I had bought my first car - azure gray coloured A-Star couple of months back and have run more than 1000 kms so far.
Look wise I find it good - close to stylish except for the oversized round or tear drop shaped head lamps. Round seems too basic a shape for use. I like the comet shaped tail lamps, striking bumper, and the interesting grille in front. Anyways shape of side windows is fantastic. Interiors are way better than most cars in this segment. I like the ambience in the car. Plastic quality is good. Storage spaces could have been more innovative and bigger in size.
I feel the front seat distance adjustment movement is more than most cars in this segment giving fantastic front leg-space. Headroom is decent. At the back seat leg space is OK – I have travelled with my parents at the backseat numerous times and we did not have any problem. The back seat windows may seem small from outside but once seated inside since the glass is at the same height as that of our view – it hardly seems claustrophobic. Boot space could definitely be better but is sufficient for weekly shopping and weekend trips.
This car with its K-Series DOHC aluminum 998 cc engine seems superbly refined – NVH(Noise, Vibrations and Harshness) levels are extremely comfortable while driving. The pick-up at low gears could have been better. In higher gears I have travelled at 130km/h with amazing smoothness and good stability. I read somewhere that A-Star has the lowest Coefficient of Drag in any on road vehicle in INDIA due to highly aerodynamic design increasing fuel efficiency and Lowest Kerb weight means you can turn at 90 kmph without any fear.
Car handling and braking is very good as I found out during a recent drive in the hills. The gears are very smooth to operate. The ground clearance is good and turning radius is small. The suspension seems adequate.
I tested the average of the car only once during a 170 km trip to Malshej Ghat and was happy to get about 20km/litre .
With more than 1 Lakh Maruti A-Star’s already rolled out of Maruti’s factory in less than a year this product seems to be selling world wide in good numbers.
Final Verdict – Good First Car.