The optra is actually the next generation daewoo nubira. it has been positioned somwhere near the lower b segment. there are two variants, 1.6 and 1.8. now both have been priced very competitively, especially the 1.8. the 1.8 optra is much cheaper than its competitors, the corolla, elantra and octavia. all these are ultra strong competitors. the corolla is really perfect, the elantra has an ultra refined diesel economy variant and the octavia is a strong competitor by itself with a strong tdi engine. so where does the optra figure in this list?
the new ny edition of the optra has been launched. for 2005 the whole range will be available in this edition. it just has cosmetic changes and a few other minor changes. so it is just a new model for the new year.
the optra had a distinctive daewoo grille. not bad really. but on the ny edition now, you get a nice american style grille with three chrome strips. the grille is flanked by two dazzling jewel effect clear lens headlamps (are these many adjectives enough?). there are fog lamps in the bumper at the front.the front treatment is really good, to say the least. the side profile is good enough with nice alloys. it is sleek looking the rear has been polished a bit and the tail lamps have a few minor changes. the build quality is as good as it always was on the optra. the fit and finish is also good. so the ny edition complements the good looks of the old optra with a few thoughtful changes. these include a new color which is something like bluish, greyish black(!!). it is really elegant in that shade. the build quality and finish is very good.
the interior of the ny edition of the optra is as good as or better than its competitors. the dash is has a good amount of visual appeal. the sttering wheel has been modified a little. it is black and wrapped in leather with wood strips on the spokes. the wood finish all around looks and feels very nice unlike the wood in the elantra and the corolla which is plasticky. the leather is nice and the seats are very comfortable. in the rear there is ample legroom and two people can be seated in comfort, maybe even three. the build is very good in the interior too, except for a few places.
the engine is the same 1.8 litre petrol capable of producing around 115 horses. there is no diesel variant. the engine is refined. noise is minimal and vibrations are not present. there is good insulation which results in no noise entering the cabin. the performance is very good. 0-60 in around 5 seconds and 0-100 in less than 11 seconds is very good. there is good pickup which is suitable for city driving. at very high speeds above 100 km/h a little vibration starts to creep in. the top speed that the car manages is around 185 km/h. the performance is strong no doubt. but with cars like the corolla hanging around, life can be really tough. in performance the corolla is definitely the first. so very good but not the best.
the optra runs on petrol, and so you have to sacrifice fuel efficiency to an extent. 14 km/l on the highway suggests that the optra is okay, but 9 km/l or so in the city does not tell you that. so no one will buy the optra for its fuel efficiency when superb diesels are there waiting to be bought. these diesels grant superior fuel efficiency. so definitely not a scrooge, the optra. for a petrol, its efficiency is good.
so you from what you have read, the optra does not gain a distinctive advantage over any of its competitors. in looks, the corolla wins, in performance, the corolla wins, in fuel efficiency, the elantra and octavia win. so why would someone go for the optra? well, the real factor is price. the optra 1.8 has a starting price of less than 9 lakhs and the top end variant is just above 10.5 lakhs. so this is where the optra wins. in other areas too, the optra is very good, but its competitors offer as much or more. so the optra is a very good option if you are upgrading from a c segment car. if you have the cash to buy a c segment car, do put in a few more bucks and get the optra, because whether or not it is good in other factors, it definitely offers very good value for money.