Chevrolet has just updated its slow-selling Beat diesel hatchback to revive buyer interest in what is one of the most affordable diesel cars in our market. The facelifted car's cosmetic upgrades make it an interesting package but can it take the fight to the popular Hyundai Grand i10? Here are our impressions.
Performance and refinement
The Beat is powered by a 1.0-litre diesel engine that makes 58.5bhp and 15.2kgm of pulling power. It’s got a bit of throttle lag below 2000rpm but after that, power delivery is more perky than the Grand i10, and it moves forward easily as soon as you take your foot off the clutch. However, if you push it a little hard, the engine feels out of breath. It’s also quite an audible engine, at idle or on the move, and this mainly comes down to it having three cylinders.
The Grand i10 is powered by a slightly bigger 1.1-litre diesel motor. The power output of 70bhp and 16.3kgm torque is also higher than the Beat’s. The power delivery is very linear, with minimal delay, and it pulls nicely from as low as 1500rpm. Refinement wise, the Grand i10 is much smoother, and the three-cylinder motor retains its composure even when worked hard. The dash-mounted gearlever is slicker and more precise than the Beat’s gearbox as well.
Ride and handling
The Beat impresses in this department and is definitely the sportier of the two. The suspension does a good job of suppressing uneven surfaces. The ride is pliant at low speeds and a lot more composed at higher speeds as well. The tyres afford enough grip and the Beat inspires a lot of confidence when driven fast. But the brakes are only average and a little more bite and progressive feel would have been welcome.
This is where the Grand i10 loses out to the more sorted Beat. Its soft suspension is comfortable at city speeds, but the light steering doesn’t inspire much confidence at speed, and there is some body roll through the corners too. The Grand i10 feels best when you drive it at medium speeds and it stays pretty stable when driving in a straight line too. However, it isn’t anywhere close to being as reassuring to drive as the Beat.
Suraj Viswanathan
