Homeward Bound

The Xcent is made for a very willing companion

As automotive journalists, we're subjected to more than our fair share of driving, month after month. Naturally, you would expect us to absolutely love something like this, and we do, for the most part — but as some chap once said, 'Too much of a good thing can make you hate cars.' Or something to that effect, anyway. 

Here's the thing, though. I knew the Xcent was a good car because it's essentially the Grand i10 for the most part. What I didn't know was how quickly I'd come to depend on it and think of it as a happy place. It's like coming back to home-cooked meals, after hinging on McDonalds' stale excuse for food for weeks. You get the point. I've spent an unusually long time with the Xcent this month. It has even been subjected to a trip to Goa and back with a friend, and all through it, it has been peachy. That 1.1-litre U2 engine is a big part of why it's as good as it is. It’s got just the right amount of power for all sorts of roads. Then there's the clutch, which is just light enough for city traffic and has enough feedback for you to know when the gear engages. The gearbox is also easy to operate and does what it's told without any fuss.

It's also very comfortable for four and can accommodate all sorts of silly luggage requests (I transported a mini fridge and a microwave this one time). And the best bit? It is frankly too economical to be true. I won't say you'll get some tremendous figure if you drive it with a light foot because, let's face it, who has the time to drive with a light foot all the time? So, given that, it was pretty shocking when I realized that I was getting nearly 15-16 kpl on average. And for automotive journalists who are constantly on the move, that's a blessing. That's why, even after what feels like 35 hours to a day, getting back home and driving the Xcent is relaxing; calming almost. That is why I'll reiterate what I said earlier — the Xcent feels like home, really.