Maruti Omni Review
Wherever you look you will see the Omni
A credible name when it comes to multi utility vehicles in India is that of Maruti Udyog. Over the years the company has released a number of models in this particular market segment. When it comes to the performance Maruti cars are known to outstanding and when you compare the price at which these cars are marketed you realize the real value of the deal. The Maruti Omni is one such multi utility vehicle that has been hugely successful in India. An in depth analysis of the wide range of features that the Maruti Omni has to offer will reveal the reasons why it has received such a warm welcoming from the Indian people.
The Maruti Omni is well renowned for the various safety features that it has to offer. The car has been designed in such a way that it has impact door beams going through the body. These help to minimize the impact of an accident for the passengers inside. The laminated windshield and an advance braking system with booster assisted disc brakes also add to the value of the car. But what good are all these safety measures without the car being able to give you a good performance. Luckily though, the Maruti Omni will not fail you with its high quality performance as you zip through the city streets in this multi utility vehicle.
There are a number of variants of the Maruti Omni floating in the market. These include the Maruti Omni 5 seater, Maruti Omni 8 seater and the Maruti Omni LPG. So what do all these variants have in common? Firstly all of them sport a 6 valve 3 cylinder 4 stroke water cooled engine. The engine has a displacement of 796 cc. It can rank up a decent max power and torque to give you a good pick up and smooth acceleration. The booster assisted disc brakes in the front and the drum brakes in the rear ensure effective braking. For a car this size the fuel tank capacity seems to be a bit small as it can hold up to 36 liters.
The Maruti Omni is available as a 4 speed manual transmission with the fifth being a reverse. It also has a good ground clearance of about 165 mm which is beneficial for the uneven tracks in India. Other special features of the Maruti Omni include the hatchback door lock, steering lock, front and rear seat belts, thermoplastic bumpers and a three position cabin light.
On 26.1.2009 I took my 1999 maruti omni which already clocked 99780 km on a trip to visit Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Amarkantak, starting from Kolkata.Prior to it, I had Rs.32000 spent on a complete mechanical overhaul(except the engine and gearbox)and I was confident that the car would make the journey effortlessly. Well,the car eventually proved herself to be all my money’s worth and did an excellent job of it. I never had any trouble with this near 3000 km drive at all.I returned to Kolkata on 5.2.2009 around midnight driving staraight from Sambalpur, a 16 hr long drive stopping ony forlunch and some tea and snacks.Petro consumed was 226 L.I must warn those planning to take a drive along the route I had taken ( Kolkata-Kharagpur-Jamsola-Keojharh-Sambalpur-Raipur- Kanha) . At some places especially Kharagpur-Jamsola-Joshipur and Keonjharh-Sambalpur the roads are in a very bad shape and average speed would be around 20km/hr.A car that has a good road clearence can manage it but with low cars like maruti 800 or esteem and the like, one has to be very careful. Mind that you are unfornuta to have a breakdown, it could be real nasty, because the nearestworkshop could be well over a hundred kms.Well then friends, make up tour mind and set forth on a long drive. Just get the car tight before you leave. And finally for Maruti my countless thanks . The car is simly great.
Supriyo Ghosh