Can the new Mahindra Verito Vibe
carve for itself a piece of the compact car pie?
Downsizing. It’s everywhere and now it’s
beginning to affect everything around us. From mobile phones to engines, small
is the new big and the trend doesn’t look as if it will change any time soon.
The fact is that environmental consciousness is not just a line of thought,
it’s become a necessity. And thus, we witness that all major car manufacturers,
who once used to offer just large, bulky cars with huge engines, are making
room in their portfolio for something compact and reasonably efficient. Then
there are the various rules in each country. Here in India, the
4,000-millimetre overall car length and 1,500-cc diesel engine capacity dictate
quite a few terms for the manufacturers. Just a couple of millimeters or cubic
centimeters can affect pricing to a significant extent. It’s no wonder that
many a car maker has been carefully studying the market and working hard to
create a product that slots in just perfectly. In a market like India, where
competition is fierce and every little detail can and will be criticized, there
is little or no room for error and it’s the little details which can make or break
the car’s fate.
It’s
no wonder that many a car maker has been carefully studying the market and
working hard to create a product that slots in just perfectly.
With these norms in mind, Mahindra &
Mahindra have been busy working on a sub-four-meter version of the erstwhile
Logan, which then became the Verito and immediately spawned rumors of a compact
version being in the pipeline. After what seems like a long pipeline, the
Verito Vibe is finally here and, to be honest, it is quite a good overall package.
It, however, must take on established rivals in the Maruti-Suzuki Swift DZire,
the best-selling car in the Country at the moment, and the exciting new Honda
Amaze, which has been growing in Popularity ever since it first appeared.
After
what seems like a long pipeline, the Verito Vibe is finally here and, to be
honest, it is quite a good overall package
Mahindra have tried to revamp the
appearance of the Verito Vibe as compared to the Verito sedan while maintaining
the family resemblance and keeping the costs in check. However, fret not,
because they have indeed managed to give the Verito Vibe a distinct identity,
which is not likely to be confused with its longer sibling. The changes begin
with the front grille decked in dark grey with the opening widening towards the
edges, giving it a rugged appearance. The smoked glass headlamps align well
with the grille to complete a handsome front end. The flared wheel- arches look
a bit more pronounced on the Vibe, though, and that’s a good thing, because the
new 14-inch Champagne alloy wheels wrapped in 185/70 rubber fill them up rather
nicely. The slice profile of the car looks familiar save for the black
roof-rails or ‘ski racks’, as Mahindra calls them, adding to the car’s rugged
persona. Another noticeable feature is the thick and angled C-pillar, which now
houses the entire tail-lamp cluster. The new streaming LED tail-lamps look
great and are one of the features with the most refreshing vibe about them.
Step inside and the Verito Vibe’s space is
evident. There is a good amount of room and passenger comfort up front or at
the rear won’t be an issue for most, unless all four occupants are six-footers,
which is rarely the case. Look around and you notice some Indo-French elements.
Beige dominates most of the interior with just the dashboard and the seats
finished in two-tone, with the center console and dashboard garnished in
carbon-fiber-mimicking black plastic and chrome, which are a nice touch. There
are quite a few useful cubbyholes and storage spaces, which will hold your
belongings well, but we would have appreciated larger door pockets.
There
is a good amount of room and passenger comfort up front or at the rear won’t be
an issue for most, unless all four occupants are six-footers, which is rarely
the case
The car we drove was the D6 variant and it
comes with an equipment list which doesn’t leave you unsatisfied. The controls
are within easy reach from the driver’s seat and ergonomics are good. The
manually adjustable seat provides good support, with better thigh support than
expected, and setting up a comfortable driving position didn’t take long. Rear
passengers will find a good amount of room as well and three abreast seating
won’t be too tight in many cases. The boot may not be to everyone’s liking. The
Verito Vibe, being a compact sedan after all, has quite a narrow loading area
and you may just struggle with big items or a large suitcase. That said, the
actual luggage capacity of 330 liters isn’t too bad at all. The Verito Vibe D6
also brings in a good amount of kit, including an audio system with support for
CD and MP3 with USB, and Aux-In ports for added connectivity. Electric wing
mirrors and all four power windows make life easy for the driver and occupants
as well. The keyless entry with engine immobilizer is also very convenient.
Dashboard
layout is simple, but functional. Cabin feels airy and spacious, because it is.
Controls and buttons fall in place easily once you get accustomed to the center
console
