Chevrolet Sail Hatchback 2012-2013 Petrol LT ABS

Sail Hatchback 2012-2013 Petrol LT ABS Review

Chevrolet Sail UVA Petrol LT ABS joins the league of Chevrolet cars and raises a lot of expectations of the consumers. Successor of the not so popular Chevrolet Aveo U-VA, the new hatchback brings with it a lot of hope for GM which in turn blesses the car with many features apart from good looks and a sturdy built. Sail U-VA petrol LT ABS is powered by a 1199cc engine which delivers a power of 84.82bhp at 6000rpm and a maximum torque of 113Nm at 5000rpm. The certified mileage of the hatchback is close 18.2kmpl. The engine comes mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. Overall, the dimensions of the car are pretty good, giving huge space inside, for passengers as well as boot, so much so that this hatchback can very comfortably seat 5 people and they won’t be sitting tight. The turning radius however is a little point of concern for a hatchback. The turning radius for Sail petrol LT hatchback is 5.15meters. Its predecessor, Aveo U-VA had failed to make any impact on the consumers in India due to reasons like its poor design and missing diesel variant. With this new Sail U-VA, Chevrolet is set to get back on the track. The petrol variant of this particular hatchback is also very efficient which is currently the need of the hour, looking at the varying and every rising fuel prices in India. Standing in competition with Ford Figo, Renault Pulse, Fiat Punto and the likes, Sail U-VA has a lot of edge. The after sale services might be one drawback for the 2012 Sail U-VA hatchback but the warranty offered by GM saves the day and assures consumers on that front as well. With all flaws of Aveo U-VA taken into consideration and a lot of new improvisations, scenario looks very positive for GM with the new Sail U-VA hatchback.

Exteriors

Chevrolet Sail U-VA petrol LT looks quite good with its structured body cuts and flowy design. It gets the typical Chevrolet front grille with a large bow-tie symbolizing the parent company. The headlamps are swept back angular designed and are huge in size which ensures better throw of light and visibility during night driving. The car also gets a set of round fog lamps and the side profile depicts a backward sloping roofline with a comparatively flat rear end. The front end of the car is stylish and trendy whereas the back end gives it a more serious look. The appearance of the car is not drop dead gorgeous but there is something about the car which makes the passer-by turn his head atleast once. The alloy wheels add more to the character of 2012 Chevrolet Sail hatchback.

Interiors

Chevrolet Sail U-VA petrol LT gets dual tone interiors which is a combination of coffee and beige. The fabric upholstery is very refined and gives the car a very posh and a poised look from inside. The steering is a sporty three spoke steering wheel and the centre stack has metallic paint which further enhances the luxury feel of the car. The steering wheel and gearknob get leather wrapping around them . Further the amber color interior illumination look cool and sporty. The horn on the steering wheel is place in an awkward position which makes it a little tedious task to press the horn, especially while turning. Following the trend and maintaining its standards, GM has blessed the Sail hatchback with good quality interiors and fine fitments.

Comfort features

Chevrolet Sail U-VA petrol LT is loaded with features which make the car a very comfortable one for the passengers as well as driver. The car is blessed with power steering, power adjustable ORVMs along with a tilt-able steering, day/night inside rear view mirror and power windows for all four windows.  The digital tachometer enhances the looks of the cabin and the audio system fitted in the car makes the hatch a very fun car to drive. Sail U-VA petrol comes fitted with an integrated audio system compatible with radio, MP3 and CD player and also features AUX-in and USB sockets along with Bluetooth compatibility . One can also pair the mobiles and use the system to make or receive calls and the system also allows one to view the number of the person calling. The remote keyless entry along with rear wiper washer and defogger, the premium-ness of the hatchback enhances.

Engine and performance

Chevrolet Sail U-VA petrol LT is powered by a 4 cylinder, 1199cc engine which delivers a fuel efficiency of 18.2kmpl . The maximum power churned out by the vehicle is close to 84.82bhp at 6000 revs and the maximum torque produced is close to 113Nm at 5000rpm. The engine comes mated to a 5 speed manual transmission and the car complies with the BS IV emission norms.  The engine of the car is pretty refined and smooth and also very silent. The engine makes this car a pretty excellent hatchback in the mid-range power segment and it is pretty responsive.  

Braking and Handling

The handling of Chevrolet Sail U-VA petrol LT is pretty impressive with its light and very responsive steering. The suspension system which is most suited for the Indian roads, make the ride in the hatchback a very pleasant one. The new Chevrolet Sail U-VA hatchback has McPherson Strut front suspension system with Twist Axle rear suspension system. The front and rear shock absorbers which are the passive twin-tube gas filled shock absorbers, make the car “sail” though even on the most rough roads. The disk brakes in front and drum rear brakes, give the car a very good braking system .

Safety features

The car comes loaded with safety features as well along with the other comfort features. For the safety of the passengers the car comes with driver and passenger airbag, speed sensitive door autolock along with side impact front and rear door beam along with 3 point ELR front seat belts. The car comes with an engine immobilizer along with key in reminder and a security alarm system. There is also ABS with EBD (Anti-Lock braking system with Electronic brake distribution) which helps the car stop in times of emergency without skidding and protects the car and passengers in panic situations.

Pros 

Massing improvement in exteriors as compared to the Aveo U-VA and  good quality interiors, performance, space, price

Cons 

Turning radius is little wider than what is expected from a hatchback