Car & Bike Reviews

The Clubman is in essence a Mini estate. It’s rather large for something that has ‘Mini’ in its name, and is also unique for its split tailgate that effectively makes it a six-door model. There’s only one version on sale in India - a petrol-automatic.  Long and wide as it is, the Clubman also looks like a Mini through and through. The ‘barn doors’ at the rear add distinction to the look and open to reveal a fair-sized luggage bay that can be extended by folding the rear seats down. Passenger space is good but not abundant and the Mini Clubman cabin is best described as cosy. The cabin does have a cool new-meets-retro vibe but you’ll need to tick a lot of costly options to bring it up to spec.

The Countryman is a Mini for the family. It’s an urban crossover that’s high on style, space and practicality without losing out on the fun-to-drive factor. The Countryman is sold in petrol-automatic and diesel-automatic forms but sadly India doesn’t get all-wheel drive versions. At 4.3m long, the latest Mini Countryman doesn’t even pretend to be ‘mini’. It’s got its nice angles but the cutesy lines of other Minis have been lost in translation on the Countryman’s larger body. It’s typical Mini fare on the inside, with a new-meets-retro cabin theme but prepare to pay big money to spec it up to standard. You don’t sit all that high up in a Countryman so the view out is very car-like. Also, while the rear seat space is generous, the seat itself isn’t quite the best.

The Mini 3-Door is compact, cute and cheerful. You could say the same of its cabin too. It’s well finished and the ‘new-age meets retro’ theme is brilliantly executed. However, a lot of what you’d expect as standard on such an expensive car are options, and ticking even a few extras can drive up the price a fair bit. The Mini’s front seats are snug and the rear seats, though useable, are fine for short stints only. Of the engines, the 114hp, 1.5-litre three-cylinder diesel engine on the Cooper D comes across as the level-headed choice. However, it’s the zingy 192hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol on the Cooper S that's more in keeping with the Mini's persona.

The Hector is Chinese-owned British carmaker Morris Garages’ first stab at the Indian market and it sure has some interesting ingredients. An eye catching design, massive proportions and new-age tech make it a well-rounded package that should definitely be on the radar of prospective mid-size SUV owners. Though truly a rival for the Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV500 and Jeep Compass in terms of its sheer size, keen pricing has also placed it precariously close to the likes of the Hyundai Creta. MG Hector engine choices include a petrol-manual, a petrol-automatic and a diesel-manual. There is also the option of mild-hybrid technology on the petrol-manual powertrain. Of the other talking points, there’s an industry first 5 year/unlimited km warranty.

The MG Hector Plus is a 3-row, 6-seat derivative of the Hector SUV we’re all familiar with. The standard Hector’s second-row bench seat makes way for a pair of captain’s chairs, while a pair of small seats has been added at the rear to form the new third row. On paper, then, the Hector Plus is more practical Hector, and now competes better with the likes of the Mahindra XUV500 and even the Toyota Innova Crysta.

The MG ZS EV is big, boxy and has commercial van-like proportions though the stylised nose does link it to the rest of the MG range. Like other MG cars, the ZS EV's cabin is well-finished. Drivers get a great view out and the easy access to the middle and third rows via the wide opening sliding rear doors is a big plus. Cabin room and luggage space are immense, irrespective of which size of ZS EV you buy.

The MG Gloster is big, boxy and has commercial van-like proportions though the stylished nose does link it to the rest of the MG range. Like other MG cars, the Gloster's cabin is well-finished. Drivers get a great view out and the easy access to the middle and third rows via the wide opening sliding rear doors is a big plus. Cabin room and luggage space are immense, irrespective of which size of Gloster you buy.

In the scheme of things, the GLA – Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level crossover – needn’t have the boxy and upright ‘conventional SUV’ shape, as there is the GLB, positioned above it in the global range, to fill that role. However, the first-generation GLA, though very popular, was often thought as being far too close to the A-class hatchback in its design. Enter the second-generation GLA, which made its India debut at Auto Expo 2020, and things are significantly improved. It casts a more upright silhouette now, with broader shoulders, squared-off wheel arches and, crucially, a taller, more upright bonnet with the aggressive new ‘upturned’ Mercedes grille.

Find out the latest Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4-Door Coupe car price, reviews, specifications, images, mileage, videos and more. Get expert reviews on the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4-Door Coupe car.

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate range is represented in India by the rugged All-Terrain. It’s a model that’s designed to offer all the practicality of an estate with all-weather and all-condition ability. Standard-fit all-wheel drive and a height-adjustable air suspension bring with them added ability. The All-Terrain might be based on the standard-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz E-class but at nearly 5m long, it is still a very large car. Scuff plates front and rear, plastic cladding and large wheels make it look interesting too. For all its rugged appeal, you don’t sit high enough and the feeling from behind the steering is of being in a standard E-class sedan. Rear seat space is ample and comfort is good, if best for two occupants. The All-Terrain works well as an estate with lots of luggage room.

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is the model that debuted the four-door coupe body style. The third-gen model that went on sale in 2018 offers even more glamour. It’s available in India in diesel-auto form but, being a full import, is really pricey for its size. The multiple screens and superbly executed ambient lighting give the interior a very new-age cool vibe. But for all its style, the CLS continues with some traditional weaknesses. The sloping roofline impinges on rear seat headroom and frankly the chauffeur-driven will be better served by the lower-priced E-class.

The Mercedes-AMG S 63 has a regal shape and even the AMG styling elements are tastefully done. There are sporty bits on the inside too but the overall sensation is of being in an all-out luxury car. The front seats are no less than thrones, while the rear seats work well for short commutes. Then again, this isn’t the S-class to buy if rear seat comfort is a priority. The S 63 Coupe is the ultimate iron fist in a velvet glove. It’s so quiet and refined that it completely masks the serious speeds it’s capable of. The S 63 can play leisurely cruiser when you need it to and will also deliver explosive performance should the need arise. The gearbox can feel a touch jerky at low speeds but there’s not much else wrong with the S 63. Handling is smooth, though the S 63’s specialty is covering large distances with minimum effort.

The Mercedes-Benz C-class Cabriolet has its nice angles, and with multiple body and fabric roof colour options, no two Cabriolets will look the same. Like its sedan sibling, the C Cabriolet is richly finished on the inside. The front seats are comfy but upright backrests mark down the rear seat experience. Rear headroom is also in short supply with the roof in place, while luggage room is compromised with the roof tucked away. For the record, the C Cabriolet’s fabric roof can fold/unfold in 20sec at speeds of up to 50kph.

The AMG GT is low, wide and long; and sports classic front-engined, rear-wheel drive proportions. The AMG GT is quite the sight, really. It’s a big drop down onto the AMG GT’s snug and form-fitting seats and the low-slung driving position is proper sportscar. The cabin is beautifully crafted and there are also plenty of options to do-up the space to your liking. The Roadster’s fabric roof fold/unfolds in 11sec at speeds up to 50kph. The GT Roadster is the mildest of the GTs, if you can call anything with 476hp that. Power comes in a rush and the explosive way the AMG pulls just has to be experienced. Of course, being an AMG, a thunderous exhaust note is part of the experience. The 522hp GT S dials the excitement up a notch. The GT Roadster and GT S turn in with precision but purists will find their steering a bit lacking in feel.