Chevrolet Beat (2013)

It was a great experience owning the Chevrolet Beat for the past few years. It was the perfect car for me within my budget, as it provided great mileage and had a great 60:40 split option which gave me a lot of flexibility even in the lower models. I also had a 5-year extended warranty which gave me peace of mind in terms of expenses. Unfortunately, General Motors has decided to close the production of the Chevrolet Beat, and while we don't know the reason behind their decision, it is undoubtedly a sad day for the Beat family.

After having driven over 1 lakh kilometers in my Chevrolet Beat, I can safely say that it offers a smooth ride with good space and can comfortably seat 5 people. The mileage provided is also quite decent at 20 km/l in city with A/C and 25 km/l on the highway. The engine is a 1000 cc, which is quite powerful. 

The only downside I have experienced is the cost of servicing, which can be quite expensive. The resale value of the car is also not very good. With Chevrolet shutting down their operations in India, it has become difficult to find spare parts.

The buying experience of the LT petrol 2010 model was great. The car was in good condition and was priced at Rs. 2.50 lakh. The ride was excellent and the braking was top notch. The wheel radius was very good, allowing the car to turn in tight corners with ease. The car looks like a sports car with its sharp and curvy body. 

The service and parts are low cost and available to everyone. The pros of the car include the AC modes and temperature control, while the cons include suspension and tail light problems during the rainy season, as well as water entering the lamps due to poor quality of fixing.

I have been driving my Chevrolet Beat since August 2017, and I must say that this car has exceeded my expectations. The car is quite stylish and has an eye-catching look. The exterior design is absolutely stunning, and I find myself staring at this car every time I take it out for a spin. 

Comfort-wise, I am 5'10" and I sometimes experience a few niggles during long rides due to its low leg room. The drive is very smooth, but the boot space is quite limited - a long road trip with four people and their baggage is not possible with this car. The music system and speakers are good, but I did have an issue with the speakers as one of the layers was torn off. 

Thankfully, I managed to get it repaired. The air conditioning performance is very good. Performance-wise, I haven't had any major issues so far. The coolant piping system was replaced by the previous owner, and I am now planning to replace the clutch plates due to a back gear issue. The mileage I'm getting is 17 kmpl on highways and 15 kmpl in cities with the air conditioning on. I always drive with the mirrors closed. As far as service and maintenance is concerned, due to the fact that Chevrolet has discontinued the production of this car, I am limited to a single service center in and around Hyderabad. This can be quite expensive, costing up to Rs. 6-8000 for a general service. 

The buying experience of the Chevrolet Beat was super easy and the car was delivered to me in no time. Learning to drive was a breeze, thanks to its comfortable driving seat and well-gripped steering wheel. Its powerful engine made the car feel reliable and its impressive interior was a bonus. Moreover, it has all the essential functions that one can expect from a car in this budget.