General Motors launches Chevrolet Sail sedan in India

Close on the heels of launching the Sail U-VA hatchback, Chevrolet launched the Sail sedan in the Indian market on 01-Feb-2013. While the Sail U-VA replaced the Aveo U-VA, the Sail sedan actually replaces two cars in Chevrolet's Indian line-up, the Aveo sedan and Optra Magnum. The Sail twins are expected to play a very important role in establishing General Motors in India, given the fact that the Aveo twins sank without a trace in the market and the Optra Magnum was only partially successful. The pricing strategy of the Sail sedan shows that General Motors knows that too well and is not ready to lose the race this time.

The Sail sedan is available in four variants - Base, LS, LS ABS and LT. All four variants are available with two engine options - a 1.2-liter Smartech petrol engine and a 1.3-liter SDE Smartech diesel engine, both of which are shared with the Sail U-VA. While the petrol engine produces a maximum power of 86 PS at 6000 rpm and a peak torque of 113 Nm at 5000 rpm, the diesel engine churns out 78 PS of power at 4000 rpm and 205 Nm of torque at 1750 rpm. We may sound cliched, but the diesel engine in the Sail is the same unit developed by Fiat that powers cars like Swift, Swift Dzire, Ertiga, Vista and Manza. A palette of seven colour options are available on offer in the Sail sedan.

While the four petrol variants are priced between INR 4.99 Lakhs and 6.41 Lakhs, the diesel variants retail at INR 6.29 Lakhs for the Base variant that goes up to INR 7.51 Lakhs for the top-end LT variant. That makes the Sail sedan extremely competitive compared to the Maruti-Suzuki Swift Dzire and Tata Indigo, it's chief competitors.

Just like the Sail U-VA, the Sail sedan comes with a conservative design approach that follows the principle 'please-all-offend-none'. The front end with its characteristic split grille ensures that the Sail won't be mistaken for anything but a 'Chevy'. Unlike the Sail U-VA hatchback that looks dated from the rear, the  Sail sedan's rear end is nicely executed. Inspite of being derived out of a hatchback, the Sail sedan's boot does not look like it was stuck on to the hatch at the last moment. Though GM claims that the Sail sedan comes with 'Corvette-inspired Dual-cockpit interior design, we find the interiors to be strictly conservative. Just like the Sail U-VA, the Sail sedan will also be one of the most spacious cars in its segment.

The Base variant comes with standard features such as power steering, tilt steering, front power windows and power mirrors. The LS variant adds rear power windows, central locking, driver airbag, leather-wrapped steering wheel and body-colored rear view mirrors and door handles to the kitty while the LS ABS variant just adds Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD). The top-end LT variant comes fully loaded with passenger airbag, front seat belts with pretensioners, an integrated audio system with auxiliary input and USB socket, Bluetooth connectivity with phone pairing, leather-wrapped gear knob, fog lamps and alloy wheels available as standard.

In short, the Sail sedan comes loaded with all essential features, is available with frugal petrol and diesel engine options and, most importantly, sports a competitive price tag. The only thing then, that stands against the Sail sedan and success, is Maruti-Suzuki's strong brand image and Chevrolet's lack of it in the entry midsize segment.