Think before by Petrol Etios

Exterior Overall style is good.  Simple looks.  It is not catching neither itching in eye!

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Interiors are just ok, not much exciting.  Gray / Grayish beige combination gives dull effect.

Audio system is good.  Air condition cooling also good.  However problem I feel is, when we select the outside air switch, the air coming inside is bit high in temperature than actually is at outside. Makes unpleasant feel.

Etios scores a lot when it comes to space and comfort.  To be honest, this is extremely comfortable car at the rear bench seat.  If you have a driver to drive this car, just sit on the rear seats and you can just go on and on with travel.  Though many of us who owns this car, drives their own and not sitting at back.  The driver seat also comfortable and provides good support for back and thighs.  However the neck support is annoying.  It keeps your head little ahead than actually where it should have been.  However overall comfortable seats and places.  At the back seat, 3 people can sit easily and even for short travel, 4 can go.

Nothing to right about boot space, its just awesome!!  I heard that Etios has the highest boot space (600 L) in the sedan segment of car, this inclusive of top ends like BMWs, Audis, to Honda, Renault and more than Maruti's.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine performance is very very good. This engine is just pulls and pulls as you tap on acclerator.

In fact I would say, this engine likes to pull more load.  Because, once I was travelling on highway with total 7 of us in the car (Yes 7!! SEVEN) the car was easily cruising at 110 kmph just very similar when I drive alone.  No complaint at all.  And about the engine, I would say, this gets more and more refind day by day.

Accleration is quick until you reach 100-120 kmph, after that, you feel short of gear and car takes a bit more time to reach beyond 120 (even with just a driver on board).  I say short of gear since, this car cross 60-65 kmph in 4th gear and RPM is about 2200.  So engine asking you to shift to 5th gear as it crosses 65 kmph speed.  once you gear to 5th the RPM needle drops again to 2000 at 70 kmph.  Then just think!....5th gear needs to take care all further progress of the speed and engine as high as it can...hence for highway you may feel that car should have 6th gear!  (coz at 100 kmph, in 5th gear, RPM is about 3000 which not sounds good for 1500cc engine.  With this, fuel efficiency also would hve better for highways.  Anyways...its Toyota's engineering team's decision.

Fuel efficiency (FE) is extremely disappointing.  In city with AC on, it gives only 10-11 kmpl (while not as bumper to bumper traffic)  And on highways it gives only 15-16 kmpl when you drive between 80-100 kmph.  I need to say this is bad fuel efficiency since now a days many Petrol cars coming wiht high fuel efficiency, many of them actully gives 20+ on highways with 90+ speed.  I am not happy wiht FE here.

Gearbox is very smooth and easy to change the gears.  full marks for gear shifts.

Ride Quality & Handling WIth ABS handling is very good. Feeling confident to take sharp turns when driving about 70 Kmph also.  Ride is bumpy when driving with 1 or 2 passangers.  But when car has 4 or 4+ people the ride feels more comfortable.  This shows, the car would have made little heavier.  The car is very lightweight and it feels easily on highways.  City handling is good and easy.

Final Words The car is overall good package but with short of fuel efficiency.  I heard diesel version of this gives good mileage.  Hence diesel Etios is star performer in tourist car owners.

It is good for the one who looks for long term liable car with good space and comfort but ok with its tight fuel efficiency.  The one who wants all its features and comfort but also need good FE, need to check some other option.

Areas of improvement

1. Fuel Eifficiency is important since petrol costs are increasing day by day.

2. Either 6th gear should be added or 5th gear ratio should be taller for better highway driving and FE.

3. Headlights should be more powerful.

Poweful Engine, Best Space, Best Comfort, Huge boot spacePoor fuel economy, lightweight vehicle, not good ride for 1 or 2 passangers