The
Esteem D was launched without any fanfare and initially will be available
only in south India where demand for diesel vehicles still remains strong.
Competition in this segment is due to hot up with the imminent launch
of the Tata Indigo with a 1.4-litre turbocharged diesel, the Accent
CRD with a 1.5-litre 3-cyl common rail diesel and also the 1.9-litre
turbocharged engine from Fiat. The Esteem Di will then have a real tough
job getting anywhere close to the competition.
The Peugeot engine, in spite of its vintage is still a very strong performer
and will give other engines a run for its money. The same though cannot
be said of the Esteem that simply put is too old. Whether a heart transplant
will see her capture buyers imagination is debatable.
What is not debatable is that fact that the Esteem Di represents fantastic
value for money. At Rs 5.78 lakh ex-showroom in Mumbai the Esteem sports
a competitive price tag. Take into account her phenomenal fuel efficiency,
the strong Maruti sales and service network and also price of spares
that are the cheapest in the country and she makes a very strong case
for herself. No, this Esteem won't get you noticed nor will she stir
your senses; but she will tend to your wallet, and for many that is
reason enough to go get one. |
