After a long search for 3 months and after test driven most cars in 6 Lacs to 10 Lacs segment, I finally booked my SX4 ZXI on 13th April and got the delivery of the vehicle on 7th May.
Before I discuss the pros and cons of SX4, I want to write about why I chose this vehicle over others. I believe this information may be useful to other prospective buyers.
I had a three year old Getz which I sold couple of months back and so I wanted a replacement and these were my priorities:
Reliability: Getz had been a very reliable car for me and so reliability was high on my list. I wanted to buy a vehicle that I could drive for next 6 years.
After Sales Service: availability of service centers and cost of spare parts
Higher snob value: as I was moving from hatchback to sedan segment
Resale value: Getz fetched me just half of its original value when I sold it
Ride and seating comfort: The suspension was bit of a trouble for me in Getz. The ride was at best average.
Power: Getz seemed to be underpowered to me. With AC ON, it used to cry while overtaking other vehicles on Hyderabad roads.
Anyway, I looked at following vehicles in 6 Lacs to 10 Lacs range and found the following:
Ford fiesta SXI: The vehicle seemed very good to drive. It was feature packed. But I heard horror stories about after sales service and spare parts. Resale value was also a problem. I checked with couple of used car dealers and they advised me to stay away.
Hyundai Verna: I test drove petrol variant. It appeared to be no better than Getz. Very minimal improvement in power output, seating comfort etc. Resale value was a problem as well. Diesel variant was a delight to drive but I felt it to be overpriced as the interiors were definitely not worth a 9.5 Lacs rupees vehicle (on road price in Bangalore).
Chevrolet optra: I checked with couple of dealers in Bangalore and Hyderabad and they seemed to be dodging questions about the availability of this vehicle. I did not want to be in the same situation in which Matiz owners suddenly found themselves few years back.
Mahindra Scorpio: I really liked this vehicle. The pickup was fantastic. I got an instant ego boost while driving this vehicle on road. Suddenly everything else on the road seemed to be smaller. I was about to book this vehicle but my wife was more interested in a sedan and so I had to bow down. Shouldn’t have come as a surprize to you!!!
Tata safari: Too big for Bangalore roads. Low mileage. Expensive higher end models.
Honda city: Too expensive for the value that new city brings (10 Lacs+ in Bangalore!!!!)
Skoda Fabia: Seemed to be a good car for city driving conditions but then I read some stories regarding expensive after sales service and spare parts. Resale was always going to be a problem. Also at 70 bhp, engine seemed to be underpowered for the asking price.
After looking at almost all the vehicles I lost hope for finding a perfect car for my budget. I then went to Maruti Suzuki Showroom to just "have a look" on SX4. I was never a big fan of Maruti vehicles. Anyway, I took the test drive of SX4. The car seemed powerful. The seats were wider and very comfortable. Had all the features I was looking for: ABS, Airbags, Auto climate control, Keyless entry, Alloy wheels, factory fitted music system, very good looks. Plus it had bigger tyres, steering mounting controls, height adjustable front seat and electrically adjustable OVRMs.The back seat was probably the best and most wide in this segment. The spare parts were not expensive. The accessories were reasonably priced. Several websites commented that Maruti’s after sales service was among the best in India. I had to change my opinion on Maruti vehicles. The vehicle seemed to be a good value for money after 25, 000 Rs discount that Maruti was offering. I decided to take the plunge and booked the vehicle.
There were some hiccups initially with the delivery date but finally dealer (Pratham Motors @ Bangalore) was able to deliver the vehicle by the promised date. The overall experience during this period was really good. Delivery team explained everything about vehicle in detail. Interestingly, delivery team did not ask for any tips. I paid 200Rs for my Getz and still saw some frowning faces.
I have been driving this vehicle for almost a month now and haven’t faced any problems so far. The AC is really good. I always use it in auto mode. The steering mounted audio controls are very useful. I keep using them on busy Bangalore roads. The brakes appear good and overall the vehicle gives a sense of safety and comfort. The seats are very comfortable and seat fabric that Maruti has given matches very well with the color of the vehicle (sunlight copper). The dimensions are imposing. I admire at the vehicle every time I park it in the evening and step away from it. The vehicle negotiates with bad stretches on road and big speed breakers with ease. The bigger tyres are definitely useful for Indian road conditions. Karnataka by the way has maximum number of speed breakers in whole of India. The initial pick up is not among the best in its class but when the vehicle starts moving, it picks speed very fast. The headlight bulbs seem to be okay at best. May need to get them replaced.
Overall, I am a satisfied owner so far. The vehicle seems a very good buy for the price I paid.