Entering the Stile requires a step up. Get in, and the door closes with a solid thud. The interiors are spartan, yet well made. You don't get the feeling that something will fall off or break, unlike the Tata & Mahindra equivalents. The plastics remind you of a grownup Logan –
tough workman like. We only encountered a squeaky captain seat. Ergonomics aren't bad, although the driving position is surprisingly similar to older Italian cars (suited for those with short legs + long arms). It's a bit of a stretch to reach the gear lever, while the handbrake is very near to the driver's seat.
The dashboard is ditto Evalia from an architecture point of view. Look into the details and you'll see big differences. Frugal engineering is obvious:
Steering is from the Nissan Micra:
Instrument panel is spartan. You only get the essentials (
speedometer, fuel level, clock and twin trip meters). There is no MID. Basic warning lights are of similar colours:
Central console. No ICE onboard:
Driver's view is commanding. Thick A-pillars excepted, you can see the traffic & beyond. Rearward visibility is good. Parking sensors are a serious omission, considering the vehicle's length:
Taller mirrors provide great visibility. They are manually adjustable...only from outside!
Clutch pedal is offset to the left to accommodate the steering column. There is a dead pedal that makes driving comfortable on long journeys. The steering column is height adjustable, unlike the seat:
Driver's single window switch. No control for the passenger window from the driver side. I encountered difficulty at a security checkpost since I couldn't operate the passenger window:
No door pockets at all:
The glove box now has a lid. This makes the capacity smaller than the old Evalia's gaping hole:
Additional storage space has been liberated via deletion of the passenger airbag:
Cooled or heated bottle holders (via the air vent right above):
In between the driver and passenger seats is Ashok Leyland’s version of a rear passenger blower. Slopes backwards, and is a wasted opportunity to create a driver's armrest. No armrest exists in the front on either side of the occupants. The beige seat fabric lightened up the interior, but our 3000 kms example already showed signs of stain. The LS version is part fabric and will be a better bet:
Deep floor-mounted tray to plonk bags between the driver and passenger:
Similar to the Evalia, the blower can be controlled via a
Master Switch at the front:
Rear captain seats are very comfortable, even if they are set a tad low. You can set the backrest recline angle to your preference. These captain seats have fore & aft adjustment too:
Plenty of free width:
Legroom is adequate. Foot space constrained due to the front seat's mounts:
Moving the front passenger seat forward won't improve matters, as the seat rails intrude and expose their sharp edges. Slide the seats completely back & the third row gets compromised:
The second row - although comfy - is claustrophobic. What you see as a large window outside is a very small one on the inside, as the mouldings extend beyond the window line. Unless you tilt your head, you only see the front neck restraint and a slit of a side window:
Side window has been reduced tremendously to accommodate the sliding mechanism. Sliding portion is recessed in the outer surface (exterior) and doesn't sit flush. It could be a potential source for wind noise, although we never experienced any:
Grab handle to help with ingress / egress:
It's a process to gain access to the 3rd row. One needs to pull a lever under the captain seat to move it forward, then lift a lever to tip the seat back. Unlike the Evalia, it doesn't 'lift & tilt'. Add to that, you have a 50% chance of scraping some part of your body against the sharp corners of the seat runner. Legroom of the 3rd row is more or less similar to its competitors:
Egress is a process. If you try 'legs out' first, you'll stumble and get jammed between the door and the seat. 'Upper body out first' means you need someone to hold you.
Moderator Vid6639 tried this and it nearly damaged his marriage prospects!
The technique is to poke your head first, grab the handle on the right, steady yourself on the left and level your body out:
Good boot with all seats in place. Can accommodate 3 strolleys or a large suitcase standing up:
The Evalia's 3rd row can be folded and lifted clear of the luggage area. Not so here. Only the seat back folds down, creating an uneven floor. The captain seats don't fold. The potential of huge carrying capacity is compromised:
![](https://www.team-bhp.com/carpics/AshokLeylandStile/m/Interior/ashok-leyland-stile-19.jpg)