Can the new Honda Jazz deliver?

Honda Jazz redefines style in its own unique way, which is sure to guarantee a second look. With its sporty cross fade monoform design, the Honda Jazz has a bold, super-slick front design. The side character lines, dynamic alloy wheels and rear spoiler never fails to be a head-turner. This car is an aerodynamic burst of energy that truly symbolizes speed and control. It is further equipped with a sleek wraparound head lamp, rear license chrome garnish, rear micro roof antenna, premium LED rear tail lamp, front fog lamp, large vent window and spacious window graphics, tailgate spoiler with integrated LED stop lamp, electrically adjustable and foldable outside mirror with turn indicator, etc.

When it comes to interiors, the sophisticated futuristic cockpit interiors of Honda Jazz that is based on Man Maximum Machine Minimum philosophy. This innovation offers you the best-in-segment space and comfort. The state-of-the-art features designed and perfected will ensure a superb driving experience for you. You can enjoy auto AC with touch screen control panel, leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob, advanced audio, instrument cluster, and an entire assortment of brilliant features. What’s more, these are all laid out impeccably in super spacious and premium interiors. The additional features include 12.7 cm integrated audio with iPod connectivity, advanced multi information combination meter, eco assist system with inbuilt ambient meter rings, steering mounted audio, hands free telephone controls and paddle shift, etc.

One of the best things about Honda Jazz is that its unique centre tank layout ensures more space and headroom for the passengers as well as the luggage. It comes with an array of safety features, including dual SRS airbags, ABS with EBD, impact mitigating headrest, and immobilizer anti-theft system, amongst others. In the event of a collision, the ACE body structure and pedestrian injury mitigation technology minimizes threats. Crafted for maximum comfort and convenience, Honda Jazz will give you that extra edge, with your favourite driving position, large boot space, and various utility storages. The 1.5L i-DTEC, best in segment fuel efficient diesel engine, gives an unmatched mileage of 27.3 kmpl and max power of 100 PS.

Its low aluminum construction runs on low friction technology, and lets you explore the farthest corners with perfect efficiency. The i-VTEC petrol engine with CVT, on the other hand, strikes a perfect balance by providing an impressive power of 90 PS combined with a mileage of 18.7 kmpl in the manual transmission. The new Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) with torque converter offers excellent economy of 19.0 kmpl and deserves credit for being more fuel efficient than any other manual in its segment. The on road price of Honda Jazz, needless to say, varies across different cities. In South Delhi, it is around Rs. 6.07 lakh, while in Central Mumbai, it is approximately 6.57 lakh. In Kolkata, it is roughly Rs. 6.21 lakh whereas in Chennai is it somewhere around Rs. 6.41 lakh. Spacious, practical and efficient, Honda Jazz is everything that a premium hatchback should be!

Top new Maruti Suzuki cars to pick

There are several attractive new Maruti Suzuki cars that you can choose from in the Indian market. Maruti Suzuki is India’s largest car maker and has always been associated with a top notch service, repair and dealer network along with affordable running and maintenance costs, value for money and good features. These are the attributes which make Maruti Suzuki the preferred choice for millions of India. The company currently holds the major share of the automobile market in the country and has come out with several new models over the last few years.

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is one car you can definitely consider. This car has created a huge stir in the country and has sold like hot cakes for Maruti. The premium hatchback is priced between INR 5.3-8.6 lakhs on an average (ex-showroom) and wins brownie points for its aesthetic appeal, spacious and luxurious interiors and powerful engine. The Baleno has already beaten rivals like the Elite i20 in the premium hatchback space along with the Honda Jazz and Volkswagen Polo. The Baleno comes loaded with safety features like dual airbags, ABS and EBD which are standard across the entire lineup. The car also offers a SmartPlay infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay functionality. There is a CVT transmission system used for better performance and drivability in the Baleno. There are petrol and diesel options while the CVT automatic transmission option is only offered for the petrol version. The car also gets reverse parking sensors and a new multi information display coupled with LED lamps, UV cut glass for doors and a lot more.

Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza is one of the hottest new launches this year. Within just a fortnight of its launch last month, the car racked up 25, 000 bookings and is poised to be the next big thing in the compact SUV space. The car is priced between INR 7.2-10 lakhs (ex-showroom) and comes with a rugged and bold design which is just like bigger and more menacing SUVs. The compact SUV has six variants and some versions even offer dual tone color options. The vehicle also features a touch screen infotainment system, steering mounted controls, automatic climate control, projector headlamps and a lot more. The Brezza comes with a 1.3 litre DDiS diesel motor that is fun to drive and offers ARAI certified fuel economy of 26.3 kmpl which is supposedly the best in the entire segment. The car also offers 328 litres of boot space.

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is one of the most reasonably priced yet luxurious mid segment sedans you will find. A replacement for the SX4, the Ciaz is priced between INR 7.9-10.7 lakhs (ex-showroom) and offers lavish and spacious interiors along with features like a 7 inch touch screen infotainment system, projector headlamps, navigation and a 510 litre boot. The car also offers SVHS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle Technology by Suzuki) which is a first in the segment and dishes out best in class mileage of 28.09 kmpl for its diesel hybrid variant. 

New Ford cars you can buy in 2016

Ford Motor Co is one of the world’s most iconic automobile companies and its founder Henry Ford is regarded as the father of the automobile industry and the modern automobile. Ford has a rich motoring legacy of its own and has always enjoyed reasonable success in Indian markets. Indians love rugged, all American vehicles with tons of features and decent driving experiences and here is where Ford has always delivered. Here’s taking a look at the new Ford cars that you can consider in 2016-

Ford EcoSport- This compact SUV has been one of the brand’s biggest ever success in the Indian market. Prices were reduced recently for this hot seller and they now range between INR 6.8-9.9 lakh (ex-showroom) on an average. The EcoSport redefined the compact SUV space in the country and is liked by customers for its endearing and novel design, powerful engine, fun driving experiences, compact and convenient dimensions, easier drivability and top class features. The newly introduced 2016 EcoSport gets revamped skid-plates, headlamps and alloys. ABS with EBD is a standard feature across all models of the EcoSport. 

The top end model also comes with features like automatic headlamps, an inside rear view mirror, non-LED daytime running lights, side and curtain airbags and more. The EcoSport offers a 1.0 litre EcoBoost petrol engine which is fuel efficient and amply powerful while there are two 1.5 litre diesel engine options available as well. Top models also come with other features like rain sensing front wipers, Ford SYNC with AppLink, voice commands, infotainment system and more.

Ford Endeavour- The Endeavour is the boss of the SUV segment in India and the new Endeavour hits it out of the park with the brawny American muscle and rugged design it offers. The car is huge quite literally and offers a huge boot and equally cavernous interiors. The lovely design, styling and additions like a panoramic sunroof in the top model make this a value proposition in the segment for those who truly love SUVs and do not wish to compromise on off-roading abilities, luxury, comfort, features and power.

The Endeavour is priced between INR 25.9-29.8 lakhs (ex-showroom) and can accommodate seven adults in comfort. Some of the unique features include electric tail-gate release, terrain management system with rotary, leather upholstery, manual and automatic transmission options, programmable second key (first in segment), dual zone climate control, touch screen infotainment, navigation and car connectivity, park assist, active noise cancellation and truckloads of other features.

Ford Figo Aspire- This compact sedan is a likeable model which looks good, is easy to maintain, comes with decent features and is fun to drive. Priced between INR 5.3-8.5 lakhs (ex-showroom), the Figo Aspire offers both petrol and diesel options along with manual and automatic transmission options as well. The amazing design and top class features make the Figo Aspire an option worth considering against the likes of the Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, Hyundai Xcent and Tata Zest. Top end versions come with touch screen infotainment units, engine immobilizers and many other features. 

Check out the best new Honda cars

There are several new Honda cars that should be checked out if you are in the market for a vehicle based on your own budgetary requirements and other needs.

Honda has come up with several new cars over the last two years and it’s time you should be taking a look at them.

The Honda Mobilio is an exciting new car in the MUV/MPV space. This car offers value for money to customers and can comfortably seat seven passengers. The Honda Mobilio offers top notch mileage of 24.5 kilometres per litre and comes with both diesel and petrol options. The platform of the Amaze compact sedan has been used for this MPV. This comes with a bold and stunning design complete with body colored bumpers, a radiator grille and a huge windscreen. The interiors come with several features including a 2 DIN audio system, day and night inside rear view mirror, storage compartment, sun visors, electrically adjustable outside mirrors, air conditioning with heater, rear parking camera, airbags for front passengers, ABS and many more. The Mobilio is priced between INR 7.4-12.6 lakh (ex-showroom) on an average.

The Honda Amaze is another top class offering from the company and is one of the pioneers of the compact sedan segment in the country. The model recently got a face lift and looks even more stunning with the fog lamps integrated into the new and more stylish front bumper and the enhanced grille coupled with LED tail lights and DRLs at the front. This is the first compact sedan from Honda to come with the iDTEC diesel engine and now comes with a CVT transmission unit and lavish interiors. The car offers decent fuel economy along with a Bluetooth connectivity and hands free telephony equipped audio system, new 3D speedometer with a multi-information display and a new dashboard. The Amaze is priced between INR 5.29-8.16 lakhs (ex-showroom) on an average in India.

The Honda City is one of the Japanese brand’s true blue icons in the Indian automobile market. The Honda City is priced between INR 8.1-12.5 lakh on an average and high end models even come with attractive features like a panoramic sunroof. The City offers both diesel and petrol options and has always been one of the hottest selling mid segment sedans in the country. The city also offers CVT with petrol and high fuel economy of 26 and 18 kmpl for diesel and petrol models respectively.

It also comes with driver airbags as standard features across all variants while other features include a start-stop system, touch screen infotainment system, rear air conditioning vents, cruise control and spacious interiors with every luxury conceivable. Another attractive feature is the feather touch climate control system which is a first in this segment. The Honda City offers greater bang for your buck and is a wonderful option in this category.

You are sure to love these three vehicles from Honda along with other tried and tested favorites like the Honda CR-V SUV, Honda Brio hatchback and the Jazz premium hatchback. 

How on-road prices are calculated and vary for different cities

If you’re planning to buy a new car, there are a number of things that are to be kept in mind. For starters, you need to know that at the showroom you would get a quote of two prices – ex-showroom and on-road. If you’re not well-informed about what these terms actually imply, well, it’s high time you make yourself aware, for it concerns a major investment and you surely don’t want to land up in a tricky position. The fundamental thing that you should know is that the price one actually pays for the car is the on-road price. Needless to say, that is the most important thing to look at before making a decision. Depending on the car model and the state in which you’re buying it, the on-road price exceeds the ex-showroom by approximately 10%.

a.       Ex-showroom price: this is the basic price of a car which does not take into account any registration charges, insurance, or loadings. It is the price at which a car dealer sells a car to retail customers which includes dealer margins, transportation costs, and applicable excise, state taxes, etc.

b.      On-Road price: it is basically the price at which the buyer drives away the car. Typically, the prices that are added up to calculate the on-road price includes:

1.      Registration Charges: This is mandatory for every new vehicle.

2.      Life time road tax: This has to be compulsorily paid on a vehicle before using it on a public road.

3.      Vehicle insurance

4.      Dealer handling charges or logistics charges

Now let us look at each of the components of on-road price in a little more detail.

i.                    Registration charges are the cost entailed to get your vehicle registered. It is a unique identity for your car. This charge differs from state to state, and in a particular state, it will vary on the basis of the car cost, and whether it runs or petrol or diesel.

ii.                  Road tax: This is charged by the government for road improvements and repairs. It is subject to state government rules, traffic regulations, etc. Hence it is not uniform for every state. For example, road tax in Delhi is lesser than that in Bangalore. Again, based on the type of car, road tax might vary. For example, be it any state, the road tax one needs to pay for Maruti Swift is different from new Hyundaii10, which in turn will be different for Hyundai Verna. Two-wheelers and small cars that cost less than Rs. 4 lakh entails a road tax of around 4-6%, whereas for vehicles valued over Rs. 20 lakh, it is somewhere between 7 to 9%.

iii.                Vehicle Insurance: Also known as auto insurance, this is the price paid to provide financial protection against physical damage and/or bodily injury. It is mandatory by law and differs according to different rates provided by different insurance companies in different states.

iv.                Dealer Handling Charges: This is the charge the dealer claims to take the car from warehouse to showroom, the number plate charge, delivery charges, cleaning of car, etc.

Thus, it goes without saying that since the constituents of on-road price themselves is variable and is not fixed for every state, consequently, the on-road pricing too varies from city to city. So before you make up your mind about buying a car, make sure you think well about these factors. Once you’re through with all these crucial details, nothing should stop you from taking the plunge! 

New cars in Mumbai

Planning to buy a new car? Well, there are a few things that you should definitely keep in mind before taking the plunge. After all, it is not only a major financial investment but is also a memorable milestone of your life, one which you’re going to cherish for years to come. And that actually makes car-buying an emotional process as well. But before you indulge in the euphoria of buying new cars in Mumbai, turn on your practical self and make a check-list of the factors you should take in consideration.

Homework

      Budgeting is the first and foremost thing that you should analyze when the thought of buying a new car strikes you. And by budgeting, we do not mean only the purchase price, it is a wiser move to delve into fuel efficiency, service costs, insurance premiums, and so on. Once you decide the price range, move on to outlining the type of car that best meets your needs. There are several makes and models these days, and you should take your pick after giving sufficient thought. You should also dwell on whether you want to buy a diesel car or a petrol car.

2.      The Test Drive

      You should never buy a car based solely on someone else’s opinion. It is imperative to keep in mind that what is right for someone else might not be right for you. Go for a comprehensive test drive in traffic that will give you a concrete idea about the comfort of the driving position and engine responsiveness. For second opinion, you can consider taking along someone – a friend or a relative – preferably someone with a basic knowledge of cars. Also, make certain that every commitment made by your dealer is given to you in writing and signed on their letter head.

3.      Sealing the deal

      Do sufficient research on the available discounts; this ‘shopping around’ will prove to be completely worth it in the long run. You can also consider calling a Direct Sales Agent for a quote. Also, make sure you check the actual interest rate rather than the quoted one, as this often reveals glaring discrepancies. Keep in mind that getting a loan against fixed deposits has a number of advantages, including lucrative interest rates, minimal paperwork, and flexible repayment plans. When t comes to buying accessories, you should crosscheck their prices between the showroom and after-market dealers. Dealerships usually make a significant amount of money on accessories; in case they are bundling accessories for free, verify their quality and brand. Last but not the least, it is advisable to buy insurance yourself after taking a few quotes from insurance companies/agents. Dealerships usually make hefty commissions on every insurance policy sold.

However, this is not an exhaustive list. There are quite a few other things that are to be taken care of, to ensure that you have a satisfactory experience of buying new cars in Mumbai. It is an event of your lifetime, so make it fulfilling in every way you can! 

How to decide on buying a new car?

Are you wondering how to decide on buying a new car? The decision requires loads of homework, patience and perseverance on your part. You should always venture to purchase a new car after having done your homework. After all, a car represents a vital investment for you and your family. You do not want to be stuck with a wrong choice for quite a few years especially if you are going out on a limb and paying high EMIs to own the same. The first thing to remember is that you should have the financials completely worked out. You should know how much down payment you can ideally fork out for the new car without putting your bank account into complete jeopardy. Ideally, a minimum of 10% is sought by banks and dealerships alike while there are often special offers like zero down payment though this is not advisable since this only inflates interest rates and loan amounts in the future.

Try to pay as much as possible upfront, preferably up to 20-25%. Once this is achievable, you should then work out the loan amount you need, your eligibility and other factors. In case you have no other loans and possess your own accommodation, your car loan EMI should not exceed a maximum of 15-25% of your income in an ideal scenario. You should also budget for costs like yearly insurance, yearly service and maintenance, fuel costs every month (calculate the average distance you will need to travel and find out about the mileage offered by the car model you want to buy) and other expenses including chauffeurs and the like. Once all these expenses are budgeted along with the costs related to registration, one-time insurance and other taxes, you’re all set to buy your dream car.

The entire process should have you in a cool and calm frame of mind even though buying a car is an emotional decision. Never be in a hurry to buy your dream car even if you cannot control your excitement! You should also do your homework about the future depreciation in the value of your car and the total cost of ownership. You should also find out about probable service costs and approximate insurance premiums that you have to pay in the future. You should also decide on the kind of car you need. If it is entirely a utility purchase, you should look to meet basic needs of yourself and your family. If it is a small family, you can opt for a hatchback or even a sedan depending upon your budget and preferences. If you have a large family, an MUV is a good bet and if you love bigger and rugged cars, you can opt for an SUV if you are okay with the size, higher prices and other hurdles to owning these beasts in congested cities.

There is another decision that you should make as well. You should choose between a diesel or a petrol car. New age diesel cars are more fuel efficient, high performing and clean. Petrol cars are okay if you have lower commutes and are looking primarily for driving pleasure. However, diesel is a must if you drive long distances every day and are looking for better mileage and more power. You should never neglect safety options when choosing your car. Always look for features like ABS with EBD, traction control systems and airbags. If you are buying a variant that does not come with standard safety features like these, paying a little more for optional safety features is highly recommended. These are well worth it since safety comes first on our treacherous Indian roads.

You should also keep an eye out for car models that are in their new generation. Find out whether your chosen car model is about to be phased out or discontinued. Find out whether the new generation model or face lift is about to be introduced in a few months or a year. The best option is to wait since a new generation vehicle will be a better investment and will hold considerably better resale value. If you end up buying a car model that is about to be phased out, you will face huge problems relating to finding components and other parts. Resale value will also be a big problem. Most car models get an upgrade after every 3-4 years.

Do not rely blindly on advertisements for information on vehicles. You should try and talk to as many car owners as possible along with reading up on reviews about the car you want to buy. Do not buy your vehicle from dealerships that are not authorized even if they offer amazingly low prices and other discounts. You should always buy from official dealerships for the sheer security and comfort involved in the process. You will always have access to proper service, maintenance, car care and customer service if you buy from a proper dealership. This is one mistake that most people make with very problematic implications. You should look for dry spells while buying cars instead of the festive season, Christmas and New Year. These are times when dealerships sell models in droves. If you buy your vehicle at a time when sales are not too high, you stand the chance to get better discounts and customized offers as well.

When test driving the car, focus on how you feel with regard to maneuverability and overall performance. You should not just drive a single kilometer; this will never give you a definitive idea. You should always make sure that a car connoisseur or expert driver is with you when you are taking the test drive in case you are not driving yourself. Always make sure that the promises and tasks of the dealership are jotted down in the official letterhead. This is just to ensure complete peace of mind and greater accountability from the dealership. These tips will make your car buying decision a smoother and more satisfying one.