I was driving the Maruti Baleno till 2004, when the time came to switch my company car. I was quite proud of my Baleno. It gave 14 kmpl, quite noiseless inside, and was comfortable for the back-seat rider. What more did one want?
In 2004, Honda had switched the design from the older City, and also decreased the power of the engine. I liked the spaceship design very much, but when I looked at the 77 bhp engine vs. the 94 bhp Baleno, I wondered whether it merited attention. I test-drove the car, found it extremely responsive, and the pickup was very fast. It would leave all the Accents and Zens behind, provided you played by the rules. Change to 2nd gear at 20, 3rd gear at 40, 4th at 60, and 5th at 70. Otherwise the 77 bhp engine can prove to be sluggish.
The cabin was even quieter than the Baleno. But the best was the boot. HUGE! I decided on the Honda.
Now, began the mileage measurement. I bought only premium petrol(BP Speed). In the summer, I got 12.5-13. Come winter, and I have squeezed 14 out of it. Long drives have given me more than 15.
With regular service every 5000 km, nothing goes wrong. It is a reliable car. However, the last 3 months, the driver side key went faulty for some reason. Since the car does not come with keyless entry, it is a real problem.
I have had the car banged once on the highway from behind. Surprisingly, not a scratch, despite the loud bang. Later, after parking, I found that the chassis had caved in, so the boot would not close. I had to get a local mechanic push the chassis out with a heavy hammer.
The suspension is not so good after 3 years, I must say. But I am told that the initial suspensions were imported, and very soft. Maybe, that is why.
Now, I am switching cars again. Guess, what have I decided. Its gonna be the City 1.5 Gxi CVT this time. Wait for my review.