Honda Accord

Honda Accord 2012

General information
Despite riding out its current configuration and styling towards its last year or two, the Honda Accord still proves to be one of the best options out there in its class for ride comfort, styling, performance, value, interior space, and features.

Being in a segment that is hard to stand out in, that is exactly what the Accord manages to do. Be it the coupe or sedan that you’re interested in, the 4 cylinder or the V6, the performance will be to your satisfaction. The 4 cylinder models prove to be good enough with smooth rides, rendering the V6 almost redundant unless you plan on hauling heavy loads. With good body control, strong brakes, brilliant handling, and responsive steering, the Accord range infringes on the luxury car segment benefits. Fuel consumption has always been a strong suit for the Accords, though it does fall behind slightly when compared to the new Kia Optima or the Hyundai Sonata.

Interior
The foresight in the 2008 redesign for the Accord is paying off. With the sedan (and even the coupe) looking as fresh as it did 4 years ago, it manages to compete well with its competitors with minor changes here and there. This year’s model is running on the modifications made last year to the instrument panel, new wheel designs, a new grille design, and other small changes.
The interior trim and materials offered by Accord range from the garish to fashion-forward. The choice though remains with you on choosing your own combination for the interior. Its instrument panel though looks good, but is a little impractical in its button placement, paying more weight to looks than ergonomics. The materials used too don’t offer a high finish feel though the Accord does manage to balance it out with styling, when compared to the Toyota Camry or the Ford Fusion.

Specifications
If you’re a little open minded about the 4 cylinder engine and are willing to give it a chance, you’ll be surprised by what you get. With responsive and smooth 2.4 litre, 4 cylinder engines forming the entry level for the accord, you get great performance out of these. Available in a 177 hp and 190 hp versions, both offer you roughly the same feel. The V6 engines step up the game, with 271 hp on offer along with VCM - Variable Cylinder Management to reduce the engine noise and vibration in the cabin.

The 4 cylinder models offer a manual transmission with 5 speed in sedans and 6 in coupes. While they definitely add to the driving pleasure, the auto transmissions too are quite smooth and responsive.

Driving experience
For the most part, the Accords can hold their own against bumps and rough patches, though occasionally you might notice a little (ignorable) harshness. Though the interior options offered are plenty, there is a risk of turning it into a garish mess.
The 177 hp Accords prove to lack in merging and passing maneuvers, though the EX models with 190 hp manage to easily overcome those limitations. A rough idle with significant vibration is one of the issues faced in most 4 cylinder models. The V6 models are of course the quickest of the options, overcoming the passing and merging issues with ease.

The Accord LX-P with auto transmission manages to deliver 9.5 km/l for combined driving, with most other models staying within a tiny range of this.

Ups and Downs
For a car that delivers on most fronts, the noisy idling (and overall noise) proves to be the main irritant.

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Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry 2010

General information

In its fifth generation, the Toyota Camry is by far one of the best selling cars that we have seen in recent times. Dominating the mid-size sedan segment is no longer a target for Toyota, but only a challenge to increase the margin of domination. The new Camry has improved on many aspects – ride, performance, handling, greater interior space, and value for money – are just a few.
The core of the Camry comprises the 2.5 litre petrol engine that unleashes all the awesomeness. There are 4 models in the Camry range, namely: Altise, Atara S, Atara SX, and Atara SL.

Interior
Toyota has stepped up its game with the new Camry improving on its interior offerings. A modern look is highlighted by a contoured dashboard design, new seats, new instruments and new materials. More space has been added to the new models, making it a more comfortable ride.
The Camry Atara SL has a clear up-market feel to the interior with beige leather interior, black carpets to contrast and a wood grain trim to finish the look. The instrumentation provided is a three gauge lay, with a fuel consumption gauge.

The new steering wheel is impressive with quite a few (but very simple) buttons to control audio, phone via Bluetooth, etc. It is also adjustable for rake and reach. Another aspect that impressed is the clean centre console layout. The audio and navigation unit along with the gear and cup holder unit offer an uncluttered, easy to use format.
The Atara SL comes complete with a 10 speaker JBL audio system, along with a seven inch touch screen, live traffic updates and digital radio. Not much more you can ask for, right?
Though there is more! A blind spot warning system (what’s that, you ask?)  helps warn you of vehicles when taking turns with your indicators on. There is also an auto high-beam adjustment feature that dips your high-beam for other cars.
The luggage space is spacious 515 litres with a 60:40 split fold in the rear seat for greater storage versatility.

Specifications
As mentioned earlier, the power is driven by a new 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine. The Atara range peaks at 135 kW/ 235 Nm, while the lower model Altise isn’t left far behind at 133 kW/ 231 Nm.

The new powerplant along with the six speed transmission significantly refine the performance of this vehicle. Proving their commitment to greener technology, Toyota has improved on the mileage, with 7.8l/100kms being the current average (1 whole litre better than last year) and emissions too reducing to 183g/km (a 25% reduction).

Driving experience
A smooth ride is what the Camry delivers with all its improvements over an already smooth riding car. Easy, effortless gear shifts and the electric power steering make it a great experience. Be it the highways, the winding country roads, or the city traffic, you will be pleased with its performance.

Ups and Downs
Though there are many things that are left to be desired, they remain issues for the next segment, not the one that the Toyota Camry has perfected. If we had to point at one thing, it would have to be the lack of a diesel variant. Then again, the upcoming hybrid should take care of those issues.

The overall value proposition offered is undoubtedly one of the best out there on the market in any class (on a value/class evaluation). That apart, the Camry has managed to bring a lot of new features to this segment that have till now been left as optional upgrades at best.

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Volkswagen Polo GTI

Volkswagen Polo GTI 2012

General information
If there has to be one car that you can point to as the best of the Volkswagen range, it has to be the Polo GTI. Boasting of a beyond brilliant 1.4 litre turbocharged and supercharged engine and a standard 7 speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) auto transmission, this has to be the year’s big winner in this very hard to please market segment. What makes this an even greater marvel is its unbelievable price tag for all the goodies it offers.


Interior
As good as this car looks from the outside, it takes your breath away even on the inside. With a typical GTI trim sporting the ‘tartan-look’ (leather being an option), it takes of comfort right away. The dashboard also reflects the usual conservative look with a polished layout that exudes class.



Specifications
A 1.4 litre TSI – turbocharged and supercharged – four cylinder engine boosts you from 0-100 km/h in just 7.0 seconds. The maximum power sits at 132kW at 6200 RPM and the torque peaks at 250Nm when in the 2000-4000 RPM range.
The fuel consumption has improved drastically to great surprise. This four cylinder powerplant now offers 6.1l/100kms as compared to 8.0l/100kms with the previous model. What really blows our minds though is the complex art that controls and co-ordinates the TSI system, with the turbocharger taking over from the supercharger at 3500 RPM.

Driving experience

To describe the drive in this car as a pleasure would do it serious injustice. On both, high-speed terrain roads and city roads, the car impresses. Razor sharp turn-ins, unrelenting grip, and brilliant mid-corner balance make it a great car to take long trips in. The Polo GTI, much like the Golf GTI features the XDL or extended electronic differential lock. This active brake system ensures that the inner wheel does not spin in corners and offers improved acceleration.
Zipping around the city is also a good experience in the VW Polo GTI. The known issue with the VW Polo persists with the minor clunkiness during stop-start traffic. This however is something you get used to and seems to be a decent tradeoff for the high speed performance. Parking also is a breeze with the small turning circle of 10.6 meters.

Ups and Downs
The downer with this amazing car remains with the fact that there is no manual transmission model available.
The ups on the other hand encompass most of the car’s features – from its brilliant turbocharged and supercharged engine to its smooth driving, and from its sleek looks to the amazing value it offers!

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Alfa Romeo Guilietta JTD

Alfa Romeo Giulietta JTD 2012

General information

There’s just something about an Alfa Romeo that makes every car enthusiast’s spine tingle with joy. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback offers a 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine with TCT twin-clutch auto transmission.
This Italian beast not only offers great looks and roomy interior space, but it also goes head on with the VW Golf GTD, the BMW 118d and the Audi A3 TDI. With Alfa Romeo’s sporty handling and ride dynamics, the Giulietta JTD is definitely a hatchback turbo-diesel worth its while.


Interior
This roomy Alfa Romeo sets claim to rear-seat leg-room, front leg-room & head-room superiority in its class. Once you’re inside the car, you can immediately feel the difference as compared to German cars. With Italian designing reflecting in every detail, the rake/reach adjustable steering wheel is leather-wrapped, the front seats are sporty in a classic Alfa manner, and the driver’s position is low behind the wheel to offer a sporty feel.
The instrument panel keeps up with the Alfa look with modern equipment spread all around. The rear seat folds 60/40 to offer load versatility.

Specifications
The first brand to offer the common-rail direct injection in diesel engines was Alfa Romeo. The latest Giulietta model employs the most up to date MultiJet common-rail direct injection in the JTDM-2 four cylinder 2.0 litre turbo-diesel engine.
The max power stands at 125kW and 350 Nm is its peak torque which is available from a low 1750 RPM. This puts the Giulietta in direct competition with VW’s 2.0 litre TDI engine featured in the Golf GTD and Audi’s A3. The advertised combined cycle fuel consumption is an eco-friendly 4.5l/100kms. The Euro 5 compliance of the Giulietta JTD means exhaust emissions ranked at 119 g/km.

Driving experience
The first thing to note in the Alfa Romeo Giulietta is how silent this car is for being a turbo-diesel engine. The 2.0 litre turbo-diesel Giulietta manages to just outperform the VW Golf GTD in acceleration going from 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds. This makes it the fastest in class. Though not as good as the BMW eight speed auto transmission, the Alfa’s TCT twin-clutch 6 speeder matches the VW and Audi in precision and smoothness.
The Giulietta employs Alfa’s MacPherson strut front-end along with a multi-link rear with an additional driver selectable Alfa ‘DNA’ system – Dynamic, Normal, and All-weather. All of this leads combines to offer great handling and ride performance.
The sportier QV model gains an even greater suspension calibration owing to its lowered ride height.


Ups and Downs
Being an Italian in a market dominated by Germans is not an easy task. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta scores big with its roomy interior. The drive too does not leave much to be desired. However the only points deducted would be for the lack of finish on the interior as compared to the other European makes.

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Audi A7 Sportback

Audi A7 Sportback

General information
Look at it, marvel at its technical specifications, and breathe in a deep sigh of love. That’s what happened to us with the Audi A7 Sportback. The Quattro all-wheel drive system combined with the awe inspiring luxury interior is definitely something worth beholding.
Made to compete with the Mercedes-Benz CLS, the A7 Sportback definitely gives the car a run for its money. Available in 2 versions – the 180 kW/ 500 Nm 3.0 litre turbo-diesel and the 220 kW/ 440 Nm supercharged 3.0 litre V6 petrol, we take the latter up for review.
With a seven speed transmission, this four-door coupe is a great all round car. Big on interior space, generous with luxury, great looks, and a high performer – the perfect combination!


Interior
It almost seems like Audi is trying to show off with the interior quality it provides in the A7 Sportback.  The trim is in Valcona or Milano leather, with highlights available in a choice of walnut, aluminium or fine grain ash. Now that is what you should get when you shell out your cash for a luxury ride.
The sleek sloping shape of the A7’s roof is deceiving in how much head space the rear passengers would have. Plenty of head space for most people, you’d only a face a problem if you’re among the giants (or heading to the football matches with your headgear on)! The boot space too is huge at 535 litres at its least, expanding up to 1390 litres when the rear seats are collapsed.
If you’re going to be driving the A7 Sportback, you will definitely have nothing to complain about. The steering wheel has a well-designed rake/reach adjustment while your seat has a 20-way (yes, 20!) electronic and pneumatic adjustments.
Adding to the luxury are options like the 6.5 inch fold-away color navigation monitor, the default audio system with 14 Bose speakers (upgradeable to Bang & Olufsen), park assist, adaptive cruise control, the conventional instrument layout, and an optional head-up display.

Specifications
The A7 Sportback features the 180 kW/ 500 Nm, 3.0 litre, V6 turbo-diesel engine. It’s a common-rail direct injection design with four valves per cylinder. The 180 kW max power is attained at 3800 – 4400 RPM and the 500 Nm peak torque between 1500 & 3250 RPM.
The seven speed S-tronic transmission with the Quattro all-wheel drive system makes this drive a well-balanced act. 0-100 km/h is achieved in 6.5 seconds and gives 6.5l/100kms.

Driving experience
There really is not much to be said about the driving dynamics of this car. The engine and the drive system are perfectly paired, the ESP calibration is on the mark, and the chassis balance is excellent offering exact turn-in and great mid-turn stability. All of this without the optional package of the sports suspension.
The one potential issue of reduced rear visibility is tackled with a standard reverse camera. Its 11.9 metre turning circle needs some attention when tackling those tight city corners.



Ups and Downs
There is a minor miss with the feel of the steering wheel, but apart from that there isn’t anything that you can pick on. Great on performance, brilliant in its luxury, and a spot-on match for all other requirements, the A7 is unequivocally a brilliant car.

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Ford Focus

 Ford Focus 2009

General information
As a part of Ford’s effort to fight the good fight, the Ford Focus lineup boasts a mind-boggling 17 variants with 10 hatchbacks and 7 sedans. These models include engines powered by either petrol or diesel and boast of technology like the ‘Active Park Assist’ that is an automated system for parallel parking. Both sub-ranges – the hatchbacks and sedans – have similar offerings in terms of engine power and performance.
Staying in line with their central strategy, the new Focus displays their design philosophy with the ‘Kinetic Design’. With Ambiente being the entry model, and Titanium the top end one, there are Trend and Sport to fill in the gaps.

Interior
The Focus showcases the new interior design that is being seen as a somewhat central theme to all new Ford makes. This effort by the company has been branded as 1Ford whereby it isn’t just the looks but also the quality offered that promises to be consistent.
Across the range, a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel with various easy-control buttons are featured, with extra trimming applied to the Sports and Titanium models.
High quality graphics are offered in the dashboard gauges with good finishes. The steering wheel also features some basic controls for the screen. The rear passengers have plenty of room to stretch their legs (keeping in mind the segment) with the top two models also having a rear center console.
The finish quality has been maintained in the soft touch feel of the switchgear, dashboard, handles, center consoles, and instruments.
The boot space offered ranges from an impressive 421 litres in the sedans to a massive 1101 litres in the hatchbacks (with the rear seats collapsed).

Specifications
With the large range of models up on offer, Ford has divided their engine offerings into three sets. Starting from the entry level models to the top end ones, they range from a petrol based 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder Duratec Ti VCT engine to a new 2.0 litre GDi Ti VCT engine.
For the entry level engines, fuel consumption is the brightest spot with 6.2 litres per 100 kms. The engine offers 92 kW at 6300 RPM, with the torque peaking at 159 Nm at 4000 RPM. The GDi engine on the other hand is among the technologically best engines by Ford with a naturally aspirated engine.
The diesel engines see a similar improvement with the Duratorq 2.0 litre turbo diesel engine. The emphasis has been on improved driving experiences with these changes.
Though the sedans and the Titanium hatchback are sold with just the auto transmission, manual drives are available in the other models with a 5 speed manual transmission.

Driving experience
The balance and grip offered by the Focus is of very high caliber. Even on surfaces that don’t offer the best grip, be it due to slick roads or gravel, the car manages to hold on.
One of the better areas of improvement by Ford has been in the noise department. With a quieter engine and lesser noise penetrating through, it definitely shows. Starting from the Ambiente, working our way up to the Titanium, every single car offers improvements (albeit minor in some cases), with the Titanium clearly standing on top with its leather trimmings and assisted parking features.

Ups and Downs
With a very difficult job at hand to match the Mazda and VW entrants in the battle for this segment, the Focus manages to keep up with competition. Barring a pricey Titanium diesel, not much is left to point fingers at. The reworked interior, the great engine improvements, and the tech add-ons make work in Focus’ favor.

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Range Rover Sport

Range Rover Sport 2009

General information
The status offering of a Land Rover is still one of its highest selling points. However, with the more recent success of the Range Rover models, the lightweight sibling tag is slowly finding its way out. The 2009 Range Rover Sport though, is still a model meant more for on-road driving than the more adventurous trips out in the wild.
That being said, the Sport is capable of handling its share of mountainous tracks with its classis Land Rover suspension and steering components, along with the added benefits of the active roll technology.
The heavy weight of the car does affect its performance in agility, acceleration, and fuel consumption. What keeps the Sport in the running despite these issues is its raw power and handling abilities.

Interior
The best that the Sport has on offer on the inside is its high placed stadium seating. For both the front occupants, this offers an unencumbered view of the road. The dash is without clutter, minimalistic yet elegant. Seating is comfortable with supple leather seats and spacious enough for four adults, though a fifth could manage on the rear center seat. The headroom is a limiting factor for a tall individual, though quite comfortable for most. Though the sloping rear limits the size of cargo you can carry, the luggage space matches the segment’s average at 71 cu ft.

Specifications
The Supercharged Range Rover Sport boasts of a blown 4.2 liter, V8 engine that offers an output of 390 horsepower and 555 Nm of torque with a 6 speed auto transmission. It manages to go from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds, which is quite comparable to its larger model.
Standard on the Supercharged Sport is the 4WD system by Land Rover with two speed transfer case and the Terrain Response system. It helps auto set the powertrain, electronic systems and suspension to optimize the traction based on one of the following settings: general, mud and ruts, sand, rock crawl, and gravel/grass/snow. With the right setting, the Sport is capable of towing up to an impressive 3500 kilos.
The fuel consumption estimates for the Range Rover Sport Supercharged is a poor 5 km/litre in the city and 7.6 km/litre on the highway.

Driving Experience
A heavy curb weight keeps the Sport from impressing much. However, the Supercharged variant is still a better option than the HSE. Its 4.2 litre V8 engine drives through a lot of power and the suspension system combined with the chassis help convert it into a smooth ride with responsive handling.
Ups and Downs
In a stand-alone economy, the Range Rover Sport might have impressed, but with competitors that it has to deal with, it really does lack on many fronts.



Ups and Downs
In a stand-alone economy, the Range Rover Sport might have impressed, but with competitors that it has to deal with, it really does lack on many fronts.

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Audi Q5

Audi Q5 (2011)

General information

What happens when you take a successful formula from a larger car model, repackage it and retune it for a smaller one? In the case of Audi’s lineup, you get a very well-crafted Q5. A smaller version of the Q7 in terms carrying an all-wheel drive wagon from the A4, this model has been designed well.

In keeping with the Audi style, the Q5 is a very pleasant amalgamation of their safety credentials, graceful styling, well designed interior, and an economy the class can’t beat. With four variants available (2 petrol, 2 diesel), the 2.0 litre Turbocharged Diesel Injection (TDI) leads the pack in the value offering and its green quotient.

Interior

The one thing Audi has gotten pat down is their interior design. The marriage of color tones and superior quality materials is beautiful to behold. In competition with the BMW X3, the Q5 boasts of higher luggage capacity even though the size limitations are apparent. They have managed to counter this constraint with an innovative seat folding system that provides almost the entire floor behind the front seats as an almost flat area.

Specifications

Peaking at a very modest 125 kW, the 2.0 TDI gets its spirit instead from the 350 Nm as the peak torque. The 7 speed dual clutch gearbox featured in the Q5s functions less like an automated manual and more like a conventional torque converter, but proves to be more fuel efficient. With seven gears to use, the gearshifts have been tuned to be faultlessly smooth and the rations well-spaced. The most fuel efficient version of the Q5 scores at 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres, with the least efficient variant – the 3.2 litre petrol V6 – testing at 9.3.

Driving experience

Audi has managed to progress their technology to the limit where you start wondering if having the rougher, less technologically advanced feel is better. Smooth as butter on a warm day, the ride quality feels a little too smooth to give you a feel of the road. Though this might be preferred by some, ardent enthusiasts of driving will not be pleased. The fault though lies only in a minor erring on the one side by Audi. However, the suppressed noise levels are a big boon. On the whole, it is a great ride if you desire a futuristic smoothness, but it lacks the rawness in it steering that some might desire.

Ups and Downs

Apart from the appeal of the Audi brand, the price tag of the Q5 is not justified. You can get a more spacious ride that even features greater off-road capability for much lesser than its cost. At the risk of sounding repetitive, another feature they could improve upon significantly is to transmit a better feel of the road to the steering wheel. 

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Maserati Quattroporte

Maserati Quattroporte (2010)

General information

Having been in the pipeline for five years, the Maserati Quattroporte doesn’t for one moment leave you wanting anything more in terms of styling. A simplistic elegance in its design is finished off with the beastly looks that Maserati have come to be known for.

The shark like front of the car is best exemplified in the impressive front grill. The rest of the body is sculpted to accentuate the looks and add a sense of unity to the design. At the end it looks like an impressive mixed breed between a sports car & an elegant luxury sedan.

Interior

One aspect that the Maserati clearly sets itself apart from German made luxury cars is the richer interior it offers. Rich woodwork and small touches like ribs and leather piping add tremendously to the luxury offering.

With side pillars that rush inwards toward the roof more steeply than typical, combined with a wide center console that restricts leg room between the driver and passenger, the Quattroporte feels a lot like a sports car from the inside. It must be kept in mind with the Maserati that comfort is not one of its strong suits. That along with reduced boot space is a compromise that has been made consciously to give more room for a better design.

One of the biggest selling points of the Maserati Quattroporte is its exclusivity and it lives up to it. With barely a few thousand units spread all around, most things offered are up for customization. As such, it will be a rare sight for someone to stumble across two of these beautiful masterpieces that are identical. The downside to the customized order is of course the long wait time, but that is our sacrifice to make of course.

Specifications

The Maserati Quattroporte puts at your disposal 400 horsepower and a 4.2 litre, V8 engine. There are two more variants upping the ante with the Quattroporte S offering 425 horsepower in a 4.7 litre. The Sport GT S variant takes it even further with 434 horsepower in the 4.7 litre.

As offered a couple of years back on the Quattroporte Automatica, these Quattroporte models come with a 6 speed ZF auto transmission.

Driving experience

The Quattroporte features large Brembo brakes that offer a firm, exotic car feel. You can abuse the power that is offered safe in the knowledge that the brakes will hold true to their promise of bringing you to a safe stop. 

Though the Maserati Quattroporte likes to believe it is not so much a luxury sedan as it is a half-way-there sports car, it definitely can’t compete with them. However in the range of luxury sedans, it is definitely an impressive performance with a 5.6 second time from 0-100. The Sport GTS shaves off a half second on that as well.

The car’s handling is improved upon by the Skyhook air and the front & rear double suspensions. This suspension system offers a good ride but knows when to kick in to overdrive to make those bumps seem like nothing.

Ups and Downs

The comfort and luggage room leave a little to be desired, however that is not what you’d be interested in with the Quattroporte. The powertrain is gratifying with the automatic six speed transmission. When switching to manual, the paddle shifts offer a touch sensitive response with an instant shift in gears.

Overall, this is the car to go for if you want to buy a luxury sedan but your heart yearns for a sports car. 

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Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG

Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG (2012)

General information

This year’s model of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG, is not an easy one to ignore. It is rated as the second fastest SUV around the world and the most powerful SUV (with the AMG pack installed) to ever come out of any showroom to date. If you aren’t one to be impressed by statistics, you should go for a test drive or do the next best thing – continue reading this review.

Interior

Stepping into the ML 63 AMG feels like stepping into a different world altogether. From the moment the door opens, your senses are flooded with delight. The deep smell of high grade leather combined with wood hits your olfactory nerves, while the elegance in colors pleases your visual sense.

There is not a single inch of the interior space that has not been meticulously detailed. Along with the dashboard, the door paneling and the armrests too bear witness to the AMG design with trimmings in ARTICO man-made leather. The standard design features double topstitching in a contrasting color. With the added AMG performance pack, you get to experience perforated leather grip and aluminium shift paddles.

What really sets this car apart though is that if you don’t like the interior for whatever reason, you can have it done up in your choice of material.

Specifications

The latest technology graces the hood of the ML63 AMG. Its V8 Bi-turbo 5.5 litre engine features a spray guided direct injection. 4 valves per cylinder including camshaft adjustment, an all aluminium crank-case and an ECO start-stop system are also featured.

The engine has a 5461 cc displacement, with the 8 cylinder engine producing a max output of 386 kW and the torque peaks at 700 Nm. With the AMG package the performance values increase to 410 kW and 760 Nm respectively.

The ML 63 shoots from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds without the AMG pack and 4.7 seconds with it. For an engine this powerful, it has a good fuel consumption rate at 11.8 l/ 100 km.

Driving experience

In the AMG world, with great power comes greater control. The brilliant minds at AMG have packed the ML 63 AMG with various sports car like control features including dynamic shocks, computer controlled air suspension, and active roll stabilization. The active roll technology manages to keep the cabin level irrespective of your turns around corners. Think of it like a fancy toy car like stabilizer that even prevents the pitch movement when you accelerate or brake suddenly. This feature is so out there that at times it feels like being behind the wheels in a virtual reality game.

Ups and Downs

When you have a top end SUV that manages to get to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds, there’s not much to be dissatisfied with. If we really had to be needy and ask for something more, it would probably have to be some end user technology that would blow our minds. 

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Cadillac DTS

Cadillac DTS (2011)

General information

Incorporating traces of the years gone by the 2011 Cadillac DTS is a sedan that looks to preserve some American luxury car traits. Vertical taillights and a large egg-crate grille do the trick just fine. If you can ignore these retro styles (or even appreciate them), the DTS does a decent job on the design front.

The DTS with its V8 engine and a regular spread of modern tech is trying to catch up with lost time (and severe competition). There are plenty of cars in the same range and higher that manage to outshine the Cadillac DTS and make you wonder if it is even worth shortlisting to your final few.

Interior

The one thing that few cars can beat a Cadillac in is its generosity with space. Sitting in a Cadillac DTS is always a comfortable proposition. Though it’s a little smaller (about 18 inches) than some predecessors, it is still quite spacious. In all the configurations, the seats are comfortable and there is ample head and leg room for both rows of occupants. Luggage space offered in the humungous boot is almost 19 cu ft.

The noise reduction provided adds to the luxury sedan effect. One of the more prominent misses in the DTS is the quality of the material used.

Specifications

A 4.6 litre V8 engine lies under the hood of the DTS, delivering 275 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The top end version, Platinum, features a tweaked V8 that provides a little more with 292 hp and 390 NM of torque. A 4 speed auto transmission works to deliver this power to the front wheels.

The DTS’s acceleration leaves a lot to be desired, especially considering the V8 engine it packs. The DTS Platinum goes from 0-100 km/hr in 7 seconds, which compared to most V8 powered sedans (and in some cases even V6 powered models) is not at all an impressive feat. The fuel economy for the base model is estimated at 6.4 km/l for city and 9.8 km/l for highway drives with a combined average of 7.6 km/l.

Driving Experience

If you prefer a smooth, comfortable ride over a zippier, sportier one, then the Cadillac DTS delivers. Sharing the suspension system called Magnetic Ride Control with the Chevrolet Corvette, the V8 powered DTS Platinum offers the best drive. The suspension system automatically adjusts the firmness of the suspension based on the road conditions you’re driving over.

It is important to keep in mind though that the DTS is by no means a sport sedan despite the suspension and powertrain upgrades. Also, due to its bulky build, it poses a parking problem.

With the smooth ride and comfortable interior, the car is best suited for chauffer driven, no-hurry kind of rides.

Ups and Downs

If you aren’t looking for an American luxury sedan in particular, you can safely overlook the Cadillac DTS and go elsewhere. With the cabin and boot space being the highest (and probably only) selling points, there really isn’t much to offer here. 

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BMW M5 E60

BMW M5 E60 (2008)

General information

The BMW 5 Series range has been the mainstay for the company since 1972. Epitomizing the sport sedan, it has always been at the forefront of incorporating latest performance technology with its comfort offering.

With subtle changes to the styling, it looks sleeker, smarter, and better without doing away with its traditional looks. The leather seats and sporty trims on the inside add that extra dash of suave that you get only with BMW. It even offers an optional HUD (Head Up Display) that is not only a fancy add on but also a great help during those long drives.

Interior

As you enter the BMW M5 cockpit, you feel right at home with the tech array laid across from you. No matter if you aren’t very tech friendly as the systems are quite intuitive. The passengers along with the driver are treated to the best standards of luxury. A central system integrates the climate, navigation and audio systems in what is called the iDrive. It also stores the driver’s preferences in relation to the car’s adaptive damping and stability control systems. The rear seating is as comfortable as the front seats and features supportive seating. On the whole, there can be no complaints as to the quality of the construction or the attention paid to the details.

Specifications

Most of the magic happens under the hood of the 5 series’ BMW M5 E60. Redlining at a generous 8250 RPM, the 5.0 litre V10 engine churns out a phenomenal 500 bhp at 7750 RPM and achieves a torque of 520 Nm at 6100 RPM. Improving on the previous V8 M5, this V10 driven M5 offers greater speed while maintaining the overall weight.

In 4.7 seconds this beautiful machine goes from 0-100 km/hr. An all-new transmission along with the third generation SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) makes the ride smoother than it has been in the past. Various settings control the speed, shift point, and clutch slip to enable the SMG to go from a cruising magnificence to a redline pushing, engine ripping, beast with just the touch of a button.

The M5 also includes an Electronic Damper Control that gives the power of choice in the driver’s hand as far as the suspension is concerned. You can now choose between comfort, sport, and normal settings.

Driving Experience

A serene driving experience is what you can expect from the BMW E5. With the right balance between highway drives, aggressive handling, and managing country roads, it is truly a great car to have in your arsenal.  It exhibits great turn-in in the sports mode of the Electronic Damping Control system and gives little in the way of body roll. For a more relaxed driving experience, the comfort mode makes sure to keep you as far away from a bumpy experience as you can get. The one place where you might feel the need for improvement is the sudden bursts of acceleration that it isn’t able to manage perfectly, showing a tiny bit of lag.

Ups and Downs

The BMW M5 has always been at the top of its segment and once again manages to keep the competition at bay. Though it does leave a few notes of dissatisfaction with a tin like exhaust note and slow uptake during hard driving by the SMG transmission. Despite these issues, the M5 comes out a clear winner by any standard.

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