Pros -
1) with a lowest possible price, its a dream car for middle middle class or lower middle class indians.its the best value for money car, for people whom the car is necessity and not a status symbol.
2) height is perfect for indian roads, especially on highways.
3) driver seat is perfectly positioned.
4) bonnet is well sized i.e. Neither to big nor too difficult to apprehend for the driver in case of bumper to bumper traffic.
5) headlights and overall front looks are not ’animated’, they are what they should be for an automobile or for a mpv, in particular.
6) dashboard is also uncomplicated.
Maruti suzuki eeco cons -
In general the its fine. But it would have been finest with
1) body coloured bumpers.
2) some better look for interiors, especially door pannels.
3) power steering , power windows as standard fitment.
4) a more fuel efficient engine (atleast 20 kmpl company average should be good news for potential buyers)
5) diesel / lpg / cng variants not all talked about.
6) resizing the engine components and fitting few more frequently needed one in the front bonnet area for easy accessibility.
Maruti suzuki eeco 7 seater model specifc cons -
For the eeco 7 seater model i felt that maruti suzuki made a half hearted effort for following reasons -
1) headrest could have been there as standard feature in second and third row bench seats.
2) a folding single seat placed in the second row (like that used to be in versa) would have increased the seating capacity to 8.
3) the third row windows should have been at least 30 degree openable to avoid suffocation for third row passengers.
4) a little more legroom for third row seat would have been a pleasure for back benchers.
5) there should have been enough luggage space for the luggage of seven passengers.
Maruti suzuki eeco 7 seater model specifc improvement suggestions -
For use of maruti suzuki design engineers only.
Congratulations! Good work!! Keep it up !!!
But i fail to understand , in a scenario, where 7 adults are going on a long tour, what made you think that each of them would carry the luggage on their laps like a laptop computer? With very less luggage space inside the cabin of 7 seater model , there is no option to fix a rooftop carrier for luggage. But this accessory is dangerous in such a heighted van as it may cause toppling when laden with weight.
Therefore, i suggest that you can think of either of following or all the following options to provide flexi seating and luggage space in 7 seater model-
A) min 9 to max 12 inch increase in overall length this would provide sufficient luggage space behind the present third row seat and also increased legroom for third row passengers.
B) 60:40 split facility and completely foldable third row seat
C) interchange in seating arrangement in present 7 seater model. Second row seating is for two and third row seating is for three passengers. Let the second row seating be for three i.e. Shift the third row seat in place of second row ( similar to present 5 seater model). The third row can be replaced with two single person folding seats facing each other and perpendicular to the second row seat (like in tata sumo or gm tavera). They can be accessed from rear door and can be folded to create luggage space like present 5 seater model.
For use of maruti suzuki marketing team only
Congratulations!!! You were right to ask your engineers to design a economical family car, the need of indian families. But there is still need and time for improvising today’s eeco. Please introduce eeco v2 at the earliest with above modifications and the whole Indian car market segment under 4 lakh rupees is yours !!