The underrated beauty. Review on Palio - Petrol

PALIO ELX: Model: 2001, clocked over 50K, rough driver

Like the title in one phrase that describes the car is:'The under-rated beauty'. I was looking for a small car and had shortlisted between the Zen/Alto and the Santro, just happened to check out the Palio by chance, just could not go back to the Zen/Alto/Santro after the Palio test drive,

Space,

Feel,

Power,

were excellent, riding confort great,

after test driving the Palio I tried the then available Indica also [was not personally interested in a diesel vehicle, so tried the petrol verson] but the finish and the feel was not found, though the Indica was similarly shaped, the space appeared crunched. So, in short, Palio had no competition then. What I felt was that this vehicle was a good'B' -'C' segment car, without a boot.

The car is real intelligent, adjusted to almost any kind of driving, I am a real rough driver, it had held it self well in the over 50 k clocked so far, bad roads of vadodara, and at least 3 drivers [paid]. It rides smooth, even when I am driving:), and believe me it is a compliment.

Seeming small things like, the door opening in stages, not closing by itself, the smootness of the gear, all electric equipments switching off with the ignition, the central lock, all were execptional. I have not foud many of these features even in the later models like, Swift, Getz, etc. [they were not around when I bought the Palio]. In short it is a car to be enjoyed to the maximum, the others' [swift/Getz/Zen/Alto/Santro/Indica] feel course in the ride and even in the finish.

Now coming to the cons:

First and foremost is the service, it has lots to be desired, I was using the Autocraft the sole one in vadodara, they were situated in a distant corner of Vadodara, even when paid to collect for service they were not responsive, though nothing specific could be said about the service, they were not through with the servicing, nothing was looked into unless specifically pointed out. Even when pointed out small details were ignored. Again I will say everthing they attended to, they did well. I dont have any basis of comparision with other car dealers[of other manufacturers], but I was not happy with the service I received, I expected more. I have tried the tata service, hope they will be better, atleast they are closer home.

The Spares are expensive, but I have hardly had to change anything ever, Tata did not have something I wanted and have not received the same.

One problem was the Silencer, it brust in the first year itself they changed it though the warrenty was just over, had it changed twice after, the dealer says it is because of the bad speed breaker in Vadodara, again have nothing to compare to. I feel this is one Manufacturing defect, the life of the silencer has to be better, and believe me it is expensive.

The average/efficency/milage, is lesser compared to the others, as I have been told. But for the vehicles comfort and ride, I find this manageable, specially with my kind of usage of 50K Km in seven years, less than 10000 Km/year. The milage is more of a mind block.

Summary:Great car for its price, the features available, finish, the feel and the ride are not available even in some of the higher segments. it is a bootless'B' /'C' segment car. Hope Fiat does not kill it.