No more a status symbol. Review on Maruti Suzuki Esteem

Sure enough MUL is quiet a name (or should I say was) and has amazing figures to boast of with their Maruti 800 being a phenomenal success. With the introduction of Hyundai Santro and Daewoo Matiz, the Maruti 800 was suddenly looked down upon. In the sedan segment too Esteem sales are on decline as there is a flood here with Honda City, Honda Accord, Hyundai Accent, Sonata and Viva, Fiat Sienna, Mitsubishi Lancer, Ford Ikon providing top class competition.

But I remember those days when the Ambassador, Fiat Padmini and small Maruti 800 ruled the roads. Me and my sister would get really excited when we saw an imported make. Living in Walkeshwar we could get our eyeful as a Toyota or Merc would glide silently. It was then that MUL launched the Maruti 1000 and then the all Aluminium Maruti Suzuki Esteem.

It was the status symbol then in this part of the continent. One such proud owner (you could see that ''high look'') was my school friend's father. He would drop his kid to school and would also offer me lift. My ex-boss also has one. We would often go to visit customers in his Esteem or for conference or training programs or sometimes just like that for sheer pleasure of driving along the Palm Beach road (New Bombay). Thus, though I don't own one, I have grown to admire this vehicle and I hope it is credible enough for me to write a review. So here goes:

«« IT LOOKS REAL GOOD »»

Check the simplicity of this sedan. Looks pretty elegant long and slim. Does not look short like Lancer or Opel Corsa or bulging like Sienna. The gently sloping hood that meshes with the chrome treated grill with two long ''mrugnaini'' headlamps on the sides and above the fender makes it look sleek and sporty. Even the rear is a bit different. Most cars like Accent and City have brake lights at the sides at the rear end (which even Esteem has) and the boot door in the center, which is plain and houses the number plate. The Esteem incorporates additional tail lamps (rear and brake) on the boot lid, besides the number plate. Thus, a stopping Esteem provides high visibility for the car behind. The rear view mirror at the side has black body. It would look good if it had the main body color. Esteem looks awesome in white and metallic gray with finish that looks like nail polish.

The interiors are good too though the upholstery is not as exotic as the foreign makes. The dashboard is mainly plastic. The gray/black front panel looks sober. The green and red colored front panel indicators are properly visible for the driver. The front windscreen is big and offers a clear view of the road ahead. The glove box is big too.

«« THE PERFORMANCE »»

Unlike the Maruti 1000, Esteem has 1300 cc engine with 4 cylinders and 16 valves (unlike Corsa, Ikon etc). This arrangement guarantees a smooth acceleration and faster pick-up. What is worth mention is that the body is all-aluminium engine, which does not heat up due to its high thermal conductivity. Like most imported cars, even Esteem has an electronic module that dynamically decides the amount of fuel to be injected based on the engine speed, acceleration, temperatures, coolant temperatures etc. The engine lacks the special cam arrangement like Honda's VTEC engine and so has only one characteristic - fuel efficiency at optimum speeds (around 10-13 Km per litre). Run it on highways and efficiency lowers. The aluminium body being light weight, Esteem has advantages - it saves on fuel and has greater pick-up, lesser wind resistance and good power to weight ratio. It has 85 bhp power and goes from 0 - 100 Kmph in less than 12 secs.

As per my own experience, I am witness to smooth starts/stops and fast pick-ups. The gear shifts easily and you can feel the increase in the speed thereafter, as you are pulled back due to inertia. Inside the cabin it is relatively quiet and the only sound is the wind howl and sound of tires rubbing on the road.

However, Esteem has a top speed of only 155 Kmph - not that we get to drive past that in Mumbai, but even otherwise, I would still rate it below a Honda city in terms of performance and fuel efficiency.

One another thing is that Esteem is low on roads and one should really watch out for speed breakers. My boss goes diagonally on a speed breaker (one wheel at a time).

Other features are power steering, power windows, central locking. The cigarette lighter doubles up as a mobile phone charger (if you have the right adaptor i.e.). The ac works good though the front portion chills more than the rear. The fuel efficiency naturally drops when ac is ON.

«« SAFETY »»

Esteem body is Aluminium - a metal that bends easily. Moreover like other MUL cars (excluding Wagon-R and Alto) is ''thin skinned''. One bang and you have a nice dent - first in the car and then in your pocket. But yes, the steering wheel is collapsible, the sides have steel tube re-inforcement and the braking is sound with 13'' ventilated disc brakes on front and drum rear brakes. No and like most cars in India, there are no air bags, though safety belts are provided for front and rear passengers too.

«« DEALER NETWORK »»

Plentiful. Maruti Suzuki is here for quiet some time now and had enjoyed quiet some monopoly earlier. Thus it has a vast network of dealers - one largest advantage. Its parts and accessories are easily available. The car is nearly maintenance free, though my boss gets it completely serviced once a year. The only problem he has faced so far was with electricals - some fuse problem, then spark plug that he has to change before and after rainy season. One other problem he had was the central locking system had fouled and the left front door would not lock up. Of course he got it repaired quickly.

«« OVERALL »»

The Esteem LXi is definitely worth its Rs. 5.11 lacs (cheaper than other sedans available), delivers good performance, has low maintenance costs, though not as safe as desired. But it is definitely not a status symbol that it once used to be.