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| Ford Fiesta 1.4 vs Chevrolet Aveo U-VA 1.4 - Fight Club |
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| General vs Blue Oval. Chevrolet vs Ford. Aveo 1.4 vs Fiesta 1.4. And the winner is. . . |
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By : Bijoy Kumar Y | Published : May 19, 2006 | Photos : Shreenand Sadhale |
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Given a chance, I would have written the Audi A4 vs Merc C-Class story that is somewhere else in this issue. I would have talked at length about legendary brands, front-wheel drive vs rear-wheel drive and how adept the new age Audi is in challenging the well-heeled C-Class. Alas, I have a rather difficult task o hand – to compare the newest cut-price sedans in the Indian car market. Yes, the cars that many of you may actually be driving rather than merely ogling at. Cars that are supposed to transport you to work, children to school and the entire family to hill stations during holidays. As motoring journalism goes, it is easy to get your judgement coloured and proclaim the Ford Fiesta 1.4 a clear winner over the Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 because it is more fun to drive.
Ah, I have said that already. It takes barely ten minutes behind the wheel of each car to understand that the Fiesta has a more modern and sorted-out chassis, a more refined and peppier engine and driving dynamics that make you feel good. The Fiesta 1.4 is so good at performing the tasks given to it that we at BSM have forgotten that there is an even more powerful version around.
But one late night, when I had to choose between staying in yet another hotel room or reaching home to the comfort of my own bed 200 km away, the Chevrolet Aveo 1.4 kept me company. How a single drive can change the mind. I had to dodge abysmal traffic in the wannabe Mumbai that Pune city is, find my way to the Expressway, counter Volvo drivers with swollen egos, handle a section of winding roads and counter more truck traffic as I reached Mumbai. Two hours and twenty minutes and a blinder of a drive later, I was admiring the orange car from the balcony of my home. So there. There is more to a car than the ability to remain true around corners, right? Read on...
Looks
The Fiesta looks traditional and good, while the Aveo looks new age and smart. Seriously, there is very little to choose between these cars when it comes to the exterior design department. You may like the Aveo and your wife may like the Fiesta kind of thing. A second look will reveal that the Fiesta looks that much more complete a sedan than the Aveo. Both cars are equally well put together, with the Aveo gaining the upper-hand when it comes to narrower panel gaps and attention to detail. The wrap-around rear lamps make it look contemporary too. Immaculate paint finish means the Fiesta has the potential to look fresher a few years down the line compared to the Aveo, though.
Aveo: ****
Fiesta: ****
Interiors
The Fiesta is about quality design and the Aveo is about quality materials. Essentially, both cars offer much more than what entry C-segment cars used to not so long ago. The all-black Fiesta interior is future-proof and has nice aluminium finished bits that lend it a superior air. The Aveo gets well finished dimpled plastic on the dashboard and a twin tone treatment that has been played very well except for the bit that reflects on the windscreen. The glazed-plastic interior garnishing is way better than the fake-wood stuff we are used to. The Aveo front seats are more comfortable for long distance driving while the rear seats of the Fiesta offer better support. Personally I prefer the Fiesta interior theme, but I also like the taller seating position of the Aveo which one cannot help but appreciate in the daily commute.
Aveo: ****
Fiesta: ****
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