Thinking big on small

Talk about going nuts over the small wonder! The traditional diet of large cars on choked City roads is not such a fad anymore. Small is all the more beautiful with new models appearing at regular intervals. So, those who thought big once, are steadily changing gears, driven by more fuel savings and parking in smaller spaces.

Once upon a time, a small car meant compromised amenities. Now, it zooms in with features so attractive that owners are flaunting it, unapologetically. Chittaranjan Kumar, working with the IBM, is currently driving a Chevrolet Aveo U-VA. He reckons that small cars are a better option as they neatly fit into any parking space and save fuel. “For one, there is no banging your door on the one parked next. While I would not like to talk about high-end cars, I see big cars as synonymous with luxury. In a city like Bangalore, with its nuclear families, where is the need for a big car? Moreover, today’s small cars are structured well,” he adds.

The young brigade of car owners share similar sentiments. It’s easy to see why. Law student Alisha Peris has been driving an Alto since she turned 18. She votes for small cars as “the best option to navigate through half-dug roads and bottlenecks and they can squeeze into any small space. The mileage is great and being a student, that is a priority for me,” she says. “Also, mine being a small car, I can easily pay off the damage costs,” she adds.

Buying habits seem to have changed, for good. Those who swear by ‘green’ cars, that also signal environmental awareness, are not lagging behind. Rajani Chandramouli has been driving her Reva for one-and-half years now. She recollects being intimidated by stares that followed her while she drove.

“Now there are more Revas in the City,” she informs. “And unless you are driving out of the City, they still are the best bet. “Primarily, I find taking a u-turn pretty easy. And since it’s a ‘green’ car, the guilt quotient is less.”

Rajani’s daughter Arati too drives a Reva to college. “It’s a cakewalk to park as I need just a two-wheeler space. If Reva comes with four doors, a family could easily fit into it and that would be ideal,” Rajani adds.

They may swear by ‘small’, but they still want the amenities good. Chittaranjan recollects how he was advised by many to go in for a bigger car. “But I decided to spend a little more on this one and equip it with features because I prefer small cars,” he says. And for the moment, snob value is taking a backseat. “In fact, even my friends who would earlier bring big cars like Scorpios to college, have now shifted to bikes or smaller cars, due to parking headaches. Bigger car means bigger responsibility,” says Alisha.

Smaller cars that offer more for your rupee are definitely in. In this era of ‘small’ technology, smaller mobile phones, and ‘almost invisible’ music players.., small is cool, for cars too!