Maruti Omni MPI CARGO

Maruti Omni is the car that was the second vehicle to be launched by India's beloved car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki (the first being Maruti 800). Maruti Suzuki Omni was first launched in 1985 and can surely be taken as an important part of our automobile history. Grown and built bit by bit over time to meet the requirements of the Indian public specifically, the car is a favourite among many with statistics bearing the fact that over 40 per cent of the buyers have repurchased the car. Maruti Omni MPI CARGO uses a front mid-engine rear wheel drive layout. This unique aspect helps in maximising cabin space as well as providing maximum traction.

Exteriors

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is a complete van with its two rear sliding doors, rear hatch tail gate and an almost box shaped body. The headlamps being used for Maruti Omni MPI CARGO are now clear lens units with black plastic surrounds. The front indicators are integrated into the front bumpers. The rear windscreen is large in surface area and the tail lamps get the clear lens variety as well. The front as well as the rear bumpers are made up of thermoplastic. The glass windshield is laminated and accessorised with 2 speed windshield wiper. Other exterior features include body graphics, mud flaps in both the front and the rear, and reflector tape, again, in both the front as well as the rear of the vehicle. Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is smaller in size as compared to the Maruti Eeco and Tata Venture. Maruti Omni MPI CARGO has a length of 3370mm and the width is 1410mm. What makes the car a little disproportionate is the narrow wheelbase in comparison to the ride height. The wheelbase of the car is 1840mm and the height is 1640mm. The car is smaller as well as pretty light with a kerb weight of 785 kg. Maruti Omni MPI CARGO comes in the following colour variants: metallic icy blue, metallic silky silver, bright red, metallic crystal gold, metallic Caribbean blue, and superior white.

Interiors

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is equipped with reclining front seats, floor carpets, dashboard with cup holder and some utility space for keeping items around the cabin. The sliding doors make it very comfortable for the passengers to fare in and out. The two tone upholstery makes the car look a little bit better especially when being compared to the older grey coloured interiors of the previous versions of the Maruti Omni. There is good headroom as well as legroom in the wide cabin space. Some superior interior features include 3 position cabin levers, adjustable front seat restraints, ELR type seatbelts in the front, a metal grille partition, multi-functional levers, and a sliding facility in driver's seat. All in all, Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is considered to be value for money as far as the interior of the car is concerned, even though it has limited features and dull looks.

Engine and performance

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is undoubtedly underpowered with its 0.8-litre engine with a displacement of 796cc. The 2 valve engine has a multipoint fuel injection and a 3-cylinder inline layout. The maximum power output for the Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is 32.8bhp at 5000 rpm and the maximum torque produced by the van is 57Nm at 2500 rpm. The car is efficient in all other terms including the mileage, therefore the power is doubly disappointing. The car can touch the speed of 100kmph in about 20 seconds and the top speed that it can achieve is 126kmph. The mileage that the car returns in the Indian driving conditions is one aspect which ensures continued sales of the car and results in Maruti Suzuki holding the top most position in the passenger car market. The other reasons would be simple and low maintenance and efficient after sale servicing. The mileage returned by the petrol version of the van in the city is 10.7 kmpl and on highways is 14.7 kmpl. The average returned by the LPG fuel powered Maruti Omni is 10.9 km per kg. The fuel economy for the car is pretty decent and deserves approval. Additionally, Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is fitted with a 4-speed manual transmission system.

Braking and handling

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is a very basic car and gets drum brakes at the rear while the front wheels get disc brakes. These are the only electronic aids that it gets for braking assistance. The car is a little tall and has a narrow wheelbase which can result in balancing problems at times and it can easily break the traction and get wobbly, especially at high speeds and severe or blind curves.

Safety features

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO scores low on its safety aspect. A lot of safety and security features are missing, such as, central locking, airbags, Anti-lock Braking System, impact beams, and traction control. Steering lock and hatchback door lock have been provided. There are some facilitative safety features such as brake assist, child safety locks, halogen headlamps, adjustable seats and an engine immobilizer.

Comfort features

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO has the bare minimum of convenience features and as such is quite low on the comfort factor. Apart from large cabin space with good headroom and leg space, cup holder and basic glove compartment, Maruti Omni MPI CARGO provides almost no other unique or special feature that would make the car a more comfortable ride. The vehicle does not even have an AC, an air quality control or an automatic climate control feature. There are no basic necessities such as power steering, power windows, trunk light or vanity mirror; forget about cruise control, parking sensors, and seat lumbar support.

Pros 

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO returns a pretty good mileage and thus has a good fuel economy. Furthermore, the car provides ample cabin space.  

Cons 

Maruti Omni MPI CARGO is a little wobbly at high speeds due to disproportionate height and wheelbase ratio. There are limited safety features and almost next to none comfort features. Besides, the look of the car is dull and boring in its box-like shape and old design.