I bought the New 2007 Indica Xeta (GLS - Salsa Red) from Autofin in Hyderabad on 2nd February 2007. 2 days later, I drove the car to my home town, which is over 300 km from Hyderabad on NH9. I am writing this review because I have a few important and very critical observations to share about the performance of this car. By the by, we have a Santro and an Alto in our family; so, when I compare the Xeta, I will bench mark the Xeta against these same segment cars. I’ll keep things to the point and not waste anyone’s time.
**Looks
**The new external looks of the car are a big plus. The new front grille shape and clear head lamps have given a welcome deviation from the regular the big smiley of Indicabs. The sporty horizontal lines on the tail lamp assembly are equally impressive. Overall, much better than a Xing on looks. However, I think **Alto looks cuter - **but this is only about external looks**.**
Inside the car, with beige interiors and excellent dash board and instrument cluster design, the New Xeta is one of the best you can get in a price band of 3-5 lakh rupees! I don’t even want to mention my Alto or my brother-in-law’s Santro Xing. Its a waste of time and words.
Actually, there’s nothing amiss with Indica’s design but because there are so many taxis on the road, individual owners look for some personal identity. It will be a nice idea if TATAs can continue the smiley on Indicabs.
**Comfort**
Xeta is the best. Santro Xing or Alto are no match for this BigSmall car. Xeta’s space is pampering. I spent about Rs 4500 on getting beige colored seat covers and the inside of the car now looks like any big car (say Accent or Baleno)! Should I still talk about the 60:40 rear split seat? Or about the superbly deviced rear-seat release levers (unlike the Alto’s or Santro’s pull-up knobs)?
If you want to feel cramped in a car’s rear seat, please **don’t** try the new Xeta. There’s so much leg room in the front and the rear that it’s impossible to feel uncomfortable. Loads of other features like lockable compartment in the dash, coke can holders when you open the compartment’s lid, hydraulic slot for music system remote and coins just under the system din. Chrome finish on the din.
The A/c is excellent. The new power-steering is not bad. Its on par with that of the Santro Xing XL’s but the Alto Lxi’s is better.
Suspensions are superb at slow speeds (0-60). Far better than those of the Xing or Alto. Faster than that, you feel like you are sitting directly on the tyres.
**Performance, Power and Control**
I loved the Great torque on the 3rd gear while driving in the city traffic. Infact, you can get back to fast motion from even 20s without shifting to the 2nd gear. Silky smooth gear shift (far better than a Santro or an Alto). It felt like the Accent’s and the gear knob is classy. Engine noise is smoother than that of Alto’s but I guess Santro scores better here.
Now this is where the Xeta failed me. Though its a petrol car, its not easy to get the speedo go past the 130 mark. I could hit 130 kmph only once during the 300 km trip, with great difficulty though! The fastest a Xeta can get (without much trouble) is 100 kmph or 110 max. In fact, this brings me to another minus - the brakes. If you try to control the speed based on your previous Maruti’s or Hyundai’s experience, you are in for trouble. The Xeta takes more distance and time to stop and therefore, I recommend all to drive safe in a Xeta. Alto’s and Santro’s brakes are far better and more precise.
I also heard the Indicas are not greatly balanced and can easily overturn or swirl sideways. So please don’t travel at high speeds, specially on wet, slippery tracks.
Yeah, the mileage was okay at **13.8 kmpl** on the highway during day time (extra traffic, you see) with 40% a/c usage.
**Accessories**
I installed a Blaupunkt Maui46 Head unit + Blaupunkt GTx 693 220+220 watts rear speakers + BGx 402 75+75 watts front speakers from the dealer for about 14K. Excellent MP3 player for your car. Don’t go in for wire-tampering grey market stuff as the electrical warranty given by the car manufacturer will become null and void. What’s more, you have no guarantee that the music system/speakers are genuine. I heard that these guys in the grey market and mushrooming car accessory shops can sell you fake but exact replicas of Sony Xplod/Poineer/what not speakers (which they procure for Rs 400 - 1000 in Delhi) for a big margin.
I got mud-flaps and foot-mats free from the dealer. So I went in for Tata approved AutoCop remote central locking, a body cover, leather-finish beige coloured seat covers (worth Rs4, 500), leather steering wrap, full matting.
**Why not GLG?**
Xeta GLG comes with an a/c and a heater where as GLS comes with only an a/c. I decided for GLS because in most parts of South India, we really don’t need a heater. In case the cabin is very cold, just turn the blower on (without the a.c on) and the engine will share its heat with you. GLG comes with 2 power windows on the front, GLS has no power windows. GLG and GLX come with central locking but its MANUAL and it costs you all the same to get a remote one done. So GLS!
**Conclusion:
**This car is excellent value for money. At 3.33 lakhs, you can’t ask for more. ONLY take care not to drive it at high speeds (over 100 kmph)! Its okay if the Maruti Swifts or Santro Xings or even Altos zip past you. Anyway, the guys who bought them paid easily a 2 lakh rupees more than you’d paid for your Xeta and they deserve to travel at least 20-40 kmph faster on the HIGHWAYS!