Star cast

The one movie I couldnt wait to watch this year was The Expendables. I grew up on a heavy diet of Rambo, Terminator, Lethal Weapon and stuff like that. And suddenly Hollywood went slick. Spy games, covert tactics and gizmos took over. Enter Bourne, Ethan Hunt and the slick new Bonds, but none could match the ceaseless gunfire, a body count rivalling the population of a small European nation and the built-like-beefcake hero walking out unscathed in the end only to say, Ill be back. Admit it guys, we all wanted to be like Rambo or Rocky when we were kids. The Expendables marks the return of the swashbuckling American hero.

I was so kicked about the movie and my favourite heroes that watching it every other day has become my fave pastime the last month. Its the reason why I see my heroes in this pack of cars too. This isnt an ordinary pack of cars. This is the stuff you think about when you get promoted to the corner cabin, start making decent money and discover there are too many mid-sized sedans in your parking lot, including your City and SX4. Time to graduate then, right?

This is where D-segment cars like the Toyota Corolla step in. Since its launch, the Corolla has been pretty popular among the white collared folk and the Altis is no different. It is refined, comfortable and also reasonably priced. The biggest factor is the Toyota badge here signifying dependability. What the Altis lacked was a diesel engine but finally Toyota has given it an oil-burner. And so we have the first cast member of our D-segment production. The Altis is our Jet Li, it is the smallest car of the lot, and is fairly good at its job. And yes, the Asian ethnicity is obvious.

But it isnt an easy task for the Corolla Altis to stand tall in this company. The nearest rival, in terms of price, is the Chevy Cruze. This Chevy is an amazing car to look at. Its big, bold and in-yer-face. Jason Statham? You bet, this ones fit for the Indian Transporter role and it looks just awesome in black.  The 2.0-litre engine boasts a Statham punch that can take on anything life throws at it.

Sylvester Stallone? That will be the Skoda Laura. It is well built, strikingly attractive (Stallone is, even at 60), has just had a face-lift (like Stallone!) and looks mature, although I still dont like the new headlamps. Well even Stallone has imperfect lips. Just like Stallones absolute star power, the Laura too commands a fair premium over the other cars.

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Youd be surprised to see the Octavia in this party, but so was I with Dolph Lundgren in the movie. The car has been around for over a decade and in spite of being replaced by the new Octavia (the Laura as we know it here), its still alive in India. It feels dated and is available only in cities where BS4 norms still havent been enforced, but its never-say-die attitude is just like the shabby, unshaven Lundgrens who keeps going till the end in spite of being pumped with bullets.

In our tight-fisted production there aint the resources of the FBI to afford the whole ensemble for daily assignments (and if we did, wed be buying 5s and Es). What we need is one star who can do it all so we let loose these mercenaries on a mission in and around rain-struck Pune to figure out which one delivers the maximum bang for your hard-earned money, not forgetting envious glares from the peers whom you just trampled over.

Design and style

If you think of Stathams kunai knives, you know where the Cruze is coming from. The Cruze is the most striking with bold and butch design cues, like the trademark Chevy split front grille with a big bowtie, edged-out bonnet and sloping roofline. Its handsome, youthful and I would buy it just for its looks. But the interiors lack a premium feel, although the funky dash will appeal to the younger lot. The biggest letdown here is the grey trim that lacks the elegance of beige or black. Simply swathing the existing plastics in beige will raise the sense of quality many times over.
I like the centre console layout, very stylish like a Vertu cellphone, the blue backlighting and the piano black inserts remind me of the Beat. With the sci-fi interiors, the Cruze is more driver-centric and it is evident in the rear seat, which doesnt offer the best room in its class, in spite of the big dimensions on the outside.

The Laura has a very stately appearance and just like Stallones mass appeal, can be everybodys hero. It did win an award for the best-looking car in some European country when it was launched though you got to wonder what were they smoking during the jury round. What the Laura does boast of are the best interiors. Everything is well appointed, from the leather wrapped steering wheel, simple controls and knobs for audio and AC to the high quality wood trim. It oozes a classy and premium air inside and although it is the most expensive car in this lot, it feels every bit its price. The rear seat is also a good place to be; it has slightly more space than the Cruze so you can stretch out after a tiring day shooting the baddies.

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The Altis is a much better looking car than the older Corolla, which seemed a bit uninspired, and also has some upmarket touches like the Camry-like front end. But overall it is plain, conservative and uninspiring. Boring even. The interiors arent as lavish as the Lauras but are very practical. The Altis gets a glossy wood finish on the centre console, steering wheel and door trim. The simple layout makes everything very easy to use. This is the only car with proper sized cup-holders and two gloveboxes in the dash. There are also small cubbyholes in the cabin for knick-knacks. The Corolla feels like it has been designed for comfort and the plush seats give you a nice sinking-in feeling. In fact the Altis is great as a chauffeur-driven car and actually has the more comfortable and ergonomically sorted rear seat of the lot.

The Octavia is the oldest car here and it shows. On the outside and particularly on the inside which is dark, gloomy and sparse. And the rear quarters are definitely not recommended if you want to be chauffeur driven, lacking majorly on headroom while ingress and egress too is a bother given its low stance.

Enigines and performance

If you already have a chauffeur and the backseat is your main priority youve probably developed a  clear picture about your new car by now. But if you plan to be behind the wheel, this might change your perception. To start with, the Cruze is the powerpacked hero loaded with all the explosives. Its 1991cc engine produces a throbbing 150PS of power and 327Nm of torque, which puts it in a completely different league. Performance numbers are very good: 0-100kmph in 9.36 seconds is something very few cars in this segment can manage. The engine feels refined and the gearshifts (if a bit long in throws) are precise. The only issue with this mill is the turbo lag that is quite bothersome in the city but once past 2000rpm, the car goes absolutely ballistic. The quarter mile comes in at 16.84 seconds and the Cruze also clocked the highest top speed among the four, 201.9kmph to be precise.

The Lauras 1968cc engine is available in two power trims, 111PS and a potent 140PS. The latter is available only with a 6-speed automatic DSG box and pushes the price out of this league. The former, which also powers the Jetta, does a fairly decent job and while not blindingly fast it never feels out of its breath on the highway or the city. It takes 12.7 seconds to 100kmph ,the quarter mile comes up in 18.5 seconds while the top speed is a respectable 189kmph. Although the Laura is no match for the Cruze in terms of performance it actually feels  much more relaxed and you would surely appreciate this in the city. There is no frantic urgency once the turbo has kicked in and the gear ratios feel much better suited to the city.

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But there is no beating the creamy smooth Toyota engine in terms of refinement. The Japanese are known for this and the Corollas 1346cc engine does not live up to reputation, it exceeds it. Being the smallest in the pack, it produces a mere 88.4PS and 205Nm and the performance is nothing great. It takes 14.68 seconds to 100kmph and feels lazy in this company, but that is not what this car is all about. We all were  mighty impressed with its driveability around the city. There is hardly any turbo lag (a factor of there being not much power to play with) but the engine revs very smoothly and its transition to the powerband is seamless. Once warmed up it is very silent too and theres hardly a murmur intruding into the cabin. Keep the revs high and it feels more capable  than a 1.4-litre engine should. The 6-speed gearbox shifts effortlessly and slickly and the tall sixth keeps the engine very relaxed on the highway.

The Octavia is the surprise package here because you wouldnt expect a decade old car to hold its own in this elite company. The Octavia is the only car without a common -rail diesel engine and still uses direct injection. Although modern technology has taken things like refinement to new levels, the Octavia still impresses in terms of performance and driveability. It is a big engine, displacing 1896cc but develops just 90PS and 210Nm. However 0-100kmph takes 13.6 seconds, quicker than the Corolla.

In India, diesels will always be associated more with the fuel efficiency and running costs than their torque output. The Corolla is the most impressive car here, delivering 17.14kmpl in the city and 23.52kmpl on the highway, which means an overall figure of 18.93kmpl. This is by far the best Ive seen on a D-segment diesel. The good old Octavia is next delivering an overall figure of 14.4kmpl, followed by the Laura with 13.7kmpl. The Cruze, for all its performance, delivered 11.73kmpl, but thats what you sacrifice for going faster, dont you? 

Ride and handling 

After driving all these cars around Pune and really broken patches leading to Mulshi, the car I wanted to drive back home was, surprisingly, the Corolla. It doesnt have the huge slug of power from the engine but it is the best thought out. Toyota have engineered just the right amount of compliance into the suspension for the comfort of occupants and the car glides over almost everything. There is a lot of body roll and understeer sets in the earliest but given the cars comfortable ergonomics, you would hardly want to push it to its limits. The steering is light but gets adequate feel. This isnt a car to be hustled around, this is a car to relax in. Better still get into the back and you will never shift to any other car. The Laura has slightly more space but the Corollas ergonomics, seat back angle and softness of the seats make it a far nicer place to be.

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However if you are a keen driver you might be well advised to opt for the Laura. It offers the best compromise between ride and handling and has the best steering by far. Its slightly stiffer than the Corolla but the ride isnt compromised by much while delivering in the handling department. The Laura feels very solid over broken patches and utterly stable on the highway. It can be fun to drive too with great road manners, and a suspension that while generating lots of grip is also compliant enough to not get upset by mid corner bumps.

The Cruze feels stiffer by a degree but the ride is equally good. The only area where I found the Cruze lacking is its steering, which feels a little vague.

The Octavia too feels quite like the Laura, only a bit primitive in terms of ride. It stays quite composed over rough patches but the fact that you sit much lower than the Laura makes you quite wary of the hitting the underbody at speeds. Already spoilt by the effortless steering of the other three cars, the Octavias steering was immediately heavy but it comes in handy when youre in the mood for cutting some corners.  

Verdict

I presume you have your cheque books out by now, so lets get down to business. The Octavia is the cheapest car in the lot, between ` 11.19 lakh and ` 12.78 lakh, ex-Pune. Ten years ago, the Octavia was the strongest contender but the game has moved on (and the prices should have gone south). Given a choice, Id straight away go for the Laura but then, between ` 14.04 lakh and ` 15.55 lakh, it is the most expensive car of the lot. Yes, it feels premium and grown up (like Stallone) but a few lakh more can get me a Superb, which does have you thinking. What strikes me as really good value-for-money is the Cruze, available in two variants between 11.76 lakh and  13.41 lakh. It has phenomenal presence and comes fully loaded.

It isnt exactly a drivers car but delivers the strongest punch of the four. Remember, Statham firing rounds of ammo from the nose of the plane? The Cruze is just that.

But then, it just doesnt feel as premium and the back seat isnt a great place to be, the biggest consideration if the car has to be chauffeur driven.

To be honest, I personally liked Jet Li a lot in the movie. He doesnt talk too much, does his job efficiently and only cribs about money because he wants to send his children to a good school. He doesnt even have a family but would like to have one some day. Sensible, no? The Altis does that exactly. Its good to drive (in a very relaxing way), the engine is butter smooth and very fuel efficient while the ride is exceptionally good. Isnt that what you would opt for when youve arrived in life (or taken a few steps in the right direction)? Great fuel efficiency means it doesnt need to crib, like Jet Li. Prices starts at ` 10.89 lakh, going up to ` 13.67 lakh. This makes it
affordable too. So, if I were to take a levelheaded decision, the Corolla diesel would be it.

And before we go heres a thought: if the same diesel engine finds its way into the upcoming Etios sedan, More I think every C-segment player should be very, very worried.