Honda Civic

The Honda Civic may not be as automatic a choice as it once was due to improved competition, but its variety of configurations, high fuel economy and ease of ownership keep it among the best compact sedans and coupes.
Pros

Comfortable and composed ride; good fuel economy; spacious interior; wide variety of engines available; available coupe body style.
Cons

Finicky sound system controls for most models; coupe's cramped backseat; hybrid's small trunk.
What's New for 2015

For 2015, the Honda Civic gains a new SE trim level. Offered only in sedan form, the Civic SE slots in between the LX and EX sedans.

Ford Mustang

TECH SPECS
Base price: $30,349; $54,949 as tested (GT Premium)
Engine: 5.0-litre DOHC, 32V V-8
Drive: Six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 15.2 city; 9.3 highway
Alternatives: Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

RATINGS
Looks: It looks good, in a tough, purposeful way, even with the top up. Differences from the coupe go beyond just the roof; a revised “muscle line” on the rear body-side, and recontoured trunk lid, give it a more linear appearance than the tin-top.
Interior: The range of at-the-wheel adjustment is less than optimal, and the cockpit design favours form over function, yet without appearing especially rich in fit finish. But it can accommodate four mid-size adults.

Technology: Mechanically, it’s the most sophisticated Mustang, yet still preserves that traditional pony-car persona. Adaptive speed control is a pricey $1,600 option on the test car, likewise the $2,000 for a package that includes an audio upgrade, memory seats and blind-spot monitoring. On-board IT includes most features and capabilities you’d expect, interfaced through the little-loved SYNC with MyFord Touch.

Performance: One of the smaller V-8s among its peers, the 5.0 is more a revver than a torque-monster so you need to row the gears to extract the best from it. Handling is on the fun side of competent, but lacks the taut balance and precision of the coupe. It’s no coincidence that the hard-core Performance Pack chassis set-up is not even available on the squishier-bodied convertible.
Cargo: The trunk is 19 per cent
roomier than on the old car and Ford claims its 323-litre volume (12 per cent more than Camaro convertible) can accommodate two large golf bags, even with the available premium audio subwoofer. Unlike in some European convertibles, cargo volume is unaffected by whether the top is up or down.

Fiat AVVENTURA

First unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo, the new Avventura is a compact crossover model from Fiat India. It is based on the Punto platform and shares majority of its underpinnings and interior with the former. It is the Italian automaker’s entry into the now trending hatchback-based compact crossover segment which has been getting a lot of attention from Indian buyers lately. Other players in this segment at the moment include the Volkswagen Cross Polo and the Toyota Etios Cross.

Chevrolet Camaro 2015

Since its introduction in 2009, the fifth-generation Camaro has been the most popular sport coupe on the road. Its stellar performance and refined looks have been a cornerstone of the Chevrolet lineup for years, and 2015 is no different.
To celebrate the success of Camaro, chevy is introducing a Commemorative Edition that features much of the best that Camaro has offered over the years. Available in five exterior colors, and an exclusive Adrenaline Red interior, this special edition is equipped with a host of performance accessories, including a new 20-inch wheel design with high-performance summer-only tires†, ZL1 spoiler, and body-colored accessory front splitter and available hood insert, to name a few. Special Commemorative Edition badging tops off this impressive package

Hyundai Accent 2015

With handsome styling, above-average performance and solid build quality, the 2015 Hyundai Accent represents a strong choice for a small sedan or hatchback in the subcompact car class.Strong acceleration; comfortable and quiet ride; spacious cabin has an upscale ambience; long warranty.

Real-world fuel economy falls short of EPA estimates; no rearview camera or parking sensors available.

The 2015 Hyundai Accent gets a newly styled grille, headlights and taillights, along with some changes to standard and optional equipment. Last year's SE hatchback has been renamed the Sport.

Mahindra Verito Vibe

The Mahindra Verito Vibe has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 5.68 - 6.55 lakhs (ex-Delhi).

What you'll like:

• Robust build that has proven its reliability with the Logan / Verito

• Lots of interior space. Wide cabin easily seats 3 adults on the rear bench

• The frugal 1.5L Renault K9K engine has excellent driveability on tap

• A comfortable and balanced ride that soaks up bumps with ease

• Mahindra's low cost of ownership

What you won't:

• Boxy and dated design has been made more awkward at the rear

• Low on horsepower when compared to competitors, even hatchbacks

• Bare basic interior design and quality. Questionable ergonomics too

• Heavy steering means maneuvering in the city takes significant effort

• Deep penetration in the taxi segment makes personal buyers flinch

Renault Lodgy 2015

The Renault Lodgy has been launched in India at a price of between Rs. 8.19 - 11.79 Lakhs (ex-Delhi).

What you’ll like:

• An all-rounded & practical 7 seater MPV. 3rd seat row is usable too
• Priced between the Ertiga & Innova. Top variant is ~Rs. 4 lakh cheaper than the Toyota
• Robust, abuse-friendly build & construction
• 109 BHP diesel is fast, refined & fuel-efficient. 84 BHP variant has superb driveability
• Outstanding ride quality. Comfortable over any kind of road
• Car-like to drive. Balanced handling and dynamics
• Features: Touchscreen ICE, cruise control, navigation, adjustable lumbar support etc.
• Boot space of 207 - 1,861 liters. Innumerable passenger : cargo combinations possible

What you won’t:

• Limited 2nd row legroom. This seat lacks the fore & aft adjustment of its competitors
• 109 BHP diesel suffers from turbo-lag below 1,800 rpm
• Boxy, unappealing styling (especially the rear end)
• Low 3rd-row seat means you sit with your knees pointing upward
• 185/65 R15 tyres are too small for a people carrier. Same tyre size as the Swift!
• Renault's service network isn't a patch on that of Maruti or Toyota
• Owners of the mechanically-identical Duster have reported the occasional niggles

Nissan Juke 2015

The Juke puts the “fun” in “funky,” making it perfect for those who want a spry and speedy little runabout that also stands out in traffic. It’s powered by a 188-hp 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder with front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional. Sadly, a CVT is the only available transmission, which takes some joy out of driving. On the plus side, its light and informative steering makes it easy to fling around back-country curves or to jockey for position on a crowded interstate.

Toyota Corolla

If car shopping were computer software, the Corolla could be the default setting: It has the space, power, and features to meet most people’s needs, but is bland and uninspired. That’s the downside. On the positive side of the equation, it has the Toyota reputation for reliability. As a result, it brings a premium, despite not engaging the driver as do some of its competitors. Still, it remains a bestseller. If you’re more interested in the destination than the journey, the Corolla is for you.

Renault Pulse is the third product from Renault’s car basket in India. 
In an attempt to put its best foot forward in India, Renault India has readied its new car ‘Renault Pulse’ for mass audience.
After it ceased the joint venture with SUV giant Mahindra, Renault chalked out an aggressive strategy for establishing itself in the much competitive car market.
In an effort to emerge as an independent identity in the country, the French auto biggie came with Renault Fluence and lately brought into fore the extremely pricey SUV - Renault Koleos.
Renault India wants to extend its reach in every car segment.
Therefore after launching Koleos SUV for niche audience at Rs 23 lakh, the French auto maker has tried to catch attention of mass audience by Renault Pulse.
Renault Pulse is positioned in the Swift hatchback category.
Renault unveiled new Pulse car earlier in 2011 at a grand event of Formula 1 racing in Noida where it was unveiled by Carlos Tavares, COO of Renault and Marc NASSIF, Managing Director, Renault India and two Formula 1 drivers.
Renault Pulse was officially launched at the Auto Expo, 2012.
At the grandiose occasion, the company just launched diesel powered Pulse because of surge in demand for diesel cars in India. However, in May 2012, three more variants of petrol were launched to complete the entire range.
The company, which is focusing on the top-down strategy to establish the brand in the Indian market, is simultaneously working on plans to enter the core market which is highlighted by hatchbacks in India.
It plans to launch a range of vehicles based on a completely new platform in the A segment.
Although Renault has a tried and tested market for its hatchbacks in international market, India would be witnessing the entry of Renault’s small car for the first time.
There were so many guesses about the exact name of this hatchback car that everyday a new name used to crop up for this hatchback.
But none of them could make up to India and finally Renault Pulse stuck to the name plate.
Renault Pulse will be specially devised for Indian market to keep the price affordable.
Renault India has decked up Renault Pulse with all necessary and luxury features to suit the requirements of Indian audience.
Renault Pulse is basically a small hatchback car by built.
However, the emphasis is not on the smallness of the car, rather it is quite spacious and roomy.
Renault Indian is eyeing big business through this small car in India.
The widening arms of Renault can be seen from Renault’s investment of a whopping Rs 6.5 crore on promotional activities during Indian GP.
Renault Pulse is developed for the Indian market by Renault’s Design Center in Mumbai.
The Renault Pulse Indian project has been completely handled by Indian designers.
The 11 member design team worked for two-and-a-half years when the project was started in 2009.
The company worked on the design of Renault Pulse that came out with the Logan, even though the latter was not a success.
During these three years, the designers understood the needs, expectations and taste in terms of colours, shapes and features of Indian customers.
Based on their research, Renault India decided to position the car a little differently from Nissan’s Micra and therefore, made Renault Pulse more sporty, aggressive and with more character.
The quick rollout of product highlights Renault’s commitment to the Indian market.
Renault Pulse India is based on the V platform also used in Nissan cars like Nissan Micra.
The new car osculates some features with Nissan Micra.
The Renault Pulse is available with the Renault K9K diesel 1.5 dCi engine with maximum power of 64PS@4000rpm and peak torque of 160Nm@2000rpm that delivers one of the best in-class fuel efficiency of 23.08 Kmpl, as per the ARAI test data.
The Renault Pulse is thus a prime example of the synergies generated by an alliance.
With Pulse, Renault has also started the localization of the k9K engine family in India with production started at the Nissan -Renault factory located in Oragadam in the outskirts of Chennai.
Renault Pulse will take on Maruti, Hyundai and Tata’s small cars head on and will further intensify the already competitive hatchback market.
The Pulse is launched in India in two diesel variants the RxL & RxZ.
However, the company soon pulled up its socks and in 2012 it and three petrol variants were launched.
Renault Pulse Petrol variants are powered by 3 cylinders, in-line DOHC 12-valve which generates maximum power of 76 PS@6000 with a torque figure of 104 Nm@4000.
The 1.2L petrol engine comes with 5 speed manual transmission engine and electronic fuel injection control.
Despite the fact that it shares the same platform with Nissan Micra, Renault Pulse hopes to have its own identity with a unique French automaker’s styling.
The new hatchback by Nissan has new body color bumpers, a small bonnet and front hexagonal grille besides unique body panels.
The front end features huge Renault logo in centre, flanked by chrome underlined front grille and tinted windshield.
The side profile of Renault Pulse steals the show and resembles the side of Maruti Ritz with tall appearance and thick C-pillar.
The rear end of Renault Pulse showcases a big Renault logo with ‘Renault Pulse’ nomenclature below it and tall tail lamps.
Renault has tried to buck-in as much profit as possible by giving Renault Pulse a chic look.

Furthermore, Renault Pulse inherits the interiors from its sibling Micra. The HVAC (Heater, Ventilation and Air-Conditioner) controls on the dash in addition to an array of other interior features and styling are carried forward to Renault Pulse from the bubble shaped car, Micra. The smart door lock and unlock feature is the centre for attraction. With this convenient feature, there is no need for driver to take out key from his/her pocket or bag to lock/unlock the car. The smart access key has proximity sensors that automatically do the duty. The Renault Pulse India features automatic climate control, power and tilt adjustable steering, power windows, air-conditioner, rear defogger with timer, rear washer/wiper, leather seats, tinted glass, lock and unlock sensing ORVMs, illuminated engine start/stop button,  dash integrated music system and rear parcel tray. The list of features aggravates with roof spoiler and front fog lamps with follow-me headlamps.

The Pulse will turn out to be a perfect small car for youth and aspiring Indian customers looking for a bold, fuel-efficient compact car that is fun to drive in the city as well as on the highways. The Pulse will be available in various metallic colors like Pearl White, Metallic Red, Solid Black, Metallic Silver, Metallic Grey and Champagne Gold colors. The Pulse stands and runs on decent 14 inch wheels for RxL and RXE while the top end RxZ gets 15 inch alloy wheels which add considerably to the handling and the aesthetics of the car. Macpherson struts in the front and coil springs in the rear add stability to the ride and give the hatch superb driving dynamics.

Renault Pulse is high on safety norms. 2 airbags, fog lamps, rear seat belts, Front and rear adjustable headrests and ISOFIX child seat fixing points are standard with Renault Pulse. One good thing about Renault Pulse is the unique 2+2 year or 80,000 Km warranty under the Renault Complete Care package that will be offered by the company which also includes sops like Concierge services, 24X7 roadside assistance, Navigation assistance, etc. Renault is also aggressively working on increasing the sales and service outlets of the company to promote the brand and address needs of their customers.  

From a motorist’s standpoint, the urban landscape is getting pretty depressing.
Traffic has become a swear word, pollution, whether of noise or air, is a slow poison that singes the nerves, and parking spots determine your mood for the day.
But now Renault has a little white pill that claims it can wipe the blues away.
Say hello to the Twizy.

The Twizy is a UDO, an Unidentified Driving Object.
Renault had to conjure up a whole new vehicle type because the Twizy really doesn’t fit in anywhere.
However, the unimaginative gaze of the law hasn’t been as taken by the Twizy’s car-like cabin and motorcycle-like appeal, pegging it simply as a quadricycle.
But what it is, is gorgeous. And gregarious. And engaging. Not words you normally use for an inanimate object.

Sitting at the Ibiza beach, the Twizy seemed to holler, “Hey! Why don’t you come have a closer look? You know you want to!” And they did – six-year-olds led by their grandfathers, bikini-clad ladies with incomplete tans, and men with big blue question marks hanging over their heads.

The cab looks as though it has endured warp speed, with all excess sheared off.
The windscreen is raked steeply, the windowless rear section emphasises the narrowness of the cabin, and the high-set tail lamp makes it look taller than it is.
It looks as though the pod is bonded to a black cart, its skinny 13-inch wheels jutting outward for stability’s sake.
Something as curious-looking as this surely deserved a closer look.

And so, they poked their heads in through the windowless doors to see what the Twizy had to offer.
The motorcycle-style tandem seating drew some unsure glances, but the optional panoramic sunroof brought big grins, as did the car-like dash and steering wheel.
But the second those plastic doors scissored open, there was a new wave of appreciation for the Twizy.

Underneath that funky facade, the Twizy is sensibly minimal; this is why the ‘vanity’ doors are an option.
If doors were standard, customers would expect windows, and hence the Twizy would need de-fogging equipment, and then not having air-conditioning would seem completely absurd.
All this would bring the Twizy right into proper car territory, and dealing with the disadvantages of added weight and reduced range would hurt its appeal.

Right-sizing the Twizy goes further than that, though.
For instance, the driver’s seat – set to a rather attentive upright position – can’t be adjusted for recline.
The plastics for the dash and the seat covers feel functional and tough; after all, like motorcycles, they will have to endure the elements without fuss.
But where it matters, there’s no skimping. The Twizy is built around a solid spaceframe chassis that gives it a robust feel that far exceeds the norms for quadricycles.

Less can be more, as the Twizy proved out on the road.
The UDO is more fun than anything with a steering wheel and only 17bhp has any right to be.
Credit for that is due to RenaultSport Technologies, the team that works on Renault’s Formula 1 motors.
Their expertise in F1 KERS development made them top candidates to develop the Twizy’s powertrain too.
The rear mid-mounted electric motor delivers the equivalent of 17bhp to the rear wheels.

Renault claims 125cc-scooter-matching performance, which translates to a 0-65kph time of 6.1 seconds.
However, the experience is livelier than the numbers suggest.
Light taps on the throttle are enough to send the Twizy scurrying ahead, absolutely in sync with the stop-go conditions of city traffic.
Since the Twizy doesn’t have any form of stability control, its 5.8kgm of torque is enough to spin the rear wheels from standstill.
So, in the interest of traction, initial throttle response has been kept a bit tame, but once past 20kph, the Twizy feels distinctly more responsive.
We even ventured onto the motorway, where it proved capable of getting to and holding a steady 80kph without fuss.

While the Twizy iS fun to drive, the whine of the electric motor was like an annoying passenger unwilling to shut up.
But the sights and smells of Ibiza’s coast and countryside offered plenty of distractions.
The fresh breeze was a friendly companion, as the clear plastic baffles just past the A-pillar kept the cabin from getting tempestuous.

On the winding coastal roads the Twizy drove like a go-kart.
The lack of power assistance or variable-ratio hocus-pocus gave the steering a beautiful weight and directness.
For most conditions, the narrower (compared to the rear) 125/80-R13 front tyres helped keep steering effort low, but around tighter corners you could feel the weight.
Its go-kart nature extended to the way it cornered – flat, the way it rode – stiff, and the brakes – wooden.
Interestingly, since the motor doesn’t drive the front wheels, the regenerative braking wasn’t to blame for the wooden brake feel. Instead, it was the lack of a brake booster.

Another result of regenerative braking being limited to the rear axle is that the batteries aren’t topped up as much as they could be.
Still, the Twizy comes with a claimed 100km range with a minimum of 55km.
The erratic trip computer made me wish electric car manufacturers would put in another mode that shows the real-time minimum available range.
Even with the lithium ion batteries drained completely, the Twizy takes only three-and-a-half hours to be charged completely – that too on the same 220V plug point you use to charge your phone.


Volkswagen, Audi, Nissan, Opel and Toyota have all shown concepts similar to the Twizy in recent years, but Renault has leapfrogged all of them to production in an arena that holds a lot of promise.
But is the Twizy too ahead of its time? It’s hard to tell, but Renault has given it its best shot.
The Twizy blends practicality with futuristic cool, and underlines it with economics that boost this pod from being a fanciful whim to a modern-day urban tool.

In the Indian context, the Twizy means little more than another interesting chapter in the evolution of automobiles.
Electric cars, especially ones without doors, windows and air-conditioning, make little sense on the subcontinent.
However, given the fun factor of driving the Twizy, I really wouldn’t mind making an exception, say, if Renault put a small screamer of a petrol motor in the back!