Car-izma

For Seema Rajdev,commuting to work in her sedan is a daily affair. On the eight-km-long drive,though,she feels the need to have a car that is designed especially for women.

For Seema Rajdev,commuting to work in her sedan is a daily affair. On the eight-km-long drive,though,she feels the need to have a car that is designed especially for women. I cannot get rid of the thought that I need a car which is made especially for women,just the way two-wheelers are. Most cars available in the market today are not conducive to women drivers, says Rajdev. If there can be women-specific two-wheelers,why not women-specific cars? she reasons.

Rajdev is not alone in feeling this way. Scores of city women,for whom driving is more a necessity than a luxury or a style statement,resent the unavailability of cars which keep the needs of women drivers in mind. When I drive to work,I carry along a large bag,which holds everything,from my water bottle to my office files. Now,in a conventional car,I can only keep it either on the back seat or wedge it between the two front seats, says Arti Wadhwani,who drives for six km daily to reach her workplace in Hadapsar. Theres no designated storage space for such things. The small enclosure in the dashboard is not sufficient, she adds.

From special storage space to seats that are too high for most Indian women (since they are designed keeping the male leg length in mind),the cars available in the Indian market leave much to be desired,both in terms of design specifications and women-friendly attributes. Have you noticed how every car has a windscreen which is way too high for most women in India,whose average height is 5 feet 3 inches? Its so difficult to make out whats in front of you,especially when driving in congested spaces, avers Manisha Pethe,who drives from Khadki to Karve Road five days a week.

Most women prefer a car that offers good visibility,is easy to drive and makes driving more than just a chore. A majority of women like to have a car which offers a good,elevated view of the road beyond the windscreen,ample storage space,reasonable prices and low maintenance design. I need a car which can offer me maneuverability and is easy to maintain. I have neither the inclination nor the time to look after the cars maintenance every few months, says Neelam Alavi,who juggles a high-pressure job and the responsibility of two growing kids. When time is at a premium,a car which offers all the latest features and is still easy to handle,is just what suits my needs, she adds.

So,if you are a woman and are planning to buy a car in the near future,keeping all the above concerns of the fairer sex in mind will help you pick a beauty which will be good to look at and even better to drive.

Best cars in the world for women

* Honda Civic

* Mercedes Benz E-Class

* Toyota Camry

* Ford Focus

* Nissan Sentra

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