Poor man's Alfa Romeo

First things first!

 

1. Power: Its 1.4 petrol engine delivers 90ps@4000 RPM while 1.3 Multijet diesel 86ps@4000 RPM. Don’t attach too much importance to the Displacement of the engines; if you go by that logic, 1.8 Litre Isuzu Engines of Ambassador should deliver more power; in fact they deliver only75ps@5000 RPM. 1.4L Linea delivers 90ps @4000 rpm; 1.5L Honda City 118ps @ 6600 RPM; 1.6 Hyundai Verna 103 PS @ 5500 RPM; 1.6L Fiesta 101 PS @6500 RPM. Don’t just go by the power generated by the competing models. What is important is at what RPM the stated power is delivered; You never touch 5500-6600 RPMs even while climbing Mahabaleshwar ghats.  80% of your driving will be between 2000-3000 RPMs and the power generated at these RPMs really matter. That is why Ford Ikon 1.6 was a huge hit; it generated its peak power at 2500 RPMs; that is why this Josh machine lacked fuel efficiency; beyond that it fell flat.

 

1. Engine: Don’t mistake the sound of the engine for being not so refined as its Japanese or Korean (General Motors Chevorlet Optra in India is nothing but Korean Daewoo’s Kalos & Nubiras  whose plant the GM has taken over)  competitors. Europeans love to hear the roar of their engines when they rev them up unlike the Japanese or a Korean who love their engines quieter. And that is not a sign of being refined or crude; Fiat’s engines are some of the best in the World Auto industry and not for nothing Japanese affiliated Maruti is using Fiats engines in their cars. It is just like Europeans and Americans like their meat on the bone while some Asians like boneless meat.

 

1. Suspension: It is hard suspension typical of a European car. Again, don’t mistake the hard suspension for not being refined by comparing to a smooth suspension of a Honda City. Hard suspension has its own speciality. While it doesn’t give the sinking feeling of a sponge it doesn’t make you feel the thud when your car hits bumpy roads. Even luxury car Jaguar has hard suspensions in comparison to smooth suspensions of a Lexus.

 

1. Steering: While hard suspension deliberately keeps you in the dark about the road condition, it is the responsive steering that allows you know the road condition and alerts you how to drive on the terrain.

 

1. Size: Fiat hasn’t just tweaked the nose and tail to make it look the largest in its segment. Linea has the LONGEST WHEEL BASE in its segment i.e. superior ride comfort for the rear seat passengers. It is the Longest, the Widest, and the Tallest in its segment.

 

1. You don’t trade your shaper nose for a blunt one just because it is not easy to protect a sharp nose! Do you? Linea has a sharper nose and you may well like to have it like that and take enough care not to bump into the ugly rear of another car ahead; it is worth the effort and caution.

 

1. Build quality: Not the typical European characteristic rock sturdiness of a Siena from its own stable or that of an Opel Astra/Corsa. Certain trade off for better fuel efficiency by compromising on metal and glass sheet thickness has been achieved; but in comparison all other competing models are equal or even worse.

 

Most stylish;Longest Wheel Base; Driver & Passenger's Car; Rear AC Vents; Value for money;Build quality is not as good as that of old Siena; After sales service questionable!