The 2010 Honda Accord has a cushier, more cautious appeal than it’s coupe cousin, but it is still an magnetic vehicle. Edmunds sings the Accord Sedan’s praises, announcing its “eye-catching... Read more »

The all-new Mercedes-Benz E class has been the talk of the town ever since it was launched. Finally, there was a Merc to send shivers down the spine of its other European rivals. However, the price tag of the E350 petrol did raise a few eyebrows. With the introduction of the cheaper E250 V6 petrol, those with a limited budget have a reason to rejoice. As the model name suggests, the E250 comes with a smaller 2.5-litre V6 engine that belts out 204 Stuttgart ponnies with 245Nm of torque. These figures are 25 and 30 percent lower than what the bigger 3.5-litre engine manages respectively. The kerb weight remains the same and as expected, this E seems to have lost its spirited and enthusiastic nature. While the E350 took a shade over 8.33 seconds for the naught to a ton sprint, the smaller engine does the same run in two more seconds. We wonder why Mercedes couldn’t use the new four cylinder 2.5-litre E250 CGI petrol engine that puts out 65Nm of additional torque.

Launched first in 1975, there have been five separate generations of VW Polo over the years, the current one being the Polo Mark V. The Indian version looks almost the same as the one sold abroad with minute changes here and there. This car flaunts its front end proudly with the big VW logo sitting between the two horizontal slots. The honeycomb grille type air-intake dam integrated into the bumper appears sporty, but what looks even better is the little chin job, or the skirts as many call them, spread across the bottom of the bumper. The side profile is quite clean with a prominent crease running along the length of the car. The top end model, the Highline, comes with gorgeous looking 15-inch alloy wheels that surely add to the overall visual appeal. At the rear, the VW logo again takes centre stage with the tail lamps stacked away at either side. Though the Polo measures just under the 4 meter mark, which was essential for the tax benefits for small cars, it has a massive presence on the road especially in this red colour.

With 11 percent more power and five percent more torque, Volvo S80 D5 comes as no surprise that the new S80 diesel is a delight to drive. Powered by a 2.4-litre, in-line five-cylinder engine, it develops an impressive 205bhp of power and 420Nm of torque, translating into a 0-0100km/h acceleration in just over 8 seconds and a genuine top speed of almost 230km/h. Though the cubic capacity remains the same, the inclusion of a twin-turbo (among other changes) results in this hike. At the same time, the engine runs efficiently as well, delivering 9.5kmpl in the city and 14.5kmpl on the highway. For the few days I had the car with me, I drove it almost everywhere but failed to get the fuel needle to the red zone. With a 70litre tank and a good fuel economy, this was expected! Coming back to the engine, the D5, though claimed to be eight percent quieter than the previous version, is still on the noisier side.

Maruti Suzuki is known to provide the masses with cars that hold a high value for money tag along with class leading technology and affordability. To heat things up a little bit, they have launched their latest tool, the EECO which is a MUV built for the mortals. It made its debut at the 10th Auto Expo and has already gained a lot of air. And why wouldn’t it? The EECO is a perfect blend of Maruti’s tried and tested components that are affordable. It is a car that is absolutely a no frills package. However, the basic features are more than enough to impress you. The 1.2-litre engine with a five-speed manual transmission and a hell of a lot of space are the features that make this car an excellent choice for people who want a bigger car at an affordable price.