I’m Dinesh, a 30-year-old employed as an editor in a medical transcription company. I am also a true petrol head who is obsessed with cars just as much as I am fascinated by the bikes. This time around I am here to give you a comprehensive review of the Chevrolet Beat LS (Petrol). I have owned this car for nearly a year now. Come April 2012 and I will be through with all free services. As we review this car, we will take a closer look at the vehicle’s performance and the after sales service of Chevrolet. So, buckle up and let your heart skip a beat as the Chevy Beat tries to “beat” its competition in every which way possible.
DESIGN/LOOKS:
One has to admit, this car has got stunning looks. This is the eye catcher, head turner, and even much more when it comes to grabbing people’s attention as soon as it hits the road. I would really like to stand up and salute the engineers at GM who designed this car that sells as Chevrolet Spark in the US and UK, and as Beat in India. The design I believe is very futuristic and one can say, way ahead of time. I believe five years down the line, this car would still look nice and fresh. The exteriors are studded with the aggressive headlamps that go all the way up the bonnet. The body colored bumpers perfectly blend into this aggressive design. The grill is perfectly designed and placed with the Chevrolet logo staring right back at us. The aggressive styling continues on the sides as well right to the rear. The rear headlamps again have a brand new design with an integrated black spoiler in the base and LS variants and a body colored, bigger spoiler in the LT variant. The rear bumpers are smartly designed with a black patch underneath to avoid scratches just in case someone bumps the vehicle slightly, which is very common in city traffic conditions. The innovative and fresh styling also reflects on the interiors with nice and effective AC vents and a sporty bike-like speedometer with a digital tachometer and clock. The dashboard is equally stylish and unique. Hold your breath because now comes the show stopper. You might search for the rear door handles, but you will not find them in the usual place. Many people mistake the Beat to be a two-door coupe model. The handles are mounted alongside the rear windows - smart thinking. The bottom line – No one can beat the Beat in the design department; now wonder it bagged the “best design” award at the NDTV Profit Car & Bike India Awards 2010.
COMFORT/RIDE QUALITY/HANDLING:
Coming to comfort, the driving posture may appeal to some, but I personally prefer the VW Polo type of low-slung posture. No doubt the Beat is nice and comfortable for the driver as well as the passengers. The driver carries a macho feeling while driving it with its tall boy design. The LS model comes with adjustable headrests. The storage capacity is debatable with the boot space not being the best in this segment. All in all, I feel for a person like me who sticks to city limits it is pretty reasonable. It would not satisfy a person who goes on tours frequently and for long journeys as it lacks adequate luggage space. The power steering is well-positioned and sensitive enough with no under-steer or over-steer. The gear shift is nice and smooth. The gas-filled shock absorbers all around do their duty quite well providing a comfortable ride even on uneven surfaces, soaking potholes pretty easily. The front discs and rear drum brakes are very effective and very soft. The braking is precise and soft. The AC is powerful enough to cool the cabin pretty quickly. The only drawback is for a person of my size (5’6”) the bonnet is not clearly visible, so you need to rely on your experience and judgment to make sure you do not bump into other vehicles. Rear view is also limited when compared to other vehicles. The most striking point of this car is that cabin noise is absolutely nil even with the AC on. There were several occasions where I was fooled trying to start the car when the engine was actually running. I could say it is the quietest of the lot.
PICK-UP/ACCELERATION:
The Beat boasts of an 80 bhp Smartech engine. The pick-up is good even when the car is fully loaded, i.e., five adults including the driver. Initially, the car felt a bit sluggish, but at the first service they tuned the engine, thereby allowing the engine to work to its full potential. After the first service, there was a whole lot of difference in the pick-up and acceleration. Earlier my car used to struggle to climb up a slope when packed to capacity, but now it does it with consummate ease.
MILEAGE:
“Kitna deti hai” is a question that runs in every Indian’s mind whether he/she is buying a car, scooter, or a motorcycle. I must admit the mileage is not great or something one can boast about. At the same time it isn’t bad either. As per my calculations, my vehicle gives me around 14-15 with the AC off and around 12-13 with the AC running, which isn’t all that bad. I must mention that a lot depends on the way one drives. To extract maximum mileage out of any vehicle, one needs to drive in the top gear at a speed of around 45-55 kmph. High revs in lower gears, frequent braking, and clutch riding do tend to lessen the mileage by a great degree.
AFTER SALES SERVICE/MAINTENANCE:
I must admit that I am very particular about the service rendered whether at the retail outlet or at the workshop. The after-sales service has been satisfactory so far, but the most important thing here is consistency. My experience with Maruti started out well until they showed their true colors a few years down the line (my first car was an M-800). Chevrolet has the pick-up and drop facility, which is an added advantage. I had spoken to the service manager at the workshop before purchasing the vehicle and he frankly admitted that the spares cost and maintenance cost would be more than that of Maruti, but at the same time it is not exorbitant.
VALUE FOR MONEY:
I felt Chevy Beat was the best value for money car. The LS variant cost me around 4.35 lacs. A similar variant of Figo was 30 grand dearer. The VW Polo was well and truly ahead in terms of pricing and I had to drop it because budget was a major factor. Killer pricing for the Beat, I believe, was a brilliant move by GM. Such a “top notch hatch” at this price is nothing less than a steal. One gets unmatched comfort, totally fresh and futuristic looks, more power, excellent engine, spacious and stylish interiors, and decent mileage at the price of a bland looking car like the Wagon-R.
That’s it from me guys. I am not a certified professional, but am an auto enthusiast and I have shared my practical experience with the Beat having used it for nearly a year now. I hope it would be helpful to those looking for a sincere ownership review. Mind you, each one’s lifestyle is different from the other and ultimately a car needs to cater to one’s needs. It needs to blend into our daily routine. It is totally a personal choice and do think about each and every aspect of your life before zeroing in on a particular model. Please wear your seatbelts, do not use your cell phones, and use low beam while driving within the city limits. Drive responsibly, stay safe. God bless and take care.