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Posted on: Jun 08 2007

Maruti-Versa

The Versa is one of Maruti's rare failures, and one that quite surprised the company, which had expected this practical little MPV to do very well in our joint-family market. One problem was the too-high price; Maruti has since slashed the price appreciably, and added cheaper variants, the result of which is that sales are now lukewarm instead of stone cold.

Design, Engineering and Interiors:  
The Versa was expected to provide an alternative to the long running but highly compromised Omni, offering more comfort, better safety and an all-round, more modern feel. To provide seven-passenger seating in a tiny footprint, the Versa has had to go vertical and melt into a one-and-a-quarter box shape, which clearly marks it out as an MPV.

It is by no means a sharp-looking design, and in fact the narrow, tall proportions are a turn-off for many. It tries not to look offensive, but ends up being simply bland; details like the wraparound headlamps are quite nice, but overall, the slab-like surfacing, tiny wheels and van-like shape make it one of the less successful styling exercises. Mechanically, it follows a traditional, simple van layout, with the engine placed longitudinally under the front seats, driving the rear wheels.

The front suspension is independent, with MacPherson struts, with modifications to control body roll; the rear uses a non-independent, three-link set-up with a live axle and coil springs. The Versa is largely designed around the interior, which Maruti has tried to make as car-like as possible; it looks rather like the Wagon R's dashboard, but there's no getting away from the unfamiliar, high seating position. Visibility is great, and the short bonnet gives you a far greater sense of security than the bonnet-less Omni.

The front seats are fairly comfy, but could have done with more lower back support; ergonomics are fine, with all controls logically laid out and falling easily to hand. The steering wheel and driver's seat, are also height-adjustable.

The Versa comes in a few different versions, from the stripped-out five-seater DX standard, through the eight-seater DX and DX2 to the seven-seater SDX; these seats flip and fold in a number of combinations, making for a pretty flexible cabin. The middle seat in the SDX is comfy, but passengers in the two, third-row seats would be stuck for legroom. Although headroom is plentiful, width is mingy, and passengers will have to be good friends to survive a long journey sitting three abreast.

The high floor also makes for a knees-up position, which is quite uncomfortable. Luggage space isn't great with all three rows in place, but is adequate if the last row is flipped forward.

Performance, Fuel Economy and Handling:  
The Versa uses the same 1.3-litre petrol engine as in the Esteem and Gypsy, but tuned to give 82bhp instead of the Esteem's 85. This engine has endeared itself to us in the Versa's siblings, and doesn't disappoint here; low-down torque isn't great, but it is enthusiastic, revvy and refined, and gives the Versa surprisingly good performance, allowing this horribly un-aerodynamic car to do 0-60kph in 5.21sec, and hit a maximum of 150kph. Fuel economy, as always, is very good, especially in the city, at 10.1kpl; however, the poor aerodynamics mean it only manages 13.6kpl on the highway. A high point is the gearbox with its stubby, punchy lever, which is slick and easy to use.

Handling and ride are nowhere near car standards, but keep the van aspect in mind and it does very well. The controls are light and easy to use in the city, especially given the tight turning circle and narrow width. The suspension settings are quite firm, but the ride is quite acceptable on smooth roads. It does get unsettled on poor roads, but that may be due to the light-truck tyres that the Versa uses. On really rough roads, the Versa tends to pitch and bounce, but does fairly well for a van.

The handling is pretty predictable and precise, but you have to remember the high centre of gravity before you try and throw it into a corner. One weakness is a susceptibility to crosswinds, but this is natural in a vehicle this tall.

Verdict:
The Versa is really a surprisingly capable vehicle: it has a flexible and user-friendly interior, an excellent powertrain and perfectly acceptable dynamics. It looks rather odd, yes, The cabin may not be really high quality and it can’t really compare with a car, but given the priorities of van buyers, it really excels. Now, especially that the price has come down, the Versa is a superb and unfairly overlooked alternative to an MUV, especially if you’re going to be city-bound. The Versa, especially the base version, is pretty good value, but equipment levels aren’t very good. The base version has only five seats, negating some of its versatility. It is reliable, with a good service network, but slashed prices and poor demand means resale values aren’t very good.
Source: autocarindia.com