I was in the serious lookout of a car, a small one with lots of preferences and tastes in mind. I really could go
for a small car, as I was in city and parking space was tight and small. I wanted a car that is good looking, having the best of control, performance and not the least, mileage. My first choice was the Spark, as its just launched with kewl looks and with great features [told by sales person and in a comparison ad, with santro, wagon R and Estillo]. I did my test run with Spark and Wagon R, and about spark I found various features which I wrote as my last review.
After my test drives on Spark, [I took three times to test its Pickup, after I drove Santro and WagonR] I really sped to the Santro showroom to compare the driving features again! Spark was comfortable, and WagonR was having good space, and both are good cars.
Finally after knowing the pickup of the other cars, I asked for a new Santro [Xing, eRLX] for my drive as the test drive vehicle was not working properly. I requested the sales guy to sit aside and took the new beauty myself into the city and later through a highway for a few minutes. The change of Gears were precise and the respone tha was received for each shift was fantastic. The initial likes I had for Spark was totally replaced by the stunning responses I received from the superb eRLX smooth engine of the Santro. I had to shift the gears in the Spark, in order to have a smooth overtake of an old Zen in my Spark test drive, earlier. While in the Santro, I felt really like a King! Without shifting gears, and without much downing I was able to swept kewl across the vehicles and thanks to the amazing contol and grip Santo had.
I wanted higher versions so as to get all the features - I tested the top version XO for santro, while for spark the top variant LT. The below are the features I found remarkable in Santro, even though its was launched years ealier:
Super responsive Engine [Spark and WagonR was not responding similarly when I tried in the same city and same conditions]
Perfect shift of Gears and the feeling of shift: If we really love driving and has a thrill mind of a driver, we will feel the perfectness of the gear shift that Santro gives. This was not present in Wagon R, and Spark’s one was not reaching nearby too.
Santro offered a robust 1100 CC [~1089] engine which is toned for years and almost perfect now.
Mcpherson Struts were the material used and it provided a robustness and safe feeling
Minimal turning radius, compared to even the smaller and comapct car Spark! Spark’s sales guy was saying 4.6, whilst the Santro made it in a kewl 4.4! This really matters while travelling in city and even in the busiest areas. The least turning radius will be a real boonf we goes to a tight parking area too.
Good boot space, which is better than spark. WagonR provided more space within the car, in this region.
Comparitively good mileage [13-14 with a/c in city. Spark gives a bit better of 14-15 with A/c in city. In highways santrio sales guy promised 15+. Spark was coming 16+ in the same]
The other features were common like power windows, power steering, child locks, tray for parcels, file holders at the side of doors, rear defogger, Head lamp levelling, internally adjustable mirrors, perfect A/c [The A/c is really worth mentioning as the cabin of santro is specially designed for it. the entire car gets cooled quickly and the temperature is adjustable well within our likes].
Additionally, the Santro sales guy, Sudhir, offered me a bunch of kewl add-ons and accessories:
MP3 with an option for upgradability. [I went for the kewl Sony, having newest kewl features and interfaces with several ports and players]
Free insurance with option to choose the provider
Free spoilers
Car Seat covers with upholstery of my choice
Good looking Mattings
Car Cover
There were a few more which was offered for me as part of corporate, which was really good. The service offers made by hyundai dealer was also not bad, evnthough it was a bit less than what Maruti offered.
I weighed these with the offers provided with others, and with Spark, there were nothing with accessories and no discounts too. Comparing the features and also the offers, really Santro is the best value for money and also for performance which any one with a zest of driving will go for.
Finally my search ended after all my studies which lastes more than 2 months, and I booked the top variant XO from Santro Xing! The dealer provided a few more additional items like all-round Charger for Mobiles, Idol of Ganesha etc etc. The car is really a perfect blend of performance, beauty and maneourability.
The title I gave above is from the results released by Autocarindia, after their studies on cars - WagonR, Spark
and other small sized or Segment B cars. Santro thus remain a KING, even after the arrival of various kewl models from other companies.Now the services offered has to be evaluated, and the sales guy followed up on me which I felt trustworthy and par
to the offers made. I really now love driving the kewl car, with all its good features and the steering under perfect control! It was really worth the money and provides top notch performance too.