Chevy Sail - A true SEDAN

Exterior

The best part of the chevy Sail is the exterior. Personally i feel that it simply outclasses any sedan in its class. Bold, mature styling devoid of any otherwise unnecessary lines or cuts makes it look really smart. Unlike the Swift dzire where the boot seems to have stuked up into the rear, the boot of Sail blends seamlessly at the rear. The Hawk Eyed headlamps complemented with trademark dual  grill and the golden Bowtie Chevy emblem make it look great. At the rear of the car you find swept tail lamps and again no nonsense lines or bends. however i wish chevy gave those turn indicators on ORVMs. To sum up it's design is very well balanced and quite decent, unlike the Honda Amaze which has Lots of scars and rents and even the Swift Dzire.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

when you talk of the interiors of the car except for the raw plastics it has everything else that is mesmerising. The dual Cockpit design, taken from the Corvette give the feeling of what it says. Though I don't like the digital Tachometer which is a bit difficult to read and to get used  to.The positioning of power windows is not conventional and is before the shifter.But you don't have to reach far for them!! You would really appreciate this once you get used to. you don't have to lose control of your right hand and it is very easy to control every other window. If you have seen the Chevy Sail commercial, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdZaSEJCqzA you would realise the adorable kid keeps his skateboard somewhere underneath the rear seat..and it vanishes!! this gives you the idea of what space this car has to offer, other than those glove box and lots of cup holders!! In terms of comfort the chevy is at par with Etios but yes again its interiors are lot better. The positioning of the horn buttons are akin to what you must have seen in old maruti 800's..!! :) but they did not have airbags.!! and the good thing about this positioning is not to make you empty your pockets if there is a problem with horn switch.

However few features are missing like the steering mounted audio controls but once you use the equipped stereo with bluetooth streaming that can connect to 6 phones and you turn on the bass you forget it all. The bluetooth is excellent you can simply relax in the rear of the car with your hand on the armrest and have an excellent conversation on phone...

and yea not to forget that lots of warninngs and beeps to check you!! but yes they are not to put you in trouble. a sweeet chime will remind you if you have left the key in..and others come when you don't use the seatbelt...feels that my chevy is more concerned for me than my Mom!!  

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

The engine feels refined  but lacks low end torque making it a "little" sluggish in the city traffic. However with the smoooth gearbox, gear shifting feels a task so frivolous and mind the powersteering...simply the best and the suspensions too...chevy deserves a pat on the back to have so propely tuned the suspensions for the indian conditions...you can Sail over potholes so easily.

I have driven the car only a 800kms and the millege is just O.k ok type ...The chevy doesn't boast of having an excellent milege unlike the amaze but its not that bad i churn out some 14-15kmpl in city.

 

Ride Quality & Handling 

yes its the ride quality and handling where the sail unanimously outclasses every car of its segment. I have driven the swift, its quite good but the SUPERLATIVE DEGREE BEST is made for SAIL.. the suspensions are amazing. The car also responses very well to steering input and all this when complemented by ABS make it a complete package. You will have your mother your girlfriiend (or your wife!!) all admiring the comfort of the sail and  driving with the hydraulic power steering is so effortless you really enjoy it.

 

 

Final Words

 The CHEVROLET SAIL is a car that deserves a lot however owing to some intial hiccups , those recalls and all ,there would have been a growth in the number of people despising the car.

But i have bought this car after lot of hair splitting and yes i can proudly say I got myself something that's really amazing. There are a lot of people you would find in forums or otherwise who will despise GM for customer satisfaction and all those stuff, but believe me I got my sail from Rahul Chevrolet, Ranchi and am very much content with the response i have got. The only thing i would like to tell someone reading this is don't go to any showroom closing your eyes and not contemplating the options you have...there are a lot of options you have and people will say a lot of things about GM not being good or bad or whatever but if you don't know what GM is you should not talk nonsense. From cadillac which the american prez uses to being the world's second largest car manufactures...from being the makers of the corvette to the awe inpiring camaro..GM has a lot to offer beyond your imagination and granted that they are trying hard to sustain in the intense indian market, remember, NO COMPANY GIVES YOU 3 YEARS WARRANTY, LOW MAINTAINENCE ASSURANCE until it has so much faith in what it makes and what it has.

to sum up : yes CHEVY SAIL COMMANDS RESPECT AND ENVY AT THE SAME TIME...DRIVE IT YOU WILL LOVE IT.. 

Areas of improvement 

 few missing features as i pointed out including the turn indicators on orvms and the steering mounted audio controls... need to be incorporated.

 

 

elegant styling, comfort, adequate boot space, excellent power steering,lack steering mounted audio control, digital tacho, and driver seat height adjuster