What are they like inside?
There’s no doubt that the new two-tone
dashboard on the Etios looks far better than the acres of dull grey that
characterized the interiors of the old one. Toyota has also given the Etios
better quality air-con knobs and a 2-DIN audio system, and substantially
reworked the seats. In fact, the flat and thin seats, which felt quite down market
in the old car, have been replaced by ones that feel luxurious in comparison.
The front seats now get height adjustment and adjustable headrests too. Still,
if you look closely, you’ll see Toyota hasn’t changed the grain of the dashboard
plastics, so it’s just the better colors that make the cabin look and feel
nicer. However, it’s nowhere close to how good the Manza’s dashboard feels. The
two-tone dash on the Manza looks far more upmarket and the high-quality leather
seats really make the cabin feel expensive. Other nice bits are the easy-to-use
climate control system and the touchscreen audio. The Manza’s seats are also
broader than the Toyota’s.
The
two-tone dash on the Manza looks far more upmarket and the high-quality leather
seats really make the cabin feel expensive.
Both these cars have plenty of space at the
rear, but it’s the Manza that has more. And, in addition to the extra legroom,
the Manza’s seats have better support and more headroom.
As for boot space, it is the Etios with its
595-liter boot that can hold more than the Manza’s 460-liter boot.
As
for boot space, it is the Etios with its 595-liter boot that can hold more than
the Manza’s 460-liter boot.
Buying & owning
The top-end Etios VD SP, at $16,300, costs
$440 less than the Manza EXL. However, the Tata is better value because it’s
got a lot more equipment and is the bigger car. As for fuel efficiency, the
Etios with its 16.6kpl overall figure is way better than the Manza’s 14.35kpl.
The Etios has a slightly bigger fuel tank too.
The Etios gets the better warranty too. At
3 years/1,00,000km, it betters the Manza’s 2 years/75,000km.
Equipment & safety
Both the Toyota Etios and the Tata Manza
have been updated recently and in the process have been equipped with more kit.
Both cars have alloy wheels, power windows, central locking, fog lamps,
adjustable steering wheels, and steering mounted audio controls (optional in
the Etios) in the respective top-of-the-line trims.
Both
the Toyota Etios and the Tata Manza have been updated recently and in the
process have been equipped with more kit.
The Tata leads the race with more goodies
in the form of climate control, ‘follow me home’ headlamps, leather upholstery,
lumbar support for the driver’s seat and an information display that reads out
distance to empty, fuel consumption and outside temperature, all of which the
Etios lacks. However the Etios does have a smartly designed cooled glove box
standard across the range which is not featured on the Manza EXL.
Toyota upgraded the Etios with an emphasis
on improving the overall feel of the car. Towards this goal, the driver’s seat
is now height adjustable, the rear view mirrors are redesigned with built-in
indicators and the garish looking red gear knob of the earlier versions has
been replaced with a classier silver one. The dials are now blue-backlit and
look better than before and all the above mentioned additions along with the
lighter colors of the dashboard make the Etios feel far more upmarket than the
previous iteration.
There is also a new two-DIN music system
with Bluetooth connectivity, but the Manza again goes one up here with a
touchscreen system which also has a navigation system built-in.
However
the Etios does have a smartly designed cooled glove box standard across the
range which is not featured on the Manza EXL
On the safety front, ABS and dual airbags
are optional in the top two trims of the Etios whereas in the Manza, ABS is
standard in the top two trims while airbags are standard on the top end
variant.
With more standard equipment and four
variants on offer as compared to the Etios’ three, the Tata Manza appears more
value and gives the buyers more choice.
Our verdict
Tata Manza EXL: 4/5
For: Spacious interiors, plush ride
Against: Lacks badge appeal
Verdict: Fantastic bang for your buck
Toyota Etios VD SP: 3/5
For: Easy to drive, fuel efficiency
Against: Equipment levels, still doesn’t
feel upmarket enough
Verdict: Improved, but still not good value
The new Etios is a very competent car. It
is the one that’s easier to drive, the ride has been hugely improved and it’s
fuel efficient as well. Then there’s that peace-of-mind Toyota ownership
experience, backed up by a very generous warranty. However, improved as it is,
it still feels a bit pared down and is not as refined as the Manza. Also, the
ride isn’t as nice, the engine is quite noisy and it isn’t as well equipped.
However,
improved as it is, it still feels a bit pared down and is not as refined as the
Manza
The Manza, on the other hand, has a lot
going for it. The interiors look and feel premium and there’s plenty of
equipment on offer. It also rides better, has the quieter engine and lets less
road noise into the cabin – all things you would expect of your saloon. It has
the better rear seats and, by sheer virtue of its size, has more room in the
cabin as well. Sure, it may not have the badge snobbery of a Toyota, but it
really is a good car. Its long-term reliability is a bit suspect, but for the
value it offers, it’s hard not to give it the benefit of the doubt. That it’s
priced only slightly higher than the smaller, lesser equipped Toyota and gives
you so much more makes it the easy winner here.
