How I decided to buy the Toyota Glanza CNG My fiftieth is coming up and I'd been looking for a new set of wheels for a few weeks. I don't drive (but have used Team-BHP for more than fifteen years). My priority was rear seat comfort (seat plus suspension), safety (six airbags is a must), and fuel efficiency. There's mostly going to be only me, and it's mostly going to be for driving within the city. Greater Noida to Gurgaon and all other parts of Delhi.
My first car was a Tata Indica 2000 in 2002. The next car was a Tata Indigo GLX (second hand) in 2005. For eighteen months in 2008 and 2009 (had a well paid job then), I had a second-hand Honda Accord. Then in 2010, I bought an Indica Vista petrol--at that time, it was the the only car under Rs. 5 lakh that had two airbags and ABS/EBD, which was why I bought it. That car's done close to 160,000 km, but now with someone else.
Earlier, I estimated my budget with a stretch to Rs. 18 lakh. So after spending hours on Team-BHP, I gleefully visited various showrooms and sat in their rear seats.
1. Kia Carens: Rear seat has poor under-thigh support, but has six airbags, and other safety features. Not impressed at all. And too large.
2. Ertiga: Within budget (as was XL6), but only four airbags and really doesn't look good--also I've traveled in NCR extensively on the previous XL6 and I wasn't impressed at all.
3. XUV300. Again, very poor under-thigh support--I'm 175 cm, and my legs were jutting out at the back. It had 5 star NCAP, but M&M would be expensive to maintain.
4. Hyundai Verna: Lovely, and within Rs. 13.7, I could get the S version, but a bit of a waiting period.
5. Hyundai Creta: Great rear seat, six airbags plus other safety features. Sadly, four to five months' waiting.
6. Maruti Brezza: Comfortable rear seat, but ugly looks.
7. VW Tiguan: Best rear seat of all in terms of under-thigh support, but costly. Not sure of VW service and spares. Also, the 1.0 TSI MT was Rs. 18 lakh--too expensive.
8. VW Virtus: Comfy to get in, and good looks and 5 star safety. Put off by all the niggles and service.
Then my budget dropped to just over Rs. 10 lakh (could have stretched to Rs. 12 lakh) or waited for three or four months to get back to Rs. 16 lakh, but I didn't want to wait.
At that price, the 2022 Baleno seemed the best bet. Baleno seemed to tick all my boxes, including a higher FE of apparently 17 to 18 in city. The Zeta (one level from the top) trim had six airbags and had good reviews. Since there will be a driver, I didn't need 360 camera and a large screen and a HUD, so went for this variant. Sat in it. Underthigh support isn't the best, but I took this for a test drive. Rear seat has a comfortable suspension. Seems fine. Negotiated a price of Rs. 9.6 lakh onroad with extended warranty and a basic kit.
Looked at second-hand cars too. There was a 2018 petrol Jeep with 57,000 km for Rs. 11.5 lakh--and sundry other cars too within Rs. 12 lakh. All were 3 to 4 years old, so expensive spares! And I wasn't sure whether they all had six airbags or not.
Day before yesterday night, I suddenly thought: why stick to Baleno? What about Toyota Glanza. Frantic surfing, seeing this site, seeing the brochure, seeing the YouTube reviews. Learnt that it was a bit more expensive than the similar variant Baleno (Rs. 5 to 15K more), but has a more light interior, a better (rather less common) front, and a warranty for more km..
Yesterday went to see the Glanza. Sat in and did a test drive (in the third floor of the basement parking of the dealer) of the G version. He offered a price of Rs. 9.7 lakh, Rs. 10k more than Baleno, but the Toyota badge seemed worth it. Just before signing up, my partner said that I'd be driving many km a day and that my driver would be running the car (for the AC) in my absence. Was there a CNG variant?
Dealer said yes and we went to see. The G version with six airbags does have a CNG version so great. But when we opened the boot, it was disappointing to see that the CNG cylinder and the spare wheel (which is propped vertical, and not horizontal) took up 80 percent. Space for just a strolley(?) or one bag. More could be fitted in the parcel tray. Also, Rs. 1 lakh more than the equivalent version.
Discussions with partner. Do I need the boot? No. I'll only need it if going outstation--but her car's a top-end Jeep S(O) and has enough space. If I'm getting dropped to the airport, I can always sit in front, and keep suitcase on rear seat. And anyway, it's safer to take an Uber to the airport--God knows what tricks the driver will do on the way back with an empty car. Do I really need the boot? No, I can live without it, for my purpose of a comfortable, safe city commute.
Now the economics: Rs. 1 lakh more! Petrol at Rs. 97/liter and FE of 18 km/liter is Rs. 5.4 a km. CNG at Rs. 73.6/kg and 28km/kg is Rs. 2.6 a km. My weekly driving will be around 450km or yearly of 22,500 km. That's a saving of Rs. 63,000 a year. So the extra Rs. 1 lakh will be made up in less than two years. A CNG car is also better for the environment (not as good as an electric), so that's that too.
Negotiations started from the base offer of Rs. 10.7 lakh Extra warranty for five years (but still 100K km) was Rs. 14,500 more. Taking the warranty to the next slot of 150km was another Rs. 5,000 so that was bought. Accessories, apart from the mudflap and basic mat. Got a better mat, window shades, and visors. Total comes to Rs. 10.78 lakh, which is within my stretched budget. Paid the advance of Rs. 11,000.
Now to color. The blue is way too common. The grey is boring. The cherry red wasn't impressive and she has a fiery red Jeep anyway. Choice of white or silver, so went for silver. This color isn't immediately available, but should be ready in two to three weeks.
Two cribs about the rear seat. No center arm-rest and the under-thigh support is still not there (and not as good as the Taigun or Creta). After-market centre arm-rest will be bought. I'm also going to buy a leather seat cover, perhaps with some added foam cushioning to increase both the height and depth of the seat by a few mm. May not install it in the front seat, since it will interfere with the airbags.
This morning's email from BHP got the news of a Baleno being crushed under a Thar. I'll be traveling on the Noida Greater Noida expressway regularly, and I'm wondering whether I should have bought a two-airbag Virtus for Rs. 13 lakh, but I've decided to swat these second thoughts away. I've bought a car that's economical to drive and has six airbags and whose rear suspension is comfortable and which is apparently now (2022 version) safer than the previous Baleno.
I shall update when my car comes home, and take your advise on what mods do I need. Should I buy front fog lights (not there in this G version) for Rs. 7,700. Best place to get leather seats? Side molding? Paint protection. The list is endless.
Last edited by Jaggu : 24th April 2023 at 13:17.
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