Toyota Etios Cross - the compact crossover reviewed by Autoportal India

The Japanese automobile giant, Toyota Motor Corporation tied up with India's Kirloskar Group and formed the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (TKMPL) on October 6, 1997 to manufacture and sales of Toyota cars in India.

Production started in 1999 with the launching of Toyota Quails, which became a hit among taxi operators. However the company discontinued the vehicle in 2005 and launched Toyota Innova as a Multi Premium Vehicle (MPV).

TKMPL, as the 4th largest car maker in India after Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Mahindra, manufacturers Innova, Fortuner, Corolla Altis, Etios, Etios Liva, Etios Cross, Camry, Camry Hybrid in India, while the tough, yet luxurious vehicles, Prado and Land Cruiser and full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, Prius are being imported as CBUs (completely built unit).

Toyota Etios Cross

Toyota Etios Cross, a crossover version of the Etios Liva, made its Indian debut at the Indian Auto Expo in 2014. Though it is a crossover version of Etios Liva, the Etios Cross has a bolder face and smart looking grille guard. The car is decorated with black plastic cladding running from front bumper all the way to the rear which gives it a much sportier look. The Etios cross is 120 mm longer, 40mm taller and 45 mm wider than the Etios Liva and has got SUV elements like skid plates and roof rails, which add to its rugged personality.

This vehicle comes with new 10-spoke alloy wheels.

Toyota Etios Cross has introduced two models with petrol engines and one with diesel. One can choose from 8 different colors such as Inferno Orange, Ultramarine Blue, Classic Grey, Harmony Beige, Celestial Black, Vermilion Red, Symphony Silver and White.

Petrol version:

Cross G which is fitted with a 1197 cc, 4 cylinder 16 valve, DOHC engine generating 80 Ps (Pferdestärke) of power at 5600 rpm and boosting 104 Nm of torque at 3100 rpm. The other bigger Cross v has a 1496 cc petrol engine which develops 90 ps of power at 5600 rpm and 132 Nm of torque at 3000 rpm.

Diesel version:

The diesel version GD/VD has a 1364 cc turbo-diesel engine which develops 67 bhp of power at 3800 rpm and generates 170 Nm of torque at 1800-2000 rpm.

The ex showroom price starts from Rs 6.23 lac for the basic model to Rs 7.72 lac for the diesel version.

All the 5-seater Etios Cross variants have 5-speed, manual transmission with power steering.

The manufacturer has taken care of the safety of the driver and passengers. These cars have dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD in select models, keyless entry and safety alert such as driver seat belt, doors ajar, parking brake and headlamp on etc.  

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Ford Figo –A detailed report from Autoportal India

The American multinational company Ford has emerged as one of the leading car makers around the world. Ford has come a long way in India and currently sells several modern cars here. One of its most popular cars in the country has been the Figo, which was first unveiled in the year 2009. Ford Figo received a significant facelift in 2012 and the next generation Figo is almost ready to be in the market now. Figo has retained its charm even after all these years, thanks to Ford’s constant efforts towards vehicle personalization and innovation.

Ford Figo’s greatest selling point is its drivability. It has a flexible and frugal engine which makes it a great driver’s car. One can get that big car feel and dynamics while driving a Figo. Ford offers Figo in both petrol and diesel variants including LXI, EXI, ZXI and Titanium -all with five speed manual transmission and power steering as standard. The petrol one is a 1.2 litre, 1196 cc engine giving out 70 bhp of power at 6250 rpm. The diesel engine is a 1.4 litre, 1399 cc unit delivering 68 bhp of power at 4000 rpm. The petrol variant gives a mileage of around 12.5 kmpl in the city while on the highway it offers around 15.5 kmpl. On the other hand the diesel car yields a mileage of around 16 kmpl in the city and 19 kmpl on highways. The next generation Figo is expected to be powered by Ford's prestigious 1.0 litre, three-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost engine, though its power output has not been confirmed yet. The new engine may get automatic transmission as well.

The car, although small, is catchy with its slanting roof structure, the short front and the rear overhang with a long wheelbase. The Figo has always been appreciated for its spaciousness and it is this unique design that lends more space inside the cabin. 5 people can easily sit in along with their luggage. Comfortable seats, orange lighting, circular air vents, effective air-conditioning, steering column mounted audio controls, 2-Din music system with Bluetooth, CD, AUX and USB connectivity, manual levers for rear windows and a decent boot space apart from the seat back pockets, door pads and cup holders make any journey pleasurable. Some of its impressive safety features areABS with EBD, 3 point seatbelts for front and rear seats, dual front airbags, central locking, nifty programmable keyless entry and an anti-theft system.

Ford offers the Figo in an array of variants priced between Rs 4.14 lakhs to Rs 6.36 lakhs. They are available in vibrant and attractive colours like Chill Metallic, Colorada Red, Moondust Silver, Diamond White, Panther Black, Sea Grey, Kinetic Blue and Bright Yellow.  

Article Reference : AutoPortal | Autoportal India

Ford Fiesta vs. Honda City – An Imbalanced comparison by Auto Portal

Although the present day car market is taken over by compact sedans and crossovers, mid-size sedans still retain their regal charm. Especially the mid-size diesel sedans, they offer so much more in terms of size, space, stability, performance and features and above all they are affordable. Two such popular sedans here are the Ford Fiesta and Honda City and this is a comparative review of the two. However the Honda City is altogether a car of different level and caliber as compared to Fiesta, and it would be pretty difficult and unfair to compare these two cars.

The Fiesta, in its latest form is available in diesel engine only. It has a 1.5-liter diesel engine coupled with a 5-speed transmission that produces 90bhp power and yields mileage. Fiesta is a very much enjoyable to drive car with its super driving dynamics. City on the other hand is available in both petrol and diesel trims with manual as well as automatic transmission. City’s diesel engine produces a maximum power output of 98bhp with a mileage of 26 kmpl while the petrol offers a maximum power of 117 bhp. It is obvious that the City delivers better power and mileage figures and that it appeals to the petrol users as well. Moreover City gets a 6^th gear that helps it to cruise on highways smoothly unlike the Fiesta which has only 5 gears. Also, City’s clutch stroke is lighter and progressive than the Fiesta.

Having concluded that City’s mechanics are way beyond the Fiesta, let us now look into the exterior and interior of these sedans. Honda City looks visibly longer and taller than the rather compact Fiesta. The new Fiesta looks extremely stylish and elegant but City’s conventional design is more mature and likable. And the build quality of a Honda car is something which you won’t get anywhere else. The added length of the City gives it more boot space around 510 litres, which is only 430 litres in the Fiesta. Although the new Fiesta gets its quality basics right, the plush feeling inside a City cabin is unmatched. There is ample legroom and headroom in a City while Fiesta has always been criticized for poor cabin space.  City provides rear air conditioning vents for the rear passengers, a feature which is missing in the Fiesta.

Ford offers Fiesta within Rs 7.69-7.29 lakhs, while Honda City is available in the range of Rs 8.37-10 lakhs. Ford has purposely priced the new Fiesta right below the purchase cost of the City expressing clearly its aggression towards the Japanese automaker. But it is highly unlikely that City’s sales will be affected with this move. As we said earlier, Honda City is a class apart!

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