Hot new wheels for 2016
Those days are gone when small engines spelled doom for power hungry petrolheads. Turbo-charging is a common technical sucker-punch these days with small cars offering power outputs of much larger engines. BMW has an entire range of 1.5 litre turbocharged cars that are dominating the luxury market in Bangladesh.
Honda is soon to bring in their first turbo unit in the form of a Civic. Even naturally aspirated engines employing variable valve technology are producing the right amount of power in ranges and driving conditions that you need it most.
The performance is not just the power output number written on paper but how that amount is delivered. Then comes the matter of efficiency. These new cars easily achieve 8-10kmpl on average in city traffic and will last for ages if maintained well with proper oil changes and driving. This indeed is a great technological time for petrolheads.
Here's a rundown of the best brand new cars in the 1500cc range you can buy this year in Bangladesh. We balanced spaciousness, comfort, practicality and reliability. And most of these look good and are super fun to drive.
The family guy
This is usually someone with a kid or two and a wife. Or two. A car for four people. Options are wide and varied.
The Honda City comes with a 1.5 118bhp engine. It looks like a very sharp wedge ready to slice through the air. You can get one fully kitted with spoilers and side skirts or a little extra but those wheels are horrendous. It makes the smart car look a little like a body builder that refuses to work the legs. But that is not a deal breaker.
The car has a superbly crafted ergonomic interior with sci-fi spaceship gauges. It has excellent leg space at the rear despite not looking that big on the outside. The fully loaded Premium model comes in at 32.50 lakhs while the Executive will cost you 30.50 lakhs, the differences between the two being in the infotainment system, the wheel size, paddle shifters and higher-grade trim on the Premium.
A very close contender is the Toyota Vios. The redesign especially of the front fascia with the massive grill makes it look deceptively aggressive. The 1.5 gives out 107bhp and 105lb/ft of torque coupled to a four-speed auto transmission.
It is not as smooth and efficient as the Honda CVT but it downshifts quickly when you need to floor it. Prices start at 28.9 lakhs, and for the different grades available, we would pick the middle one (Grade G) as best value for money. There is also the 1.3 litre Toyota Yaris, basically the same car as the Vios with a smaller engine, which starts at 25 lakh taka.
The Ford Fiesta squeezes itself in because of two particular reasons. It is brilliant to drive with very tight handling and tops the charts on reliability reports. The interior has excellent quality plastics that does feel plasticky. Priced 27 lakhs*.
The current Mitsubishi Lancer is also a great contender if looks are high on your list. It is aggressively designed and appears faster than it actually is. It helps with the image that the bigger brother is a fire breathing rally car. Which means the aftermarket is full of parts to make your stock Lancer look like an Evo. The 1.5 MIVEC VVT engine gives out 109bhp and 107lb/ft of torque coupled to a CVT transmission.
The BMW 3 Series will take you into the luxury segment offering 134bhp and 162lb/ft of torque delivered via an 8-speed automatic from that tiny engine. That means less weight and more efficiency benefits. The car has the right proportions of long front, short tail and overall low height.
It is a sleek machine with one of the quietest interiors compared to any of the other four-door sedans in this list. The standard options list is exhaustive with heated front power seats, ABS, EBD, stability control, traction control, leather, sunroof and 9-speaker audio. This is a driver's car meaning you do not give it to the chauffeur but drive yourself. All this under 80 lakhs
Lastly, you could opt for the Nissan Almera. It is a new model Sunny with a different name. 97bhp and 99lb/ft of torque puts it at the end of the performance figures on this list. It has more space than you will know what to do with, which is great when you are stuck in traffic and you suddenly want to play a bit of cricket but do not want to run. Except the car looks too tall, is a little sluggish and has tons of chrome which incidentally many people favour in our market. A price of under 30 lakhs will get you a fully loaded one with keyless entry.
The off-road enthusiast but not really
This person wants something that can tackle mud, dirt and hills but will mostly be fighting worse: the potholes of Dhaka.
We have two budget contenders in this compact crossover category. The Honda HRV (Luxury Line priced at 42.50 lakhs and Sport at 40.50) and the Ford Ecosport.
The Honda, known as Vezel in the grey market, has been selling like hot cakes. No wonder since it looks terrific and neatly merges car like handling with SUV looks and seating position. The 118bhp engine is smooth with slick thunk-free shifting from the CVT. One neat feature is the hold-brake that holds the brake. As the name suggests it holds the car during frequent stopping in city traffic without you having to putting pressure on the brakes.
The Ford Ecosport on the other hand comes in two flavours. The loaded version is a petrol powered 1.5 with 108bhp and 103lb/ft of torque. You get leather, ABS and stability control. The other is a 1.5 diesel powered version with roughly 90bhp and 150lb/ft of torque. It is equipped with a manual transmission with a smooth, soft clutch action. Why pick this? Because the diesel is surprisingly refined for a car in this category.
The ride is decent and only gets choppy in very poorly cratered roads like those in Gulshan or on the moon. The quiet diesel is great when you are pulling along because the torque helps you accelerate from in-gear very smoothly. That shape allows very easy manoeuvring. Priced 28.5-34 lakhs.
The BMW X1 is up next as the luxury option. Offers similar driving characteristics but with plenty more luxury features. In fact, it seems excellent value for money as the new 1.5 3-cylinder engine is now the hot items for BMWs entry range of powertrains. It pulls well courtesy of the turbo and can survive quite a lot of soft sand as we found out during one of our tests.
Safety features are high with ABS, traction control, lane change warning, parking sensors and a pedestrian collision warning system. For that last one, we will need it because our pedestrians are always on the road confused why cars are running them over. Prices are from 77 lakhs and you can even opt for a 4WD option with the X-Drive range.
The weekend racer
This person wants that 'other' car for going out on weekends and feeling good seeing it parked in the garage, because we do not have racetracks.
There are so few cars sold new that could offer that dubious solution to the mid-life crisis: fast, sporty and preferably red. BMW brought in a couple of their two-door 2 Series cars, with one being a convertible.
Two doors, and a 1.5 litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine gives you 134bhp. Now that might not seem a lot but the car is small-ish and the performance is zippy if not blisteringly fast. But then, in our country, fast gets you nowhere. This car will get you noticed though. And those rare occasions you get nice empty, twisty road, this shows off its capable handling prowess. Prices are 80 lakhs plus depending on spec and whether the roof goes down to let the crows admire you from above.
Of course, wait for the new 2016 Honda Civic to come in this fall. It is on the way and it promises to be a hoot. The 1.5 is a turbocharged unit developing at least 173bhp. Prices, specs and review coming soon.
The common man hero
The car that will serve every travel need for every man and woman and it will also bring world peace. Well, one out of two is not bad.
We nominate the Honda Jazz to be the winner of the subcompact segment. The 2016 model is brilliant. It looks sharp albeit a bit like an egg. But an egg is the perfect balance of nutrition. As is this car for automobile needs. The handling is fun and power comes at 128bhp via an invisibly shifting CVT transmission with paddles for manual control. It has tons of space inside for four soft, large adults and comes loaded with kit such as USB, Bluetooth, 7-inch touchscreen. Priced at 26.50 lakhs.
The maze warrior
A car small enough to fit everywhere and frugal enough to be left alone.
Cities like Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong are like those mazes in science experiments where mice get lost, give up and embrace death. For this you need small car like a Suzuki Swift. Mind you, in no way are suggesting the DZire. Although they have rounded out the trunk design, it still looks like an afterthought.
The Swift hatch, on the other hand, looks like a proper pocket rocket. The 1.2VVT engine pumps out 85 bhp. The Swift offers excellent handling and practicality. And the manual shifter is short and snippy feeling like a tight performance car. It is not fast but that sweet gearshift action and the smooth engine makes for a zippy fun drive when the roads are freed up. The Dzire offers plenty of space for that eventual CNG addition.
The soccer team
Something for fitting the entire family inside for a long trip. That would be going to Uttara from Mohammadpur because that takes three days now.
The Toyota Avanza happens to be a solitary player in the mini MPV segment. It also sells quite well. And why not? Spacious enough to be called a 7-seater although those rear seats are fit for children or adults you do not like but still have to give a ride to.
The 2016 model has had a facelift and a new engine update. The choppy ride of the previous generation is muted somewhat. It also comes with 1.3 and 1.5 options with dual VVTi. The update brings you a softer ride, better fuel efficiency and design changes that inch farther from a van and more toward a SUV appearance. Also, being a Toyota it holds its resale value better. And you can stretch your car club brags by saying your car is like a Supra: front engine, rear wheel drive. Priced at 31.5 lakhs.
And there you have it, all the cars you can buy for fun and/or practicality.
*All prices are in takas
By Ehsanur Raza Ronny
Most of the cars listed here have detailed test-drive reports in our automotive publication Shift. Check out their Facebook page facebook.com/thedailystar.shift for more!
Photo by Rahin Sadman Islam & Tasdid H Chowdhury
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