbase 2740 2740 2740 2750 2750
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight NA NA NA 1680 1585
Turning radius 5.2 5.2 5.2 NA NA
Tank capacity 45 45 45 55 55
Clearance 185 185 185 176 176
ENGINE
Displacement 1373 1373 1248 2495 1998
Max. Power 93bhp@6000rpm 93bhp@6000rpm 88bhp@4000rpm 102 132
Max. Torque 130@4000rpm 130@4000rpm 200Nm@1750rpm 200 181
Fuel economy 16.02 16.02 20.77 11.4 9
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 185/65 R15 185/65 R15 185/65 R15 Radial Tubeless Radial Tubeless
SUSPENSION
Front McPherson Strut McPherson Strut McPherson Strut Double Wishbone Double Wishbone
Rear Torsion Beam Torsion Beam Torsion Beam Four Link with Lateral Rod Four link with Lateral Rod
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Mitsubishi Pajero Sport versus Ford Endeavour

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a true off-roader in every sense. It’s a perfect vehicle if you love exploring off-road terrain and also enjoy driving on road and on the highways for long distances. Mitsubishi is one of the world’s most renowned manufacturers of passenger cars, rally vehicles and sports utility vehicles and has been in India for a very long time. We compare it with Ford’s only sports utility vehicle in India; Ford Endeavour and help you figure out which of the two you must buy to satisfy your need for adventure.

Looks and design:

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-1

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport looks fantastic with its modern and contemporary new design which gives it an excellent road presence and strong exterior appearance. It brings stylish chromed front grill, well designed air dam and bumper. It also has projector headlamp cluster and chromed out door handles. It looks sporty due to its size and feels aggressive owing to its modern design. It has 17 inch alloys shod with grippy wide tyres which add to the sporty character of the machine. It has well proportionate front to rear design and a well designed rear section. It has been well constructed and exudes quality. The Mitsubishi Pajero looks amazing in its top notch paint job and fit, finish which are excellent.

ford-endeavour-1

Ford Endeavour is one of the best sports utility vehicles in the 20 lakh price bracket and has been recently given a facelift. It looks fantastic in its new design and brings some new decals which look sporty and stylish on its doors and indicators mounted on the rear view mirrors on either side. It has the FORD logo on its chromed front grill. It has a commanding road presence owing to its large and long body and large wheels with fat grippy tyres on its multi-spoke alloy wheels. Ford Endeavour has a spare tyre on its tail gate. It is an excellent on road and off-road car and has plenty of ground clearance to be able to explore any road. It has been well constructed and the build quality is top notch.

Looks overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8.5/10
Looks overall – Ford Endeavour – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-0

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has plenty of interior features and comes loaded with the latest gadgetry. It has a spacious cabin area with generous room for the front and rear passengers. There is ample leg room and head room even for taller passengers. The drivers seat is a multi-adjustable unit and provides excellent lateral support while the rest of the passengers seats are comfortable and offer very good lower back support. Pajero Sport has windshield sunshade, beige leather upholstered seats, rear sensors, 2 DIN touch screen stereo system with 6 speakers and the air conditioning is excellent at keeping the temperature low inside the cabin with its smart climate control system. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport brings plenty of storage areas inside the car. It has vanity mirror and sun glasses holder. There is ample space to carry some of your travel luggage without folding the seats at the rear as well.

ford-endeavour-3

Ford Endeavour brings plenty of space in its roomy interiors and feels airy and fresh thanks to the large windows. It has ample leg and head room inside and brings plenty of modern features. It has excellent interior build quality and feels great inside. It has adjustable driver seats and the driving position is very good. The ergonomics are excellent and all the controls are within reach. The center console has a display which shows the audio head unit options, GPS and reverse guide camera. The audio head unit is a 6 CD changers stereo system and Aux-in, USB/iPod connectivity and large air conditioning vents. It is however missing auto climate control. There are plenty of cubby holes inside for storing your small items. The instrument console displays the 4 wheel drive options along with the tacho, speedometer and fuel level gauges, all of which are easy to read. It also brings a vast storage area of 430 liters which can be expanded by removing or folding the seats.

Interiors overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8.5/10
Interiors overall – Ford Endeavour –
8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-3

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport brings a powerful engine with class leading power figures which is aimed at an enthusiast wanting excellent power for off roading and on road performance. Pajero Sport is powered a 2.5 liter, 2477cc DOHC diesel engine which produces maximum of 175 BHP at 4000 RPM and peak torque of 400 NM between 2000 RPM to 2500 RPM. It is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox and brings a four wheel drive system. It is very fast and loves to be revved for a diesel engine. It packs a solid punch and the performance from this motor is top notch. If has excellent low end performance and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 11 kmpl.

ford-endeavour-2

Ford Endeavours packs a good punch and in both its engine variants. The 2.5 liter engine produces 140 BHP of maximum power and delivers a maximum torque of 330 NM at 1800 RPM. It has plenty of torque and brings top performance in the city and on highway hauls. It comes with a manual gearbox as well. The 3.0 liter variant on the Endeavour produces 152 BHP at 3200 RPM and 380 NM of maximum torque. This engine is available in a 4×2 automatic transmission and a 4×4 automatic transmission option. ARAI has rated the 2.5 liter engine variant of the Ford Endeavour to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.1 kmpl while the 3.0 liter Ford Endeavour has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 11.4 kmpl.

Engine overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Ford Endeavour –
7.5/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

mitsubishi-pajero-sport-2

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has very good handling characteristics and does a fantastic job on road and off road. It has a well tuned suspension setup which ensures that the ride quality is compliant and the passengers are always in comfort. The suspension combined with the high ground clearance ensures that you will easily get over all bumps and undulations on the road and get over any crater and pothole easily. It has minimal body roll and is very stable at highway speeds. Mitsubishi Pajero Sport has a steering unit which provides very good feedback at higher speeds and feels well weighted, while at lower speeds it is comfortable to use. Mitsubishi Pajero also brings powerful brakes further improved by ABS + EBD as standard which improves the stopping power of this sports utility vehicle.

ford-endeavour-4

Ford Endeavour is a capable on road and off-road sports utility vehicle and will take you places confidently. It is a capable vehicle which manages to give a stable and well cushioned ride. It has a well tuned suspension with the front performing better than the rear to provide comfort and high level of stability at all times. The body roll is well controlled on the Ford Endeavour. It is not build for spirited cornering but will take you places. It has hill descent control which allows you to safely descent a steep decline in full control at a safe rate of descent. It has good brakes and brings ABS + EBD for improved stopping power. It also brings airbags which offers safety for the passengers inside. The steering unit provides very good feedback at lower and higher speeds and feels well weighted. At lower speeds it is easy to handle without causing discomfort to the driver.

Suspension overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Ford Endeavour – 7.5/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is a fantastic car which brings plenty of performance and is sure to be a success for Mitsubishi in India. It offers a blend of comfort, luxury, style and performance in the segment and comes at very good value considering all the features. However do keep in mind that the Mitsubishi after sales and service network is not as wide and large as many of its competitors but despite that it is a wonderful SUV and has been priced from an ex-showroom Delhi price of 23.53 lakhs for the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport. It is imported into the country as completely built unit into the country the pricing seems pretty good despite being higher than many of its competitors.

Ford Endeavour is available at an ex-showroom Delhi price of 18.06 lakhs for the Ford Endeavour 4×2 MT base variant. Ford Endeavour 3.0L AT 4×2 has been priced at 19.14 lakhs. Ford Endeavour Hurricane Limited Edition is priced at 20.13 lakhs while the Ford Endeavour 4×4 Thunder Plus has been priced at 20.75 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. It has excellent road presence and is a wonderful machine on road and on off-road trails. It has modern features and comfort and also brings the vast dealer network which FORD has in the country and therefore we think the Endeavour has been priced well.

Value for money overall – Mitsubishi Pajero Sport – 8/10
Value for money overall – Ford Endeavour – 8/10

Verdict:

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport is one of the best sports utility vehicles available in India and true to its segment it is one of the most highly capable off-roader available in the market today. It brings plenty of features, exciting performance and is pricing very well given all that it brings to the table. Mitsubishi however needs to expand its reach in the country and despite being a well known manufacturer for years it is still small in network as compared to its rivals. Ford has excellent products and the Endeavour is one such amazing SUV and has been pricing extremely well in comparison. Ford however needs to work on its after sales and service area and improve its customer satisfaction levels.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Ford Endeavour
Car version Sport 3.0L 4×4 2.5L 4×2 3.0L 4×2 AT
Ex-showroom price 2353000 1916130 1664130 1807880
DIMENSIONS
Length 4695 5060 5060 5060
Width 1815 1788 1788 1788
Height 1840 1826 1826 1826
Wheelbase 2800 2860 2860 2860
Boot space NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight 2065 2014 1879 2014
Turning radius NA NA NA NA
Tank capacity 70 71 71 71
Clearance 215 210 210 210
ENGINE
Displacement 2477 2953 2499 2953
Max. Power 175bhp@4000rpm 156 PS (115Kw) @ 3200 rpm 143 PS (105Kw) @ 3500 rpm 156PS @3200rpm
Max. Torque 400Nm @2000-25000rpm 380 Nm (38.7 kgm) @ 2500 rpm 330 Nm (33.7 kgm) @ 1800 rpm 380Nm @2500rpm
Fuel economy NA 11.4 13.1 11.4
Cylinders 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Automatic
Speeds 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 265/65 R17 245 / 70 R16 ( Tubeless) 245 / 70 R16 ( Tubeless) 245/70 R16 (Tubeless)
SUSPENSION
Front Double wishbone with coil spring suspension Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar
Rear 3 link, coil spring suspension Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads
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Mahindra Xylo versus Toyota Innova

Mahindra has been building some of the most popular SUVs and MUVs in the Indian automotive segment. It has a variety of options catering to every possible need of the market. Mahindra Xylo is the latest entrant in the segment from Mahindra and caters to the masses looking for a reliable MUV to get to places quickly and comfortably. We compare it today with Toyota’s evergreen MUV the Toyota Innova. It has been around for over 6 years now and has been a popular seller in the segment and a game changer for Toyota. Keep reading to find out how they fare against each other in our comparison today.

Looks and design:

mahindra-xylo-0

Mahindra Xylo looks beautiful and has appealing exteriors. It has stylish and aggressive styling to its front end with its large grill and headlamps and the chrome Mahindra logo on the hood. It has well designed fog lamps housed in body colored front bumper. It has a long wheel base and high ground clearance and stand pretty tall and has excellent road presence. It comes with 215/75 R15 inch wheels and the alloys add a bit of muscle and sportiness to the multi-utility vehicle design of the Mahindra Xylo. Mahindra has ensured they pay attention to quality and Xylo indeed has been well constructed. The fit and finish and pain quality of the exteriors is indeed top notch.

toyota-innova-1

Toyota Innova has been in the market for nearly a decade and yet retains an elegant and sporty design for a multi-utility vehicle with its aggressive looking front end owing to the well design chromed grill bearing the Toyota Logo and clear lens headlamps. It has fog lamps on the body colored bumpers and brings stylish side steps. It has a well designed rear which is in proportion with the front and has given the length and ground clearance it has a long wheelbase and a towering stature. Toyota Innova has excellent road presence and Toyota has done a great job building this car and it seems to be very well constructed.

Looks overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Looks overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

mahindra-xylo-1

Mahindra Xylo features modern interiors and brings very good interior quality and the plastics used also feel better compared to its rivals. It has adjustable steering with audio controls and dual AC vents which cools the car quickly. It brings voice command, blue drive system and cruise control amongst other modern features. Mahindra Xylo has a spacious interior which feels roomy and there’s plenty of space for taller passengers inside. The seats are comfortable offer excellent support to the back while the driver seat is an adjustable unit and top class Italian leather upholstery adorn the seats. Mahindra Xylo has a 2 DIN MP3 tuner and CD player with very good quality speakers. It also has USB and Bluetooth connectivity. It has plenty of storage area with space in the glove box, cup holders, cubby holes and plenty of boot space to carry your luggage.

toyota-innova-2

Toyota Innova brings plenty of features which still stand out as modern given that it’s been around for 6 years. It has spacious interiors with plenty of leg room and head room for taller passengers in the front and rear seats. It has comfortable seats which provide excellent support to the back and height adjustable driver seat allows for a comfortable driving position. It has very good ergonomics and all controls are within easy reach. It has interior features such as the dual tone elegant interior color, center wooden finish control panels, functional instrument console with MID, Optitron Combimeter with Illumination control, Tachometer and Tripmeter and other features such as the innovative front map lamp. Toyota Innova has a generous boot capacity of 620 liters of storage space.

Interiors overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8.5/10
Interiors overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

mahindra-xylo-3

Mahindra Xylo has two powerful diesel engine choices lined up for you. The 2.5 liter mEagle CRDe diesel engine provides excellent performance and produces maximum of 112 BHP at 3800 RPM and peak torque of 260 NM between 1800-2200 RPM. It is mated to a 5 speed manual transmission gearbox. Mahindra Xylo is also available in a second diesel engine variant which is a 2.5 liter mDI CRDe engine which produces a maximum power of 95 BHP at 3600 RPM and 220 NM of torque between 1400 to 2600 RPM. It has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.6 kmpl. Both the engines deliver excellent performance and pack plenty of low end power which makes it easy to drive the big MUV around the city and on the highway.

toyota-innova

Toyota Innova has two powerful engine options and is available in a diesel and petrol engine option. The diesel engine which is a 2.5 liter unit develops 100 BHP at 3600 RPM and 200 NM of torque from 1400 RPM onwards and has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel economy of 12.99 kmpl while the 2.0 liter petrol engine develops 130 BHP at 5600 RPM and peak torque of 181 NM at 4000 RPM. It is rated by ARAI to deliver maximum fuel efficiency of 10.35 kmpl. Toyota Fortuner is a fantastic vehicle for covering long distances and at lower fuel expenses.

Engine overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Engine overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

mahindra-xylo-2

Mahindra Xylo has a suspension which is tuned to provide maximum comfort however it experiences plenty of body roll due to the really soft suspension setup. Xylo however drives comfortably over bad roads and potholed uneven surfaces very well. It does feel a little bouncy in comparison but not too much too make its passengers feel uncomfortable. There is some amount of body roll owing to the tall design of the car. At high speeds it does feel stable however it does not inspire too much confidence if you push it around corners. Mahindra Xylo comes with disk brakes but they feel a little weak in comparison with some of its rivals but the ABS + EBD does a fair job of improving the stopping power of this huge MUV.

toyota-innova-3

Toyota Innova has good ride dynamics and will ensure that you get a comfortable drive everytime. It has a well tweaked suspension setup and Toyota has ensured that the ride isn’t too bouncy and passengers get maximum comfort while they are on the move. Toyota Innova manages to get over the bumps and absorb all that our roads can throw at it. It has very good ground clearance and will get over all the potholed roads easily. It has a well weighted steering which provides good feedback at high speeds and is comfortable to use at lower speeds. It has good brakes and comes with ABS + EBD which further enhance the stopping power of this multi-utility vehicle.

Suspension overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Suspension overall – Toyota Innova – 8.5/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Mahindra has played its cards right and priced the Mahindra Xylo very well in the market. It brings plenty of space, modern looks and features and the performance is good from its diesel engine. All this and more at an attractive price tag starting from ex-showroom Delhi price of 7.47 lakhs for Mahindra Xylo D2 BS IV Diesel, Mahindra Xylo E4 BS IV Diesel has been priced at 8.25 lakhs, Mahindra Xylo E4 ABS BS IV Diesel is priced at 8.48 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS BS IV has been priced at 9.28 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 Airbag BS III is priced at 9.54 lakhs. Mahindra Xylo E8 ABS Airbag BSIV has been priced at 9.66 lakhs and the top variant Mahindra Xylo E9 Diesel has been priced at 10.47 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

Toyota Innova has a price (ex-showroom Delhi) tag of 9.21 lakhs for the 8 seater base petrol variant Toyota Innova 2.0 G and the top petrol variant is priced at 12.14 lakhs for Toyota Innova 2.0 VX 8 Seater petrol. The diesel variant of Toyota Innova is priced from 8.48 lakhs for the base variant 8 seater diesel Toyota Innova 2.5 E Diesel MS and for the top variant 8 seater Toyota Innova 2.5 V is priced at 12.45 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. It is excellent pricing given all the features and modern looks of the MUV also given the fact that Toyota has very good after sales and service it is good value for money.

Value for money overall – Mahindra Xylo – 8/10
Value for money overall – Toyota Innova – 8/10

Verdict:

Mahindra Xylo is a very good MUV and brings plenty of features to satisfy the growing needs in the market. It looks great and rides very well and is priced very competitively. Mahindra has excellent after sales and service history and has been catering to its customers very well over the years. The competition is heating up with the new Toyota Innova grabbing more market share than ever. It’s a close battle between these two giants on the road. So if you are planning on buying either of them, it is going to be a difficult choice to make.

Mahindra Xylo Toyota Innova
Car version D2 E4 E9 E 8-Seater GX 8-Seater VX 7 Seater (Petrol)
Ex-showroom price 747000 8250000 1047000 NA NA NA
DIMENSIONS
Length NA NA NA 4585 4585 4585
Width NA NA NA 1760 1760 1760
Height NA NA NA 1760 1760 1760
Wheelbase NA NA NA 2750 2750 2750
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight NA NA NA 1675 1680 1575
Turning radius 5.5 5.6 5.6 NA NA NA
Tank capacity 55 55 55 55 55 55
Clearance NA NA NA 176 176 176
ENGINE
Displacement 2489 2498 2179 2495 2495 1998
Max. Power 95bhp@3600rpm 112bhp@3800rpm 120bhp@4000rpm 102 102 132
Max. Torque 220Nm@1400-2600 260Nm@1800-2200 280Nm@ 2400-2800rpm 200 200 181
Fuel economy 13.6 11.68 13 11.4 11.4 9
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre 205/65 215/75 215/75 Tubeless Radial Radial Tubeless Radial Tubeless
SUSPENSION
Front Independent coil Independent coil Independent coil Double Wishbone Double Wishbone Double Wishbone
Rear Multi-link coil Multi-link coil Multi-link coil 4 Link with Lateral Rod Four Link with Lateral Rod Four Link with Lateral Rod
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Toyota Fortuner versus Ford Endeavour

Toyota Fortuner is back in a new avatar and brings plenty of new features and looks incredible. Toyota has launched several successful cars in India and Fortuner has been one of the best sellers. It is currently the highest selling SUV in the market. It is a popular car from one of the world’s renowned car manufacturers. Ford is another popular car manufacturer in India and has been successfully selling passenger cars for over a decade. It has the Ford Endeavour in the lineup and it is a fantastic SUV. If you are looking at buying either of these two beautiful sports utility vehicles then keep reading to find out more about them.

Looks and design:

toyota-fortuner-2

Toyota Fortuner looks amazing in its latest facelifted version and looks stunning with its land cruiser like front-end looks and projector style headlamps. It has oodles of chrome on its front grill and bears the huge Toyota logo. It has a wide air dam and houses the rounded fog lamps. It has a large scoop on the bonnet for the top mounted intercooler. It has wheel arches and roof rails which add to the muscular styling of the car. It has a well designed rear which looks in proportion to the front and the clear lens tail lamps look stylish. It has 265 size wide tyres which combined with the 12 spoke alloy wheels add a little more aggression to the overall sporty and aggressive character of the Fortuner. It has been well constructed and the fit, finish and paint quality is top notch.

ford-endeavour-1

Ford Endeavour is a versatile sports utility vehicle and looks great in its current avatart and brings new additions to its features and style. It has large headlamps and front grill dipped in chrome and features the FORD logo in the center of the grill. The fog lamps are housed in trendy housing and it also features well design air dam and body colored bumpers at the front and rear on the Endy as it’s popularly known amongst enthusiasts. It has an incredible road presence owing to its long body and large wheels. The rear has well designed tail lamps and the spare tyre on the tail gate looks great. It reminds of the off-road capabilities of this giant. Ford has maintained their excellent build quality with the Ford Endeavour and the fit finish is top notch.

Looks overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8.5/10
Looks overall – Ford Endeavour – 8/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

toyota-fortuner-1

The new Toyota Fortuner has several features but most importantly it is very spacious and roomy inside with ample space for taller passengers with plenty of leg and head room. It has solid interior build quality and comes in a mix of beige and grey color. It has well equipped center console panel on the dash with the double-DIN head unit and DVD player with excellent sounding speakers. It has USB + Aux-in and Bluetooth options for connectivity. Toyota Fortuner has excellent seats which offer great level of comfort and the driver gets a 6 way height adjustable 6 way electrically operated unit which provides excellent lateral support. The driving position is good and the ergonomics spot on. It brings plenty of storage areas inside while the boot space is quite spacious at 363 liters but you can fold the rear seats and get a lot more space that way.

ford-endeavour-3

Ford Endeavour has plenty of features and brings comfortable seats which provide very good support to the back. The middle seats are low and not as comfortable as the front seats. The center console on the dash is feature rich. It has 6 CD changer stereo system with Aux-in, USB/iPod connectivity and large air conditioning vents. The display shows the GPS, reverse guide camera and audio head unit options. The interiors feel spacious and huge and there is plenty of leg room and head room inside this SUV. There are plenty of cubby holes and small storage areas like the center storage box. There is a DVD + roof display with lights on either side. The instrument console is clear and easy to read and displays the 4WD options along with the RPM, Speed and fuel level. The Endeavour has a boot space of 430 liters, sufficient to carry your travel luggage and you can increase the space by removing the seats.

Interiors overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8/10
Interiors overall – Ford Endeavour –
8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

toyota-fortuner-3

Toyota Fortuner is now available in a diesel engine variant only and features a very powerful 3.0 liter turbo-diesel engine which has loads of torque and minimal turbo-lag. It has plenty of low end torque and the engine response is very good. It will easily pull in 2nd gear from standstill. It produces 169 BHP of maximum power and produces maximum torque of 343 NM from 1400 RPM to 3400 RPM. It is available in 3 different gear box options; full time all-wheel drive, automatic transmission and a 4×2 option as well. It has a limited slip differential for your off-road needs and the smooth engine and gearbox ensures a comfortable drive. It has a powerful motor which loves cruising at highspeeds and will easily eat away the kilometers when out on a long drive. Toyota Fortuner has been certified by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13 kmpl.

ford-endeavour-2

Ford Endeavour has plenty of performance and is available with two different engine options. It has a 2.5 liter Duratorq diesel engine and 3.0 liter Duratorq diesel engine. The 2.5 liter engine variant produces 140 BHP of peak power and delivers a maximum torque of 330NM at 1800 RPM. It comes with a manual transmission gearbox. The 3.0 liter variant on the Endeavour produces 152 BHP at 3200 RPM and 380 NM of maximum torque at 2500 RPM. This engine is fun to drive and packs more punch over its sibling. This engine variant also brings a 4×2 Automatic Transmission and a 4×4 Automatic Transmission option. It manages to remain versatile in off road terrains. ARAI has rated the 2.5 liter engine variant of the Ford Endeavour to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.1 kmpl while the 3.0 liter Ford Endeavour has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 11.4kmpl. It may not seem as fuel efficient as its rivals but has a very good and tractable motor.

Engine overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Ford Endeavour –
8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

toyota-fortuner-4

Toyota Fortuner rides pretty well and has a slightly firm suspension but manages a comfortable ride. It does feel a little bumpy and there is a slight pitiching due to the suspension setup. The body roll is however well controlled and the ride quality improved with more load bring carried. The grip levels from the stock tyres are very good and ensure stability at over 150 kph. Toyota Fortuner is a mile muncher and brings Limited Slip Differential and All wheel driver option which are fantastic and useful on off-road trails. It has decent brakes but ABS + EBD ensure that the stopping power is adequate and available when you need it the most.

ford-endeavour-4

Ford Endeavour brings a leaf spring setup but manages to provide a comfortable ride to its passengers. It is not too bouncy on bad roads and the front suspension seems to work very well and overall the SUV manages to keep the passengers from bouncing around. It manages to hold its own on off-road trails and shows its true colors. It has steering unit which provides very good feedback at high speeds and is easy to handle at lower speeds and on off-road trails. Endeavour offers good braking and brings ABS with EBD for efficient and better braking and improved stopping power. It has hill descent control which enables you to go down steep declines with full control, safely.

Suspension overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Ford Endeavour – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Toyota has done well to price the Fortuner very well. Toyota Fortuner ex-showroom price in Delhi starts from 20.90 lakhs for the base variant Toyota Fortuner 4×2 Manual. The middle variant Toyota Fortuner 4×2 AT has been priced at 21.73 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The top variant of the Toyota Fortuner 4×4 MT has been priced at 22.04 lakhs. Toyota has done a fantastic job with the pricing and that ensured it long term success with its predecessor and they have done it again with the latest iteration of the Fortuner. This sports utility vehicle has been a major success in India and in overseas market and is excellent value for money vehicle.

Ford Endeavour has excellent features and the company has a wide dealer network ensuring service availability across the country. It has a plenty of character and a massive road presence. It does an excellent job off-road as well. It is available at an ex-showroom Delhi price of 18.06 lakhs for the Ford Endeavour 4×2 MT base variant. Ford Endeavour 3.0L AT 4×2 has been priced at 19.14 lakhs. Ford Endeavour Hurricane Limited Edition is priced at 20.13 lakhs while the Ford Endeavour 4×4 Thunder Plus has been priced at 20.75 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi.

Value for money overall – Toyota Fortuner – 8/10
Value for money overall – Ford Endeavour – 8/10

Verdict:

Toyota Fortuner is having a great run in India owing to the reliability, performance and features it brings to the table. Toyota has been carefully launching vehicles which provide very good value for money to its customers. It has also been very good at after sales and service backup which ensures that customers return for more. Ford Endeavour is another fantastic sports utility vehicle and has enjoyed much success in the country. Endy is a solid and value for money sports utility vehicle with a powerful engine and very good off-roading capabilities and a proven SUV in the segment. Ford has done well so far but it needs to work on it’s after sales service area which will further improve sales and customer satisfaction.

Toyota Fortuner Ford Endeavour
Car version 2WD MT 4WD MT 3.0L 4×4 2.5L 4×2 3.0L 4×2 AT
Ex-showroom price 2090000 2204000 1916130 1664130 1807880
DIMENSIONS
Length 4705 4705 5060 5060 5060
Width 1840 1840 1788 1788 1788
Height 1850 1850 1826 1826 1826
Wheelbase 2750 2750 2860 2860 2860
Boot space 500 NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight 1885 1970 2014 1879 2014
Turning radius NA 5.9 NA NA NA
Tank capacity 80 80 71 71 71
Clearance 220 220 210 210 210
ENGINE
Displacement 2982 2982 2953 2499 2953
Max. Power 174 @3600rpm 171 156 PS (115Kw) @ 3200 rpm 143 PS (105Kw) @ 3500 rpm 156PS @3200rpm
Max. Torque 200@2000 343 380 Nm (38.7 kgm) @ 2500 rpm 330 Nm (33.7 kgm) @ 1800 rpm 380Nm @2500rpm
Fuel economy 13 12.55 11.4 13.1 11.4
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Automatic
Speeds 5 5 5 5 5
TYRES
Tyre Tubeless Tyre Tubless Radials 245 / 70 R16 ( Tubeless) 245 / 70 R16 ( Tubeless) 245/70 R16 (Tubeless)
SUSPENSION
Front Independent Wheel, Helical Coil springs Double Wishbone Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar Independent double wishbone with torsion bar spring & stabilizer bar
Rear 4-Link with Lateral Rod Four Link with Lateral Rod Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads Progressive linear rate leaf springs with low friction pads
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Chevrolet Cruze versus Volkswagen Jetta

Chevrolet Cruze is one of the best launches from Chevrolet in India. It has helped Chevrolet get back into the game and recover their lost share in the market. It brings excellent features and performance and hence resulted in good sales for the company. One of the recent launches from another well known global manufacturer Volkswagen who is expanding its network in India has recently launched the face lifted Volkswagen Jetta. We compare two excellent cars from the segment and help you find out which one of the two is the best of the lot. Keep reading to find out more about the cars that you like the most.

Looks and design:

chevrolet-cruze

Chevrolet Cruze brings a muscular design which appeals to the masses owing to its modern and contemporary design elements. Chevrolet has a very good job building the Cruze and has brought a design which is sporty and aggressive. It has sleek and sharp lines and comes with a well designed front end with its two tier grill and a large Chevy bow tie. It has stylish alloy wheels which give it an overall sporty character. The rear is in proportion with the front and looks like it’s been designed to complement the overall looks of the car. The Chevrolet Cruze has been well constructed and the fit and finish is also very good.

volkswagen-vento-1

Volkswagen Jetta has been face lifted recently and looks fantastic in its new avatar owing to its clean, classic and almost timeless design and understated styling elements. It has a large VW logo upfront on the chromed grill. Jetta has large and sharp looking mildly smoked headlamps and day time running lamps and the rear is also well designed with beautiful tail lamps. The overall looks of the car is sporty and it has multi-spoked alloy wheels which add a bit of aggression to the looks. Volkswagen has paid attention to detail and have done an excellent job with the build quality; it is solid and the fit, finish and paint quality is top notch.

Looks overall – Chevrolet Cruze – 8/10
Looks overall – Volkswagen Jetta – 8.5/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

chevrolet-cruze-1

Chevrolet brings plenty of space inside and has ample leg and head room for tall passengers. It feels spacious and roomy and the comfortable seats give excellent lumbar and thigh support to the driver and all of its 4 passengers which the car will easily accommodate. It has plenty of modern features such as electronic climate control, rain sensitive windscreen wipers, advanced stereo music system which sounds very good and parking sensors. Chevrolet Cruze has dual tone dashboard and leather upholstery which looks elegant in form. It has ample storage area for your items and includes center armrest with storage and illuminated glove box and a boot space of 280 liters for all your luggage carrying needs.

volkswagen-vento-2

Volkswagen has spacious interiors which feels airy and has a solid German build quality to it. Jetta also has height adjustable seats for the driver which is a 12 way electrically operated unit and it brings very good plastic quality. It has comfortable seats for passengers and offers excellent lower back and lumbar support. The air conditioner does an excellent job as far as keeping the interiors cool. It offers modern stereo sound system which sounds great. The in-car ergonomics is very good and is built keeping the driver in mind. There is ample storage space inside the Volkswagen Jetta and it has total boot space of 510 liters which is plenty enough to carry your travel luggage.

Interiors overall – Chevrolet Cruze – 8/10
Interiors overall – Volkswagen Jetta –
8.5/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

chevrolet-cruze-3

Chevrolet Cruze is only available with a powerful diesel engine option and it pumps out a total of 150 BHP at 4000 RPM and peak torque of 320 NM at 2000 RPM. It brings plenty of performance and has oodles of low end torque which makes it easy to drive in the city. The smooth and slick gearbox is a 5 speed manual transmission unit which does a great job as far shifting gears is concerned. The clutch is not too heavy and will ensure a comfortable drive in the city. The engine is response and will welcome spirited driving. Chevrolet Cruze has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 17.3 kmpl.

volkswagen-vento-3

Volkswagen Jetta brings a powerful 2 liter CRDi engine which is a 4 cylinder unit producing a maximum power of 138 BHP at 4200 RPM and maximum torque of 320 NM from 1750 to 2500 RPM. It brings plenty of torque in the low-medium rpm range and the engine is rev happy and will easily rev beyond 5000 RPM. The gearbox is a Direct Shift Gearbox unit and brings smooth and slick gearshifts. The Jetta is a mile muncher with excellent highway performance and also comes with an automatic transmission variant. Volkswagen Jetta has been rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 19.39 kmpl for the manual transmission variant and the automatic transmission variant is rated to deliver 16.36 kmpl.

Engine overall – Chevrolet Cruze – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Volkswagen Jetta –
8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

chevrolet-cruze-2

Chevrolet Cruze has a well tuned suspension setup which provides great balance between comfort and performance. It is firm and agile and has very sporty handling characteristics without being too firm and bouncy for the passengers seated inside. It has good ride quality which ensures a smooth ride on bumpy roads and smooth roads alike. Chevrolet Cruze is a fun to drive car on the highways and the disk brakes help it in slowing down to a stop quickly. It also brings ABS and EBD to further aid the driver in improving the stopping power of the car. Cruze is a powerful car and has excellent highway manners.

volkswagen-vento-4

Volkswagen has given a very good suspension setup to their new Jetta. It brings a multi-link suspension unit and ensures an excellent handling package owing to its overall chassis and suspension setup. It has a good overall comfort to performance package and provides a comfortable ride even though the suspension is set on the firmer side. It manages to absorb all the bumps and undulations on the road and ensures a smooth ride. Volkswagen Jetta has sharp brakes which do a very good job of slowing down the car which is very well capable of doing high speeds easily. It brings ABS + EBD and also multiple Airbags for passenger safety.

Suspension overall – Chevrolet Cruze – 8/10
Suspension overall – Volkswagen Jetta – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Chevrolet has done a fantastic job with the pricing of the Cruze. It is a new sedan which has been creating waves in the market and has seen excellent buyer response. Chevrolet Cruze is a fantastic product and has seen excellent response from the market. Chevrolet Cruze price (ex-showroom Delhi) starts with the base model diesel Chevrolet Cruze LT at 12.03 lakhs, middle variant Chevrolet Cruze LTZ is priced at 13.60 lakhs and the top variant diesel Chevrolet Cruze LTZ AT is priced at 14.44 lakhs. Chevrolet can further take this product forward by providing excellent after sales and service which is bound to further attract potential buyers to the Cruze.

Volkswagen Jetta is available at good pricing and starts with an ex-showroom Delhi price of 14.93 lakhs for base variant Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Trendline, Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Comfortline is priced at 16.40 lakhs, Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Highline is priced at 18.05 lakhs and the top variant Volkswagen Jetta 2.0L TDI Highline AT is priced at 18.90 lakhs. Volkswagen is one of the biggest passenger car manufacturers in the world and is known for their value for money cars which offers excellent build quality and performance. The Jetta brings all its values and more and offers good value for your money despite being higher priced than most of its counterparts.

Value for money overall – Chevrolet Cruze – 8.5/10
Value for money overall – Volkswagen Jetta – 8/10

Verdict:

Chevrolet Cruze is a fantastic car and brings so much within in good price range. It has all the modern features and is quite a looker and brings plenty of performance for those looking for a car for spirited driving. It is also an excellent car to drive on the highways and will also serve well if you preferred to be chauffeured around. Volkswagen Jetta in its latest avatar is also another wonderful car in this segment. Volkswagen has been providing good service and is quickly expanding its after sales network so that it can have a wider reach and cater to more of its customers easily. These are the things to look for if you are planning buy either of these two great cars from the segment today.

Chevrolet Volkswagen
Car version LT LTZ LTZ AT Trendline Comfortline Highline (MT)
Ex-showroom price 1173300 1334872 1418978 1493000 1640000 1805000
DIMENSIONS
Length 4597 4597 4597 4644 4644 4644
Width 1788 1788 1788 1778 1778 1778
Height 1477 1477 1477 1453 1453 1453
Wheelbase 2685 2685 2685 2633 2633 2633
Boot space NA NA NA NA NA NA
Kerb Weight 1520 1520 1540 1445 1445 1445
Turning radius NA NA 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.5
Tank capacity 60 60 60 55 55 55
Clearance 165 165 165 NA 139 139
ENGINE
Displacement 1991 1991 1991 1968 2179 1968
Max. Power 150PS @4000rpm 150PS @4000rpm 150PS @4000rpm 140PS @ 4200 140 @ 4000 140 @ 4200
Max. Torque 327Nm @2600rpm 327Nm @2600rpm 327Nm @2600rpm 320Nm@1750-2500 320@1750-2500 320@1750-2500
Fuel economy 17.3 17.3 14.39 19.39 19.39 19.39
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Automatic Manual Manual Manual
Speeds 5 5 6 6 6 6
TYRES
Tyre 205 / 60 R 16 205 / 60 R 16 205 / 60 R 16 NA 235/65 R 17, 235/70 R 16 235/65 R 17, 235/70 R 16
SUSPENSION
Front Mac pherson strut with anti roll & gas charged shock absobers Mac pherson strut with anti roll & gas charged shock absobers Mac pherson strut with anti roll & gas charged shock absobers Coil Spring with shock absorbers and suspension stabilizer Coil Spring with shock absorbers and suspension stabilizer Coil Spring with shock absorbers and suspension stabilizer
Rear U shaped suspension with torsion beam & gas charged shock absorbers U shaped suspension with torsion beam & gas charged shock absorbers U shaped suspension with torsion beam & gas charged shock absorbers Multi link suspension with stabilizer Multi link suspension with stabilizer Multi link suspension with stabilizer
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Skoda Laura versus Renault Fluence

Skoda’s new entrant is here and it expects to give a stiff competition in the market. It packs a lot of punch owing to the powerful motor and the styling is new. It has been a stronger performer in its previous avatar and is expected to the same for Skoda. We compare it against its competition for Europe the Renault Fluence.  Renault Fluence is a fantastic new car which brings new design and modern features to the segment. We are indeed spoilt for choice here and if you are find it tough to select between these two beautiful cars then let us help you, keep reading.

Looks and design:

skoda-laura-1

Skoda Laura is a fantastic new sedan with fresh styling updates over its predecessor Octavia. It looks stylish with its long hood and sweptback headlamps. It brings body colored bumpers and fog lamps and day time running lights in a trendy housing. Skoda Laura brings an antenna on the roof which looks sporty and the multi spoke alloy wheels shod with 205/55 wide tyres adds to the muscular character of the car. It has a rear spoiler which looks great and the rear is well designed and in proportion with the front. It’s a tall car at 1485 mm compared to its competitors. Skoda Laura oozes of great build quality and it has been put together very well by its manufacturer.

renault-fluence-1

Renault Fluence is new in the segment and brings plenty of curves. It has a simple yet elegant design which is modern and contemporary. It has a quirky front end with its large headlamps, tiny grill and the Renault Logo embossed into the body. It gets chrome treatment on the front grill, fog lamps and rear number plate. The rear of the car is well designed and looks typically European with wrap around tail lamps. It looks best from 3/4th profile and the doors come with a thick cladding. It comes with sporty 10 spoke alloy wheels and is shod with 205/60 R16 tyres. The build quality on the Renault is solid and exudes excellence. It has top notch fit, finish and paint quality and is a fantastic looking sedan in the segment.

Looks overall – Skoda Laura – 8/10
Looks overall – Renault Fluence – 8.5/10

Interiors – design, space and features:

skoda-laura-3

Skoda Laura brings understated mix of black, grey and silver interiors which are accented with a touch of faux brushed aluminum. It has ample leg and head room to accommodate tall persons. It has seats which are very comfortable and offer excellent support to the back and lateral support is superb and adjustable. It has a 6 CD changer and 8 speakers which sound great. The instrument cluster is a functional unit and displays the MID as well. Then there is the storage area which is fantastic with the boot alone capable of holding 560 liters of luggage and there is a parcel tray which sits above the boot and if you fold the rear seats you get massive 1430 liters of space. It lacks a few things like lack of climate control, steering mounted audio and MID controls but the ergonomics and driving position is excellent in the Laura.

renault-fluence-3

Renault Fluence brings plenty of modern features. It has keyless entry and you need press the request sensor on the door handle with the key in your pocket. It has a slot on the center console where you can place your key when you get in. Fluence has two-tone beige and black interiors and the silver garnish looks nice. It is a very spacious sedan and has ample leg and head room for the front and rear passengers. It has soft seat fabric which adds to the interior luxury. The driver gets adjustable seats and there ergonomics is good inside the Fluence. It has dual-zone climate control and rear AC vents. The instrumentation is easy to read and it has a simple and functional dashboard. Renault Fluence is high on space and brings a total boot space of 530 liters which is plenty enough to carry your entire travel luggage.

Interiors overall – Skoda Laura – 8/10
Interiors overall – Renault Fluence –
8/10

Engine – performance, power, torque, fuel economy, smoothness:

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Skoda Laura brings a diesel and petrol engine option for its prospective customers. Both the engines are very good performers in the city and on the highway runs. They are also very tractable with excellent engine response and high revving nature and extremely good low end torque for easy in-city drivability. The petrol variant has a 1.8 liter turbocharged direct injection petrol engine which produces 160 BHP at 4500-6200 RPM and a massive 250 NM of maximum torque from 1500 to 4500 RPM. It has manual and automatic transmission options. While the diesel variant has 1968cc motor with minimal turbo lag and produces a maximum power of 140 bhp at 4000 RPM and maximum torque of 320 NM between 1750 to 2500 RPM and comes with automatic and manual transmission choices. The petrol variant is rated by ARAI to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.8 kmpl while the diesel variant has been rated to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 20 kmpl by ARAI.

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Renault Fluence is available in two engine variants; petrol and a diesel variant. The petrol engine is a 2.0 liter engine which produces 135 BHP at 6000 RPM and maximum torque of 190 NM at 3700 RPM. It is available with a CVT automatic gearbox. The car is easy to drive and shifts are smooth. The diesel engine variant is a 1.5 liter unit which produces 108 BHP of maximum power at 4000 RPM and maximum torque at 240 NM at 2000 RPM. There is plenty of torque available but for a sedan in this segment the diesel variant is quite underpowered compared to the other competitors in the segment. It is not built keeping the enthusiasts in mind however it serves well for regular uses. ARAI has rated the petrol Renault Fluence to deliver a maximum fuel efficiency of 13.4 kmpl while the diesel variant has been similarly rated by ARAI to deliver a max fuel economy of 21.8 kmpl.

Engine overall – Skoda Laura – 8.5/10
Engine overall – Renault Fluence –
8/10

Suspension – Ride, comfort and handling:

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Skoda Laura has a ride quality which is compliant. A little on the firmer side owing to the sporty nature of the car but will keep all the passengers very comfortable. It allows you to drive in a spirited manner and will let you enjoy the twisties. It has stability control electronics which ensure that the tyres have maximum road holding capability at all times. The chassis is very good and capable of letting you drive in a spirited manner. The brakes are excellent as well and the Skoda Laura brings you ABS + EBD which further enhance its braking capabilities.

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Renault Fluence has a finely tuned suspension setup which is set to slight soft setting. At low speeds and bad roads it won’t let the passengers bounce around a lot and absorbs all the bumps and undulations on the road. The steering is well weighted on the petrol variant of Fluence but feels slightly heavier on the diesel variant but remains comfortably light to use at lower speeds. The grip levels are excellent and this modern sedan brings Electronic Stability Program which ensures you are in full control while going fast around corners. It has sharp brakes which does an excellent job of stopping the car quickly. It also brings ABS + EBD to further improving braking power of all its four disk brakes.

Suspension overall – Skoda Laura – 8.5/10
Suspension overall – Renault Fluence – 8/10

Value for money – sticker price, standard features:

Skoda Laura is available in multiple variants and engine options and is priced at an ex-showroom Price of 12.44 lakhs for Skoda Laura Petrol 1.8 TSI Active, Skoda Laura 1.8 TSI Ambiente Petrol is priced at 14.48 lakhs. Skoda Laura vRS Petrol top end petrol variant is priced at 16.11 lakhs. Skoda Laura Ambiente 2.0 TDI CR MT diesel is priced at 14.48 lakhs. Skoda Laura Ambiente 2.0 TDI CR AT diesel is priced at 15.65 lakhs. Skoda Laura Elegance 2.0 TDI CR MT is priced at 16.05 lakhs. Skoda Laura Elegance 2.0 TDI CR AT is priced at 17.10 lakhs. Top diesel variant Skoda Laura L&K 2.0 TDI CR AT is priced at 18.97 lakhs. Skoda has got excellent products and with the Skoda Laura in their kitty it is bound to do well. The pricing is excellent and worth the money being paid for.

Renault has done a good job with the pricing of the Fluence and wants to get rid of its cut to cost image from its previous launch Logan. It is has small dealer network and it is currently working on expanding the dealer and after sales network. Renault Fluence is priced from 11.99 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi for Renault Fluence Advantage Edition, Renault Fluence E4D diesel at 15.20 lakhs ex-showroom Delhi and the only variant in Petrol, Renault Fluence 2.0 is priced at 15.27 lakhs in Delhi. The pricing is good and it sure to attract many buyers as it brings plenty of features at good pricing.

Value for money overall – Skoda Laura – 8/10
Value for money overall – Renault Fluence – 8/10

Verdict:

Skoda takes on the market once again with its high performance Laura. It brings luxury and premium feeling back into the segment with its latest offering. However the competition is stiff and Skoda will have a tough time no doubt especially with new launches from several manufacturers coming up in the near future. Renault is here with their Fluence which is a great overall performer and Renault has been adding more dealers and improving their after sales and service network as well. Both these cars are excellent choices however take your time to make the right choice between the two for you.

Skoda Renault
Car version RS 1.8 TSI Ambition 2.0 TDI Ambition MT 2.0 TDI Elegance MT Petrol E4 E4D
Ex-showroom price 1611000 1448000 1448000 1605000 1440000 NA 1520000
DIMENSIONS
Length 4597 4569 4569 4569 4618 4618 4618
Width 1769 1769 1769 1769 1813 1813 1813
Height 1485 1485 1485 1485 1488 1488 1488
Wheelbase 2578 2578 2578 2578 2703 2703 2703
Boot space 560 560 560 560 NA NA 530
Kerb Weight 1380 1380 1389 1389 NA NA NA
Turning radius 10.2 NA 10.2 10.2 NA NA NA
Tank capacity 55 55 55 55 67 NA NA
Clearance 164 164 164 164 170 NA 170
ENGINE
Displacement 1798 1798 1968 1968 1997 1461 1461
Max. Power 160 @ 4500 – 6200 160@4500-6200 110@4200 110@4200 137PS @6000rpm 106 PS @ 4000 rpm 110
Max. Torque 250 @ 1500 – 4500 250@1500-4500 250@1500-4500 250@1500-4500 190Nm @3700rpm 240 Nm @ 2000 rpm 240
Fuel economy 13.4 13.8 20 20 13.4 21.8 20.4
Cylinders 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
GEARBOX
Type Manual Manual Manual Manual Automatic Manual Manual
Speeds 6 6 6 5 6 6 5
TYRES
Tyre 205/55 R16 195/65 R15 195/65 R15 195/65 R16 205/60 R16 Tubeless Radials 205/60 R16 205/60 R 16
SUSPENSION
Front NA McPherson suspension with lower triangular links and torsion stabilizer McPherson suspension with lower triangular links and torsion stabilizer McPherson suspension with lower triangular links and torsion stabilizer Mac Pherson type with coil spring, stabiliser bar and double acting shock absorber McPherson suspension type McPherson Strut
Rear NA Multi-element exle, with one longitudinal and three transverse links, with torsion stabilizer 3 link, coil spring suspension 3 link, coil spring suspension Trailing arm type with coil spring and double acting shock absorber Trailing arm type with coil spring Trailing arm coil springs, shock absorber
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