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Honda Elevate Vs Rivals: Price Check


Honda Elevate gets a single powertrain option, while all of its rivals get at least two engine choices

Honda Elevate Vs Rivals

Prices of the Honda Elevate have been revealed, which start from Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom). It is the Japanese carmaker’s much-awaited contender for the compact SUV segment. The Honda SUV arrives with a competitive price tag and is fairly well-equipped in terms of safety features and conveniences. Let’s see how its prices compare to that of its direct rivals.

Before that, here’s a quick check on their specifications:

Specs

Honda Elevate

Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq / Volkswagen Taigun

MG Astor

Engine

1.5-litre petrol

1.5-litre petrol

1.5-litre petrol-hybrid

1.5-litre petrol

1.5-litre petrol

1.5-litre turbo-petrol

1-litre turbo-petrol

1.5-litre turbo-petrol

1.5-litre petrol

1.3-litre turbo-petrol

Power

121PS

103PS

116PS

115PS

115PS

160PS

115PS

150PS

110PS

140PS

Torque

145Nm

137Nm

141Nm

144Nm

144Nm

253Nm

178Nm

250Nm

144Nm

220Nm

Transmission

6-speed MT / CVT

5-speed MT / 6-speed AT

e-CVT

6-speed MT / CVT

6-speed MT / CVT

6-speed iMT / 7-speed DCT

6-speed MT / 6-speed AT

6-speed MT / 7-speed DCT

5-speed MT / CVT

6-speed AT

Since the Honda Elevate is only available with a petrol engine, we have not included the diesel engine options of its rivals in this comparison. The Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, MG Astor, and Kia Seltos also get the option of a turbo-petrol engine while Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder get the choice of a strong-hybrid powertrain.

2023 Kia Seltos

Petrol-Manual Price Check

Honda Elevate

Maruti Grand Vitara

Hyundai Creta

Kia seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

MG Astor

SV MT – Rs 11 lakh

Sigma – Rs 10.70 lakh

E – Rs 10.87 lakh

HTE – Rs 10.90 lakh

E – Rs 10.86 lakh

Style – Rs 10.82 lakh

EX – Rs 11.81 lakh

Active – Rs 11.59 lakh

Comfortline – Rs 11.62 lakh

V – Rs 12.11 lakh

Delta – Rs 12.10 lakh

HTK – Rs 12.10 lakh

Onyx – Rs 12.39 lakh

S – Rs 12.61 lakh

Super – Rs 12.52 lakh

S – Rs 13.06 lakh

Ambition – Rs 13.34 lakh

VX – Rs 13.50 lakh

Zeta – Rs 13.91 lakh

HTK Plus – Rs 13.50 lakh

Highline – Rs 13.70 lakh

SX (E) – Rs 13.99 lakh

Smart – Rs 14.21 lakh

ZX – Rs 14.90 lakh

SX – Rs 14.81 lakh

HTK Plus Turbo iMT – Rs 15 lakh

G – Rs 14.49 lakh

Ambition 1.5 TSI – Rs 14.99 lakh

Sharp – Rs 15.15 lakh

Alpha – Rs 15.41 lakh

HTX – Rs 15.20 lakh

Style – Rs 15.59 (non-sunroof)/ Rs 15.79 lakh

Topline – Rs 15.84 lakh

V – Rs 16.04 lakh

GT 1.5 TSI – Rs 16.26 lakh

  • The Grand Vitara has the most affordable entry-level price among its rivals, while the Taigun is the costliest.

  • The Elevate’s top-end manual variant is more affordable than top-spec variants of other compact SUVs by a large margin.

Maruti Grand Vitara Review

  • SUVs like the MG Astor and Kia Seltos do not offer the choice of a manual stick on their top-end turbo-petrol variants. The Seltos however gets a iMT (manual without clutch pedal) with the turbo-petrol engine, whose entry-option is priced close to the top-end Honda SUV.

  • The Kushaq and Taigun are the only ones in this list to get the turbo-petrol engine with a manual transmission. The entry-level 150PS option for the Kushaq is priced closest to the fully-loaded Elevate while their top-end MT variants being the costliest, going past even the Rs 18 lakh mark.

MG Astor

Petrol-Automatic Check

Honda Elevate

Maruti Grand Vitara

Hyundai Creta

Kia seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

MG Astor

V CVT – Rs 13.21 lakh

Delta AT – Rs 13.60 lakh

S AT – Rs 13.81 lakh

Super CVT – Rs 13.94 lakh

VX CVT – Rs 14.60 lakh

Zeta AT – Rs 15.41 lakh

S Turbo DCT – Rs 15.79 lakh

G AT – Rs 15.69 lakh

Ambition AT – Rs 15.14 lakh

Highline AT – Rs 15.20 lakh

Smart CVT – Rs 15.50 lakh

ZX CVT – Rs 16 lakh

SX IVT – Rs 16.33 lakh

S Hybrid – Rs 16.46 lakh

Sharp CVT – Rs 16.14 lakh

Alpha AT – Rs 16.91 lakh

HTX IVT – Rs 16.60 lakh

Ambition 1.5 DSG – Rs 16.79 lakh

GT DSG – Rs 16.80 lakh

Savvy CVT – Rs 17 lakh

SX (O) IVT – Rs 17.54 lakh

V AT – RS 17.24 lakh

Style AT – Rs 17.39 lakh

Topline AT – Rs 17.35 lakh

Smart Turbo AT – Rs 17.11 lakh

  • The Honda Elevate offers the most affordable automatic variant in the compact SUV space. Its top-end variant undercuts the other models by a significant margin, since it gets a single powertrain option. All the other compact SUVs get two petrol engine options.

  • For the choice of a performance-oriented turbo-petrol compact SUV, like the Kushaq, Taigun, or Astor, it will cost you around a lakh more over the top-spec Elevate.

  • The Grand Vitara and Hyryder are available with the strong-hybrid option, which claims an efficiency of up to 27.97kmpl. The latter offers the hybrid option at a more affordable entry price which is still more expensive than the fully-loaded Honda SUV.

  • The Seltos is the costliest option compared to the other turbo-petrol automatic compact SUVs. The top-spec Kushaq and hybrid variants of the Maruti-Toyota duo are not far behind.

It’s a good thing that the Elevate undercuts most of its rivals, but it also skips out on several premium features already offered in the segment. There’s no panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, driver seat height adjustment, six airbags as standard, and a 360-degree camera. However, it does get the ADAS safety feature, at an affordable price, which is only available with the top-end variants of the Seltos and Astor for now.

Read More on : Elevate on road price

Hyundai Venue Becomes the First Sub-4m SUV to Offer ADAS


Hyundai Venue’s Turbo-Petrol Variants Now Come with Manual Transmission

Hyundai Venue

The subcompact SUV segment is witnessing increased competition with the introduction of the 2023 Tata Nexon. In response, Hyundai has updated its Venue and Venue N Line models to offer advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Additionally, Hyundai has made changes to the transmission options for the turbo-petrol variants of both models.

Updated Prices

The new ADAS technology is available only in the top-spec SX(O) variant of the Hyundai Venue and the N8 variant of the Venue N Line. Notably, the Knight edition of the Venue does not have these safety assistance systems. Here are the revised prices for the ADAS-equipped models:

Venue 1-litre Turbo Petrol

Variants

Updated Price

Old Price

Difference

SX (O)

Rs 12.44 lakh

Rs 12.35 lakh

+ Rs 9,000

SX (O) DCT

Rs 13.23 lakh

Rs 13.03 lakh

+ Rs 20,000

Venue 1.5-litre Diesel

Variants

Updated Price

Old Price

Difference

SX (O) MT

Rs 13.19 lakh

Rs 12.99 lakh

+ Rs 20,000

Venue N Line

Variants

Updated Price

Old Price

Difference

N8 MT

Rs 12.96 lakh

N.A.

N.A.

N8 DCT

Rs 13.75 lakh

Rs 13.66 lakh

+ Rs 9,000

Note: Each variant listed above is also available in a dual-tone exterior for an extra Rs 15,000.

The Hyundai Venue is not only the first subcompact SUV to offer ADAS technology but also the most affordable model with such features (up to Rs 15,000 cheaper than the starting ADAS-equipped variant of the Honda City). Let’s see how Hyundai has equipped its sub-4m offering to compete with its segment rivals, including the updated Nexon.

Venue ADAS Kit

Venue ADAS Kit

The driver assistance systems in the Venue include features such as forward collision warning (for car, pedestrian, and cyclist), lane keep assist and departure warning, driver attention warning, high-beam assist, lane following assist, and leading vehicle lane departure alert.

However, the Venue’s ADAS suite does not include automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, indicating that it adheres to ADAS Level 1 technology.

The Venue also offers other safety features, such as up to six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, and hill-hold assist.

Powertrain Update

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai has discontinued the intelligent manual transmission (iMT) option for the 1-litre turbo-petrol variants (120PS and 172Nm) of the Venue and Venue N Line. Instead, these models now come with a 6-speed manual transmission, while the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) option remains available. As a result of this change, the turbo-petrol variants have become more affordable for certain Venue models, and the Venue N Line has become more accessible overall.

Here are the new prices for the Hyundai turbo-petrol MT variants:

Venue 1-litre Turbo Petrol

Variants

New MT Price

Old iMT Price

Difference

S (O)

Rs 10.32 lakh

Rs 10.44 lakh

Rs 16,000

SX(O)

Rs 12.44 lakh

Rs 12.35 lakh

+ Rs 9,000

The Venue SX(O) turbo-petrol MT variant is costlier than the iMT variant due to the addition of ADAS technology, which comes at a premium.

Venue N Line

Variants

New MT prices

DCT prices

Difference

N6

Rs 12 lakh

Rs 12.80 lakh

+ Rs 80,000

N8

Rs 12.96 lakh

Rs 13.75 lakh

+ Rs 79,000

Note: Each variant listed above, except Venue S(O), is also available in a dual-tone exterior for an extra Rs 15,000.

This new transmission option has made the Venue N Line more affordable by up to Rs 80,000. The Venue N Line is Hyundai’s sportier version with the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine.

The regular Venue offers other engine options, including a 1.2-litre petrol engine (83PS and 114Nm) mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine (116PS and 250Nm) paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. The top-spec SX(O) variant of the Venue does not offer the naturally aspirated petrol engine option.

Rivals

The Hyundai Venue competes with the Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon facelift, Mahindra XUV300, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite. The Venue N Line, on the other hand, competes with the Turbo Sport variants of the Mahindra XUV300.

Read More on : Hyundai Venue on road price

Peugeot Launches New Tweet 200 GT Scooter In Japan

Scooters are a great option for traveling urban areas in Asian countries like Japan because of their light weight, agility, affordability, and practicality. A large number of people in Japan have access to these two-wheelers thanks in large part to the country’s licensing system. Scooters offer a more inclusive mode of mobility than bigger, more powerful motorcycles, which call for a specific license.

Exclusively introduced to the Japanese market, Peugeot, a French specialist in scooters and motorbikes, has unveiled the latest model, the Tweet 200 GT. Despite its name, this scooter has no connection to the social media platform Twitter; instead, it is entirely dedicated to providing uncomplicated and convenient mobility solutions. Setting itself apart from conventional scooters, the Tweet 200 GT boasts enhanced versatility attributed to its larger 16-inch wheels. In Japan, it carries a retail price of 423,500 Yen, amounting to about $2,910 USD.

Peugeot Motocycles Launches New Tweet 200 GT In Japan

The flat floor of the scooter adds to its utility by allowing the rider to carry bags between their legs. Furthermore, the scooter has ample under-seat storage and a rear luggage rack as a standard feature. All of these features add to the scooter’s rugged and practical design, which caters to individuals looking for a dependable and adaptable form of transportation.

The new Peugeot Tweet 200 GT features an air-cooled, four-stroke, SOHC, two-valve, single-cylinder engine with a displacement of 170cc. The economical engine is capable of delivering a maximum output of 12 horsepower at 7,500rpm and a peak torque of 8.8 pound-feet at 6,000rpm. Its fuel injection system enhances efficiency, while the 5.5-liter fuel tank ensures ample range. This configuration provides responsive acceleration and adaptable performance for urban and suburban riding scenarios.

For steady power delivery, the scooter has a continuously variable transmission (CVT), as is the case with most scooters of this type. Meanwhile, its braking system consists of a single disc for both the front and rear wheels, while its suspension hardware features a telescopic fork up front and twin shocks at the rear. Both the front and back wheels use 110/70-16 tires, which contribute to stability, traction, and a lightweight feel.

Peugeot Motocycles Launches New Tweet 200 GT In Japan

Check Out The Variant-wise Features Of The Toyota Rumion

The Rumion is available in three broad variants – S, G, and V – including a CNG option too

Toyota Rumion

The Toyota Rumion has been officially revealed in India and will go on sale in the upcoming festive season. It is a rebadged version of the Maruti Ertiga and could be priced from around Rs 9 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Like the Ertiga, powering the Rumion is a 1.5-litre petrol engine, which makes 103PS and 136.8Nm, and 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic units handle the transmission duties. There’s also a CNG powertrain on offer, with the manual transmission only, which claims an efficiency of 26.11km/kg. 

Toyota offers the MPV in three broad trims – S, G, and V. Here are the variant-wise features detailed: 

Toyota Rumion S

Toyota Rumion

Available with MT, AT, and CNG options

 

Exterior

Interior

Comfort and Convenience

Infotainment

Safety

  • Chrome finish on front grille

  • Halogen projector headlamps

  • LED tail lamps

  • 15-inch steel wheels with covers

  • Dual-tone interior theme

  • 60:40 split second-row seats with recline and slide

  • 50:50 split third-row seats

  • Analogue instrument cluster with MID

  • Adjustable headrests (all rows)

  • 2nd row centre armrest

  • Manual AC

  • 2nd row roof mounted AC vents

  • Remote keyless entry

  • Electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMs

  • Paddle shifters (AT)

  • 12V power socket front and second row

  • Day/night IRVM

The base variant of the Rumion is fairly well-equipped and even gets projector headlamps and a basic audio system, but misses out on a height-adjustable driver’s seat. It is identifiable as a base option from the outside by its steel wheels. 

Also, Toyota is offering the choice of automatic transmission in the base variant, which gives more accessibility to buyers. However, the CNG option is limited to the S variant. 

Also Read: Could The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Be The Rebadged Maruti Fronx?

Toyota Rumion G Variant

Toyota Rumion

Available in MT only

The Rumion G variant adds these features over the S variant: 

Exterior

Interior

Comfort and Convenience

Infotainment

Safety

  • 15-inch alloy wheels

  • Chrome door handles

  • Rear Wiper/Washer

  • Rear defogger

  • Height adjustable driver seat

  • Teak Wood finish for dashboard

  • Dual Tone Fabric seat upholstery

  • Front centre armrest

  • Push button start-stop

  • Auto AC

  • Smart Key

The mid-spec variant adds many essential features like rear wiper/washer, height adjustment for the driver’s seat, auto AC, and a touchscreen infotainment system. Surprisingly, this variant skips out on the convenience of an automatic transmission. 

Toyota Rumion V Variant

Available in MT and AT options

Toyota Rumion

Here’s what the top-spec V variant adds over the previous one: 

Exterior

Interior

Comfort and Convenience

Infotainment

Safety

  • Cruise control

  • Auto-folding ORVMs

  • Auto headlamps

 
  • Side Airbags

  • Rear parking camera

The top-spec V variant gets the added convenience of cruise control, auto-folding ORVMs, and automatic headlamps. In terms of safety, you get two additional airbags and a rear camera. This variant can be opted with manual and automatic transmissions. 

Also ReadWill We See A Panoramic Sunroof In A Sub-Compact SUV?

In order to assess which of these variants offers the best value, we will have to wait for the price announcement in the coming months. Till then, stay tuned to CarDekho. 

Hyundai Creta And Alcazar Adventure Editions Launched, Prices Start From Rs 15.17 Lakh

Hyundai has recently launched Adventure Editions for its popular SUVs, the Creta and Alcazar. The Creta Adventure Edition is available only with a petrol engine, while the Alcazar Adventure Edition offers both petrol and diesel engine options. The special editions come with a premium of Rs 36,000 over the regular variants.

Both the Creta and Alcazar Adventure Editions feature cosmetic updates such as blacked-out ORVMs and logos, as well as ‘Adventure’ badges. The exterior also includes black alloy wheels with red brake callipers, black roof rails, and black skid plates. The cars are available in the new ‘Ranger Khaki’ paint color, which was introduced in the Hyundai Exter.

Inside the cabin, both SUVs come with an all-black theme with sage green inserts, similar to the Hyundai Exter. The seat upholstery is a combination of black and green, symbolizing mountains. The Creta Adventure Edition retains all the features from its respective variants, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen system, wireless phone charging, and a panoramic sunroof. Safety features include six airbags, VSM, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and a reversing camera. The Alcazar Adventure Edition, in its top specification, gets additional features like a 10.25-inch digital driver display and a 360-degree camera.

The Creta Adventure Edition is priced between Rs 15.17 lakh and Rs 17.89 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the Alcazar Adventure Edition is priced between Rs 18.68 lakh and Rs 21.24 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Hyundai is also offering the Alcazar’s top-spec Signature (O) trim in a 6-seater configuration at the same price as the 7-seater version.

The Creta Adventure Edition is available in four monotone colors, including Abyss Black, Titan Grey, Atlas White, and Ranger Khaki, while the Alcazar Adventure Edition is available in the same colors with the option of a black roof.

In terms of engines, the Creta Adventure Edition is powered by a 1.5-liter petrol engine, while the Alcazar Adventure Edition offers a 1.5-liter turbo-petrol engine and a 1.5-liter diesel engine. The Creta comes with a choice of a 6-speed manual or CVT, while the Alcazar offers a 6-speed manual, a 7-speed DCT, or a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The Hyundai Creta Adventure Edition competes with the matte editions of the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, while the Alcazar Adventure Edition rivals the Red Dark and Adventure editions of the Tata Safari.

Overall, the Adventure Editions of the Hyundai Creta and Alcazar offer updated styling and some additional features to enhance their appeal in the market.

Bigger, bolder Vauxhall Crossland to launch with EV in 2024

The Vauxhall Crossland will undergo significant changes and be offered with an electric option in its second generation next year. Vauxhall announced earlier this year that all its models will have an EV option by 2024, with the Crossland and Grandland crossovers being the last to transition.

Vauxhall CEO James Taylor considers the electrification of these two popular model lines as a major milestone towards the brand’s ambition of becoming fully electric by 2028. Already, the Corsa, Astra, Mokka, Combo, and Vivaro are available with battery power. Additionally, Vauxhall plans to introduce two more electric-only models – the Manta crossover and a successor to the Insignia – in the next five years.

While Vauxhall has not revealed the design of its upcoming EVs, it has confirmed that an “Experimental” concept will be showcased at the Munich motor show in September. However, the electric version of the Crossland’s replacement has been spotted for the first time, showcasing a radically different appearance with chunkier edges and a stronger SUV styling.

The new Crossland features Vauxhall’s distinctive ‘Vizor’ front end, slimline LED headlights, and a contrasting wraparound ‘grille’ panel. The increase in size indicates a focus on enhanced practicality for family buyers. The current Crossland is comparable in size to models like the Ford Puma, Nissan Juke, and Seat Arona, but the larger dimensions of the new model could place it in competition with the Kia Niro, Skoda Karoq, and Dacia Duster.

Check Out The Feature-Loaded Hyundai Exter SX CNG Variant In 6 Pics


The Hyundai Exter offers the CNG option in two variants – S and SX

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

The Hyundai Exter is now available with introductory prices ranging from Rs 5.99 lakh to Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). It’s a micro SUV based on the Grand i10 Nios hatchback. The Exter is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine with the option of CNG, which claims a fuel economy of up to 27.1 km/kg.

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Price

The Exter is available in five variants – E, S, SX, SX(O), and SX (O) Connect. The CNG powertrain option, with the 5-speed manual transmission only, is offered on the S and SX variant. We have exclusive images of the SX CNG variant in Khaki Green with the dual-tone black roof and you can check out the details:

Exter SX Exterior

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

The front profile of the Exter SX CNG variant looks identical to the top-end SX (O) Connect variant. This variant gets projector headlamps, H-shaped LED DRLs, and the chunky skid plate.

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

The side profile carries a big difference in the form of wheel design. The SX CNG variant sports 15-inch styled steel wheels, which give the impression of alloy wheels. The higher-end variants get proper dual-tone alloys but still only 15 inches in size.

Also Read: Hyundai Exter Fuel-efficiency Figures Out

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

The rear profile looks largely the same as the top-end variant, save for the rear spoiler that is body-colored on the SX instead of black as seen on the SX(O). It still gets H-shaped LED tail lights connected by a gloss black strip and beefy skid plates. You can spot the ‘CNG’ sticker as the differentiator from the petrol version.

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

Unfortunately, we did not get to see the boot of the Exter CNG in this batch of images.

Exter SX Interior

Hyundai Exter SX CNG

Moving inside the cabin, the differences between the Exter’s SX and SX (O) Connect variants are subtle. It’s covered in an all-black theme with silver accents but misses out on brushed silver finish for the door handles, leather covering for the steering wheel, and footwell lighting.

Also See: Facelifted Hyundai Creta Spied On Test In India For The First Time

In terms of features, the SX variant does not offer niceties such as cruise control, push-button start-stop, wireless phone charger, cooled glove box, and rear wiper washer. However, it’s still equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen system, electric sunroof, automatic AC, and a digitized instrument cluster. Safety is covered by the presence of six airbags, a rear camera, ESC, hill hold assist, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Hyundai Exter Engine

Exter Rivals

The Hyundai Exter rivals the likes of Tata Punch, Maruti Ignis, and Citroen C3, while indirectly being a competitor to some variants of Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite and the Maruti Fronx.

Read More on : Exter AMT

Volkswagen Virtus GT Line Gets More Affordable With New Entry-level DCT Variant


The Volkswagen Virtus’s DCT option gets Rs 2.37 lakh more affordable

Volkswagen Virtus

  • It is priced at Rs 16.20 lakh, which is Rs 70,000 less than the GT+ MT variant.

  • Exterior highlights include red callipers and “GT” badges.

  • Inside, it gets red ambient lighting and GT-specific upholstery.

  • Features on board still include a 10-inch touchscreen, cruise control and dual airbags.

  • Powered by the larger 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that puts out 150PS of power.

Shortly after getting an affordable GT manual variant, the Volkswagen Virtus has now been given a new entry-level GT DCT trim priced at Rs 16.20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). It is more affordable than the range-topping GT+ DCT by Rs 2.37 lakh, while costing as much as the Topline AT variant of the sedan.

Variants

Price (ex-showroom Delhi)

Topline AT

Rs 16.19 lakh

GT DCT (new)

Rs 16.19 lakh

GT+ MT

Rs 16.89 lakh

GT+ DCT

Rs 18.56 lakh

The GT DCT variant costs Rs 70,000 less than the GT+ MT, thus becoming the new entry-level variant in the GT Line. Furthermore, the Topline AT uses the 110PS 1-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 6-speed torque converter.

Any Noticeable Changes?

Volkswagen Virtus side

While the GT variant gets the same treatment on the outside as the GT Plus (which includes the red brake callipers and “GT” monikers), you can tell it’s the lower trim since it doesn’t get the blacked out alloy wheels and the chrome windowline. On the inside, the Virtus GT DCT gets the GT-specific upholstery and red ambient lighting, which is also available on the GT Plus variants.

Differences In The Features List

Volkswagen Virtus cabin

Being a lower variant, the Virtus GT DCT misses out on features such as a single-pane sunroof, digital driver’s display, leatherette upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, auto-headlights, LED DRL turn indicators, height-adjustable front passenger seat, ventilated front seats, and auto-dimming IRVM. Its equipment list isn’t totally scarce either as it still packs cruise control, a 10-inch touchscreen, paddle shifters, and auto AC with rear vents.

Its safety kit includes dual front airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX child seat anchorages, and rear parking sensors. In case you’re worried about the extra airbags, the Virtus is also currently rated as the safest mass market car in India as per the Global NCAP crash tests.

Also Read: Don’t Slip Up: Common Car Care Mistakes to Avoid This Monsoon

Performance Under The Hood

Volkswagen Virtus

As the GT Line product, the GT DCT features the larger 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine (150PS/250Nm). While it gets just the 7-speed DCT, the manual GT variant gets a 6-speed unit. This engine also features cylinder deactivation technology that can boost your fuel economy while cruising at steady speeds.

Competitors

Volkswagen Virtus

Volkswagen’s compact sedan goes up against the Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Skoda Slavia.

Also Read: Hyundai Verna vs Honda City vs Volkswagen Virtus vs Skoda Slavia: Space & Practicality Comparison

Read More on : Virtus Automatic

The Best Home EV Chargers Ranked Worst To Best

The Blink HQ 150 is a compact and affordable home EV charger option. It comes with a 25-foot cable and has a small overall footprint. Priced at $299, it is one of the cheapest EV chargers available on the market. However, due to its lower price, it offers a slower charging speed compared to other options. While this may not be a concern for some, having faster charging capabilities can be beneficial in certain situations.

One of the advantages of the Blink HQ 150 is its compatibility with all EV models currently on the road. This makes it a cost-effective choice for any EV owner, regardless of the brand of their vehicle. The charger operates at a standard 240-volt level and can be installed in a similar manner to other devices. Once activated, users can expect a peak output of 32 amps. This makes the Blink HQ 150 a reliable and straightforward charger, but it falls behind in terms of speed when compared to competing options.

The Blink unit also comes with a NEMA Type 3R enclosure, allowing it to be used both indoors and outdoors. However, its outdoor rating is not as strong as some other chargers, so it is recommended to mount it in a protected area if used outside of a garage. This may be a limitation for some EV owners who do not have access to a suitable location for mounting. Overall, the Blink HQ 150 offers a compact design and an affordable price, but it does not perform as well as the top-ranked chargers in the market.

Maruti Jimny Variant Analysis: Is The Top-spec Alpha Variant Worth The Price Tag?

It’s the only option for  a fully equipped Maruti off-roader with more comforts and a bigger 9-inch touchscreen system

Maruti Jimny

The Maruti Jimny Alpha is loaded with features such as a 9-inch touchscreen, cruise control, auto-LED headlights, and auto climate control. However, if you wish to have these and more in your Maruti off-roader, it’s the range-topping Alpha variant that you need to pick. Let’s see if it’s worth the premium of around a lakh rupees over the Zeta:

Variant

1.5-litre Petrol

MT

AT

Alpha

Rs 13.69 lakh

Rs 14.89 lakh

Why Consider The Jimny Alpha?

Maruti Jimny cabin

If you are looking for a fully equipped version of the Maruti Jimny, the Alpha is your pick of the two. The carmaker has provided it with a plethora of premium comforts such as its latest 9-inch touchscreen infotainment unit, auto climate control, cruise control, and push-button start/stop. That said, there’s no new addition to the safety net over the entry-level Zeta variant, which already gets six airbags, electronic stability programme (ESP), and ISOFIX child seat anchorages.

This variant also looks worth the price tag with the auto-LED headlights, body coloured door handles and alloy wheels.

Let’s see what it has to offer:

Exterior

Interior

Comfort and Convenience

Infotainment

Safety

Highlight features

  • 15-inch alloy wheels

  • Auto-LED headlights

  • Headlight washer

  • Cruise control

  • Auto AC

  • Push-button start/stop

Other features

Maruti Jimny headlight and fog lamp

What Could Have Been Better About The Jimny Alpha?

Although the Jimny packs a lot of modern tech compared to some of its prime rivals, it still feels lacking in terms of a few convenience features for its price. These include a 360-degree camera (an important friend indeed on off-road trips), and some more practical bits inside the cabin like bottle holders and storage spaces, all of which we feel could have been provided on the top-spec Alpha variant. While this generation of the Jimny is only built as a hard top model, fans of the Gypsy and Mahindra Thar will miss the option of a soft-top convertible.

Variant

Verdict

Zeta

Covers all the essentials with potential for accessories. Our suggestion is to go for the Alpha given the small price jump.

Alpha

It’s our pick of the two for the feel-good features that it gets over the Zeta for a justified premium.

All prices, ex-showroom pan-India

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