Chevrolet Sail - Great package

Exterior The design is a nice blend of well nuanced curves and compactness. The contours of the car are not cumbersome in terms of width or length. It is just right for city driving wherein one does not have to bother much about getting a large parking place or knocking down/into somebody due to a huge bonnet or extended boot. It is compact and nice to drive. As regards styling, the black (colour that I chose) sits very well and gives a sleek look to it. Body coloured handles, a nice double grill and a prominent Chevy logo completes the look. No complains at all on the exterior 

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Let me start with the dash board. It is a aggressive looking design that slightly overwhelms you with its size and eats up some of the leg space. Your knees do touch the dashboard if you are a tall type. Otherwise, it is impresses with its looks and I differ in taste with those who want those jazzy looking cockpits in their cars. The intrumentation is very functional and has been economised on - which is ok given the VFM the car promises. There is no mileage measure. The RPM meter, fuel guage and odometer is digital. Visibility of the speedo is good and there is no issue on that. Steering is adjustable but seat height is not. There is a little quirky placement of the horn buttons (maybe it is misplaced with us horn maniacs in this country !). Seats are comfortable. There are good cubby holes for placing bottles, cups, etc. Leg room in the rear is excellent and there is a roomy feel to the interiors. For those looking for a plush look inside, please look elsewhere. There is a practicality that is evident in the styling and use of materials. So one has to accept this. 

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox I bought the Diesel version as the Petrol was definitely underpowered. THe diesel is great to drive in the city. Have not tested it on the highway. It has superb driveability on all gears with nice graduated turbo that gives a surge when you need some adrenalin. The gear shift has delighful short throws and is precise and smooth. Clutch is surprisingly soft for a diesel engine and the NVH is well contained. AC works very well. I live in Bangalore and hence would urge others to try it out in a place like Delhi in May.

Ride Quality & Handling The ride quality is very good and bad roads are well navigated. The power steering however, is a little stiff and not 100% responsive. there is a lag. At high speeds, it would need constant correction. Nothing serious , but a slight chink in the armour.  

Final Words It is a wonderful package for a person seeking to graduate to a sedan without burning a hole in finances. As I said , expect practicality in all its avatars. Dont go looking for a BMW at this price. It may not have great plastics, may not have some cutting edge interiors but it offers great value at the price. And yes, it does look better than the Amaze. The comment about Chinese make etc is misplaced. This car has been designed for the Asian markets at the SAIC -GM design centre in Shanghai.  

Areas of improvement The power steering needs bttter response. Better visibility of this product in the media to inspire some confidence about GM in this country. A slight rerating of the petrol version if it has to be a winner. Possible redesign of the dashboard to free up leg space in the front.

Disclaimer - I am a genuine car owner who agonised over this purchase and am happy about it at the end of it all.

Looks, Space, Ride quality, gear shift, engine and boot spaceNo seat height adjustment, a little overbearing dashboard.