Maruti Cervo

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

The Suzuki Cervo, an entry level compact hatchback car which was already having a good run in Japan, is expected to be launched in India in coming months by Maruti Suzuki India as a direct competition to Tata Nano, which has been touted as the cheapest car in the world. This small car, which will be sold as Maruti Cervo in India, was also designed to replace the company's highly popular Maruti 800 and recapture the mini car market robbed by Nano.

Suzuki Cervo Exterior

At first glance, you will not find the Suzuki Cervo a particularly beautiful car, although it is in no way unattractive. With its compact body, arched roof, large grille and sporty eye-shaped headlights, you can compare it to a pugnacious little man ready to take on the world. And it is, indeed, a fighter and packs more than a few punches of its own. Its smoothly flowing curves with tinted angular windows give it a rather aggressive profile. The rear of the car is stylish with sleek triangular backlights, a hatch door with a curvy window and a spoiler that is place on top of the hatch door. The 12" wheels with chrome cover are in perfect harmony with the body and the front and back bumpers are body-colored and fit seamlessly with the body.

Suzuki Cervo Interior

The interior of the Suzuki Cervo (or Maruti Cervo, if you like to call it that) is not mundane either. It has all the standard equipment expected in a car of its class, including air conditioner and a dashboard packed with instruments and music system. Meant for 5 passengers (including the driver), the front is spacious while the back seats are a wee bit too small for three adults, although they can squeeze in quite nicely. The cargo space at the rear end is adequate for your shopping bags and groceries. The rear seat can be folded to make more space for cargo when there are no passengers in the back seat. The music system is optional.

Comfort and Convenience

The Suzuki Cervo is not lacking in comfort features. It is equipped with an air conditioner (without climate control), power windows, remote central locking, remote boot, remote fuel filler, manual driver seat adjustment, driver side rear mirror and rear folding seat that make it comfortable to drive and travel in. The four doors open nicely to let the passengers get in and get out with ease, although they are not large enough if you want to put in a suitcase or something of similar size.

Engine and Gearbox

Being a mini car, the Suzuki Cervo has a small engine, but one that delivers enough power and torque for most road conditions. The car is powered by a 658 cc DOHC petrol engine which is capable of generating 54 Bhp of power at 6500 rpm and a maximum torque of 64 Nm at 3500 rpm. This is powerful for a compact car. The engine is equipped with the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) technology that helps improve power and torque while conserving fuel at the same time. The car in India has a 5-speed manual transmission, although the Japanese version has a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Acceleration and Performance

The Suzuki Cervo can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just under 25 seconds, which is not bad. Of course, it is not as good as more powerful cars some of which can achieve that speed in half the time, but it's still good enough for a small car with a small engine. The car can also achieve a maximum speed of 115 kilometres which is good enough for city roads, although not fast enough for the highway. But what it lacks in acceleration and speed, it amply compensate in fuel consumption. The car can deliver an impressive mileage of 21 kmpl on the highways and 17 kmpl in the city.

Safety Features

If you believe that mini cars are not equipped with adequate safety features, then you should get the idea out of your head. The Suzuki mini has body-colored bumpers at both its front and rear to protect you during impacts. Power steering makes the car easier to driver and the compact size makes it easier to park anywhere. Important safety features include airbags, fog lamp, engine immobilizer, rear view mirrors, rear washer/wiper, seat belts, child safety lock and anti-theft system. The front wheel disk brake and rear wheel drum brake systems prevent skidding. The car doesn't come with ABS and EBD systems, but if you are not a reckless driver and a careless owner, then the car is safe on the road and from thieves.

Reasons to Buy Suzuki Cervo

There are several reasons you should buy the car. The first is its price tag. At an expected starting price of INR 250000 (approx., may vary), it is one of the cheapest cars but more powerful than some of its competitors. The second is fuel economy. You will never have to worry about your fuel cost making a big dent in your monthly budget. The third is that it is easy to drive and parking it in any small space is a piece of cake.

Verdict

If you like an aggressive looking mini car that can deliver good power and has great fuel economy, then the Suzuki Cervo makes a good buy. It may not be big and powerful enough to take you smoothly over off road terrains, but it's a pugnacious little warrior in the city and highway.