Oct 31, 2004 01:46 PM
11848 Views
(Updated Nov 22, 2006 09:20 PM)
Latest updates added in the endI was looking for a 3 box sedan in the C-segment. Being an auto enthusiast, I wanted to buy the car with responsive engine, great handling and having good looks. My budget range was 5-8 lakhs. Since I drive mostly in Pune city and only occasional highway trips (my running generally does not exceed 1000 km/month), I wanted to go in for a petrol engined car only. The diesel cars of the new generation are pretty good, but their noise levels still not on-par with their petrol variants. After a lot of research, I had finally eyed on 3 cars: 1) Fiat Petra 1.6 Petrol 2) Ford Ikon 1.6 ZXi 3) Maruti Baleno VXi/LXi Hyundai Accent and Honda City were not on my list for the reason that both of the cars' powerplants felt disappointing when compared to the above 3 cars. About City, the engine feels anaemic and cries out for power when you switch on the A/C (which in Pune is becoming a necessity these days). Fiat has priced the Petra exceptionally well. But unfortunately, the car is marred by cheap looking interiors (its only serious flaw). The interiors are dull and induce sleep. Really bad because technologically, its Engine is the the most advanced among the 3 shortlisted above, with 100 bhp twin-cam (from the Palio 1.6 GTX) which goes like a rocket. Better interiors would have definitely turned me towards the Petra. The next one to go was the Baleno, there is nothing wrong with the car as such. Its engine, like all free revving suzuki engines is quick, fast and fuel efficient (for a car of its size). A/C is definitely best in class. But I felt the dimensions of a Baleno huge to drive in Pune traffic. Looks are not all that great either and its boxy shape has started to show its age. So here I had, the Ford Ikon 1.6 ZXi. How does it fare in the different departments. Looks and Interiors:The Ikon 1.6 ZXi runs on 14 inch alloys (miniature version of those delicious alloys on Mondeo) which look great. The new cat eyed clearlens headlamps look cool. A rear spoiler is missing as a standard fitment, though you can get one fitted from the dealer. But here, Ford asks you for 7000+ Rs. which I feel is absolute looting. Overall a good looking car to stand out from the crowds of Accents, Balenos, Petras, Corsas, Citys and Indigos. The car looks bang up to date unlike Baleno or Accent which have started to show their age already. It doesn't look overstyled either (like the new city whose front makes it look it like it's from Mars). Inside, the interiors are pleasing with white dials giving a sporty feel. The steering too is a notch smaller than the one fitted on the 1.3 variant adding to the sporty looks. An In-Dash single CD player is factory fitted (which I would suggest you to replace with an mp3 player, it will cost you about 2000 Rs. premimum which I feel is worth paying). I have fitted a Kenwood player. Alpine, Panasonic, JBL too are equally good.Engine:The car has a 1.6 Litre SOHC powerplant which generates 91 bhp. Nothing great when compared to Baleno's SOHC 94 bhp or Petra's DOHC 100 bhp engine. As mentioned above, Petra's engine is the most advanced in the C-segment currently. The 1.6 litre ROCAM still by no means sluggish and is extremely responsive with a sporty urge and responsiveness that the New City and Accent lack. I was able to get to 100 km/hr in around 12 seconds (technical figures state that the time is 11.5 seconds), which is great. Top speed also is a very respectable 175+ km/hr, so the car will not feel exhausted even while cruising at 150 km/hr. Handling:On the road, the car feels extremely poised and Pune's bad roads and potholes did not upset the car's composure. The car feels rock solid even at speeds in excess of 120 km/hr. The Ikon is having one of the best chassis and suspension setups this side of the 10 lakh cars and I feel that not many cars in the 10-20 lakh range do better. Well, there are definitely a few in the 10 lakh+ range that would make an Ikon blush, like the Ford Mondeo, Chevrolet Forester and Skoda RS Turbo. But hey, we are talking a sub 10 lakh cars and this one costs a cool 6.52 lakhs ! Fuel Economy:Well, I am yet to calculate the exact figures. But from my friends' who own an Ikon 1.6 ZXi and a few Auto Magazines, I would say that the car gives 10-11 km/ltr in city with careful driving and A/C switched off. If you are a spirited driver (like me), the car with A/C turned on will return around 8-9 km/ltr. On the highway, it returns about 12 km/ltr with A/C turned on. I feel it is good enough for a spirited car like the Ikon ;-).I do have the exact mileage figures for the Ikon now. I calculated the mileage figures from tankful to tankful of 91 Octane Petrol (POWER) available in Pune. The car travelled 250.5 km before gulping down 23.87 litres of POWER again. That gives a mileage figure of 10.49 km/litre. I ALWAYS keep the A/C switched ON and these figures are in the Stop-n-Go traffic of Pune City. So forget about switching to 5th Gear (although I did once manage to switch to 5th cog and rush to 100 km/hr on University Road). Pune City driving and A/C switched ON; I can't help but see a smile on the RPM dial. Ikon manages to give me that ''kick'' in speed while managing this 10.5 km/litre. I am sure, it will give me at least 14 km/litre on Highway in 5th gear if I switch off the A/C (maybe even more if I put in Speed 93 Octane, but it is currently not available in Pune).Overall Verdict:The driving experience from the 1.6 ZXi is something to be felt rather than described in words. Very good and spacious rear seats are a bonus for a driver oriented car like this. I would say, if your heart rules your head but don't have the ransom of 19 lakhs for the new Mondeo (soon to be launched in India), look no further than the Ikon 1.6 ZXi. Price revisions across the range and a host of standard equipments (In-dash CD changer, alloy wheels, tubeless radials, fog lamps, driver seat height adjustment etc.) make the Ikon better value than ever before.Update on 18th November 2004:Well, it has been nearly 3 weeks now and I am just waiting for 1500 km on the odometer so that I can drive my josh machine with a heavy right foot :-). The driving experience is fantastic and it gets better every time I drive it. There is only one bad thing about the car : The driving experience of Josh Machine is so addictive that our ''old'' oil burning Indica has started to rust these days. I would be happy to give a farewell to the old indica once the 2.0 litre 155 bhp crackling Honda Civic VTEC is launched in India (just a matter of 12 months or so). It's going to be a tough decision though as the formidable Ford Focus too is going to be launched soon.
