1st Mitsubishi Cedia
Price: Rs 11.24 lakh
Power: 114bhp 0-100kph: 11.27secs Kpl: 8.21
When the Lancer was introduced, it was well received with executives and well to do family wallahs going for it. Then the younger generation discovered it, and soon we had a lot of them making modifications and fitting big wings, bright decals, free flowing exhausts, performance kits and even NOS systems. In fact the Lancer must be one of the most modified makes on Indian streets today. But with the coming of newer models and more choices, the Lancer slowly slipped down the shopping list. Now the Cedia is here.

Wardrobe change
The Cedia has been introduced in two versions, Elegance and Sports. One for the family wallahs, and the other for those who enjoy burning rubber. New styling includes the crescent shaped grille with a slight beak-like nose in the centre, which flows into the gently contoured v shaped bulge on the bonnet. This along with the new fish eye like headlights, makes the Cedia’s front look very original and eye catching. Its more aggressive predatory face is a big improvement on the square styling of the earlier Lancer. Those large triangular tail lamps and the completely flat dicky lid at the rear, are gone and the new wrap around lamps not only make the rear look less tall but also give it a more rounded and softer look. The Cedia is not as boxy and the curves make it look smaller than it actually is and its proportions are well balanced and the styling lot more contemporary.

New interiors too

Brave heart
A four cylinder, SOHC, 1999cc engine, which churns out about 114bhp, powers the Cedia. It is a real brave heart that loves to be revved and it’s so responsive and smooth that it makes the Cedia feel faster, than its more powerful and quicker rival, the Corolla.
The gearbox mated to this ‘most eager to rev’ engine is also a real delight with short throws and precise slots. It encourages you to keep pushing down on the pedal and shifting quickly and though the gearing is a little on the taller side, because of the responsive nature of the sweet sixteen-valve engine, drivability is good. The brakes with ABS and EBD, and discs on all four wheels (front ventilated) arrest motion in a most confidence-inspiring manner. Not only does the Cedia stop in the shortest distance of the three, but also its pedal feel is the most positive and linear, allowing you to modulate the braking to near perfection.
The ride is supple, but in the interest of passenger comfort, a little on the softer side, which results in some wallowing at higher speeds. The steering is responsive and communicative, making the Cedia feel much smaller than it actually is and the well sorted out suspension ensures that the Cedia sticks to its chosen path. The Cedia goes, stops, steers and rides well – true to its inherited performance genes.

2nd Hyundai Elantra GLS
Price: Rs 9.08 lakh
Power: 152bhp 0-100kph: 12.42secs Kpl: 8.52
The Hyundai Elantra’s been around for a couple of years now, but in spite of its clever packaging that includes both a diesel and petrol engine, and attractive pricing, it has not quite managed to catch the fancy of the Indian consumer. There is no problem with the segment and it also fits into the slot between the Accent and the Sonata perfectly, so there is no question of another Hyundai eating into its market share. Given this, one has to presume that the culprit is its not so attractive face.

Sad face, great ass
Within weeks of launching the Elantra in India, Hyundai changed its grille and headlight surrounds. The grille with horizontal slats was replaced with a vertical chrome one and the black headlamp surrounds with silver ones. This definitely has to be the quickest makeover any car has received in India, but obviously it was a wasted effort. The new grille and surrounds did not do anything to make the face look nicer, and many including this writer, preferred the earlier ones.
The fact is that with or without the changes, the front end of the Elantra remains its weakest point. If you can overlook that, you will see sharp and smart styling with clear European influences. In fact the rear three quarter view is quite pleasing with strong lines and semi muscular contours.
With a smoothly flowing side profile and taut backside, the Elantra looks best from behind and now its up to Hyundai to give it a better face. They have just reduced the price and made it even more appealing, wonder when the plastic surgeons will get to work.

Live big
On the inside, the styling is bland and the plastics could also be better quality, but the Elantra’s interior is the roomiest of the three and offers maximum rear legroom. It is a very practical cabin, with lots of storage space and it also has the biggest door pockets of the three. In this user-friendly environment, all the switchgear falls easily to hand (even the trip computer button is placed high on the dash) and feels good to use, although the finish could be much better. The seats are comfortable and nicely shaped with the drivers seat having not just dual height adjustment but also lumbar support. You can spend long hours in them without feeling much discomfort. The instruments are easy to read but quite plain and look much better at night with the violet backlighting. Some of the nicer touches are the sunglass case below the roof cum map light and the auto dimming rearview mirror.

Run strong
A smaller, 1795cc engine drives the Elantra, but because of its twin overhead cams manages to deliver 125bhp (11 more than the Cedia). But it produces less torque and is not as refined as the bigger engine of the Cedia. It is also less responsive, but that does not mean that the Elantra is a slouch. The 1.8 litre engine delivers power in a strong and linear manner, but keeps you informed that it is working hard. And it is extremely well complimented by the very assured handling and precise and predictable steering, which offers reasonable feedback. At high speeds, it is the most stable of the three and the only one here with traction control. As the engineers have managed to achieve a good balance between ride quality and handling, very little upsets the composure of the Elantra or its occupants. The manner, in which it insulates the passengers and neutralizes most irregularities in the road without compromising on the handling, is praiseworthy indeed. In fact this has got to be amongst Hyundai’s ‘best dynamically sorted out cars’.
The Elantra’s a good runner and also a confident stopper. With discs all around (front ventilated),and ABS with BAS and EBD, the braking is linear but the pedal tends to soften after hard and constant use. While the gearbox is smooth, the long throws discourage quick shifts. But finding slots while shifting leisurely is quite effortless.

3rd Toyota Corolla (H1)
Price: Rs 11.24 lakh
Power: 124bhp 0-100kph: 10.60secs Kpl: 9.34
Toyota is well on its way to becoming the biggest manufacturer of cars in the world, and the Corolla is one of its largest selling models. It is a very respected brand and even in India it is the highest seller in its segment. So how can we justify putting it third in this comparison? This is a question that is sure to be asked by many, and even within this magazine some are already doing so. Let me just say that our tests reveal a lot, and sometimes the findings come as a surprise even to us.

Conservative cut
There is nothing really wrong with the Corolla’s styling, its just dull and boring. It’s not offensive, but neither is it exciting. And because of its conservative design, and ‘plain Jane’ looks, it gets lost in the crowd. Toyota has also obviously raised it to increase the ground clearance for Indian conditions, and the higher stance and empty space in the wheel wells, does little to improve matters.

Soft lingerie
The inside of the Corolla is sensible and pleasant with nice materials and a high quality of fit and finish. But the 1.8 J (H1) version, which in terms of price is comparable to both the versions of the Cedia, is completely devoid of most goodies and features which are available in the higher end versions of the Corolla. In comparison to its rivals, it is also a ‘plain Jane’ in terms of features. But it has many cubbyholes and good storage space, although the map pockets on the doors are very narrow. What’s nice is that the vanity mirror covers have slots to hold your papers.
The switchgear is sensibly located and not only feels good, but also is easy to operate. The instruments are clear and legible and are nicely backlit. The seats are comfortable and though the driver’s seat has no height adjustment or lumbar support, it is easy to find a comfortable driving position. But of the three it has the least legroom at the rear.

Muscle power
A 1794cc DOHC engine powers the Corolla and delivers about 124bhp. This is an energy packed engine that along with the low gearing ensures that the Corolla is the fastest car in this pack. It not only races from 0 to 100kph in 10.6 seconds, but also has the quickest in gear acceleration, which means drivability is very good. But in the higher ranges of the rev range the engine becomes somewhat rough with the initial growl turning into a loud drone that not only hurts the ears but also vocalizes that it has the muscle but not the finesse.
The shift quality is precise and smooth but in the lower gears especially first, torque steer is very apparent with the steering wheel doing a very disconcerting jiggle in your hands. In fact the nervous steering is one of the most disappointing aspects of the driving experience in the Corolla. It is just too light and gets even lighter when you put on the power, and at high speeds its almost like communicating your steering inputs via an interpreter, with some getting ‘lost in translation’. The ride is supple but a little on the stiffer side which means the suspension keeps you informed about whatever is underneath.
When the robust engine and quick acceleration need to be reined in, the brakes don’t exactly inspire confidence. The Corolla not only takes the longest distance of the three to stop, but it also has the worst pedal feel and is the most difficult to modulate. This in spite having discs on all four wheels (front ventilated) assisted by ABS. The pedal feels spongy and tends to bite in abruptly, making it difficult to modulate the braking, as it is not in proportion to the pedal pressure.
One area where the Corolla defeats its opponents is fuel economy. In all our test runs it consistently delivered the best fuel average, and when driven with a light foot, the figures were quite amazing. Although it is the fastest car here, it is also the most fuel efficient and full credit to the engineers for having achieved this.

The final judgement
With its roots deeply entrenched in the testing arena of world rallying, the Lancer has seen many evolutions. The Lancer is more than just a regular three box family sedan. It may look like one, but a little scratching under the sedate looking solid skin, soon reveals a soul that thrives on performance. The Cedia is no different and is the clear winner here. The main reasons being that not only is it the best looking with a very comfortable and stylish cabin, but its also the most fun to drive and easy to control. The Elantra is our second choice as it has good dynamics, the roomiest cabin and great packaging in terms of price and features. The Corolla loses out because of its nervous steering, engine refinement and above all the cost. The other two provide a lot more features for almost the same money. And this makes one wonder if it’s only the Corolla brand name and the reputation of ‘unbeatable reliability’, which you pay so much more for. But it must be said, that with its superb fuel economy the Corolla will be the cheapest to run. And if you want to cruise in comfort and also have fun, go the Cedia way.