The XC60 is Volvos global bestselling car model line, and also Europes number one seller in the premium compact SUV segment. Thats quite a reputation especially for a car that comes from a brand that was ready to be written off not so long ago, isnt it? And being a brands best selling model in the last year of its life cycle is even more creditable, given it was surrounded in showrooms by much newer and popular models like the S90, V90/V90 Cross Country, XC90, and facelifted V40 too. It also accounts for 35% of Volvos sales in India. This is significant since Volvo is now poised for growth in India. The Volvo XC60 will come to us by November 2017. It will be a direct import for starters and therefore we will get only one fully loaded Inscription variant. Volvo has announced that it will now also begin assembling cars in India an so eventually the XC60 will also move to being assembled here.
Maruti Suzuki offers a large variety of AMT powered cars in its portfolio. These include the entry level Alto K10 and Wagon R to the Celerio and the Ignis hatchbacks. In fact, about 40 per cent of all Celerio buyers and about 20 per cent of Ignis buyers opt for the AMT gearbox. The last generation Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire had the AMT gearbox but only with the diesel engine option. The new Maruti Suzuki Dzire gets the AMT gearbox with both the petrol and diesel engines. So lets tell you how it drives and if it is worth the average Rs 50 thousand premium over the manual versions.
We drive the brand new 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire to see if the car is really worth the premium price tag that it comes with. The new Dzire looks nice, especially compared to the older versions, and it surely is a lot more feature-rich as well. AMT is now offered with both petrol and diesel variants as an option and the revised mileage makes the new Maruti Dzire the most fuel efficient car in India in both the categories.
The Toyota Corolla is the largest selling car in the world with over 40 million units sold across the years and generations. In India, the Corolla was launched in 2003 and continues to be the best selling car in its category. The current generation Corolla Altis has been with us for a few years now and has finally been put under the scalpel for a midlife nip and tuck making, it much much better looking than before and also much sleeker. We drove the top of the line diesel powered car, which, badged GL is priced at just over Rs 19 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) to see if the updates have made it a better car.
The new A5 Cabriolet is a stunner. The Cabrio uses the same face as the coupe, but naturally has different flanks and rear. It has a bold and wide face, accentuated by the new grille and a very sculpted and menacing new hood.
The 2017 Hyundai Xcent facelift has been launched in India and we drive it to find out what all has changed in the new car and if the new diesel engine it gets checks all the right boxes.
