Good Things Come In Small Packages

Took a test drive of the Indica Vista top-end diesel variant, yesterday (22-Feb-09). Here are my views:

Interiors:
   - Over the previous Indica this is a great improvement. Bright interiors make it feel big.
   - Dash plastic quality is much better
   - Top end variant has only fabric seats. A good idea would be to go in for Art leather seats
   - Integrated music system looks neat. Nippon brand. Music quality is decent.
 

Design (Interiors)
   - Finally there is place for a bottle holder!!
   - Unlike the older Indica/Indigo, one can keep some stuff on the dash without worrying that it would
 slide out of the window
   - Display meter is very neat and easy to see
   - Temp Gauge is digital with bar display (like the battery meter in a mobile)
   - The bonnet-end is still not visible!! I guess it is same with all cars of this ilk
   - Power window switch is available on the door's itself and are neat.
   - Below front-passenger seat there is place to store regulat water-bottles

 

  Comfort (Interiors)
   - The seats are very comfortable (including the rear seats)
   - Driver & passenger seat has height adjustment which a great boon
   - The gear stick is not a gear stick but a joy stick!! Changing gears is a big leap when compared
 with older Indica's & Indigo's - gear stick is easy to reach
   - Cabin Space has always been Indica's forte and continues to be in the Vista too
   - Noise intrusion (NHV) is drastically reduced. Engine itself is less noisy
   - 5 adults could comfortably sit

Exteriors (Looks)
   - Needless to say the exterior is very pleasing
   - Twin headlamps to start with are very attractive
   - Turn indicators on the A pillar are attractive
   - Car stance is high and looks good
   - Rear wiper is big to clean bigger glass area
   - Door handles are very neat and gel neatly with the car body
   - ORVM's are big enough to comfortably see the world following!! They don't fold in completely though.

Performance
   - A great leap. With 75bhp, 7-8 more than older Indica/Indigo, this is more powerful
   - What takes the cake is the way Torque is made available. 3rd gear acceleration is just amazing, even while climbing inclines. Car simply refuses to be bogged down in any gear
   - Top speed to be around 165kmph
   - Expected fuel economy (14/15kmpl-city, 18/19kmpl-highway)

Ride & Handling
   - Again an area where there has been tremendous improvement.
   - The suspensions are much better tuned. I rode the vehicle over decently bad roads and we could not
 hear the suspension working. The car held it's balance well.
   - Tubeless tyres were provided which was good with road grip
   - Braking was decent

Advantages
   - The car is longer & taller (almost like the Olympic motto!!) translating to more space
   - More powerful with better torque delivery makes this car pleasure to drive
   - Build of the car is solid. One feels secure inside the car

Areas of improvement
   - ABS/Airbags could have been an option atleast
   - Boot (luggage space should have been more). Looks like the car has been designed to take Swift head-on
   - Front window glasses did not appear as solid as older Indica/Indigo's. Appeared slimmer.

 

Comments: With an on-road price of 5.7 lacs in Agra for the top-end diesel variant, this is a car which is a definite winner!!

Comfort, Performance, Value for Money.Bad interiors, Old Shap & Looks