2011 Mahindra Verito

Design

The original Logan was designed to be a cheap, economical and practical sedan, and the Verito keeps the same characteristics of its predecessor. The design is simple and robust and this is not a car that you’ll fall in love with but for the buyers in this class the design is the most important. The Verito however has other qualities and it’s a good choice for daily commuting.

The Verito has generous dimensions and to differentiate it from the Logan Mahindra has changed the radiator grille which now carries the Mahindra Logo. Also new are the ski racks and side cladding which is a first for a sedan in the Indian market. At the rear the Verito gets a chrome rear appliqué and the rear spoiler. The rest of the car is identical to the Logan and the Verito is available Fiery black, Toreador red, Mist silver, Diamond white, Rocky beige, and Java brown. .

Interior

Mahindra Verito’s interior dimensions are generous and you get a practical and roomy cabin. The Verito is 4247 mm long, 1740 mm wide and has a height of 1540 mm. Interior space is it’s strength and the rear seats have plenty of leg and head room and can accommodate comfortably 3 adult passengers. The road visibility is very good and the broad mirrors allow you to see in every direction.

Like the exteriors the interior styling too can be best described as modest. Just like the Logan the Verito too features a lot of storage places and you also get a lot of cheap plastics. The use of cheap plastic however does manage to keep the price of the car low.

You don’t get an exorbitant feature list with the Verito but it has everything it needs to be practical. For the rear seats you get triple headrests, gradual dim cabin lights, air conditioner, power steering, power windows, driver information system and a rear defogger. At 510 litres the Verito’s boot is good for a big family. On the Verito you also get ABS with EBD and Driver Airbag.

Engines

The Verito offers the same Renault drive train which was in the Logan. The 1.5 diesel motor develops 66PS @4000rpm while the 1.4 Petrol engine has an output of 76PS @5500rpm. Acceleration is average and the engine’s strength is its fuel efficiency with the diesel delivers an ARAI claimed fuel efficiency of 21.03 KMPL.

Drive

The Verito has soft suspensions which delivers a comfortable ride. Handling isn’t anything to boast about and around corners you do get body roll. The steering is smooth but is devoid of feel.

Competition

The Mahindra Verito competitors are the Tata Manza, Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Ford Fiesta Classic, Toyota Etios and the Chevrolet Aveo. Verito has the weakest engine in its segment but is also the cheapest car. The other models have nicer interiors. Ford Fiesta Classic has better drivability and Toyota Etios looks much better though it’s styling is’nt its strength. Another strong point of the Mahindra Verito is the cheap maintenance price.

Quotes

Cartrade India: “Though the name has been changed, the body style still remains the same and this would be a concern as the car doesn’t really impress there. It will be interesting to see how the customer responds to the initiative from Mahindra. In a nutshell, for those people who were already considering a Logan, the Verito may just provide the final stimulus. But for other car buyers, it might not be enough.”