| SHOOTOUT CONTENDERS
FIAT PETRA v TATA INDIGO v MARUTI ESTEEM |
Petra has superb ride
and composure, but heavy weight blunts performance.
Poor thigh support in rear seats; 1.9 engine great in
the city but needs a turbo; alloys are standard.
Solid, practical and well-equipped interior marred by
shiny plastics.
Petra’s vault-like build and reinforced chassis
ideal for poor roads.
Indigo has poor refinement, but lots of pace, space and
value.
Large, airy cabin gets full marks; 1.4 TDi punchy but
coarse; good clearance but handling not precise.
Dash too plasticky and high-set, but practical, and has
lots of kit.
Quality still iffy, but Indigo’s practicality and
value make it a hit.
Superb fuel economy, better value and hassle-free living
are the Esteem’s strengths.
Cabin cramped, tough to get in and out; no complaints
about TUD 5 diesel; ride choppy at speed.
Familiar cabin has good visibility, new dials and gear
knob look cool.
Flimsy build;
Esteem’s ageing design helped slightly by face-lift.
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