Reviews Archives - NamasteCar https://namastecar.com/category/reviews/ Real life review & news Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:47:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://namastecar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cropped-site-icon-32x32.png Reviews Archives - NamasteCar https://namastecar.com/category/reviews/ 32 32 132991589 Volkswagen Tiguan 2025 Review: Meet the Turbocharged Teutonic Lizard in a Tuxedo https://namastecar.com/2025/07/12/volkswagen-tiguan-2025-review-meet-the-turbocharged-teutonic-lizard-in-a-tuxedo/ https://namastecar.com/2025/07/12/volkswagen-tiguan-2025-review-meet-the-turbocharged-teutonic-lizard-in-a-tuxedo/#respond Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:47:26 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=21169 If a tiger went to finishing school in Bavaria and then became roommates with an iguana who reads…

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If a tiger went to finishing school in Bavaria and then became roommates with an iguana who reads GQ, you’d end up with something suspiciously similar to the Volkswagen Tiguan. The name itself—Tiguan—a portmanteau of Tiger and Iguana, sounds like an apex predator with a good skincare routine. And in its 2025 R-Line avatar, it doesn’t disappoint. It purrs, it bites, and it occasionally massages your back while playing Mozart.

A Brief History of the German Jungle Cat

First unleashed in 2007, the Tiguan has quietly become Volkswagen’s global superstar—over 7.5 million units sold worldwide, roughly one every 4 seconds. Which makes it more prolific than most Bollywood item numbers. This is the third-generation Tiguan, and it’s back with only one version for India: the R-Line, the sporty, snazzily dressed cousin in the VW family that probably drinks sparkling mineral water unironically.

The price? A modest ₹49 lakh ex-showroom—because nothing says “entry-level luxury” like a car that costs more than your MBA.


Exterior: Business-Class Lizard

At first glance, it looks like a Golf went to the gym and started eating boiled chicken and creatine. With its R-Line bumpers, black honeycomb inserts, 19-inch Coventry alloys, and an LED light strip that looks like it’s permanently winking at you, the Tiguan means business—and maybe a touch of mischief.

There’s Cipressino Green paint on this one, which sounds like a mocktail at a Goa beach shack. But you also get the usual suspects—black, white, silver, blue, and red. The black-glossy wheel arches and sleek 3D LED tail lamps with animated signals add drama in a very Berlin techno club way.

4MOTION all-wheel drive and 176mm ground clearance ensure it can handle Indian roads, monsoon potholes, and the occasional existential crisis.


Interior: Lufthansa Lounge on Wheels

Step inside and you’re welcomed by ambient lighting in 30 shades—more than your ex had moods. There’s a VW logo puddle lamp, brushed steel pedals, illuminated centre console, and even a glass etching of an iguana, just in case you forget who the star of the show is.

The ErgoActive front seats come with massage, heating, and enough adjustments to make chiropractors obsolete. The rear gets 40/20/40 split seats with longitudinal sliding thigh support—fancy words meaning your backseat passengers won’t file complaints.

A 652-litre boot expands to 1650 litres with seats down—perfect for a weekend getaway or a small IKEA showroom.


Infotainment: MIB4 and Chill

The dashboard is a digital Disneyland. You get a 15-inch touchscreen, 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, Head-Up Display, and a sound system that features something called Electronic Engine Sound—which basically fakes engine noise because the cabin’s too well insulated to hear the real thing.

Support includes everything short of Morse code: Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB, Navigation, Voice control, and a Voice Enhancer (because your voice deserves studio acoustics while asking for directions to the nearest dosa stall).


Performance: Dad Bod Outside, Gym Freak Within

Under the hood, it’s all serious muscle: a 2.0L TSI EVO petrol engine, with 201 hp and 320 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed DSG. It hits 100 km/h quicker than you can say “Stratified Injection.” The claimed mileage is 12 kmpl, which is decent if you consider it spends half its energy on looking smug.

Also included: Dynamic Chassis Control, Vehicle Dynamics Manager, and 6 drive modes: Eco (for penny pinchers), Comfort (for chauffeurs), Sport (for Delhi boys), Individual (for control freaks), Offroad (for Ladakh dreams), and Snow (for Instagram stories from Manali).


Safety: A Mobile Fortified Bunker

Euro NCAP gave it 5 stars, and VW didn’t stop there. You get 9 airbags, ESC, ADAS Level 2 with 21 driver assistance features, including lane assist, drowsiness monitoring, emergency braking, and a deadlock system called Safelock—which sounds like a Batman gadget.

Even the first-aid kit is from KALFF, which we assume is the German equivalent of “Yes, we mean business.”


Verdict: Should You Buy One?

The Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line is for someone who appreciates engineering, drinks single-origin coffee, and might pronounce “Versace” correctly on the first try. It’s the perfect car for those who want luxury, safety, tech, performance—and a bit of Deutsche panache—without yelling about it.

Sure, it doesn’t come with a diesel or hybrid in India. Sure, it costs as much as a Himalayan yurt on Airbnb for a year. But does it matter? You’re driving a vehicle that shares its platform with everything from an Audi A3 to a Skoda Superb. It’s basically the James Bond of SUVs—dressed to kill, licensed to pamper.


Final Scorecard:

🛞 Design: 9/10 – German precision with a hint of rebellion
💺 Interior: 9.5/10 – Backseat of this car > most office chairs
📲 Tech: 9.8/10 – Feels like Silicon Valley with a steering wheel
🔋 Performance: 8.5/10 – Fast enough, but not a hooligan
🛡 Safety: 10/10 – Makes you feel like you’re driving inside a vault
💸 Value: 7.5/10 – You pay for the badge, but you also get the engineering


If you want your SUV to feel like a five-star hotel lobby and occasionally throw you back in the seat on a straight road, the Tiguan R-Line is your lizard in shining armour.

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Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX Review: The Subcompact SUV That Thinks It’s a Bollywood Hero https://namastecar.com/2025/07/11/mahindra-xuv-3xo-revx-review-the-subcompact-suv-that-thinks-its-a-bollywood-hero/ https://namastecar.com/2025/07/11/mahindra-xuv-3xo-revx-review-the-subcompact-suv-that-thinks-its-a-bollywood-hero/#respond Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:45:21 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=21124 Welcome to the XUV 3XO RevX — the car that walks into the Indian subcompact SUV segment like…

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Welcome to the XUV 3XO RevX — the car that walks into the Indian subcompact SUV segment like a dashing hero in a Rohit Shetty film. With a confident grille, tech-packed cabin, and more drive modes than your last relationship had moods, the 3XO isn’t just a facelift of the old XUV300 — it’s a glow-up worthy of a Netflix makeover show.

Launched initially in 2019, this 2025 facelift arrives as the XUV 3XO — now with more ‘X’, more ‘O’, and a lot more sass.


Design: Heartcore, Not Hardcore

Pratap Bose deserves a slow clap. The XUV 3XO has ditched its conservative styling for what Mahindra calls the Heartcore Design Philosophy. It’s like your chartered accountant cousin turned influencer — sharp, bold, and inexplicably photogenic.

That new body-coloured grille? It screams “move aside, peasants”. Bi-LED projector headlamps with LED DRLs? So sharp, they could slice through Delhi fog. And let’s not ignore the Infinity LED Tail Lamps at the back — because even your car deserves dramatic exits.

Tango Red, Grey, Blue, Yellow, Green? It’s not a car — it’s a rolling Holi palette. Dual-tone roof options included, for that “my SUV, my style” energy.


Size Does Matter (When You’re in a Metro)

It’s under 4 metres, but it still pulls off the presence of something twice its price. At 1.8 metres wide, with a 201mm ground clearance and the ability to wade through 350mm of water — this thing was clearly made for monsoons, potholes, and surprise swimming pools that appear on Indian roads every July.


Platform & Performance: Small SUV, Big Drama

Built on the X100 platform that also underpins the Mahindra XUV400 and KG Mobility’s Tivoli, the 3XO isn’t just style — it’s got substance in its steel (45% high-strength, if you’re counting). With 5328 spot welds, this car’s body is tighter than your building society budget.

Now, under the hood:

  • 1.2L mStallion TGDi Petrol (RevX):
    128 hp | 230 Nm torque | 20 kmpl (manual)
    Smooth, punchy, and turbocharged enough to leave traffic lights like you’re starring in your own Fast & Furious spin-off — “Desi & Determined.”
  • Other Petrol Option (TCMPFi):
    109 hp | 200 Nm | for the ones who want performance, but not too much excitement in life.
  • Diesel Option (CRDe, 1.5L):
    115 hp | 300 Nm | 21 kmpl (auto)
    Ideal for the highway warriors and the spreadsheet-obsessed uncle who still calculates fuel costs down to the paisa.

Transmission options include 6-speed manuals and 6-speed AISIN automatics, paired perfectly to your inner speed demon or laid-back cruiser.


Ride & Handling: Zap. Zoom. Zindagi.

Zip, Zap, Zoom — these are your official drive modes. If you thought they were just quirky names, think again. Paired with Smart Steering Modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport), the RevX transforms from city slicker to highway hustler in a flick.

The MTV-CL dampers aren’t a new TV channel — they’re part of the suspension magic that keeps your kidneys from registering every speed breaker as a personal insult.


Interior: Business Class, Meet Bollywood Bling

Step inside and it’s like Mahindra decided to blend a tech startup with a 5-star lounge.

  • 10.24-inch HD infotainment + 10.24-inch digital cluster = double the screens, double the bragging rights.
  • Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and 80+ features via Adrenox Connect.
  • Need to turn off the lights, start the engine, or check if your car has crossed Lajpat Nagar? Just use your phone.
  • Panoramic sunroof, or as Mahindra likes to call it, the Skyroof. Because what’s an SUV in India today without one? A hatchback with dreams.

You also get a dual-zone climate control, USB-C ports, cooled glovebox, Harman audio upgrade, and leatherette everywhere — seats, steering, gear knob. The 3XO is clearly on a mission to make luxury democratic.


Boot Space & Practicality: Compact on Paper, Clever in Person

364 litres of boot space, plus split-folding seats. Just enough for two large suitcases, a weekend of IKEA regret, or four boxes of mangoes from your nani’s place.

Bonus points for the 16-inch spare wheel, because nobody wants a puncture ruining a road trip selfie.


Safety: Desi Tank in a Designer Suit

This thing’s got more safety features than a Swiss bank vault.

  • 6 airbags, ESP 9.3, Hill Hold/Descent, TPMS, ADAS Level 2
  • Reverse parking sensors and camera
  • Blind view monitor
  • ISOFIX, roll-over mitigation, brake disc wiping — even features your neighbour’s BMW might be jealous of.

Oh, and did we mention the 5-star Bharat NCAP rating? It’s the desi Michelin Star for safety.


Ownership & Warranty

Mahindra gives you 3 years unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assistance, because trust issues should be left for dating apps — not car ownership.

Also, proudly Made in Nashik and exported to Australia and South Africa, so your SUV has better travel history than you.


Why the 3XO RevX Deserves a Parking Spot in Your Life

The Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX is what happens when you give a compact SUV the DNA of a muscle car, the wardrobe of a designer, and the tech-savvy of a millennial startup.

At ₹13 lakh ex-showroom for this RevX TGDi, it punches above its class with features, safety, and design that rival bigger, costlier SUVs. And with a name like “3XO”, it sounds less like a car and more like a superhero suit.

So if you want a car that’s bold, brainy, and built for India — one that can zip past traffic, zap through potholes, and zoom into your Instagram stories — this could be your perfect match.


Final Verdict:
“Compact outside. Xtraordinary inside. XO XO, gossip girl who?”

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Boardroom on Boost: The Mercedes-AMG S 63 is a CEO’s Missile in a Tuxedo (REVIEW) https://namastecar.com/2025/07/09/boardroom-on-boost-the-mercedes-amg-s-63-is-a-ceos-missile-in-a-tuxedo-review/ https://namastecar.com/2025/07/09/boardroom-on-boost-the-mercedes-amg-s-63-is-a-ceos-missile-in-a-tuxedo-review/#respond Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:10:35 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=21078 The Mad Scientist in a Tuxedo: AMG S 63 E Performance Proves That 2.5 Tons of German Diplomacy…

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The Mad Scientist in a Tuxedo: AMG S 63 E Performance Proves That 2.5 Tons of German Diplomacy Can Go from Spa Treatment to Spa-Francorchamps in 3.3 Seconds

If James Bond ever decided to retire, move to Delhi, and become the head of a global spice export empire, this is the car he’d drive. The Mercedes-AMG S 63 E Performance is not merely a car—it’s a 2.5-tonne, 5.3-metre-long flying carpet stitched together with carbon fibre, red nappa leather, and an alarming amount of German sarcasm.

Now in its 6th generation since its 1989 debut, the 2025 AMG S 63 is the most powerful S-Class ever. And also, quite possibly, the most opulent missile ever fitted with massaging seats and a heated cupholder. At ₹3.34 crore (ex-showroom), this is the full-stop at the end of every luxury argument—be it about legroom, horsepower, or how many LED spotlights you need to read a newspaper in the backseat.

Let’s talk numbers. The heart of this beast is a twin-turbo V8 petrol engine paired with a 13.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and a 188 hp electric motor, all orchestrated into symphonic chaos by the Mercedes-Benz M177 powertrain. Total system output? A spine-altering 791 horsepower and an earth-moving 1430 Nm of torque. 0–100 kmph? Just 3.3 seconds. That’s faster than your local pizza delivery guy can say “30 minutes or free.”

And if you’re the sort who likes to adjust their exhaust note to match the mood of a business acquisition, worry not. There’s an AMG Performance exhaust with fluted trapezoidal tailpipes and active flaps to let your neighbours know when you’re in Sport+ mode… or when you’ve just found parking in South Delhi.

Design-wise, this car means business. You’ve got the optional ₹67,000 AMG Panamericana grille with the iconic central star—used for the first time on an S-Class sedan. The V223 codename might sound like a villain from a sci-fi movie, but it actually belongs to one of the most elegant shapes on the Modular Rear Architecture (MRA2) platform, the same one underpinning the latest C, E, CLE, and GLC.

And this isn’t just any sedan. This is a sedan that’s been to finishing school in Affalterbach. There’s rear-axle steering for better agility (rear wheels turn up to 3 degrees), AMG Active Ride Control+ with adaptive air suspension, and AMG-specific dynamic modes: from pure-electric ‘sneak-out-of-the-house’ mode to ‘Sport+’—also known as ‘wake-the-dead’.

You want carbon? There’s a ₹7.25 lakh AMG Exterior Carbon Package. You want wheels? Choose between 20 or 21-inch alloys, or go full Bollywood villain with the optional ₹11 lakh carbon ceramic brakes. And if you’re the type who needs a red caliper to match your red leather seats, that’ll be ₹1 lakh more. Because of course it is.

And oh, the seats. Up front, you get electrically adjustable AMG Sport thrones with 3 memory settings, massage, ventilation, and even luxury head restraints. But the real party is in the back. With the ₹4.14 lakh First-Class rear compartment, you get a full-length business console, optional ₹1.56 lakh executive chairs, optional ₹2.52 lakh rear comfort package, and if you’ve really messed up a board meeting, ₹1.88 lakh climatised rear seats to cool those hot tempers.

Add to that folding tray tables, adaptive rear lighting, seatbelt feeders (yes, for ₹45,000 someone hands you your belt), rear airbags in the front seatbacks, and a ₹1.71 lakh fridge for those late-night sparkling waters.

Entertainment? Try 31 Burmester speakers throwing 1750 watts of 4D surround sound at your ears. Or the standard 15-speaker 3D system if you’re being ‘budget conscious’. There’s a ₹74,000 MBUX rear tablet, two ₹5 lakh 11.6” screens, and wireless headphones that cost more than a mid-range phone.

And if you’re wondering about features like remote parking, digital key sharing, 360-degree cameras, Guard 360° anti-theft surveillance, adaptive cruise, blind spot detection, and Distronic radar-based assistance—yes, it has all that. It also has a fingerprint scanner. Because you’re not just unlocking a car—you’re verifying your identity as a VIP.

Let’s not forget the cabin lights in 64 colours, automatic sunblinds, double cup holders with temperature control, heated centre armrests, and a panoramic sunroof that could double up as a luxury observatory.

Infotainment? You get a 12.8-inch OLED screen with MBUX, haptic feedback, voice commands, AMG Track Pace telemetry, and even augmented reality nav via a ₹4.72 lakh heads-up display. The instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch 3D screen, because flat dashboards are for peasants.

On the tech side, you’ve got 5G SIM connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, WiFi hotspot, over-the-air updates, and a literal app to control everything—from your AC to your back massage to the speed limit of your teenage son’s joyrides.

And don’t worry about the boot—it’s a respectable 305 litres, with independent locking and through-loading functionality in case you feel the sudden urge to carry skis to your shareholder meeting.

So, what’s it like to drive? Imagine a cruise missile with a sense of empathy. The AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed transmission keeps everything smooth, while three-stage AMG steering, carbon fibre trim, and active engine noise cancellation keep you focused. It’s whisper quiet when you want it, banshee loud when you need it.

In a nutshell, the Mercedes-AMG S 63 is less a car, more a business jet that got tired of waiting at the airport. It’s the ultimate paradox—a thunderous brute in a tuxedo, a rocket with a reading lamp, a racehorse with back massagers.

If luxury had a sport mode, this would be it.

And if that doesn’t convince you, just remember—this car has seatbelt airbags. Your seatbelt. Has. Airbags.

Of course it does. It’s an AMG.

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Tata Harrier EV Review: Desi Muscle Meets Digital Mind – Electrified With Sass & Sassoon https://namastecar.com/2025/06/25/tata-harrier-ev-review-desi-muscle-meets-digital-mind-electrified-with-sass-sassoon/ https://namastecar.com/2025/06/25/tata-harrier-ev-review-desi-muscle-meets-digital-mind-electrified-with-sass-sassoon/#respond Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:36:54 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20852 Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for India’s very own digital daku – the Tata Harrier…

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Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for India’s very own digital daku – the Tata Harrier EV. It doesn’t drink diesel, it doesn’t cough carbon, and no, it won’t wake up the neighbours unless you decide to blast your JBL Dolby Atmos speakers with “Zingaat” at 6 a.m.


What Are We Looking At?

What you see here is the Tata Harrier EV – QWD Dual Motor Empowered Edition, the electric avatar of India’s much-loved muscle SUV. This is the SUV that’s traded its growl for grace, torque for tech, and fuel bills for USB bills. It launched in 2025 and is Tata’s love letter to the future – one written in binary, coded on a Snapdragon digital chassis, and delivered via over-the-air updates.

It starts at ₹21.49 lakh (ex-showroom), but the big daddy QWD top model you see here could flirt with the ₹35 lakh mark. And no, it won’t ask for diesel money later.


⚡ Performance – The Silent Storm

Underneath that butch body lies a 75 kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery powering two motors – one up front (Induction), one at the rear (PMSM). This beast punches out a combined 390 horsepower and 504 Nm of torque, enough to scare off German SUVs twice its price.

It does 0-100 kmph in 6.3 seconds, which is about the time it takes your chai to boil. Top speed? 180 kmph – but you’ll run out of nerves before you run out of power.

Real-world range? Around 480 km on a full charge (certified 622 km), which is impressive unless you’re planning a round trip to Mars.

Need juice? Plug it into a 120 kW DC fast charger and get 60% charge in 25 minutes. That’s faster than finishing a thali at a Mumbai wedding.


🔋 Charging & V2X Superpowers

This isn’t just a car; it’s a rolling inverter. With 5 kVA vehicle-to-vehicle charging and 3.3 kVA vehicle-to-load, you can charge your neighbour’s EV or run a full DJ setup on your next camping trip.


💻 Tech Ka Baap – Inside the Digital Brain

The Harrier EV runs on Tata’s t.idal architecture – a software superbrain built on 500 million lines of code, which is approximately 499 million more than what Elon tweets.

Taking centre stage is a 14.53-inch Samsung Neo QLED infotainment systemyes, the same tech you cry in front of during Netflix dramas. This screen supports:

  • Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
  • Arcade.ev games
  • OTT content
  • UPI-based DrivePay for petrol pump-less life
  • Mappls EV routing & charging station locator

And to keep your chai-spilling antics recorded: a rearview mirror dashcam with 128GB storage and QR-enabled footage download.


🎧 Feel The Beat, Not The Engine

With a 10-speaker JBL system featuring Dolby Atmos, even Kishore Kumar will feel like he’s singing live from your boot. And yes, this boot offers 502 litres of space, expanding to 999 litres when the rear seats fold flatter than a dosa.


🧠 ADAS & Safety – Smart Enough to Save You from Yourself

This electric Hulk comes equipped with Level 2 ADAS, powered by Mobileye EyeQ, and includes every acronym the automobile dictionary offers:

  • Adaptive Cruise Control (Stop & Go)
  • Lane Keep & Centering Assist
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Door Open Alert
  • 7 Airbags
  • 540° camera view with transparent mode (yes, Harry Potter-level stuff)

🧗 Off-Roading, City-Crawling, and Everything in Between

This ain’t just a mall crawler. With Quad Wheel Drive, 6 terrain modes (including Rock Crawl and Drift), 47% gradeability, Off-Road Assist, and a 600mm water wading capacity, the Harrier EV is as comfortable doing a Leh trip as it is getting stuck in Bandra traffic.

Need help parking? Let Summon Mode or Auto Park Assist take the wheel – it works via phone, key, or infotainment. It even handles angular parking spots because, well, India.


🛋 Interior – White Leather & Brown Desires

Inside, the Harrier EV is a Nappa-wrapped tech fest:

  • Ventilated front seats with memory, 6-way power driver and 4-way power passenger adjustments
  • Flat rear floor, comfort headrests, and Boss Mode (because desi dads like front seat control)
  • Customizable ambient lighting (multi-colour like a Holi party)
  • Wireless charger, sliding cooled armrest, and a jewel-like terrain knob just to show off

Panoramic sunroof with voice control & mood lighting lets you summon sunlight like a wizard.


🧠 Verdict – King of Electric Jungle

The Tata Harrier EV isn’t just an SUV. It’s a statement on wheels. It says: “I want performance, but I want peace too. I want off-roading, but I want OTT streaming on the go. I want to be eco-conscious, but also desi enough to have Boss Mode seats.”

It is equal parts muscle and motherboard, bulky yet brainy, rugged yet refined. And above all – it’s unapologetically Indian, just like a 6-foot-tall uncle who drinks sugarcane juice in a linen suit.

Buy it if you want to be part of the electric revolution with attitude.
Avoid it if you enjoy refueling and missing software updates.

Rating: 9.5/10 – because the only thing it doesn’t offer… is a cup of chai. Yet.

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2025 Range Rover SV Review: A Palace on Wheels, With Enough Features to Run a Small Nation https://namastecar.com/2025/06/21/2025-range-rover-sv-review-a-palace-on-wheels-with-enough-features-to-run-a-small-nation/ https://namastecar.com/2025/06/21/2025-range-rover-sv-review-a-palace-on-wheels-with-enough-features-to-run-a-small-nation/#respond Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:26:19 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20809 If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to command a luxury cruise ship while sitting in your…

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If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to command a luxury cruise ship while sitting in your drawing room, sipping Himalayan mineral water chilled to perfection — all while stuck in Delhi traffic — then my friend, welcome to the 2025 Range Rover SV Masāra Edition. A British SUV so posh, it probably curtsies before you climb in.


💎 Masāra – The Sapphire Saga Begins

First things first, you’re looking at the Range Rover SV Masāra Limited Edition, named after the Sanskrit word for sapphire — a nod to India and its royal bling history. Only 12 units will exist, because obviously, it’s more exclusive than your family WhatsApp group admin role.

Coated in a Deep Satin Blue finish inspired by Himalayan sapphires and priced at a humble ₹5 crore (ex-showroom, excluding the emotional cost of selling your soul), this long-wheelbase palace rolls on 23-inch diamond-turned alloys so shiny, satellites may start using them for GPS calibration.


🧠 Intelligence > You

This thing isn’t just a pretty face. It’s got more brains than your school principal and probably more emotional intelligence too:

  • Predictive Adaptive Headlights that think ahead.
  • Electronic Active Differential with torque vectoring, because apparently your corners are not good enough.
  • Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control — it knows the terrain better than your village uncle with weather predictions.
  • Terrain Response 2 which might as well yell “hold my teacup” before auto-adjusting to sand, snow, or Mars.

🧘 Comfort Mode: Maharaja

Inside? Think Rolls-Royce with WiFi.

  • 34 Meridian Signature speakers that could host a Coldplay concert in your driveway.
  • SV Signature Suite in Four-Seat Layout with electrically deployable club tables – because holding your laptop manually is just too middle class.
  • Electrically deployable crystal glassware, for the same reason.
  • Heated door armrests, because cold elbows are a peasant problem.
  • 2050 GSM mohair carpets, thicker than your family inheritance dispute file.

Add in rear massage seats with shoulder support, lumbar, ventilation, memory, headrest speakers for active noise cancellation, and we’re basically talking private jet with parking sensors.


🎛 Tech That Judges You Silently

  • 13.1-inch Pivi Pro infotainment, 13.1-inch digital cluster, 13.1-inch rear curved touchscreens – it’s like Apple threw a party and JLR was the VIP.
  • AI voice control, live traffic updates, floating glass interface, and ClearSight rearview mirror that uses a camera so you don’t have to actually turn your neck.
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth strong enough to connect to your neighbor’s phone.

🏋 The Engine Room – Brutish and British

There are multiple options, but we’re talking about the BMW-sourced 4.4L Twin Turbo V8 in this SV, which spits out:

  • 606 hp and 750 Nm of torque
  • 0-100 kmph in 4.5 seconds, which is about the same time it takes you to say “Masāra Limited Edition”
  • Top speed of 261 kmph (ideal for overtaking that one guy in a Scorpio who thinks he’s in a Fast & Furious sequel)
  • Fuel economy of 10 kmpl, because if you’re checking mileage, you shouldn’t be here

If you prefer a plug-in hybrid, there’s the P550e with 542 hp, 800 Nm, and a 119 km EV-only range — or as Range Rover calls it, “Shhh mode.”


💂 British But Built For Bharat

Despite being royal in stature, it knows how to get its tyres dirty:

  • 900mm wading depth, so no monsoon puddle stands a chance.
  • 283mm ground clearance, so no speedbreaker can ruin your mood.
  • Dynamic Air Suspension, so you float over potholes like you’re on a hoverboard.
  • All-Wheel Steering that turns this yacht into a ballerina in tight spaces.

Even your cows will make way out of respect.


🎒 Boot Space & Backseat Parties

  • 818 litres boot (enough for 4 suitcases and a Himalayan meditation retreat kit)
  • 2176 litres with seats folded — or in Range Rover terms, “room for two Labradors, a picnic, and possibly your mother-in-law”
  • Tailgate Event Suite with speakers and lighting, because why should music festivals have all the fun?

☃ Climate Control So Good It Could Snow

With Four-Zone Climate Control, Cabin Air Purification Pro, PM 2.5 filter, and heated everything (steering, seats, console, even the soul probably), Range Rover has officially defeated the concept of weather.

Even the sunblinds, windows, and seat belts are smarter than your average college graduate.


🛡 Safety Like MI6

  • Euro NCAP 5 stars
  • 6 airbags, EBD, Hill Descent Control, 3D camera, Trailer Assist, Driver Condition Monitor, and even Intrusion sensors — if someone tries to steal it, the car might just break up with them.
  • Roll Stability Control, because this SUV is not into drama.

Verdict: Royalty on Rims

The 2025 Range Rover SV Masāra Edition isn’t just a car. It’s an event. A moving fortress of wealth, power, and taste that says, “I don’t drive through India. I glide.”

With enough features to qualify as its own zip code and an attitude somewhere between the Queen of England and Tony Stark, it’s not for everyone. But for those lucky 12 buyers?

Well, congratulations — your driveway is officially more luxurious than 97% of five-star hotels.


Score: 9.98/10
(-0.02 deducted because the car doesn’t come with its own butler… yet.)

The post 2025 Range Rover SV Review: A Palace on Wheels, With Enough Features to Run a Small Nation appeared first on NamasteCar.

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MG Comet EV Review: The Spaceship That Took a Wrong Turn and Ended Up in a Housing Society https://namastecar.com/2025/06/21/mg-comet-ev-review-the-spaceship-that-took-a-wrong-turn-and-ended-up-in-a-housing-society/ https://namastecar.com/2025/06/21/mg-comet-ev-review-the-spaceship-that-took-a-wrong-turn-and-ended-up-in-a-housing-society/#respond Sat, 21 Jun 2025 13:18:56 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20804 Some cars were born to race, some were born to roam, and then there’s the MG Comet —…

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Some cars were born to race, some were born to roam, and then there’s the MG Comet — which feels like it was born because someone in a boardroom said, “What if a laptop bag could drive?”

Launched in 2023, the MG Comet is India’s most futuristic attempt at saying, “We understand your traffic trauma, and here’s a USB-powered pill to fix it.”


🛸 DESIGN: THE ALIEN EGG ON WHEELS

At just 3 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, the Comet is smaller than some people’s egos. But thanks to its 1.6-metre height, it still manages to look like a mini-fridge wearing Gucci sunglasses.

With Parallel Steps LED headlamps, a glowing illuminated MG logo, boneless wipers (we’re assuming they’re vegan), and dual-tone Blackstorm paint, it’s clear MG wanted the Comet to resemble a concept car parked outside a tech startup that sells nothing but NFTs of mangoes.


🔋 POWERTRAIN: IT’S SHOCKING… LY CUTE

The Comet is rear-wheel-drive. Yes, rear-wheel-drive. In a car that weighs less than a mature buffalo.

It’s powered by a 17.4 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery paired to a permanent magnet synchronous motor — putting out 41 horsepower and 110 Nm of torque. That’s enough to launch you from 0 to 60… eventually. MG says the top speed is 105 kmph, but in real life, anything above 80 feels like the car is calling its therapist. MG claims the Comet offers a certified range of 230 km on a full charge — or as MG puts it, “enough to circle the moon if the moon was a gated society in Gurugram.”


⚡ CHARGING: SLOW AND SERENE

Charging the Comet is like teaching your pet tortoise how to use an iPad — 3.3 kW charger gives you full charge in 7 hours, while the 7.4 kW charger cuts that down to 3.5 hours. Perfect for overnight charging — or if you live near a mall food court with Wi-Fi.


💸 PRICING: NOT KIDDING AROUND

Starts at ₹7.35 lakh (ex-showroom), but MG offers a Battery-as-a-Service program — knock the price down to ₹5 lakh if you’re okay paying ₹2.9/km for battery rental. For reference, that’s cheaper than some Uber Autos that will still ask if you have change for ₹500.


🛡 SAFETY: THE MINIATURE FORTRESS

Despite its toy-like stature, the Comet is more tested than a 90s CBSE topper. It has passed 39 safety tests, including seawater immersion (in case you’re attacked by mermaids), salt mist (if you live in a French fry), crash tests, and vibration tests.

You also get dual airbags, ABS, ESC, TPMS, rear camera, ISOFIX, and enough acronyms to make NASA sweat.


🧠 TECH: THE SMARTPHONE ON WHEELS

The Comet is smarter than half the people on LinkedIn. It comes with:

  • A floating 10.25” touchscreen that supports wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
  • A 10.25” full digital instrument cluster that can display everything except your boss’s mood
  • MG’s i-Smart app with 55+ remote features — from unlocking the car to checking its mood swings

Bonus: It’ll even wish you happy birthday. We don’t know if it brings cake, though.


🛋 INTERIORS: IKEA BUT MAKE IT MOVABLE

Step inside and you’ll be surprised — it’s massive inside. You’ll say “wah!” before “how?” thanks to the Big Inside, Compact Outside philosophy.

You get:

  • One-touch sliding passenger seat
  • 50:50 split folding rear seats
  • 704 litres of max luggage space if you remove the rear seats and your faith in personal boundaries
  • PVC-layered door trims, leatherette upholstery, and hooks that can hold a tiffin box or emotional baggage up to 0.5 kg

🎶 INFOTAINMENT: PARTY FOR TWO

It comes with 4 speakers, voice commands, and online music app support. So yes, you can vibe to your breakup playlist while stuck in traffic, listening to the car say, “Please don’t cry. Would you like me to find a charging station?”


🧪 PLATFORM: THE GLOBAL CITIZEN

Built on the GSEV platform from SAIC-GM-Wuling, the Comet is basically a Wuling Air EV with Indian swag. It’s assembled in India, China, and Indonesia, and is sold as a Chevrolet Spark EV in some regions. It’s the car equivalent of that friend who speaks five languages but still forgets their wallet.


📦 EXTRAS: DRESSED TO IMPRESS

MG offers 250+ stickers and graphics combinations to customize your Comet. Want a flame decal on a 41 hp car? Live your truth. Accessories include vacuum cleaners, steering covers, sunshades, and chrome garnish because why not flex?


🧠 SOCIAL STUDIES: MG DID HOMEWORK

Before building the Comet, MG conducted surveys:

  • 70% Indians drive solo (introverts unite!)
  • 81% face traffic daily (welcome to India)
  • 74% find parking painful (truth)
  • 90% want compact EVs (we see you, Gurgaon)

Result? A car designed to fit into tight spots — and tighter budgets.


🚦 VERDICT: MINI, MIGHTY, MEME-WORTHY

The MG Comet EV is not a car. It’s an emoji on wheels. It’s what Wall-E and Eva would drive on date night. It’s the future — if the future was stuck in a roundabout with no exit.

But if you want:

✅ A smart, safe, city-friendly car
✅ That makes parking easier than parallel parking your dignity
✅ And costs less to run than your monthly chai addiction

…then the MG Comet is your tiny, tech-savvy, traffic-taming spaceship.

Just don’t race it. Not because it won’t go fast, but because it will beep politely and say, “Sir, are you sure this is wise?”


Rating: 4.5/5 Comets — deducting 0.5 for not offering a popcorn machine inside. It’s that kind of car.

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The Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 Night Series Review: When Your SUV Wears a Tuxedo and Still Bench Presses a Yacht https://namastecar.com/2025/06/03/the-mercedes-maybach-gls-600-night-series-review-when-your-suv-wears-a-tuxedo-and-still-bench-presses-a-yacht/ https://namastecar.com/2025/06/03/the-mercedes-maybach-gls-600-night-series-review-when-your-suv-wears-a-tuxedo-and-still-bench-presses-a-yacht/#respond Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:14:08 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20573 Welcome, dear reader, to a world where SUVs aren’t just about space and practicality — they also double…

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Welcome, dear reader, to a world where SUVs aren’t just about space and practicality — they also double as five-star hotel suites with WiFi, chilled champagne, and a horn loud enough to startle Elon Musk off Mars.

Today’s protagonist is the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC Night Series – a luxury crossover SUV that costs more than a decent 2BHK in South Delhi and has more gadgets than Q gave James Bond in Skyfall.


🇩🇪 By Mercedes-Benz. 🇺🇸 For America. 💎 Tuned by Maybach. 🚀 With Rocket DNA.

Launched globally in 2019 and now facelifted for 2025, this is Mercedes’ effort to answer a question nobody asked:
“What if an S-Class went to the gym, got a V8 transplant, studied luxury, and enrolled in finishing school in Beverly Hills?”

Meet the GLS 600 Night Series, the top-shelf model of a car that was already pretty much made of top shelf.

It’s got a price tag of ₹3.71 crore (ex-showroom), which means even Ambani’s butler might raise an eyebrow. In return, you get something that looks like it moonlights as a private equity boardroom with massaging chairs and ambient lighting in 64 moods.


🦾 Engine, Power, and Other Irresponsible Figures

Under the bonnet (where the 3-pointed star proudly stands upright, like a royal brooch), lives a 4.0L Biturbo V8 that’s more cultured than it sounds. It produces 571 horsepower and 980 Nm of torque, and can launch this 2.8-ton palace-on-wheels from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

That’s faster than most sports cars, while you sit in the back getting a hot stone massage, sipping chilled Moët, and adjusting your ambient lighting to “Relaxing Lavender.”

Also included is Mercedes’ 48V EQ Boost mild hybrid system, which temporarily adds another 21 horses — probably for when you’re late to your private jet.


🛋 Interior: Better Than Your House. Probably.

Open the Maybach doors (yes, they close themselves) and step into a world so opulent, even Buckingham Palace might feel insecure.

  • Exclusive Nappa leather seats that recline almost flat.
  • Massage, heating, cooling, and pillow fights included.
  • Refrigerated compartments, fold-out champagne flutes, reclining rear seats, and a removable Samsung tablet that controls everything except your stock portfolio.
  • Burmester surround sound system with more clarity than your family therapist.
  • Optional First-Class Rear Compartment that makes business class on a plane feel like a rickshaw ride.
  • A perfume diffuser that lightly mists Eau de Executive into your nostrils like you’re in a Gucci showroom.

The only thing missing is a butler named Charles.


🧠 Technology: Where Mercedes Hired Tony Stark

  • 12.3-inch MBUX infotainment with AR navigation
  • MBUX rear entertainment tablets, wireless headsets, and voice control that responds better than most humans
  • Head-Up Display, remote engine start, guard 360, Alexa/Google Home integration, vehicle tracking, and smartphone-based control for everything from AC to your mood lighting
  • E-Active Body Control that scans the road, tilts the car into corners, and can do a little dance to free itself from sand (yes, really)

Basically, your GLS 600 is smarter than your cousin with an MBA.


🦺 Safety: Fort Knox on Wheels

  • 8 airbags, level 2 ADAS, collision detection, urban guard, tyre pressure warning, emergency call system, and more acronyms than a legal contract
  • It even comes with a fire extinguisher for ₹32,400 — because even your luxury must be lit, but safely.

👁 Night Series: Because Regular Maybach Wasn’t Exclusive Enough

The “Night Series” package is where Maybach looked at the regular GLS 600 and said, “More black. More gloss. More drama.”

  • Dark Shadow accents, rose gold headlamp details, 23-inch Maybach wheels, exclusive trims, and a sinister two-tone black and silver paint job
  • From grille to tailpipes, everything screams: “Yes, I have a black AmEx. No, I won’t explain myself.”

🛣 Ride Quality: Magic Carpet, But German

With Airmatic suspension, adaptive damping, and optional E-Active Body Control, it’s less “driving” and more “gliding through life.”

It handles potholes like your PR team handles scandals — silently and smoothly.


Final Verdict:

“The GLS 600 Maybach is not just an SUV. It’s an experience. A lifestyle. A mobile private suite with torque.”

It may drink fuel like a thirsty camel at Coachella (7 kmpl), but if you’re buying one, your wallet’s already on performance-enhancing substances.

Sure, ₹3.71 crore is steep. But when your car can pull a horse trailer, massage your vertebrae, cool your champagne, stream Netflix, perfume your air, and still out-accelerate half of Gurgaon’s Audi S5s… that’s not a car.

That’s a statement.


Buy it if:
You want to arrive in style, comfort, and absolute silence… except for the soft clink of your chilled crystal flute.

Don’t buy it if:
You’re planning to park it at the local mall. Those alloys fear tight parking more than humans fear tax season.

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Tata Altroz Facelift 2025: The Hatchback That Dresses Like a Sedan and Punches Like a Boxer https://namastecar.com/2025/06/02/tata-altroz-facelift-2025-the-hatchback-that-dresses-like-a-sedan-and-punches-like-a-boxer/ https://namastecar.com/2025/06/02/tata-altroz-facelift-2025-the-hatchback-that-dresses-like-a-sedan-and-punches-like-a-boxer/#respond Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:15:59 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20544 Welcome aboard Air Altroz, where your cabin crew includes six airbags, your co-pilot is a 10.24-inch Harman touchscreen,…

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Welcome aboard Air Altroz, where your cabin crew includes six airbags, your co-pilot is a 10.24-inch Harman touchscreen, and your runway is just about any Indian road that pretends to be one. Buckle up, dear reader, as we take you through a thoroughly entertaining (and occasionally exaggerated) journey inside the facelifted 2025 Tata Altroz — the hatchback that thinks it’s premium business class, but still checks into budget economy.

Available in petrol, diesel, and CNG avatars, the Altroz lineup starts at a humble ₹6.89 lakh (ex-showroom), while the fully loaded top-spec model struts in at ₹11.49 lakh — because even hatchbacks deserve a red carpet moment.


✈ First Impressions: Albatross or Altroz?

Named after the Albatross, a bird known for its elegance and long journeys — which is ironic, because most Altroz owners will just be going from Vasant Kunj to Vikas Puri. Still, Tata clearly took inspiration seriously. The Altroz looks sharp, poised, and borderline smug in Ember Glow Orange, as if it’s permanently posing for a Diwali ad shoot.

You’re greeted by 90-degree opening doors, presumably designed for easier ingress or emergency Bollywood dance sequences. The Golf club waistline doesn’t actually come with a golf club, but looks posh enough to fool a caddy.


⚙ Under the Hood: Petrol, Diesel, or CNG — Choose Your Fighter

  • Petrol (1.2L, 3-cylinder) – Makes 86 hp. Not quite a cheetah. More like a house cat with enthusiasm.
  • Diesel (1.5L, 4-cylinder) – 88 hp & 200 Nm torque. Actually feels grown-up. Like it pays EMIs on time.
  • CNG – 72 hp, 103 Nm. The quiet guy at the party who brought snacks. Respect.

There’s a 5-speed manual, 5-speed AMT, and a 6-speed DCA, though the top-spec Accomplished+ S variant only comes with the DCA because Tata believes if you want all the features, you should also learn to relax your left leg.


🛡 Safety: Like a Tank, but Prettier

Global NCAP gave the Altroz a solid 5 stars, which is amazing for a hatchback, and even more amazing for your overprotective parents. With 6 airbags, ESP, 360-degree camera, and hill hold, it’s like driving with a paranoid ninja bodyguard. The Diamond Strength Safety Shield and ALFA architecture mean this car could probably survive a meteor… or at least Delhi traffic.


🏡 Inside the Altroz: Living Room with Wheels

Step inside and you’re welcomed by the Grand Prestigia 3-tone dashboard — which sounds like a French hotel but is actually quite nice. There’s fabric upholstery, a leather-wrapped gear knob, and executive-style rear seats with extended under-thigh support — the kind you need after binge-watching IPL in the backseat.

The 10.24-inch infotainment screen is powered by Harman and looks like it was stolen from a much more expensive car. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, because Tata knows you can’t survive a traffic jam without Spotify and Google Maps arguing with each other.

The iRA app is like having Jarvis for your Altroz. You can lock the car, turn on the lights, honk in passive-aggression, and check if your car is being kidnapped — all from your phone.


🌧 Features Galore: This Hatchback’s a Gadget Show

  • Rain-sensing wipers – Because pressing a stalk is too much work.
  • Sunroof with voice assist – Now you can shout “Khul ja Sim Sim!” and feel like Aladdin.
  • Smart digital steering wheel – Two spokes, zero nonsense.
  • Wireless charger, cool glovebox, ambient lighting, dash cam, puddle lamps, and even a pet car sheet. Yes, even your dog gets luxury.

There’s also an accessories list longer than a wedding guest list — from alloy wheels to tissue boxes, illuminated scuff plates to neck massagers. The only thing it doesn’t have is a massage therapist named Ramesh, but we’re sure Tata’s working on it.


🧳 Boot Space & Practicality

  • 345L Boot – Enough to hold 17 watermelons, 3 air fryers, or one mildly folded friend.
  • 210L in CNG – The CNG tank parties in the boot, so luggage is optional.
  • Spare tyre? 14-inch steel wheel. You’ll pray you never need it, but it’s there — like that one cousin you only call during emergencies.

🔚 Final Verdict: The Hatch That Punches Above Its Weight (Literally, It Shares a Platform with the Punch)

The 2025 Tata Altroz is Tata’s way of saying: “You don’t need to spend ₹15 lakh to feel posh.” It’s safe, stylish, surprisingly loaded with features, and doesn’t ask for much in return — just a bit of premium fuel and your undivided affection.

Sure, the 86 hp petrol isn’t going to win drag races (unless it’s versus a food delivery scooter), but the Altroz was never meant to be a rocket. It’s meant to be a statement — that Indian hatchbacks can be just as aspirational as European compacts, while still coming with a puncture repair kit, a vacuum cleaner, and — if you’re into it — a ceramic coating kit for Sunday spa days.


⭐ Altroz Scorecard

  • Looks: 9/10 — Sharp enough to cut through air and small talk.
  • Safety: 10/10 — The Fort Knox of hatchbacks.
  • Performance: 7/10 — Gets the job done. Not in a hurry.
  • Features: 11/10 — Overachiever award winner.
  • Humour factor: 10/10 — Mainly because it’s named after a bird and still has a tissue box holder.

Would I recommend it?
If you want to be sensible and stylish, safe and swanky — the Tata Altroz is your bird. Just don’t try to make it fly. That’s what the Albatross was for.

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Kia Carens Clavis Review: From Grocery Runs to Goa Plans—It Does It All (in Style) https://namastecar.com/2025/05/30/kia-carens-clavis-review-from-grocery-runs-to-goa-plans-it-does-it-all-in-style/ https://namastecar.com/2025/05/30/kia-carens-clavis-review-from-grocery-runs-to-goa-plans-it-does-it-all-in-style/#respond Fri, 30 May 2025 19:19:56 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20494 Golden Key to the Family Road Trip… and the Neighbour’s Jealousy There are cars, there are vans, and…

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Golden Key to the Family Road Trip… and the Neighbour’s Jealousy


There are cars, there are vans, and then there’s the Kia Carens—a vehicle that looked at a school picnic, a marriage procession, and a quick grocery run and said, “Yes, I’ll do all that and still leave space for a cricket kit and an air fryer.”

Born in 1999, the Carens has survived the Y2K scare, Orkut, and the Great Indian Family Drama of the early 2000s. And now in 2025, it returns with Botox, biceps, and Bluetooth — welcome to the 4th generation facelift of the Kia Carens, lovingly referred to as the Clavis, taken from the Latin phrase “Clavis Aurea”, which means Golden Key. And that, dear reader, is exactly what you’ll need to unlock this MPV’s full potential… and its 21.49 lakh top-spec price tag.


Looks That Say “I Might Take Your Job”

From the outside, the Carens has clearly been to the gym. Crystal-cut 17-inch dual-tone alloys strut like they own the road, while ice-cube LED headlamps stare at traffic like it owes them money. The Digital Tiger Face grille looks like it’s mid-roar, and the connected Star Map LED tail lamps at the rear say, “Yes, I brake. But stylishly.”

The Gravity Grey shade on our test car looked like Batman’s daily driver if Gotham had potholes. But if you fancy other shades, Kia’s palette offers everything from wedding-white to night-out black.


Interior: Lounge on Wheels (or Business Class if You’re Feeling Fancy)

Step inside, and you’re greeted by what feels like a tech start-up’s office on wheels. A sprawling 26.62-inch dual panoramic display stares back, daring you to ever get bored in traffic again. The 64-color ambient lighting is ready to match your mood—romantic pink, angry red, or “stuck-in-traffic-again” blue.

The ventilated seats ensure your posterior remains cooler than your bank balance after buying this car. The retractable seat back tables with cupholders scream “We know you’ll eat biryani while watching IPL back here”. And with a seat-mounted air purifier, you can now travel without inhaling the ghost of roadside samosas past.

The second-row seats slide, recline, and tumble like they’ve trained with Cirque du Soleil. Add walk-in access, cooling cupholders, sunshade curtains, and 8 Bose speakers, and suddenly your in-laws’ visit seems… tolerable.


Tech-Savvy as a Teenager, Responsible as a Parent

The Carens is that rare teenager who parties hard (hello, Sport Mode) but also reminds you to buckle up and stay in your lane. Quite literally. With Level 2 ADAS, this Kia watches everything—from lane keeping and blind spots to cross traffic, leading vehicles, and even your attention span.

And with the Kia Connect app, you can lock/unlock, find your car, check fuel, start climate control, or even track your spouse’s suspicious “quick drive”. If your teenage child had this level of tracking, they’d rebel into a toaster.

There’s even a NFC-based digital key, so your phone can act like a valet who doesn’t crash your car.


Performance: Mild-Mannered Minivan or Suburban Superhero?

Engine options? Oh, plenty.

  1. 1.5L T-GDi Petrol: 157 hp and 253 Nm. Comes with a 7-speed DCT. Zippy enough to beat your cousin’s Swift in a drag race… to the wedding.
  2. 1.5L NA Petrol: 113 hp and 143 Nm. It’s like chai without sugar—gets the job done, just less punchy.
  3. 1.5L CRDi Diesel: 114 hp and 250 Nm, with 6-speed manual or automatic. Feels like an uncle who lifts weights in secret—quiet but strong.

Mileage? Diesel sips fuel like it’s on a budget (up to 19 kmpl), while the turbo-petrol is more “YOLO” (16 kmpl) when pushed.

Handling is surprisingly tight for a car this size, thanks to Torque Angle Sensors and electric power steering with tilt and telescopic adjustments. Drive Modes—Eco, Normal, Sport—are there to remind you that your mood swings now control a 1.4-ton MPV.


Safety: Basically a Moving Panic Room

This Clavis is so safe, it’ll make your mother feel redundant.

  • 6 Airbags
  • ABS, ESC, VSM, HAC, DBC, TPMS, SOS, GPS, and possibly IPL too
  • Rear Occupant Alert (because someone will leave a phone, child, or bhindi in the backseat)
  • Safe Exit Warning (perfect if your toddler is an Olympic-grade door flinger)
  • 3-point seatbelts for all, because safety shouldn’t be optional like coriander on Maggi.

It even got 3 stars from Global NCAP, which in MPV land is like winning bronze while carrying six relatives and a cake.


Final Verdict: Should You Buy One?

If you want a car that:

  • Looks cooler than your neighbor’s SUV
  • Drives better than your uncle’s Innova
  • Seats your family and your ego comfortably
  • Feels like a mini-spa mixed with a spaceship
  • Is priced between ₹11.49 lakh to ₹21.49 lakh (ex-showroom)

…then yes, the Kia Carens Clavis is the golden key you never knew you needed.

Just remember: It’s a “recreational vehicle” — so make sure you recreate often. Preferably at Lonavala. With biryani. And Bose.


Rating: 4.5/5

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BMW X3 2025 Review: The Bavarian Bouncer in an Armani Tracksuit https://namastecar.com/2025/05/09/bmw-x3-2025-review-the-bavarian-bouncer-in-an-armani-tracksuit/ https://namastecar.com/2025/05/09/bmw-x3-2025-review-the-bavarian-bouncer-in-an-armani-tracksuit/#respond Fri, 09 May 2025 12:15:26 +0000 https://namastecar.com/?p=20186 If James Bond ever decided to retire from espionage and take up golf in Johannesburg, this is the…

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If James Bond ever decided to retire from espionage and take up golf in Johannesburg, this is the car he’d choose. The BMW X3, specifically the 2025 xDrive20d M Sport, is not just a luxury crossover — oh no — it’s a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), which is Bavarian for “Don’t call me an SUV, I do Pilates.”

Launched way back in 2003 when Facebook didn’t exist and Nokia ruled the earth, the X3 is now in its fourth-generation avatar, codename G45. That’s right — G45, which sounds less like a family car and more like an intergalactic weapons platform. But fear not, it’s only mildly hybrid.


Global Gym Rat, Local Showstopper

This beauty is assembled across America, South Africa, and China, but the variant you’re looking at was born in the gymnasiums of Rosslyn, Pretoria — and boy, did it win! The X3 is the 2025 South African Car of the Year, possibly because it pulls off an M Sport track suit better than most personal trainers.

And just like your neighbourhood gym bro, it proudly flaunts its Illuminated ‘Iconic Glow’ Kidney Grille, which now glows like a Vegas billboard at night. The L-shaped BMW Adaptive LED Headlights? Blue inserts, cornering intelligence and lighting theatrics — because of course your car needs to flirt with the road.


Size Does Matter. Ask BMW.

At 4.7 metres long, 1.9 metres wide, and 1.6 metres tall, the X3 is longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor. It even flexes a kerb weight of 1965 kg, which is heavier than your in-laws’ expectations. Need to tow something? 2,500 kg towing capacity. Yes, this Beemer can pull a small planet or at least your neighbor’s broken-down dreams.

Under the flared arches sit 19-inch Y-Spoke M alloy wheels, wrapped in 245/50 Nexen N Fera Sport tyres that sound like an energy drink but grip like your aunt at a wedding buffet line.


Diesel Meets Disco

Under the bonnet of this xDrive20d M Sport lies a 2.0L 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel, producing 197 horses and a thumping 400 Nm of torque. Thanks to a 48V mild-hybrid system, it does 0–100 kmph in 7.7 seconds, all while sipping diesel at a respectable 17 kmpl. Not bad for a family-friendly rocket.

And in case you’re feeling rebellious, the petrol version makes 190 hp and is just 0.1 second lazier. The diesel engine is so widely used, it’s basically the BMW version of Shah Rukh Khan — appearing in everything from the 1 Series to the X4 and even a Mini Clubman.


High-Tech Hamlet

This is the digital-age Hamlet of cars — always asking, “To be luxurious, or to be more luxurious?”
Enter the cabin and you’re greeted by:

  • Widescreen Curved Display: Like watching Netflix on an IMAX inside your dashboard.
  • 14.9-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, Bluetooth, and something called “Augmented View”, which we believe is Iron Man’s HUD but in German.
  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, because analog is so 2012.
  • BMW Interaction Bar – the dash lights up when it wants attention, like a diva.
  • 15-speaker, 750W Harman Kardon system – guaranteed to make your eardrums do jazz hands.
  • Ambient lighting in 15 colours, because sometimes your mood is “ocean blue” and sometimes it’s “disco rage red”.

It’s Got More Modes Than a Teenager

Choose from six drive modes — Personal, Efficient, Comfort, Sport, Relax, and Expressive. What does Expressive mean? No idea, but we’re hoping it sings opera while overtaking.

Adaptive suspension, damping control, electronic differential locks, and a permanent all-wheel drive (xDrive) system ensure this isn’t just a luxury cruiser — it’s a tightrope walker in hiking boots.


Safety & Features? Hold my Weissbier.

Strap in — the safety list is longer than a politician’s promise:

  • 8 airbags
  • 360° cameras, lane keep, auto braking, reversing assistant (for when your confidence fails)
  • Hill descent & hill start control
  • Park Assist that parks better than most humans
  • BMW Digital Key Plus — your smartphone is your key (just don’t leave it in the fridge again)
  • Crash sensors, dynamic traction, stability control, and something called BMW Condition-Based Service, which sounds like a health tracker for your car.
  • Bonus: The BMW Secure Advance Package covers things like lost keys and even hole-in-one golf insurance, because nothing screams “Bavarian luxury” like a sponsored swing.

Room With a View

With 570 litres of boot space (expandable to 1,700 litres), folding 40/20/40 rear seats, flush door handles, roller sunblinds, and vegan leather seats quilted like designer handbags — the interior is a blend of Scandinavian minimalism and German techno club.

You also get:

  • 3-zone climate control
  • Panoramic glass roof the size of a cricket pitch
  • AC vents on the doors (yes, doors)
  • Electronically adjustable sport seats with ventilation and lumbar support
  • A flat-bottom M leather steering wheel — because life is too short for boring circles.

Final Verdict:

The 2025 BMW X3 is not just a car — it’s a crossover that crossed over from the gym to the opera, flexing muscles and sipping mineral water. It’s for the driver who wants the power of Thor, the finesse of Beckham, and the tech of Tony Stark, all while carrying groceries, golf bags, and existential purpose.

At ₹77.8 lakh ex-showroom, it’s not cheap. But then again, neither is style, success, or sarcasm.

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