Toyota Etios
Mileage (city): 11 kpl, Mileage (highway): 14 kpl, Engine size: 1.5 l, Power: 90 PS @ 5,600 RPM, Torque: 132 Nm, Price incl. tax: Rs 3.4 million
Now is probably not a good time to drive around in Kathmandu if you want to avoid having high BP before your 30th birthday. The Valley’s not-yet-widened streets resemble sets of a World War II movie, the potholes have quadrupled, and the levels of dust and smog are potential killers. But until some genius mass produces Jetsons family like hover-cars, the slightly expensive yet extremely efficient and smooth riding –
Toyota Etios and
Honda Amaze – could be the BP busters we’ve been looking for. Last week we took out the two sedans now available in Kathmandu on a test spin around town and for the first time in my short driving career, the desire to strangle fellow road users and officials from the department of roads was surprisingly amiss.
Assembled in Karnataka and made to lure the budget end of the Indian market, Toyota first introduced Etios in 2010, but it did not fare too well. In a cost-cutting effort to produce ‘affordable’ sedans, the Japanese company compromised on style and came out with shoddy, un-Toyota like interiors which discerning consumers rejected. The exterior of the 2013 version is nearly identical to its older cousin except for minor redesigning of the grille and a chrome finish. But the cabin has undergone an impressive makeover. The two-tone ash brown interior replaces the dull gray of older models, bringing back the class and luxury that Toyota is known for and makes the sedan feel more spacious.
Comfort is where Etios scores big this time round. There is ample legroom both in the front and back seats, the 595 litres of boot is the largest in its segment, and both driver and front passenger enjoy adjustable headrests, the driver can even adjust the height. For those of us accustomed to driving compact cars, the large, cockpit like combimeter with blue backlight is delighting in the same way a shiny new toy is to a child, almost to the point of distraction. A better designed noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) package means that lower in-cabin noise is hardly audible, but the engine still produces a loud roar when it’s revved.
Beyond ergonomics, Toyota Etios (only available in petrol version in Nepal) deserves massive thumbs up for managing to make driving on the Shankhamul road – possibly one of the most maddening stretches of tarmac in the city – a pleasant experience. Customers had complaints about the older vehicles’ suspension, but with the new Etios riding over potholes is not as painful as it once was. The sedan absorbs even the nastiest bumps and its light weight makes handling effortless. At low speeds – or ‘normal’ speed in Nepal – steering feels extremely light, however, the car tends to fall behind as the speed builds up.
Honda Amaze
Mileage (city): 15 kpl, Mileage (highway): 18 kpl, Engine size: 1.2 l, Power: 88 PS @ 6,000 RPM, Torque: 109 Nm, Price incl. tax: Rs 2.8 million
Slash away a million from Toyota’s price tag and you can get yourself the Honda Amaze – the brand’s cheapest and shortest sedan. The interiors are less fancy than the Etios, but Amaze packs in a powerful performance even before the needle passes the 2,000 rpm mark and provides one of the best fuel efficiency rates in the entry-level sedan class (25.8kmpl for the diesel, not available in Nepal). The vehicle borrows heavily from the hatchback Brio’s minimalistic design, which some customers might frown upon. It also leaves out some important features like climate control, seat-belt height adjustment, adjustable neck restraints, auto-locking doors. But the beige, black, and brown dashboard and spacious interiors along with 400 l of boot space offer ample comfort and we had zero complaints during our hour long ride to Chobar. What it lacks in beauty, the Amaze more than makes up in its performance. The light weight car with smooth gearshift is easy to manoeuvre and is a dependable city companion.
Those among us who drive the mini i-20s, Picantos, and Swifts, there couldn’t be a better time to upgrade to a Toyota or Honda sedan with Dasain bonus just round the corner. But if you are already a proud sedan owner, then the Etios and Amaze don’t boast any breakthrough technology or to-die-for features to make you want to jump on the wagon(s) just yet.
www.honda.com.np
www.toyota.com.np
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