Seven respected figures from the auto world came together this year to test, evaluate and pass judgement without fear or favour. They put the cars under the microscope. They looked at the macro picture. They drove the cars to their absolute limits. And then, when the smoke cleared, the winners emerged. The raison d’être of these awards is to tell you, the customer, in a simple uncomplicated manner, which are the best new cars on the road today as well as what they are good at. In the past few weeks, a fleet of Autocar India troops and their media partners CNBC-TV18 spent several hours scrutinising facts and figures, the result of which culminated in the Auto Awards 2007. In 2006, twelve all-new cars were launched in the market with big-budget PR and advertising campaigns, each boasting about the superiority of their brand. So what’s the truth? Which is the best of them all?
Picking the winners
Fifteen cars, including variants.
Seven eagle-eyed judges: Hormazd Sorabjee, editor, Autocar India; Shapur Kotwal, associate editor, Autocar India; Dilip Chhabria, design guru; six-time National Rally champion Naren Kumar; Rajiv Khanna, former rally star; CNBC’s Renuka Kripalani and Manvendra Singh, car restorer.
The jury had to judge each car on 10 exacting parameters: fitness for purpose; relevance to the Indian market; value for money; design and styling; engine, gearbox and performance; ride, handling and brakes; driving pleasure; fuel efficiency; safety; and ownership experience. Autocar India’s comprehensive road tests, which are conducted throughout the year, provided all the data the jury would need to evaluate the cars. The tabulated data was presented to all the judges, who then drove each car evaluating it against its peers. The score sheets were handed over to auditors Ernst & Young who ensured a water-tight methodology, both in terms of eligibility and judging criteria.
And the winners are …
VALUE FOR MONEY - Hyundai Verna
With BOOMING demand and the car industry looking at making up for lost profits, few new cars are great value. Manufacturers are launching new models in higher brackets and true value is hard to come by.
Amid this mist stands the Verna. Not cheap or inexpensive but for what it delivers, it’s a car that’s good value. Built on a long wheelbase that has liberated huge amounts of cabin space, the Verna is palatial on the inside. This means passengers get class-topping space and comfort. The pliant suspension allows only the more serious bumps to filter into the cabin. The seat fabrics have an upmarket feel and the plastic quality of the dashboard and door pads matches the more expensive Honda City. Plus, even the XI trim level has luxuries like height-adjustable seats, rear head restraints, power mirrors and remote locking. And the ABS option costs a reasonable Rs 20,000.
The petrol motor is reasonably peppy and smooth, the gearbox and steering refreshingly light to use and this is true for the pedals as well.
Then you have the diesel. Not as well equipped as the petrol sibling but a car that uses an expensive Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT), which gives better low and high-speed performance. A massive 110bhp of petrol car-gobbling performance. Throw in Hyundai’s reputation for good service and clearly, the Verna is a car that the head agrees with.
BEST DESIGN & STYLING - New Toyota Camry
Toyota’s design philosophy has traditionally been less than adventurous. Reliable performance and good quality are what these cars are built to deliver. They don’t want to turn off anybody with radical designs. So, you know the world is changing when Toyota launches and produces a car that’s as wild and deeply sculpted as a concept car. More akin to a bespoke car, this car’s surface is full of stylistic cuts, sharp edges and changes in visual mass. The profile is superb: the long wheelbase, high shoulder line and tight-fitting stretched-out roof. Then there are the crazy details like the scimitar-sharp headlights, slatted grille, bulging logo and deeply recessed fog lamps. The surface on the boot and that adjacent to the tail-light is radical too. The best part is it all works together well. Most Camrys were brought in that pale shade of blue the car was launched and tested in.
BEST DRIVER’S CAR - Honda CR-V 2.4
Aircrafts defy physics to some extent. They fly against the odds, taking on gravity and the pull of mother earth. They still manage to be safe and fast. Honda’s all-new CR-V is the same. Despite having four-square dimensions and weight in all the wrong places, the CR-V doesn’t shock you even once. Disbelief is a sustained reaction. Like a fat man winning the 110-metre hurdles. Ahh, but that’s part of the secret… The new CR-V isn’t that fat. Displacing a svelte 1.5 tonnes with a suspension that’s fine-tuned to keep the fat wheels in contact with the road at the right angle, the CR-V’s grip levels are exceptional, even by saloon car standards. It stays glued to the road around corners with almost no body roll, never dropping a shoulder or forcing you to look at the world at a slant. When that truly incredible grip wears or runs out, it does so in a progressive manner bracing you with huge amounts of feedback from the steering. The stiff chassis also allows you to throw the CR-V into a section of left/right corners with total abandon — a sure-fire recipe for landing most other SUVs on their roof. With the assurance that its high ground clearance will see the car sail over the worst of Indian roads, the Honda CR-V tempts you to take the long way home. It’s not just the best-handling new SUV, it’s the best handling car too. We understand this is difficult to believe, we’re still scratching our heads in wonder as well.
MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR - Honda Siel Cars
Honda could do no wrong in 2006. It crossed the 200,000-unit benchmark in December and posted a sales growth of 45.13 percent in the last six months.
All its models are best-sellers and Honda has doubled the capacity of its plant in Greater Noida and launched two of its latest international models in India – the Civic and the CR-V – both instant hits. Within six months of its launch in July ‘06, the Civic has crossed the 10,000-units mark and revolutionised the market. The new CR-V seems destined to replicate the success of its predecessor.
The secret of Honda’s success in India has been its commitment to provide its latest passenger car models and technologies to Indian customers. And, the bullet-proof reliability of its cars and low-hassle ownership experience has seen the company win many satisfaction awards.
TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED CAR - Mercedes S-Class
This car gives the NASA Space Shuttle a run for its money. It’s not possible to tell you all about the technical mastery of this car; that would require a telephone directory-sized book. But, we can tell you this — it rides on four columns of air, active suspension doesn’t allow the body to roll in corners and the seats can massage you and blow hot or cold air through their pores. But that’s old hat!
Here comes the Popular Science stuff. If specified, the S uses infra-red to give you a picture of the road ahead, the cruise control uses a radar for automatic warnings and if the car ‘senses’ an impending accident, it uses an army of sensors and super computers to prepare the car for an impact. Brakes are brought closer to the pads, the seats move to their safest positions and incredibly, if an impact is inevitable, it will even apply full brakes. Next from Merc — Stephan, the invisible robot chauffeur. And he’ll speak Hindi and Tamil too. Believe it!
VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER - TNS Automotive Voice of the Customer
The VOC Awards are based on the winners of the 2006 TNS Customer Satisfaction Study. This is the largest study of its kind with over 7000 car owners being interviewed about their ownership experience. The study gained insights on all facets of the experience including sales satisfaction, after-sales brand image and cost of ownership. Actual owners of the winning models presented the awards to the manufacturers. While Hero Honda bagged the most prizes, TVS, Enfield and Honda didn’t go home disappointed. In four-wheelers, Maruti took the lead followed by Honda cars. Tata, Ford, Skoda and Toyota were the other winners. Bharat Petroleum and MRF Tyres too joined the distinguished group.
VARIANT OF THE YEAR - Mercedes E280 CDI
Improving a dog of a car is easy, but making an already accomplished performer up the game substantially is a near-miracle.
The new face-lifted Merc is more than just a face-lift; it’s a massive step forward over the E270 CDI. An almost petrol-smooth V6 diesel replaced the five-cylinder E270 with the extra 25 horses and a seven-speed automatic, sweetening the package further. There’s the improved direct drive suspension and steering set-up designed to make the E better to drive, radical safety systems have been pulled down from the S-Class and there are even more creature controls as well.
New tech includes Adaptive Braking, Pre-Safe System, Neck Pro. There’s also new equipment like sunblinds on rear doors, cargo hooks in the boot and a steering wheel from the CLS.
To put it simply, the E280 CDI is the best diesel car made in India. It delivers an outstanding level of diesel technology and ability that makes buying the impressive petrol car not as smart a choice.
IMPORT OF THE YEAR - Audi Q7
Take a blank piece of paper and list the requirements for a perfect SUV or car for Indian conditions. Now note how similar they are to those of the beast before you. Possessing the presence of an elephant in Manhattan, the huge, sharply-styled SUV carries authority with ease; traffic almost parts in deference.
Built fantastically on the inside and comfortable for five with space for another two, the Q7 looks at home parked at hotel lobbies or descending rapids. Its massive wheels, adjustable air suspension and fantastic ground clearance allow you the luxury of driving without having to navigate around potholes in India.
The Q7 can be driven as hard as any large saloon and you can specify any and every feature you can think of. Audi, which makes 4WD cars, has broken into the super SUV domain. The diesel is refined and torquey and the V8 petrol has enough grunt to keep a Porsche Cayenne honest. If you’re going to splurge, you won’t go wrong by placing your pile here.
AUTO COMPONENT MANUFACTURER – Mico
Motor Industries Co (MICO), a member of the Bosch Group, is a pioneer and acknowledged leader in fuel injection equipment and spark plugs. It’s the country’s largest manufacturer of diesel fuel injection equipment and among the largest in the world. This is the company that indigenised common-rail technology to usher in a new generation of high-tech diesels in India.
Before this, common-rail diesels were restricted to expensive cars as the common-rail system had to be imported and hence attracted high customs duties. With local production, there’s a 10-15 percent saving. Lowering the manufacturing costs has already spawned a new range of diesel cars. Maruti and Hyundai too are preparing to join the diesel race. This company has single-handedly turned the tide for diesels in India.
CNBC-TV18 VIEWER’S CHOICE - Honda Civic
The car that gets the maximum number of votes from viewers of CNBC- TV18 gets this prestigious award. A special SMS-based contest was run on air as well as nationally through Barista outlets. The winner, not surprisingly, was the new offering from Honda – the Civic. Honda gave Indian customers the very latest from its stable and they rewarded the company by queuing up with cheque books and ballot paper in hand. The Civic’s unbeatable combination of design, value and high-technology makes this the favourite for jury and janta alike.
BEST CITY TO DRIVE IN - New Delhi
For the first time, a special nationwide poll was conducted by Synovate Research to find out India’s No. 1 city in terms of driving experience.
The survey covered every major city in the country. Respondents included both two-wheeler riders and four-wheeler drivers. It captured their experience in terms of various attributes such as driving safety, road infrastructure, air quality, driving environment, traffic situation and road etiquette among others.
The winning vote, not surprisingly, went to the nation’s capital – New Delhi. It’s time for other cities to catch up.
STORYBOARD BEST AUTO COMMERCIAL OF THE YEAR - Tata Xeta, fcb Ulka & Tata Safari, O&M
‘Storyboard Best Auto Commercial’ of the year, rewards the best advertising done in the year 2006 for automobiles. Creative directors of India’s leading advertising agencies came together to judge this coveted award.
In an adscape littered with hundreds of commercials vying to grab eyeballs, two campaigns stood out. Incidentally, they were both Tata brands – the Xeta and the Safari, created by their ad agencies FCB- Ulka and O&M. Both the commercials brought out the brands’ salient features in an interesting and entertaining manner and drove hundreds of consumers into Tata dealerships.
MOST PREFERRED CEOS’ CAR BRAND - Mercedes-Benz
In another poll conducted by Synovate Research to find the car preferred by most Indian CEOs, the winner came as no surprise.
The three-pointed star rules the roost when it comes to image, prestige and reputation. Mercedes’ cars have always enjoyed a premium reputation in India. But Merc hasn’t been sitting on its laurels; rather, it keeps raising the bar with constantly evolving models. Will BMW, Audi and Volkswagen, who have announced grand plans for India, be able to snatch the crown from Mercedes? Only time will tell.
BIKE OF THE YEAR - Bajaj Pulsar 220 dts-fi
Completely and indigenously developed by Bajaj Auto, the Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi is a tribute to the company’s engineering and design capabilities.
Striking styling, more features than you can imagine, a crisp and potent 220cc fuel- injected motor, as well as solid handling make the new Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi a bike that happens rarely in India. It ranks among India’s most powerful bikes with a healthy 20bhp peak power output made at 8500rpm.
Top whack is impressive with over 130kph on the speedo. Digital instrumentation, tubeless tyres, self-cancelling indicators, LED lighting, disc brakes on both front and rear — this bike offers it all, and more.
The Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi has just raised the bar for motorcycles in India.
CAR OF THE YEAR - Honda Civic
Every now and then, you get a car that defies convention. One that breaks the established mould, ducks the trend and forges a new path. It’s risky but once in a while, things just click. This leaves the competition scratching its head and sends them back to the drawing board. This car actually did that.
We could almost hear the fanfare when we saw this car for the first time. An instant shocker! The Civic ducked the ‘taller-for-space’ trend prevalent in the industry and went all swoopy and low. And it’s not just the sports-car profile that grabs your blinkers. The cab-forward stance actually complements the flowing lines that stream over bonnet, windscreen, roof and boot. Add the unique nose of the car, heavily sculpted lines, radical details like the headlights and short boot and you have a car you can’t take your eyes off. This is true for the inside as well given the materials used together in a new way, an aircraft cockpit-like ‘Heads Up Display’ just below the windscreen, a level of fit and finish that transcends the segment and it has comfortable and supportive seats.
Drive the car and the picture is complete. This isn’t just new design, new styling and new stance. This is new thinking, new direction and new driving dynamics. The new 1.8 Honda motor embraces the past and the future. It has 130 galloping, silk-lined Honda horses and a top-end performance that is strong enough to satiate the most demanding of power junkies. At the same time, it’s much more efficient in the bottom half of the powerband, using a seriously improved version of Honda’s pioneering variable valve timing and lift. This new motor is massively refined too, actually so quiet at cruising speeds, you begin to hear the car more than the motor.
However, the ride quality isn’t the best in the world. It damps out the road well enough but doesn’t insulate the cabin like some of its competition. The upside of the stiffer springs and dampers is the incredible agility of the car. Tweak the very fast-acting and well-weighted steering, point the Civic into a corner and change in direction is done in a snap, effortlessly. Fantastic body control and super grip mean it masks speed really well too. You’ll simply love the light and direct five-speed manual or the paddle shift five-speed automatic. The judges would have liked higher seats, a more absorbent ride and more boot space, but none of these are issues strong or serious enough to make an impact on the overall brilliance of the Civic. This car could have also won the award for the best value car, the best driver’s car and best designed car. It almost did! A clear winner.
