Maruti’s A-Star automatic, only 85mm shorter than the Hyundai i10, is pegged at almost Rs 1.5 lakh less than the i10’s highline Asta variant (ex-showroom Delhi).

Producing 67bhp and 90Nm of torque, the A-Star automatic has a 4-speed auto ’box, which is a breeze in traffic. Flooring it makes the car jump down to a lower gear, but this happens confidently only below speeds of 110kph. Above that, the ’box seems unsure whether to shift down or stay in that gear.

Tailing a vehicle at 100kph to overtake before oncoming traffic hits you can put you in a ‘yes-no-yes-no’ situation. As you squash your right foot firmly down all the way, the transmission department runs its twisted arithmetic to assess the situation. At the last minute, the gear shifts down, the engine revs hard and pulls you out of the scene.

This variant has ABS and EBD standard. This is the car to have for those trips to crowded marketplaces, or to drop your child to school, or simply to make your office commute a merry whistle.

Tags: a star, maruti suzuki, suzuki