By Sajid Khan

 

Maruti Suzuki, the name which every second car on Indian roads bears, has launched the much-waited multi-utility vehicle (MUV), Eeco recently. Aimed to be a bigger and a complete family car, the main advantage of an MUV is the space that it provides. However, it is easy to make out that this model is nothing but a stripped-down version of the phased-out Versa. Eeco comes with two seating options – 5-seater and 7-seater. The 5-seater is further divided into two variants, standard (without A/C) and A/C. Though the 7-seater is available only in standard variant, this version is more likely to be a favourite of tourists and taxi services.

Technical info:

Eeco apart from some minor exterior face-lift has something new to offer under its hood. The engine is the all new, made of aluminum. The plus point of using an aluminum engine is that it reduces the weight of the car which further boosts the performance and increases the vehicle’s mileage. The 1.2L engine is capable of producing a maximum power of 73 bhp @ 6000 rpm, and still able to deliver a decent mileage of 15.1 km under standard test conditions, as per the review of some customers it is found out that the car is able to give a mileage of 12 km/ltr under city driving conditions and 16 km/ltr on highways, which is far decent for an MUV. To set the wheels in motion it comes with a 13-inch tubeless tire, but no alloy wheels even on the top-end model.

Look & Feel:

Exterior: The car is available in 6 shades – Metallic Glistening grey, metallic silky silver, Metallic Midnight Black, Metallic Blue Blaze, Bright Red and Superior White. The available graphic gives it a sporty look and enhances appeal. The headlights are compact and sleek. The tail light, as compared to the Versa has been worked upon, but looks smaller in proportionate to the size of the vehicle, and could have been bigger.

Interior:
An inner view of the car really tells you how and where the costs have been kept low. The seats fail to provide a comfortable and rich feel and even the dual-tone upholstery is dull. The overall interior plasticness including the dashboard, the gear knob and door-handles fail to impress. The 5-seater comes with the trunk space of 560 litres and makes it ideal for large pieces of luggage. So, you don’t have to leave anything behind, whether on a business trip, or on a picnic with your loved ones.

Price
Eeco, bearing the same looks as its predecessor Versa, has something to connect with a new set of audience, especially the place where the Indian buyer looks out for most – the price. The vehicle is very competitively priced and this may turn out to be the biggest advantage to make it a vehicle for the massses. The price of the 5-seater standard is pegged at Rs 2,73,934 and the AC variant comes at Rs 3,03,934. The 7-seater variant has a price tag of Rs 2,90,022. All prices are ex-showroom Mumbai.

Ups & Downs:

The theme with which the car is showcased is that of an extended family car. So, buyers, instead of opting for a small car which can carry four passengers, will find the Eeco attractive as they get a bigger car at a much cheaper price, when compared to other diesel MUVs and SUVs or small cars currently available in the market. The 7-seater model may not be able to charm audiences due to the lack of a company-fitted AC.

The Eeco also is not equipped with a power-steering and this may not go down well as it is a very common feature in most automobiles and is a hit with drivers in cities. However, the company claims that the Eeco’s steering is still capable of giving a feeling and pleasure of equal to power-steering. The car is also not fitted with power windows and lacks advance safety options, like anti-lock braking system (ABS) and air bags.

The car is ideal families with member of five or more and with taxi-cab businesses houses which can ferry more people without shelling out any extra bucks.

So, finally…..:
Eeco is a good option when compared to the Maruti Omni, which is also available in both 5-seater and 8-seater models. The Eeco could be made more appealing with CNG and LPG variants. Buyers looking for some luxury are advised to avoid this vehicle.

(Views expressed by the author are personal)

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