Grey Goose Vive Le Voyage x Shantanu & Nikhil bring elegance to bartending

While traditional houses often incorporate diverse wall materials and designs, modern construction practices mostly prioritise standardised, uniform approaches. There is a need for a more thoughtful and contextual approach to wall design in order to create unique and sustainable living spaces

The city’s buildings addressed a dual predicament: how to stay cool during the unforgiving heat, while coping with heavy seasonal rains

Gen Z and millennials prefer technology-integrated and community-oriented accommodations in cities across India

As urbanisation accelerates, India risks surpassing global benchmarks for energy efficiency and carbon emissions in buildings. In such a scenario, HPBs offer resilience through adaptive, self-sufficient structures. They promote social well-being by nurturing healthier indoor environments, including air quality

Crafted using underwater coastal wood and other nautical elements, The Billy O’Tea House in Tuticorin is an ode to the coastal town

The Mumbai-based architect and designer is now experimenting with metal and luxe fabrics such as cashmere to create gravity defying objects for the home

Bamboo, the flexible perennial grass, to the rescue

The Mini Cooper was one of the first cars to introduce the concept of an affordable, fun-to-drive small car. As time passed, affordability reduced as the new Mini models climbed up into the premium end. But, of course, the fun element remained. In a similar vein, albeit at the other end of the spectrum, is the Maruti Swift. The first generation Swift was fun, and in keeping with Maruti’s ethos, affordable too. However, since the launch of the fourth-generation Swift, there has been a lot of talk about the smaller three-cylinder engine – lacking in power and grunt – and the price climbing higher, reaching levels of its elder sibling, the Baleno. Yes, the price has climbed higher for sure, but as for performance, it hasn’t been an issue for me at all. I say this after using the new Swift as my daily driver for around a month now. 

The shape and size are just right for the city, the seats are soft and comfy, and the engine – well, it’s efficient. And that’s always a higher priority when I’m paying fuel bills. Since I got the Swift, I’ve clocked over 1,000km and the average efficiency has always been above 14kpl. And no, I do not drive it with a light foot. To be fair, on many occasions, I can’t. In peak-hour traffic, the engine is more than adequate, but as soon as a few overtakes are on the cards, it needs to be wrung hard. The linear power delivery just doesn’t cut it, and the only quick fix is downshifting. Speaking of which, I had hoped for an automatic after driving the manual Exter for over three months, but the Swift is yet another manual. I would have sulked if it were any other car, but on the Swift, having a manual gearbox is fun. The clutch is superlight and absolutely effortless, the gears slot in well, and you almost forget about the lack of pep from the engine. The seating position is also bang on, and there is a dedicated dead pedal for added comfort.

What’s a bit of an annoyance is the auto start/stop, which helps save fuel, but in stop-go traffic, the constant shutting off and on will add to the suffering. Thankfully, it just takes a press of a button to turn it off. The other negative is the camera quality. Given the price at which the new Swift has been launched, you would expect a decent parking camera. However, the resolution is poor on the new Swift, and even basics like dynamic guidelines are missing. In the dark, and while it is raining, you cannot rely too much on it. Speaking of darkness, there is no rear cabin light, which I’m guessing helps save some costs, but it is essential. I end up storing shopping bags or small items in the back seat and in case they roll off or I can’t find them, I have to use the phone flashlight. A lamp at the rear would have helped.

The rest of the car, though, has been perfect in the city. The steering is light enough to allow zipping through narrow streets and parking in tight spaces, especially in and around the crowded suburb of Bandra. The boot is more than adequate for a weekend out of the city, the rear seats get dedicated USB-A and type-C charging ports as well as AC vents. LED lights work well in the dark, the ground clearance is plenty, and there is nothing to complain about the ride comfort from the 15-inch wheels. Honestly, the more I drive it, the more I like it.

As an introduction, it has been very positive, and most apprehensions about the dull engine performance fade away. However, once this anniversary issue closes, I’ve planned a getaway out of town, which will involve a whole lot more overtaking and triple-digit speeds. How the engine fares there is what the next report will be on.

Also see:

2024 Maruti Swift road test, review

Maruti Swift vs Baleno comparison video

Maruti Swift CNG launched at Rs 8.20 lakh

While it may not be deemed fit for hard-core bikers and offroading, it does come across as a strong contender for regular commutes

The Fronx marks the return of the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine. This engine was first introduced in the Baleno RS back in 2017, but it was discontinued owing to low demand and the shift to BS6.

The seven-eight seater seems ideal for a large family, yet low fuel efficiency and a noisy CVT could be a deal breaker for some

The new Honda Elevate will make its global debut in India on June 6, followed by a market launch in August, this year

These updates have been released ahead of the October 2023 deadline that requires all cars and SUVs to come with six airbags and three-point seatbelts as standard

After a test drive, we share our verdict on the bike’s cut, design and mileage

The Seltos has only been available with a single-pane sunroof in India since launch, but it now gets a panoramic sunroof

In 2020, Honda rolled out the BS6-compliant Activa ‘6G’, which came with a silent starter and an external fuel filler

With Bluarmor’s C30, one no longer needs to shout to be heard above the din of traffic

Toyota’s reason to opt for a hybrid system for the above models is that it believes EVs are not the only option towards carbon neutrality.

The Thar 2WD gets Mahindra’s D117, a 1.5-litre diesel engine that produces 118hp and 300Nm of torque.

The bike does win when it comes to its look and sound, but, is that enough?

This new colourway for the R15 dresses the bike up almost entirely in black, sprinkled with gold highlights for the Yamaha and R15 logos and golden alloy wheels.

The 296 GTS comes with a retractable hard top similar to the more expensive Ferrari SF90 Spider.

Honda has filed a patent for a twin-screw supercharger, similar to the one found on the Kawasaki H2.

The car is designed to switch easily between petrol and CNG modes, with extra safety modes

The event on May 27was focussed around the physical sound of the cars, and the more metaphorical soundness of the human mind and body