In a market flooded with compact crossovers, we found four that stood out
Crossbreeding is all the rage in Bangladesh. More and more modern families are abandoning the sedan in favor of a compact SUV, as they offer a better balance between the space and the functionality necessary for family use.
With the growing demand came the supply. The local market is flooded with different models of compact crossovers, with every automaker offering at least one of these vehicles. Team Wheels has made several over the past few months, and here are a few that stood out.
Photo: Sikat Roy/TBS
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Photo: Sikat Roy/TBS
The villain: Suzuki Vitara Brezza
Trader: Uttara Motors Ltd
Price: 25,500,000TK
If you are a young family looking for an original, affordable and youthful car, Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza is designed for you.
Externally, the Brezza looks like an enlarged Swift with an SUV-themed body kit. In addition to its rugged look, the exterior is fitted with LED lighting, smart headlights, rain-sensing wipers and a respectable 198mm of ground clearance.
Inside, the cabin is finished in durable textured plastic and features dual airbags, automated climate controls, multiple 12-volt outlets and a 7-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPay and Android Auto.
Driving-wise, the 1.5-litre “smart hybrid” engine is a bit reluctant on the first push, but things pick up speed beyond 3,000 rpm. The steering is light and the brakes take some getting used to. Being a family car, Brezza’s suspension has focused on ride comfort for city traffic, though things can be a little soft in high-speed corners.
Photo: Ayan Rahman Khan/TBS
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Photo: Ayan Rahman Khan/TBS
Diesel: Mahindra XUV 300 W6
Trader: Rancon Auto Ltd.
Price: 25,500,000TK
Looking for a comfortable, inexpensive crossover with just enough torque to eliminate the performance itch? Well, there’s the Mahindra XUV 300 W6.
The SsangYong Tivoli based XUV 300 is one of the first Mahindra in Bangladesh that doesn’t look like a dressed up work truck. With its 180mm ground clearance, slender grille and blacked-out plastic cladding, the car looks like a tough, elevated sedan in every good way.
Inside, Mahindra stayed true to its “durability first” philosophy, using tough plastic in most places and finishing the seat with diuturnal fabric upholstery. The feature list includes 10 cupholders, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a 4-speaker audio system. The 7-inch infotainment system has Bluetooth, USB and auxiliary capabilities, and an excellent stand-alone navigation system that rivals Google Maps in accuracy.
The 300Nm of torque generated by the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine makes this sub-1.5 tonne car a bolt from hell, not something traditionally associated with a diesel engine. The car has an intelligent steering system that comes in three modes. In Normal and Comfort mode, the steering behaves like any other car in its segment, with a half-inch of dead zone on either side. Switch it to Sport and the steering becomes much more direct, with the car responding to every little input. Combined with the car’s brisk acceleration and relatively stiff suspension, you feel like you’re driving a — somewhat elevated — sports car.
Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
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Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
Electric: MG ZS EV
Trader: Rancon British Motors Ltd
Price: 38,40,000TK
MG ZS EV is a decent choice for those looking for eco-friendly transportation that isn’t flashy or bank-breaking.
The exterior is nearly identical to its combustion-engined brethren, save for a few thatch changes. Most obvious – besides the badging – are the EV-exclusive 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels. The car’s CCS and Type 2 charging ports are also hidden under the front grille, capable of charging the 44.5kWh battery to 80% in 45 minutes.
The ZS EV’s cabin is well-appointed and plush, with a panoramic sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, power front seats, USB ports, and more. The eight-inch infotainment screen supports Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, and is hooked up to a dual-tweeter, quad-speaker audio system.
The experience behind the wheel of the ZS is truly exciting, if a little scary. Step on the pedal and the car will silently lock to three digits in 8.2 seconds. Torque from the electric motor is instant and jaw-dropping, but the lack of driver assistance means there’s nothing stopping the car from turning torque to the left.
Being an electric vehicle, the car comes with three-stage regenerative braking, with the most powerful mode slowing the car three times faster. Despite the massive 353Nm of torque, the car retains the crossover’s suspension, which means it’s quite floaty in the corners.
Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
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Photo: Saikat Roy/TBS
Few crossovers in this segment will give you the thrill of driving like the X1 does. While other crossovers try to scratch the performance itch with quick acceleration, the BMW emphasizes what matters, handling.
Starting from the outside, the design of the X1 is unmistakably premium and eye-catching. From a distance, the car looks a lot bigger than it actually is, which only adds to its road presence. The enlarged grilles that have caused so much controversy on the sedans fit perfectly with the larger proportions of the X1.
The interior of the X1 is upscale and very driving-oriented. The center console slopes slightly towards the power driver’s seat with memory controls and contains a 10.25-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate controls, CD player with six-speaker audio system. The car can also be configured with a plethora of options, such as a panoramic sunroof, automatic tailgate, multiple skin package and many more.
Despite its crossover size, the X1 doesn’t ride like one. BMW has dispensed with the segment-typical sponge suspension, opting for an adaptive layout optimized for enthusiastic driving. The resulting experience is very direct, allowing you to feel most of the road from the driver’s seat. There’s no body roll to speak of, and the 1.5-litre TwinPower turbocharged three-cylinder hit triple digits in around 10 seconds.
If you are a petrolhead with the necessary bank balance, this is for you.