automotive
changing gears
The tax breaks that created the sub 4-metre segment were originally intended to turn India into a small car manufacturing hub – a compact car factory for the world as it were !
As evidenced by the cover of this issue , the sub 4-metre segment has come a long way . The tax breaks that created the segment were originally intended to turn India into a small car manufacturing hub – a compact car factory for the world as it were ! And while it may not have succeeded in its intended goal , what it did do was spawn an innovation race between creative designers and engineers .
You see , in theory , a small car is all that you really need to get from point A-to-B – but theory is often tedious . The aspirations of Indian car buyers demand more space and road presence – not to mention the enhanced image that goes along with it . The first carmaker to comply with these demands was our very own Tata Motors , with the Indigo CS – a compact sedan that fit within this ( somewhat arbitrary ) four-metre limit . Truth be told , it wasn ’ t a badly executed design – considering that it was essentially a hatch with a boot tacked onto the back .
But the car that cemented the importance of the segment was another hatch with a boot – the Maruti Suzuki
Dzire . And while , in ‘ theory ’ ( there ’ s that word again ), the designers took inspiration from Chris Bangle ( the controversial BMW designer , famous for the “ Bangle Butt ”), the first-gen Dzire had looks that even a mother would struggle to love . That made no difference whatsoever on the showroom floor however , because the Dzire soon went on to become – and continues to be – one of the best-selling cars on the market . There ’ s also the case of the Ford EcoSport , which gave the American manufacturer a new lease of life in the Indian market .
Naturally , then the floodgates opened . Fortunately , the Dzire has evolved into quite a pretty machine . These models are now being designed with a boot in mind from the ground up , so they look a lot more cohesive than ever before . The hatchbacks , meanwhile , continue to get prettier still – and , quite honestly , remain my pick when it comes to driving dynamics and overall refinement . Remember the small car ‘ theory ’?
The EcoSport , meanwhile , has gotten chunkier , Tata has produced a design masterpiece in the Nexon ( congratulations Pratap Bose and team ), and Maruti finally threw its hat into the compact crossover ring with the Vitara Brezza – which , as quickly as the Dzire before it , has become another blockbuster .
While comparing these contrasting body styles against one another , we ’ ve tried to be as objective , transparent and scientific as possible . So , if your favourite machine has come out on top , we ’ ll take the pat on the back . And , if not – bring on the hate mail …
Dhruv Behl , Editor , AutoX @ dhruv _ behl | dbehl @ autox . com
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48 OutlOOk 18 June 2018