This review is for people looking for a mid size diesel car in India.
Well, " Accent CRDI or Fiesta TDCI ? " was the big question in my mind too recently until I finally set for Fiesta 1.4 TDCI. Heres what I think .
I’m basically a car lover. I have driven many of the popular small and mid size cars in India. When the time came to buy my own car(previously I was using my Dad’s Zen), these were the key driving points for me.
1) Mileage ( I like to go for long drives whenever possible, plus, I’m staying 20 Kms away from office)
2) Performance
3) Looks
4) Maintenance
5) Resale value
So I had almost decided to go for a diesel car which is a good value for money. I also read many reviews and articles before coming to a conlusion.
About our seasoned Accent CRDI, its a proven car for indian customer. My take is, if you are not so particular about the looks of your car and the features inside and outside, but just the performannce and mileage you can go for Accent CRDI. But you must keep these things in mind
1) Hyundai is changing model, they are gonna replace Accent with Verna this year.
2) Noise level is on the higher side in Accent compared to Fiesta
3) Accent lacks many of the features that you find in fiesta, its a pity that they havent at least cared for giving it an interesting look over these years.
The advantage you get is that they are giving huge discounts on Accent nowadays surely because of the model change. Also the maintenance I expect will be lesser or rather cheaper compared to a Ford vehice in the long run. I’m not commenting on the resale value because the model change tells you the story..
In most of the reviews I read, Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI was rated superior to Accent , thanks to its well refined engine and features, adding to it the mileage factor. The engine is fully built abroad and imported to India. Also the car is said to be well refined for Indian conditions. One thing I really liked about this car is its easy handling. A few days of use and you wont feel that you are driving a big car. The noise level is less, especially from inside. ABS (anti lock braking system) is an option which costs additional 25K , but a good thing to have. I heard its gonna be standard for cars from now. Even if thats true, I’m happy because I hope this will give me a smooth anti-skid drive through the roads in kerala where rain takes its toll. The gear shift of Ford is just superb, here accent lacks considerabley. So are the leg room and front panel. The digital dials are pretty nice and clear. A useful new feature is the display of kilometers which the car will run with the fuel left. Also there are other things like cup holders, adjustable headrest in the back seat, lights inside dash as well as boot. Boot capacity is more compared to all its competitors, so no worries during a long vacation.
Fiesta comes in 3 models. The upper model is SXI , then the ZXI and the recently launched EXI which is the base model.
The major differences between SXI and ZXI are
1) SXI has 6 CD changer instead of single CD in ZXI ( Here again, Accent dont have a music player)
2) Central locking
3) Vinyl Leather seat covers
4) Electrically adjustable rear view mirrors
5) Alloy wheels
6) Chrome rings for fog lamps, chrome lining along the side and at the back
7) Leather covered steering
and this is the exact reason why I chose ZXI over SXI. I mean, I knew that I could fix all the above fitments on ZXI outside Ford at lesser price , and at my choice, and I did so. If you buy accessories from Ford they are much costlier than outside. So I prefer choosing the most optimum options only from ford.But if you plan to fit central locking, music system etc outside Ford, make sure you get a qualified expert. If they tamper the internal electrical system of the vehicle, you are at the risk of losing your warranty. So what I did is to get the central locking alone fit by Ford and took a 2 year extended warranty for Rs9500. The CD player has good sound quality for a company fitted system.
I know that you must be eager to know about the fuel efficiency. Well, I get 15 km/litre in city and have got up to 20-22 on highways. Here again, for better fuel efficiency maintain a constant speed wherever possible. Use the same fuel, dont mix them , I’m currently using BPC speed diesel.
Coming to the demerits, the one thing which really annoyed me is the formation of fog outside the glasses when AC is on literally blocking your view. This happens only when the atmosphere is very cold and moist, especially at nights and during rain. To continue driving, you may need to switch off AC and even use wiper with water. I talked to dealer and they say they are aware of this issue and so far no solution has been suggested by Ford. The dealer guy told me some temperory work arounds which were all absurd.
If you are not used to turbo featured vehicles, you will notice a lag while shifting gears. This gives a feeling of less pulling at times but negligable.
Also, Ford disappoints you when they dont give you any discounts at all. I got only Rs 5000 corporate discount which again , I have not received the cashback yet.
Neverthless, Fiesta diesel has been so far a satisfying experience for me. Its a good family car with lot of good features and an impressive average.So guys GO FIDA....