Porsche Panamera

What it does: Gives you a heady, flying feeling without getting off the ground. Turbo version hits 100 kmph in 4.2 seconds and maxes out at 303 kmph.
Engine: 4.8-litre, 400 bhp, V8 petrol and 4.8-litre, 500 bhp, twin turbo V8 petrol
Price: Rs 1.41 crore-2.01 crore, ex showroom, Delhi

BMW Z4 sDrive 35i

What it does: Promotes joy and happiness globally through speed-induced highs. Possibly the best way to go is topless, but you can cover up at the press of a button.
Engine: 3.0-litre, 306 bhp, bi-turbo straight 6 petrol
Price: Rs 59 lakh, ex showroom, anywhere in the country

General Motors’ just-launched Chevrolet Cruze is the price warrior in the D segment of the Indian passenger car market. The car is the first based on GM’s new 300 platform. (GM’s new small car and the replacement for the midsize Aveo will also be based on the same platform.) The cheaper LT model will sell for Rs 10.99 lakh and the higher LTZ for Rs 12.45 lakh, both ex showroom, Delhi. The Cruze promises a lot, but does it live up to its billing? We drove the LTZ version to find out.

Exterior. The styling is clean, but edgy and aggressive, particularly the two-part grille sporting the Chevy logo prominently. The smooth roofline and the crease down the flanks give it an overall hunkered down and purposeful look. The rear end lets the game down a bit, but is still handsome.

Interior. With the keyless entry, you just need to have the key fob in your pocket (or anywhere within two metres of the car) and pull the handle to open the door. Inside, the so-called “dual cockpit” design of the dash looks neat, modern and stylish. At night, it looks even better with the dials and the central screen glowing blue. The manually adjusted seats are supportive, the steering adjusts for reach and tilt, and it is easy to find a good driving position. Unlike earlier GM models, this one has the wiper and light stalks on the left and right, respectively. The bottle holders are actually big enough to hold bottles. What we did miss, however, was a dead pedal, especially since the left knee kept brushing against the aircon blower knob, turning it up. Also, the trip computer controls are on the light stalk and it can be a bit fiddly. The rear seat is nicely bolstered and has good legroom, what with the flat floor. However, the arching roofline limits headroom. We somehow expected the plastic to be of better quality too.

Engine & Transmission. The Cruze comes with a turbocharged 1991 cc, ~148 bhp diesel engine that produces a lipsmacking ~32 kgm of torque. There is no place to insert the key, just leave it in your pocket and press the start button to fire her up. The car will go past 200 kmph and pull strongly and smoothly past the 170 kmph mark. It has the legs of a highway cruiser and a comfortable one at that. The torque lets you zip through the gaps before they close. In town, too, it’s easy to drive unless you try to change up too early. The stubby, short-throw, 5-speed gearshift is easy to work, although not the slickest in this segment. Like most turbocharged diesels, you need to keep the rpm up, in this case above 1,500, to drive smoothly and quickly (below that it feels dead). But the high-rev engine wants to simmer. Once above 1,500 rpm, it will be predictable and a lot of fun.

Ride & Handling. The ride is comfortable and the undulations are soaked up without fuss. But that does not compromise handling much unless you are pushing it to its speed limit, which most are unlikely to do. Direction changes at speed are composed, but the steering is not too communicative. That said, unless you are trying a stunt, it will not let you down.

What to do. The Cruze competes with the Toyota Corolla Altis, the Honda Civic and the Skoda Laura. On paper, in terms of features (cruise control, keyless entry and start, etc.), power and price, it cannot be beaten. Add a 3-year, 100,000 km warranty, GM’s promise that it will refund any routine expense over Rs 36,500 in three years, and a certified fuel efficiency of 18.2 kmpl, and it looks almost irresistible. It is GM’s best car in India till date. But, in the end, it must feel right to you. So, try it out for size before you buy.