The Chevrolet Sail sedan has been making a lot of news since the time it first emerged that the car was slated to be launched in India. The car, which was recently introduced to the rapidly growing Indian car market, is an important vehicle for General Motors.
The Sail has been developed especially for car markets like that of China and India- the two fastest growing car markets. The Sail has been doing good numbers in Chinese car market and GM India has big hopes from the new car in our very competitive small sedan segment.
We recently took both the diesel and petrol variants of the new car thru their paces near GM’s Talegaon facility. As is pretty obvious, the Sail diesel will form the major chunk of the car’s total sales and will be the chief factor in deciding the fate of the new Chevy.
Click here to Check out the Chevrolet Sail 1.3 Diesel Review
While most of the Chevrolet Sail buyers would opt for the more frugal diesel variant with the tried and tested Fiat sourced Multijet motor, there will remain a small section of buyers that would go for the petrol powered variants.
Powering the Sail’s petrol variants is the same 1.2 litre, 4 cylinder motor that can be found powering the Beat and the Sail UVA hatchback.
With 85bhp on tap, the 1.2 litre four pot motor appears sufficiently powerful on paper. The immediate comparison that comes to my mind is that with the erstwhile Maruti Esteem which had similar power figure and was a hoot to drive.
With dreams of Esteem-like scintillating performance in mind, we got ready to set Sail.
However, disappointment was quick to set in as the Sail’s 1.2 litre petrol engine feels low on torque and requires you to keep it on boil if brisk acceleration is what you are looking for. An unfocussed gearbox doesn’t help matters either.
Do not get us wrong, the Chevrolet Sail has a refined petrol engine that is adequate to propel the car to triple digit speeds but look elsewhere if you wish to fulfil your boy-racer dreams with your new entry level sedan.
The Chevrolet Sail petrol, with a ‘not so exciting’ engine, offers decent performance for a family car which will, most often than not, be used in the city commutes and family runs to the mall. The Sail petrol will also please the chauffeur driven with a comfortable backseat and good rear legroom.
However, the car won’t be winning any traffic light drag runs with old Japanese sedans. But then, when was the last time you took your family sedan to a street race?
The Chevrolet Sail petrol might be down on power when compared with the erstwhile Aveo and the Germans from a segment above but comes across as a feature laden, spacious and a relaxed performer with enough gusto for occasional highway cruising.
At a starting price of just 4.99 lakhs (ex showroom), the Chevrolet Sail petrol is very well priced for what it offers. The price tag makes the car even more potent to challenge the petrol variants of other entry level sedans.
With adequate performance, a high fuel economy figure and a price tag that can put some hatchbacks to shame, the Sail petrol makes quite a case for itself and should find some takers.
The cribbers that we motoring journos are, a more precise gearbox and more torque in the lower revs is all that the Chevrolet Sail petrol needs to complement the diesel variant even better.
Chevrolet Sail 1.2 Petrol Price List
Prices of Chevrolet Sail petrol variants are- Base-INR 4.99 lakhs, LS-5.49 lakhs, LS ABS-5.70 lakhs and LT- 6.41 lakhs.
Chevrolet Sail 1.2 Petrol Variants and Features
-Base- Body Coloured Bumpers+ Power Steering+ Air Conditioning+ Front Power Windows+ Power Adjust for ORVMs+ Tilt Steering+ Day and Night IRVM+ Remote Fuel Filler + Boot Release+ Engine Immobilizer
-LS- All features of Base+ Full Wheel Covers, Body Coloured ORVMs+ Foglamps+ Rear Antenna+ Chrome Inside Door Handles+ Chrome Parking Brake Button+ Leather Wrapped Steering+ Rear Parcel Shelf+ Cigar Lighter+ Driver Airbag+ Key-in Reminder
-LS ABS- All features of LS+ Digital Clock+ Integrated Audio System+ 4 Speakers+ Bluetooth for Mobile Music Streaming and hands free telephony+ ABS
-LT- All features of LS ABS+ Passenger Airbag+ Security Alarm System+ Speed Sensitive Autolock+ Keyless entry
Chevrolet Sail 1.2 Petrol Specs
Capacity- 1.2-litre petrol
Power- 85bhp at 6000rpm
Torque- 11.5kgm at 5000rpm
Gearbox- 5-speed manual
Length- 4249mm
Width- 1690mm
Height- 1503mm
Wheel base- 2465mm
Tyres- 175/70 R14
Tank size- 42 litres / 40 litres
Chevrolet Sail Images
i m going to nuy sail sedab base 1.2….petrol base
i read many reviews that there is sm pro with sail of dragging left side…pls let me knw if its true….
hello yatharth I hv read in many reviews that there is sm left dragging pro wid sail sedan…is it so? do rly asap.
Surprising! Even a Maruti 800, with aircon ON, can hit 100 kmph. I am pretty sure that there was something unusual about the car you drove.
Dear Yatharth,
During your review of the petrol version, were you able to touch 100kmph?
On my test drive on the Sail LT Petrol, with 2600 on the odo, I was to able to touch only 80 with the AC on and the accelerator flattened to the floor.
I m sorry wats the fuel economy of this car again?