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Daewoo's Matiz wins efficiency test for small cars: auto magazine

Daewoo's Matiz has emerged as the overall winner in the first-ever comparative efficiency test, of all the small cars available in India, conducted by Overdrive magazine.

In a comprehensive trial that evaluated fuel-efficiency, ride-and-handling and engine-performance, Matiz was rated as number one in a field that consisted of the petrol-engined Maruti 800, Maruti Zen, Hyundai Santro, Tata Indica and Fiat Uno as well as the diesel drinking Indica and Uno.

The report has been published in the first anniversary issue of the auto magazine. While the Matiz is the overall winner, the consumer's choice is alive in India's small car market: Daewoo's small car was not the clear leader across all the parameters of the test.

Maruti 800 still offers the best fuel economy while the Matiz and the Indica (petrol versions) share the top spot in terms of engine performance.

Overdrive tested each vehicle over a 700 km course -- carefully selected roads ranging from smooth tarmac with wide radius corners to long straight stretches to mountain sections (to seriously test cornering and braking ability) as well as second class narrow roads with a mixture of hairpins and corners.

The tests were conducted by a team of drivers headed by Hari Singh, four time Indian national rally champion, according to media statement.

UNI

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