Good Package-poor dealer . Review on Maruti Suzuki SX4

For the past three weeks, I was a prospective SX4 buyer. I relinquished the position today and am an ordinary human being. I was one of he first to see and feel the car, much before its release in Bangalore. I had approached Bimal, and the sales man Rjesh .D was excellent in answering my quetions, and helping me with the car etcc. I booked the car and wanted the metallic red. I was initially told that there were three reds in the fist lot for which 4 bookings have been made. I was told that who ever makes the first payment will get the car. Also that by May end I would have the car in any case. Once I had arranged my loan and was waiting for the delivery, I was told that the two in the current lot were demo cars and the third had already been delivered. The next lot will be dispatched on some day in june. Later I was told that I car had been dispatched twice only to be informed that they were for the regional office and oracle respectively. Here I was without even knowing when the car would be dispatched and waiting.

I have cancelled the booking and taken the money back today. But a test drive and several thorough inspections later, i have found things I like and dislike of this car.

*Looks

*Muscular, big and good

*Interiors and features(ZXI-no leather)

*The front facia with intergrated music system looks great, so does the controls on the steering. But apart from these, the dashlooks a little bare. The general quality while being not great doesnt leave too much for complaint either. The Airbags adn ABS are great at this price, but for bumper to bumper traffic that one gets in Banglaore ABS may not be very usefull. But still great nevertheless. The quarter glass in front is very usefull unlike the honday city.

*Ride and ground clearance

Ride is a little stiff on bad roads but thats miles better than competion. The GC puts trucks to shame. Will not be troubled by the great wall of china let alone speed breakers

*Drive and engine parameters

*Normally marutis strong point, but nothing great here. My dad has a baleno, which with 94PS power and a free reving engine is a drivers delight. The 102 PS for the SX4 makes for great reading but a disppointment. Its by no means underpowered and is definitley better than most other cars in the same segment, but it hasnt taken the Baleno concept forward. Infact the new engine is different(not free reving).Mileage promised was 1 km less than Baleno, that would put it at around 10.5 to11.5 KPL in Bangalore city with A/C.

Handling-very sure footed, slight body roll in sharp corners but still very good.

Streering -stiff. Stiffer when slow.

*Interior and boot space

*Very spacious, though marginally less than honda city. The boot is massive bigger than anything in its class. Thbad bit as many have pointed out, is its inability to seat the 5th person comfortably

*A/C

Good, but the time tested maruti glitch of power loss with A/C switched on continues

*Ratings Explained

The system does not allow blank ratings so-

*Had to give Bimal, Bangalorea rating of one

Mileage promised itself is poor