*CROSSING SWORDS With its fresh, appealing lines, the Cedia looks like a million rupees, while the Corolla, with its bland styling, just can’t keep the heat going.
If lineage is a true showcase of class, then the new Mitsubishi Cedia is a sure-shot superstar. The car comes from the same legendary family of cars which has won the World Rally championship many times over. The Corolla, on the other hand, has something else to boast about. Since its launch in 1968, it has sold well over a million units, making it one of the largest-selling cars of all time. Surely, so many people in the world cannot be wrong.
The Cedia has a purposeful stance and its overall design is sporty, the headlamps and tail lamps look youthful. The front end, with cuts and swoops, looks great and it’s a car that has a strong personality thanks to its striking design. The interiors are well made, the stalks feel built to last and layout of the gauges is neat. Cubbyholes abound in the cabin. The front seats are impressively comfortable and offer a good driving position
Mitsubishi has given the Cedia a 2-litre engine that instantly wins the cubic capacity battle on the brochure with Toyota, which has a 1.8-litre unit. However, Mitsubishi seems to have tuned this engine more for driveability and economy rather than outright pace and performance. and remember, bigger doesn’t always mean more power! . Mitsubishi reaffirm our belief that the Japanese make the best petrol motors in the world. The gearbox on the Cedia is a better unit and offers a slick and smooth shift. It is easily one of the best in the business today.
First of all, it is built solidly and doesn’t feel tin-like as most other Japanese cars do. Secondly, it has a better sorted out suspension than the Corolla. So while the Corolla’s passengers are tossed around on less than perfect surfaces, the Cedia won’t even allow occupants to know what lies beneath. Most importantly, the Cedia’s motor feels more flexible than the Corolla’s unit, which feels harsh at the top of its rev band.
Another major factor in favour of the Mitsubishi is that it manages to deliver an overall fuel efficiency figure of 12.2 kpl, which is good for a car in its class and seems even more impressive when compared with the Corolla’s 10.9.
Mitsubishi Cedia
How much?
Rs 8.30 lakh
(ex-showroom, Bangalore)
How big?
Length: 4, 480 mm
Width: 1, 695 mm
Height: 1, 455 mm
Wheelbase: 2, 600 mm
Fuel capacity: 50 litres
Trunk volume: 430 litres
Engine
Type: 1999cc, 4 cylinders in-line, petrol
Max power: 115 bhp @ 5250 rpm
Max torque: 17.8 kgm @ 4250 rpm
Performance
0-100 kph: 10.23 seconds
Top speed: 195 kph
Fuel efficiency: 12.2 kpl
So what are you waiting for get on the wheels of a’Cedia" and you will never stop. The true driver’s car! *