A clever little car

But Maruti has refused to buy this and therefore we have the Ritz. With the engine and technology of the i20,far from alienating the price sensitive buyer,the car is destined to introduce sedan-like technology to a whole new section of consumers given that it is priced like the Swift and not the i20. Therein Maruti have secured for itself a winning strategy that its Korean and Japanese competitors will have to compete with if they want to enjoy similar sales volumes which they always do.

But it becomes quickly apparent to the discerning eye where they have scrimped to secure their splendidly low price point and here also begin the issues that lower the cars appeal. The gear box has been fused with the dashboard that has a neatly designed,if fairly basic,central console with a built-in audio system which is both user friendly and produces excellent sound.

In the traditional premium hatchback style,the steering wheel also comes equipped with an array of buttons to control the music system. However,unlike in the Jazz and i20,where these are spread on either side of the steering wheel,buttons here are all on the left side,making it necessary to look down until youve remembered the sequence. Moreover,the buttons are a bit tough and require some effort to operate.

But what is shortsighted is that for a car built on the large platform of the Swift and given tall dimensions,the overall interior space has been extremely poorly used. The dashboard is gigantic to say the least and very poorly designed. It is impossible to place anything on top without it rolling off. You can only store things in a space carved just above the glove compartment which makes that unit far too small and places it so low that it never fails to bang into the knees of the person sitting in the front passenger seat,cannot store much and things that are stored are difficult to access. The dashboards only extravagance is the large white speedometer taken from the A-Star which could prove mildly amusing for some people for a while,but the novelty wears of as soon as you realise that this is no 10-second car and you are not on the Monte Carlo circuit.

Equally challenging is the placement of the cup holdersone each inside the narrow magazine racks built into the front doors. It is not recommended to attempt to handle hot beverages while driving as even accessing small water bottles proved tough.

There is no real storage space at the back. Long journeys involving children could be a problem especially since the tastefully upholstered seating,though good at the back with plenty of leg room,can get uncomfortable.

But what is most difficult to love about the Ritz is the shape of its rear. Unless it somehow adds to the aero dynamism of the car,the acute angles that give the car its convex rear simply cannot be justified. This has also eaten into boot space which can at best fit a few small duffel bags.

There has also been an attempt to angle the rear lights in a fashion the designers believe resembles a splash of water. It doesnt. While many may say its looks make the car stand out,it is highly debatable whether this is a good thing.

The brand-new 1.2-litre K-series petrol engine is perhaps the best to emerge from Maruti till date and could even be seen to rival those made by the always excellent Hyundai and Honda with its reported mileage of 17.7km/l likely to be lower for city driving. The Ritz also comes with the same 1.3 Multi-jet diesel engine that powers the Swift and both are compliant with BS IV emission norms,a first for an Indian passenger car.

Though automatic transmission is offered in the European version,Maruti doesnt feel there is a large enough market here to justify this feature. So,Indian roads will only get a standard five-speed manual transmission. The light clutch is effortless to use,making gear shifts smooth. However,given that the gear has been shifted up and fused with the central console,this might take some getting used to.

The car does take its time to get going and it immediately becomes clear that this is an engine that needs to be revved to life. The engine is pretty silent,if sluggish,between 0-60kmph until you hit a comfort zone once youre in the third gear. Acceleration from 0-100kmph is beautiful and touching 120kmph just needs a little more effort. However,even when travelling down a highway as excellent as the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway,the drive never gets near that airborne feeling. The engine quite audibly buzzes at higher speeds and the car keeps you aware of the exact nature and quality of the terrain youre driving on. At best you can do a maximum speed of 140kmph,but it takes work to get there.

Manoeuvrability and the cars responses at high speeds,however,are most impressive,as is its breaking. Even while travelling beyond 100kmph,a quick press of the brake will immediately kill speed and the driver is not likely to lose control over the vehicle. Inside the city,the Ritz easily threads through traffic and its air conditioner never fails even under the punishing summer sun. Though there is a discernible body roll on hard cornering,it remains safe.

The Ritz has all the makings of an excellent family car,though not ideal for long distances. Despite its shortcomings,the car,priced between Rs 3,90,000 and Rs 4,80,000 over three petrol and two diesel variants,is more than likely to do well on Indian roads and the domestic market. One does hope,however,that this promising young car,with its clever new vision and consumer understanding,doesnt develop a complex over its distorted body shape.