Epson Ecotank L6490, a mainstream all in one copying, printing, scanning, and fax with ADF solution from Epson is quite impressive. Let us take a look at what were the aspects that made us conclude on the first line.
Casually professional:
Design is conventional yet modern thanks to its compact footprint and functional yet professional look. There are multiple paper inlets and outlets. Semi-transparent CMYK colour levels also give clarity to the consumption of Espon’s Durabrit 008 ink. Refillable and easy to operate. The printer also gets a bright touch panel with capacitive touch for easy operations. Epson has loaded the Ecotank L6490 with wifi and wifi direct and Epson smart panel enables a host of print options directly via your smartphone. There’s also USB, LAN, fax and line-in connectivity for robust wired connections and easy clean options with detachable compartments.
All-in-one solution in a compact footprint:
With costs per print as low as 12paise (Black) and a little more for colours, the Epson Ecotank L6490 printer is efficient. If that wasn’t enough, 1-years warranty or 100,000 pages, whichever comes first, Epson has you covered for prints of usage. The Epson Ecotank L6490 print speeds are impressive at 17-ipm for black and 9.5-ipm for colour. These might get slower based on the details, print quality and print paper of use. Epson has an intelligent Auto-Duplex printing (up to A4 size) for automatic both side print on an A4 or lower size papers. Wi-Fi & Wi-Fi Direct enable remote connectivity and the app brings a host of other intuitive learning and features adding value to the Epson printer.
Epson smart panel app has easy wireless connectivity when both the printer and your phone share the same Wi-Fi connection. The app has a smooth and innovative UI with almost all the options on the physical touch panel and more. Document scanner for example allows a phone camera to capture documents, enhance them as per the user’s liking and print them like a normal document. There are tonnes of tutorials too and community links to learn more.
Verdict:
Powered by Epson Heat-Free Technology, the printer performs consistently with minimum downtime and not more than a few seconds lag on long printing sessions. We tried printing many documents, photos and random colourful pictures shot on phones and professional cameras. The colours, quality, contrast and tones were almost spot on. The only limitation this printer brings is the size, it’s compact and can only print up to Letter Max sizes. If you do not need anything more than this size, the Epson Ecotank L6490 is a precise, functional tool that enables, scans, copies, loads of in-app functions and quality yet efficient print solutions for homes, schools and offices alike.
Rating – 4/5
Good – Compact size, efficient, detailed prints and copies
Bad – Limited by the compact size
Ugly – Competition
Specifications:
Print, Scan, Copy, Fax with ADF
Cost per print 12paise (Black)
Print speeds – 17 ipm for black and 9.5 ipm for colour
In 2022, everything is expensive, especially computers and computing parts. Thanks to an ongoing pandemic, most of us work from home, and kids learn from home too. There has never been a better demand for computers as in this era and although your phone is yet another computer with a smaller display and different OS, the need for a full-fledged computer has increased many folds. Add the fact that most laptops are easily over the price of 30K. Asus launched their BR 1100 series, one with (BR1100FKA) and one without a touchscreen (BR1100CKA), for as low as 25K! We review the latter.
Design – Small chassis, smaller screen
A 180-degree opening hinge on something like a 13-inch laptop chassis with an 11-inch 1366×768 anti-glare display makes this little wonder usable from many angles. The keyboard is not backlit but has tactile feedback and does the job for countless hours of typing. It is definitely a little cramped and takes time to familiarise. The trackpad is also smaller than most current laptops but supports gesture recognition and decent multi-touch support. The design is enforced with steel connectors, military-grade MIL-STD-810H certified with soft rubber circumference and a beautiful matte texture on the front and comes in a dark grey, light grey highlights and black keyboard accentuating the appeal of this budget laptop.
Made for connectivity
The chassis on both the FKA touchscreen and CKA non-touchscreen models are the same, and thus both enjoy some diverse utility and connectivity. The front and back panels are neat while the LHS houses a Kensington lock, 45W barrel charge port, USB (G3.2 with charge support) Type-C, USB (G3.2) Type-A, full HDMI 1.4 port, a blank cutout of the FKA stylus while the RHS has a full RJ45 port, USB (G2.0) Type-A port, another blank cutout, 3.5mm headphone jack, power button and volume rocker like most phones. Couple that with Intel wireless AC-9560 WiFi connectivity, and the laptop supports high-speed dual-band connectivity with Bluetooth 4.2, an impressive connectivity package for the price.
Performance – Not bad but too limited
At this price, Asus has packed the chassis with consistent ruthless usage in mind like students and field operators. The laptop comes with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 (1.1 – 2.8GHz) paired with a generic 4GB DDR4 RAM, and a 64GB internal memory marks a limit to this laptop’s usage. Chrome with multiple tabs pin this laptop’s RAM and at times processor use at alarming levels. 4GB and 64GB are the bare minimum, but somehow our unit received and ran Windows 11 Home 21H2 update with ease. What seems to limit everyday use are the RAM and internal memory. Assigning more virtual memory did little to nothing. Tabs refresh more often than expected, and memory management only loads the tab you are accessing at the moment. The processor does a decent job of keeping things snappy overall.
The laptop has multiple shortcuts assigned to FN keys and one-touch software-enabled buttons to disable the noise-cancellation enabled mics and camera. The 0.9MP 720p camera is clear and decent for video connectivity with support for 720p 30fps recording. Viewing angles on the LED-backlit display are good, but outdoor display brightness could be an eye strain. The user-facing speakers are impressively loud and clear and make a great companion for online classes, conferences, videos, and multi-media. The efficient internals aid this laptop’s 45Wh battery to last as long as 7+ hours of use. At 1.26Kgs and 25K starting price, the Asus BR1100CKA is an interesting laptop. It does all justice to its form factor, and despite being chunky, it feels trustworthy to wield.
Verdict – Not bad for the price
Laptops are expensive this year, and Asus BR1100CKA proves a great companion for someone interested in regular text use with occasional multi-media consumption. It offers a whole Windows experience at the cost of low-tier hardware with good connectivity, but products like the Xiaomi Mi Pad 5 with an external keyboard offer a much more versatile package at similar prices. Think before you choose!
Good – Price, military-grade protection, connectivity
Don’t we all love large displays, why else would we want to watch movies on those large crisp projections in a movie theatre? LCD, and OLED displays as good as they may be and as large as they get, might not be the optimal solution when it comes to viewing content on a large canvas especially while saving some bucks. Do you know how much a 55-inch television with 4K HDR 120Hz refresh rate costs in India? You might want to google search and see for yourself! This is exactly why movie theatres use projectors rather than large AMOLED displays. Today, we have an alternative to something as large as a 300-inch crisp 4k HDR 120Hz display, powered by something so small, that we could carry it around. Meet the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector.
Simply Optoma:
Design is simple yet lightweight and installation on a table or ceiling is easy. The front-facing projector is about a foot wide with 12.4-inches, 4.5-inches tall and 9.5-inches in length. The remote has all the necessary buttons and every button is illuminated. There’s also a lens cover that covers the short throw lens neat and complete.
More value than money:
Being DLP this projector is virtually maintenance-free, has better picture quality, wider colour range and greater contrast while also being capable of displaying up to 3800 Lumens of vibrant bright projection. Do not go by its name of GT1080HDR as the projector is able to project up to 4K HDR at 120Hz refresh rate. Optoma has packed the GT1080HDR DLP Projector with multiple I/O when it comes to connectivity. HDMI 2.0, HDMI 1.4a, VGA in and out, USB power in and out, audio in and out, RS 232 port, AC power and Kensington lock.
Projector distance can be adjusted from as low as 1.3 feet to 11.3 feet. Being a short-throw projector the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector can produce a crisp 4K 120inch display from a mere 4 feet. The remote is illuminated, a clever trick especially for a projector. Active and passive 3D is offered with the right content and glasses at a rapid refresh rate of 144Hz, mighty impressive for a product that costs less than a 55inch 4k television with similar specs. The contrast is 50000:1 and thanks to DLP, the projector lamp is easily replaceable by a claimed viewing time of 10 years as per normal usage of 4 hours per day. If all of this wasn’t enough, Optoma has loaded a 10-watt speaker inside the projector to have an audio and video experience right out of the box.
We played a couple of games at a 4K HDR high refresh rate and the projector pleasantly surprised us. Colours and contrast are amazing in games and games look more immersive with naturally punchy colours. The speaker too performs decently for a built-in speaker and no complaints here. The built-in fan is relatively silent and never audible. Next, we tried a couple of movies, youtube songs and the audio-video experience left us mesmerised. Optoma colour reproduction is one of the best when it comes to projections. Colour tones are natural throughout ECO and ECO+ modes. HDR performance was at par with expensive projectors and overall, the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP projector seems to have more value than money for what it provides.
Verdict:
If you are looking for a capable 4K display and own a new-gen console like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, definitely consider auditioning the Optoma GT1080HDR DLP Projector. With the right panel, proper sources and innate capabilities like impressive colour tones, passive 3D, and keystone correction with +/- 40 degrees, this Optoma projector is definitely a great value addition to your display arsenal.
Rating – 4.5/5
Good – Short-throw projection, display customisation
Bad – Manual keystone correction, old UI
Ugly – Bright mode distorts colours
Projection – Upto 300inch 4K Signal / HDR Compatible
Shorter installation distance with short throw lens design
Bright 1080p projector – 3,800 ANSI Lumens
High contrast outcome – 50,000:1
Easy connectivity – HDMI, VGA, R232, 10W speaker
Low ownership costs – up to 15,000 hours of lamp life (Eco+ Mode)
We are not new to the world of TWS with ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) but there comes a product every now and then, adding some value to become special. The USP (unique selling point) of the LG TONE Free has to be LG’s borrowed tech from its purifiers to cleanse these TWS inside their case with UV-nano technology. Yes, these earbuds promise bacteria cleansing LG’s UV nano, a patented sanitising technology which destroys bacteria on the earbud head when they are placed inside the case. In a world where sanitizing our hands is normal, why should TWS be any exception?
LG also sells and equips these with medical-grade hypoallergenic ear gels, another healthy name for silicon that cleans via UV rays. The technology is neatly packed in a clean round case with an essential multi-colour LED notification light, a switch to toggle an amazing feature and a USB Type-C charging port at the rear. The case and earbuds are fairly lightweight and easy to carry around as your ear companions.
LG TONE Free app
LG has a TONE Free app both on Playstore and Appstore for Androids and Apple devices. Usually, these additional apps bring out additional features of the earbuds, but in LG’s case, this app is more or less mandatory if you truly wish to listen to Meridian tuned audio and improve the earbud’s audio quality overall. The app neatly showcases the battery percentage on each earbud and also allows you to tune the earbuds based on two custom settings.
The ANC controls allow high or low levels of noise cancellation along with two transparency modes and the option to turn off ANC when not required. There’s also a neat animated manual available at all levels with general information on the software and the ability to auto-install OTA (over the air) updates for the app and earbuds. The app also allows to edit three levels of tap settings on either earbud, allowing customisations as per user choices. Last and the most important settings are ready equalisations by Meridian. There are seven preset equalizers to choose from including, immersive, natural, bass-boost, treble-boost, 3D sound stage, etc. Why are these important you ask?
Audio quality – Treble happy!
LG TONE Free earbuds are tuned by Meridian and without their equalizers, they sound treble-heavy. Bass is tight and never boomy but lacks the punch required in most hip-hop numbers. Bass-boost setting on the app aids the bass but compromises on the other frequencies. The trebles on these earbuds are rich and shine in every track while the vocals are audible despite different equalized settings. For audiophiles, there are quite a few frequencies to equalize in two custom settings. None of which matched the finesse of Meridian-tuned presets.
Out of all the presets, immersive and natural were the most balanced presets that suit almost all genres of music. ANC is average and nothing extraordinary like most other TWS in a similar price range. The sound stage is head biased but not too small, nor too widespread. What really shines on these earbuds are the treble in each track. It’s bright and prominent, a unique take on clarity but compromises on the lower frequencies to sound thumping on certain tracks. LG claims 6 hours battery life with ANC turned on and 21 hours of total playback with the charge case. Battery life depends on the volume and we managed 4+ hours each time.
One unique cable inside the box, apart from USB Type-C to Type-A cable, is a Type-C to 3.5mm headphone jack. There is a toggle on the case, which allows the case to connect as a medium to turn any analogue 3.5mm headphone port into wireless connectivity via the case. The real champ of this package is thereby the case of the LG TONE Free. It not only cleanses the earbuds, but also adds battery life and added functionality to turn any analogue source into seamless wireless connections.
Verdict
LG TONE Free is a feature rich pair of earbuds with richer trebles and a versatile compact round case. This is a good pair of earbuds for someone not keen on bass, listens to a lot of string instruments, vocals and chimes. The quality of the TWS is decent and same could be said about the audio quality. At similar prices, there are better sounding earbuds but none as versatile.
Motorola has been on a launching spree ever since it promised to deliver a new smartphone every month last year. This time around, it is the Motorola Edge 30, and Motorola claims this to be the slimmest and lightest 5G smartphone in India. We tested the brand claims and the phone only to witness surprised by our findings.
Display – POLED goodness
Motorola has retained the FHD+ pOLED panel from its predecessor, the Edge 20, with one of the fastest refresh rates at 144Hz on Edge 30. This display is bright, has punchy colours and has an extended edge to edge design, making the bezels as narrow as physically possible in 2022. The display also gets 10-bit HDR10 capabilities and content support for the same. There’s a fast in-display fingerprint sensor, and a hole punch camera makes this look amazing, especially at the starting price of 27999.
Is it the slimmest and lightest 5G phone as per Motorola claims?
Motorola has taken inspiration from the new generation of iPhones, which is visible in the design. Buttons are on the RHS ends, and despite the lack of a headphone jack, this time around, the phone features a Dolby Atmos algorithm on dual stereo speakers. Acrylic back and sides and a pOLED panel make the Edge 30 feel lighter than its visual appeal. At 155gms, this is one of the most lightweight phones available in India.
Specs – Balanced performer
Snapdragon 778+ 5G SOC is one of the most balanced SOCs made by Snapdragon. It easily handles the Android 12 based UI; scrolling is super smooth and fast and supports 13 5G bands, with none available to test. Overall, the WiFi 6E capable SOC with the latest Bluetooth 5.2 and support for multiple bands with carrier aggregation make this a good phone for a connected lifestyle. We played a couple of games, and the processor handled them all at the highest graphic settings with smooth gameplay at 360Hz touch sampling. Also, the standby time on Snapdragon 778, including this plus variant phone, is one of the best in Android smartphones.
Cameras – A decent pair of shooters
Motorola has included a 50MP OIS primary with 50MP ultra-wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor for aiding camera algorithms. The shots from this phone are decent, and the best part is the colour consistency between cameras. Low light photography, too, has improved many folds compared to its predecessor, the Edge 20. The ultrawide sensor doubles as the macro shooter. The front 32MP camera is above average. All the sensors support 4K video recording, making it future proof and great for content creation.
Battery – Lasts long, really long.
Edge 30 comes with a 4020mAh battery coupled with a 33W fast charger inside the box. The best part is that Snapdragon 778+ is a very balanced SOC and thereby provides good performance and pairs it with good efficiency. This phone can last a heavy usage day with ease, thanks to the efficient SOC onboard.
Motorola features
Speakers are decently loud at this price range, and they sound richer than the competition. Moto Gametime allows for overclocking the processor when you play games and some optimised software settings to aid gaming on this phone. Motorola secures your data on the phone with Thinkshield technology, a gift from its parent company Lenovo. Motorola also equips the Edge 30 with ready for functionality, allowing straightforward phone content sharing with TV, computers and other devices. The whole package is available in two RAM trims and two colours of your choice. There’s quite a bit of functionality provided by Motorola for the price alongside the usual moto gestures.
Verdict – A good mid-range smartphone.
Motorola Edge 30 is one of India’s lightest, if not the slimmest 5G smartphone. Overall ad-free UI, capable low-light cameras, lightweight construction, and pOLED goodness powered by one of Snapdragon’s best SOC make the Motorola Edge 30 a good recommendation for anyone who wants the best of all worlds in the Android smartphone universe.
Intel’s 12th generation processors are a giant leap forward in performance, and many brands are soon adopting newer processors. Intel is still the preferred choice of many professionals for its hassle-free operations and no unnecessary need to update BIOS to get the best performance out of their hardware. We have been using the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED for about a month, and here is our take.
Designed to be casually professional
The design is professional yet classy, with design elements finished in matte and glossed geometric lines. Overall, it is lightweight at 1.4Kgs with an all-metal chassis. It is still bottom heavy like most non-touchscreen laptops, but overall weight distribution is even across the computer. The gloss metal hinge looks interesting in real life. There’s also a 180-degree ergo-lift hinge. Two Thunderbolt 4 Type C USB ports, a Type A USB port, a full-fledged HDMI 2.0 port, a MicroSD card reader, two status lights, a 3.5mm headset jack, and Kensington lock ports complete the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED’s good I/O selection.
The display is glossy, unlike the entire matte finish feel of the laptop. The keyboard is a highlight with contoured keys and a clicky feel. Three levels of illumination with TKL design make it ample space for typing and a biometric fingerprint scanner in a subtle thin chrome bezel is fast. There’s a large touchpad with Asus NumericPad 2.0 and two brightness levels on this, along with usual gesture recognition. Both the camera and mic get a dedicated one tap manual access for privacy and hardware-level control.
OLED beauty
The USP of this laptop has to be an insane 550nits bright 2.8k OLED display featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio. With 100% DCI P3 and 109% sRGB colour calibration, this display is bright, colour accurate for professionals, and display nerds would be more than happy staring at this laptop all day long. The brightness levels are ample for outdoor viewing, but the glossy panel will have you staring at your face while using this laptop outdoors. Indoors, this is one of the best displays money can buy. Adding to the credibility of this laptop is Pantone validation.
Performance – Fast and Furious!
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED’s performance is top-notch thanks to their integration of Intel’s latest 12th gen processors. Ours was an i7 1260p with 12 cores and 16 threads paired with 16GB DDR5 RAM at 4800mhz and 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD by Samsung. Productivity is snappier than any Zenbook series we’ve ever tested. The only downside is the heat it produces. It can get warm enough to be uncomfortable on your lap, and fans tend to get audible enough to notice.
What surprised us was the efficiency level of this chip. This laptop is like a sprinter with a marathon runner’s stamina with normal work usage on multiple chrome tabs, including videos and audio. Throw any task apart from graphics-intensive tasks, and the laptop simply flies through the task. Over a week, we charged it only twice. At 75kWh and new-gen processing efficiency, this laptop is a thoroughbred business companion. Bundled inside the box is a Type C 65W USB fast charger, and the most exciting part of this laptop is its innate capability to charge through chargers with as low as 5W-20W output. Theoretically, it can charge over any normal power bank as well. This eliminated the need to carry multiple chargers, especially while travelling. It does take forever to charge on mobile phone chargers, but heck, it charges, and that is what matters. Video conferencing was a pleasant experience thanks to a better 3D NR camera, and noise cancellation featured mics with Dolby Atmos configured speakers. Nothing too impressive but definitely way above average.
Verdict
A relatively higher MSRP could be a deal-breaker when this amount of money could get you something like the Samsung pro book 2 360, an AMOLED 2k display with similar hardware, and spare you enough money to get a basic Asus laptop while weighing a mere 870 gms instead of a 1.4kg Asus Zenbook 14 OLED. In isolation, this OLED laptop is beautiful, powerful and classy, bundled with all the necessary Office suite and Windows seamlessness.
OnePlus started as a brand with a killer tagline – Flagship Killer! They stood true to their claims by offering quality flagship-level products at mid-range prices. Today in 2022, the scenario is not the same for OnePlus. What was once a flagship killer is now a global flagship phone maker with flagship-level pricing. Their latest flagship product is the OnePlus 10 Pro and it carries a 60+ thousand rupees price tag, a flagship category price too. We will take you through 10 dimensions of the OnePlus 10 Pro and is it worth buying? Let’s continue, shall we?
Display – OnePlus 10 Pro comes with a slightly curved 6.7-inch QHD 2k LTPO2 Fluid AMOLED display that can switch from as low as 1Hz to 120Hz dynamically. With a 20.1:9 ratio display, this phone feels large and long. OnePlus also claims a peak brightness of 1300nits on HDR content but typically it is around 500-800 nits based on the content on that display. In isolation, this display is crisp and flagship-level quality but in comparison to Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, a phone that costs almost 20% less than the OnePlus 10 Pro, Samsung quality dwarfs OnePlus in comparison at the same brightness levels. Both these phones have Gorilla Glass Victus upfront for Protection. There is inconsistency in colour reproduction at different brightness levels.
Frame – This is a glass sandwich phone like most other phones. The front glass is a Gorilla Glass Victus, the rear gets Gorilla Glass 5 and the frame is aluminium to keep weight and sturdiness in check. Only the international T-Mobile variant comes with IP68 water and dust Protection but the global variant gets no such claims. Rubber gaskets do tell us that this phone can handle some splashes and dirt easily. Weighing a little over 200gms, this is a two-handed phone.
Charging – There’s a healthy 5000mAh battery with a bundled 80W SuperVOOC charger, Oppo is the parent company so that’s a borrowed tech but arguably a better addition, especially in a world where Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, etc have stopped providing chargers in the box. The phone also features fast wireless charging up to 50w and reverse wireless charging with USB power delivery to power other devices via the Type C port.
Specs – Powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, blazing-fast RAM and UFS 3.1 Gen1 storage, this phone is a creme-de-la-creme of smartphone processing power. Gaming or multitasking is a breeze and a pleasure with a relatively long-lasting 5000mAh battery. What also aids gaming is the 480Hz touch sampling, making every input free lag-free and instant. Relatively low thermal throttles also inspire long gaming sessions.
Connectivity – There are multiple 5G bands supported. There’s also WiFi 6 along with 802.11 AX dual-band Wi-Fi support and something too obvious is Wi-Fi Direct with Bluetooth 5.2 with all its goodies.NFC – NFC enables a lot of ease when it comes to connectivity. One can tap to pay, share Wi-Fi passwords and connections, use Android Beam to share files between devices, touch to connect Bluetooth speakers and with NFC tags, the world of creativity is at your disposal.
Camera – Triple camera setup, a useful one with all cameras enhanced by Hasselblad algorithms. 2D – Second generation of P – phone camera with 50T – triple camera setup featuring a 50MP 150-degree field of view ultra-wide camera. Photos from all sensors 48MP primary with OIS, 50MP ultra-wide and 8MP telephoto camera with 3.3x optical zoom are neutral in colour with sometimes underexposed clicks but videos are super amazing with up to 8K 24fps shooting on the rear primary camera setup and only 1080p on the front 32MP selfie shooter. There’s 4k video capability with 30,60 and 120fps modes on the primary camera, 4k 60fps on the ultra-wide camera and 1080p 60fps on the telephoto camera.
As compared to the similar Samsung shot from an S21 FE, the camera performs almost at par but misses the Samsung vibrancy. Low light images and videos are impressive and evolution for OnePlus as a smartphone maker. One thing to note is that the new ultra-wide sensor gets no autofocus and also cannot double as a macro camera as its predecessor OnePlus 9 Pro. But there’s a fisheye mode that makes your photos and videos look like you shot from a Go-Pro camera.
Software – Oxygen OS now looks like it was adopted by Color OS of Oppo. It still gets no ads and Oxygen OS customisation suite but then again, there are reminisce of Oppo’s dominance here and there across the UI. Oh, it runs Android 12 based on Oxygen OS 12.1.
Choices – Available in two colours – Volcano Black, Emerald Green and an exclusive Glaciar White colour not sold in India. Also, it comes in two setups – 8GB RAM with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. If you are considering this device, do not get the 128GB variant, games, apps, and cameras take up a lot of internal space.
Is it worth buying? – Priced over 60k and almost 70+k for the 256GB variant, this phone tries to compete with the top dogs of smartphone nirvana. At this price, the OnePlus 10 Pro enters a category of devices that do many things better than the 10 Pro while providing a whole new dimension to the flagship smartphone experience. If the price gets sweeter by 10K via deals, etc. or if you do consider shelling out this amount of money, products like the Samsung Galaxy S22, Apple iPhone 13, newest Asus ROG phone and many others look like a whole lot of value for money, don’t they!
We witnessed the Volvo XC40 Recharge when it was unveiled a year ago. Initial plans were to launch the car last year. EV charging infrastructure is slow in its growth compared to auto manufacturers’ plans of launching EVs. Volvo announced a year ago to convert their entire line-up into EVs by 2030. Volvo India wants to beat their deadline.
On a scorching sunny Sunday, we drove the Volvo XC40 Recharge from Aerocity, Delhi, to Neemrana Fort, Rajasthan and back. Volvo India had two charging stations ready for a top-up on our commute, but we were assured that most of the cars made it back in a single charge. Our car started at 92% charge when we began our drive. Volvo’s XC40 Recharge is quite a sleeper performance car. Later, let’s understand how this unique EV is about to revolutionise Volvo’s brand image into a worthy EV auto manufacturer. We drove a pre-production red coloured car, a colour we might not see at first in India.
Clean, smart design
Make no mistake about the name this car carries. The Volvo XC40 Recharge is based on the compact, mid-size SUV, the XC40. The overall silhouette of the XC40 remains the same. It is brilliantly complemented by the clean design upfront masking the ICE version’s grille with a body-coloured case and an embedded Volvo logo. The headlights and tail lights are the same, yet some of the best lamp designs. Changes include 19-inch standard wheels with 235/50/R-19 upfront and 255/45/R-19 at the rear. This is a subtle giveaway of the performance this car packs apart from a Recharge TWIN batch on the boot door.
The powered tailgate opens with a gesture swipe at the lower left of the car’s rear bumper apart from an electric button. This liberates up to 452L boot space, housing a space-saver tyre. Unlike the international variant, there are no electric split seat buttons or a towing hook button inside the boot area. The boot lock has two subtle lights on either side of the lock groove. The charging socket is located on LHS, while there’s another trunk up-front that opens similarly to the front hatch opening knob inside the driver’s cabin on most ICE cars. The frunk is 31L, and the floor mat opens to liberate space for what seems to be a tire puncture repair kit missing from inside the kit-holder cut-outs in our car. The rear boot mat also has some space under the RHS boot area. Overall, the EV version of this car allows quite a bit of room for storing cables, luggage, etc.
Somehow, the car looks even more handsome in the XC40 Recharge avatar than in the ICE versions. The little things that make this car more appealing could be the clean front, those wider rear tyres, a relatively low stance with a ground clearance of 175mm, ample in most scenarios, or a combination of all small things together.
Interior – Spot the difference!
Our media units were leather-clad, opposite to the no-leather upholstery promise from Volvo India. Nonetheless, these units also sported recycled material between leather inserts made from sustainable materials. Imagine the softer side of a velcro strip to put it in perspective. It feels similar to touch. Recycled waste used as luxury suits fashion on humans and now appears on their possessions. Volvo quality is second to none, and the overall insides of the XC40 Recharge are the same as its ICE counterparts. Volvo has simplified this car by making most things automatic, like the lack of a start-stop button. Keyless entry and app suite. The driver’s MID is 12.3-inch wide, crisp and clear. Thanks to Volvo’s Google integration of Android as a base, the driver’s MID seamlessly interacts with the primary 9-inch vertical touchscreen infotainment system. Get the app, sign in to your primary Google account or create one for your car and now the car’s infotainment setup is an individual device in your Google account.
There’s a Play Store app right on the car’s console. The vehicle allows you to install all your favourite music, video and other apps right inside the car. Navigate through Google Maps on the central infotainment system, and the map route and navigation lines appear on the driver’s MID. Neat integration! Sadly, we could not witness the 8-speaker Harman Kardon music system on our pre-production car. Creature comforts include 4 USB type-C ports, two up-front and two for rear passengers. There’s also a wireless charging pad with neat creases to hold your phone, mainly when this car explores your gut feelings. Storage space is plenty, with some removable storage areas for easy cleaning. There’s a sense of thick leather-clad insulation on the inside and the overall cocoon is complemented by a large panoramic sunroof. Those thick windows and glass allow plenty of space for resting our limbs, too, and heat-reflecting glass kept us chill throughout the day.
Despite this being an EV, it still carries XC40’s thick transmission tunnel at the rear, making this five-seater uncomfortable with all seats occupied. Speaking of seats, the usual two rear passengers will be awkward if they’re more than 5-feet 5-inches tall. The floorboard now houses batteries, and under-thigh support has gone for a toss unless you get too comfortable stretching your limbs inside the car. The seats are plush, and there’s a large armrest with two exposed cup holders at the rear. Seats get electric headrests and folding mechanisms to operate 60-40 split-seats. The space inside is ample with a 2702mm wheelbase and does not feel cramped. The panoramic sunroof opens with a swipe touch gesture, and most things are spot on, except for some things like the lack of grab handles for rear passengers despite hooks and holder cutouts. Overall, the Volvo XC40 Recharge interiors are like a familiar place and feel like tasting a well-aged wine.
The steering wheel is nicely weighted and thick with a clean Volvo batch. The 360-degree camera has crisp footage and dynamic park-assist lines for all four wheels. Volvo has equipped the XC40 Recharge with drive-assist aids, sensors, and a robust safety suite. Adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, lane-keep assist, regenerative braking and tonnes of other sensors work seamlessly in the background with no physical settings or buttons to toggle. The driving assist setting allows drivers to select the way they want this car to aid their driving along with an interesting one-pedal mode. Disclaimer – One pedal mode is quite addictive on EVs. Apart from the usual ICE version apps, added apps include charge statistics, vehicle power generated and regenerated information, and battery management, making one perceive that this is a thoroughbred EV. More minor things like storage pads for rear passengers between the seats and doors are a nice Volvo touch. Volvo does not mention the number of airbags, but these are the same engineers who shared the three-point seat belt with the world and hence we are assured that a car with IC (inflatable curtain) airbags for windows shall be well endowed with passenger safety.
Drive – Do not race the Volvo XC40 Recharge!
Volvo XC40 Recharge comes with two motors, powering the front wheels and rear in an AWD (all-wheel drive) configuration. These motors propel this car with mindboggling numbers – 408HP power and 660Nm torque. These are sports car numbers! All 660Nm torque is available from a standstill. Punch the throttle, and the XC40 Recharge instantly forgets its insane 2.6T weight. Volvo claims a 0-100km/h sprint in about 4.9 seconds. We tested the claims, and the XC40 Recharge pounced with enthusiasm. This is unlike any other Volvo we have driven to date!
The vehicle’s heft is felt when driving, but there is an innate sense of confidence inspired and aided by Volvo’s numerous sensors. There are no select drive modes, no fancy knobs, no tedious settings, it’s simply Volvo, and it all just works. Interestingly what works in this EV is a maddening sense of power under a rather sophisticated body! The Volvo XC40 Recharge responds to throttle response like a big cat ready to pounce on its prey. Thanks to this new driving nature of the XC40 Recharge, this car seems to re-invent the wheel for Volvo as a car brand. People in other countries might be used to such twin motor monsters, but this car performs close to something more expensive, much faster and instead insane looking sports cars in India. Imagine this as a quick brawny ninja disguised as an average human.
The car easily handles its overall weight thanks to an excellent suspension setup and massive 18-inch disc brakes on all four of Pirelli’s wide low-profile tyres. The heft helps make this car feel planted at speeds and in varied road conditions. The relatively low profile tyres make the rather silent cabin buzz on Indian roads. But the trade-off is worth it when you see this car jump from mundane double-digit speed numbers to its max speed capped at 180km/h. This car can reach its top speed in a few seconds more than its 0-100km/h sprint and comfortably sit there until you drain its 78Kw battery. The driving dynamics are mature, and batteries in the floorboard with twin motors distributing weight across the length of this EV, make the XC40 Recharge a brilliant performer. Body roll is present, but body control is at point, inspiring you to drive more confidently across triple digits speed numbers. Drivers can select to add more heft to the steering wheel by toggling an option on the central infotainment system. Both front passenger seats get electric adjustments and heated functionality for cold environments. The steering feel is precise and inspires a sense of confidence required to manoeuvre a heavy speed, happy EV, Volvo XC40 Recharge.
We drove spiritedly for about 250 odd kilometres all day and returned with a 12% charge on the dashboard. Speaking of BMS, battery management system, the car provides ample information for math fanatics. Volvo team charges these cars at a nearby 30kWh DC charger to top up most cars by 80% charge in about 2.5 hours. In a hypothetical world of 150kWh DC charging, this car can go from 0-100% in about 33 minutes. Details on the home charger are yet unknown. Overall, this car does it both, being efficient and energetic! This duality adds a new dimension to Volvo as a car maker. If the XC40 Recharge is any indication of the evolution of Volvo as an EV manufacturer, their tagline – Our future is electric, does make their futures look bright.
The EV market is one of the fastest-growing automotive segments. Thanks to growing dimensions and ever-increasing fuel prices, most cars are already hybrid. As soon as the charging infrastructure matures, the EV market in India shall evolve too. MG Motors India conceptualised the MG ZS EV back in 2017, bought it to Indian markets in 2019 and has enjoyed its share of the EV automotive market. Tata’s Nexon is still the dominant market leader in this space, but MG was researching, improving their vehicle. Auto enthusiasts witnessed this coming from miles away when the MG Astor launched a couple of months ago. MG themselves revealed the new and evolved MG ZS EV 2022 via a virtual launch. I got a hot sunny day to test drive this media vehicle before it was drained, recharged and handed to the next presenter. To my pleasant surprise, I get to know the battery is only at 42%. MG claims that this new MG ZS EV can be charged in 5 ways, just like its predecessor. But, we had a job in hand, and there was no waiting to test MG’s 0-100% battery charge claims in 16-18 hours from a capable wall plug point.
Design
The front fascia of the MG ZS EV looks familiar, but the overall appearance resembles nostalgic lines, and sharp-looking LED illumination. Based on the MG Astor, the overall silhouette resembles sharp lines and the crystalline effects on the front and rear headlights are beautiful additions to the relatively clean design. There’s no mistaking this car for an Astor with bold electric printed badges below A-pillars. And a grille-less structure that neatly houses the AC-DC charging ports, this time with LED charging indicator. We shall miss the uber-cool illuminated MG logo that popped upwards from the front to reveal charge sockets on its predecessor.
The MG ZS EV feels muscular but not intimidating. ZS EV’s spare wheel is 215 section 17-inch too, and the car comes in two trims – Excite and Exclusive. Physically and mechanically, both are almost identical. We test drove the latter, which comes with a bucket load of tech, both driving aids and safety. Sharp bumpers hide most sensors and add a unique character to this EV. The crystalline elements on all-LED illumination add a jewel to a rather unenergetic overall stance. MG ZS EV is a tad bit smaller in dimensions than the market leader of mid-size SUVs in India, the Creta. At the back, this time around, the chrome MG logo is neatly flushed and acts as a manual trunk opener to liberate a healthy boot space of about 460L.
Services, safety and interiors
The ZS EV comes loaded with 5 years of unlimited warranty, 5 years of complimentary roadside assistance, 8 years or 1.5 lakh kilometer battery warranty, tedious but free 4G calling service, with keyless drive through my MG app suite, an IP69K rated water and dust protected battery with six airbags for safety, the MG ZS EV also gets a host of other features. We noticed how smooth overall operations are on the 10.1-inch car console tablet compared to earlier MG products. The AI response, too, is miles faster than its ICE sibling, Astor. MG calls it a car as a platform (CAAP) loaded with a Jio 4G SIM, Jio entertainment like Saavn, etc., enabling free and paid apps with services installed right inside the car console. This tablet also allows native USB read support on all Type-A USB ports, including the one mounted right behind the rearview mirror. Drivers can select if they want to drive with or without driving aids right through vehicle settings. There’s also a 360-degree camera with regular, wide-view sensors and a 360-degree live 3D view with toggles for park assist both front and rear. The quality of the footage still feels like it missed the evolution train.
The ZS EV gets a 7-inch digital driver’s MID with ample battery information and three brightness levels like most EVs. The telltale lights also display all four seat belt indicators. The left console displays the speed while the right-hand side digital display showcases the percentage of power with re-gen information. The flat-bottom steering wheel is chunky, covered in black leatherette red-stitched design and suits the overall mid-size SUV characteristics of the MG ZS EV. The dashboard is multi-toned and has multiple finishes, most of which are backed by soft-touch carbon fibre leatherette garnish with red accent stitches that add to the car’s zippy appeal.
Jet engine styled ac vents on either side of the dashboard are designed in symmetry with the uber-cool looking parking button, are finished in brush metal texture and double up as drive selector knob. In the centre, there’s an extensive 10.1-inch touch-enabled infotainment system. This one is the fastest and the most responsive among the entire MG motors lineup in India. We wish the evolution had us connecting our phones wirelessly for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Still, MG restricts that via a type-A USB connector right above the wireless charging pad. There’s a type C connector and 12V socket for added versatility. The car also features three drive modes – Eco, normal and sports. With Kers, one can set up to 3 re-gen settings and battery info toggle, all neatly designed in quality physical buttons made easy to access. There are physical toggle buttons under the centre display made in a neat design and good quality, commendable for the asking price of this car. Front cupholders get a flexible yet sturdy folding shutter, and the soft plush armrest also doubles up as a storage unit.
The seats are comfortable, plush, and the driver seat also gets electronic adjustments. The quality and soft-touch carbon fibre finished fabric with red stitching are also seen on the doors, and overall, the door shut thud speaks volumes about the quality this car portrays. Rear passenger seats are plush, and creature comforts include ac vents, type A and type C port, and a headrest for all 5 passengers. The space is ample for 2 and a bit of a squeeze for 3 passengers, but 2 passengers can enjoy an ample armrest with covered cup holders. Despite a larger 50.3kwh battery, there’s no transmission tunnel and a relatively flat floor bed. The panoramic sunroof makes the car feel roomier, especially against the black inserts inside the overall cabin. Speaking of a sunroof, the car also gets one of the most significant opening sunroof hatches across its segment. MG ZS EV comes loaded with connected features and cool tech. The vehicle allows the driver to select if he/she/they wants to drive with or without some computer aids.
Zippy yet composed
MG claims that the new ZS EV 2022 comes with refreshed evolved internals. A new 8-hairpin motor makes impressive 176PS power and an unknown but healthy amount of instant yet linear torque. 0-100km/h comes up in an impressive 8.5s or quicker based on the driver and driving conditions. Three modes – Eco, normal and sport modes allow users some versatility in power output. The torque generated is healthy and instant but linear as an electric vehicle. As much as we would love multiple G’s while accelerating, this is a city-oriented mid-size e-SUV tuned to be comfortable and civilised. Drivers can select from 3 levels on any mode to get maximum re-gen charge as per their driving nature. The MG ZS EV manages to camouflage its mass, thanks to the low centre of gravity created by the batteries and relatively better power from the new motor unit.
It gets off a standstill, quickly reaches triple digits without fuzz and keeps pulling upwards of 170km/h; that was the limit of roads around us. It feels radically quick compared to its predecessor. The newer, larger battery is well-calibrated with the car. High-speed stability has improved, and the car feels more confident at higher speeds. This time around, the NVH levels have evolved and improved slightly. Almost unnoticeable for untrained ears compared to the earlier ZS EV. The only audible noise inside the ZS EV is the tyre noise from the road below. The plush interiors, large panoramic view of the outside and quieter cabin add to the overall driving splendour. Loads of driving aids, switchable by the driver, make driving the ZS EV much more manageable than most other cars in this price range. The MID and central console are clear and display ample information about the car, from power generated to power re-generated, tyre pressure monitor, etc. Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane maintenance, collision warning, and other sensors aid the driver. Although the ZS EV misses out on ADAS level 2 compared to its ICE sibling, Astor, the car still gets tons of driver aids, making it novice-friendly.
The steering is naturally weighted
and floaty but precise and effortless in operation. There are all the necessary buttons accessible on the steering. One caveat is the positioning of the steering, the limited vertical adjustments and the MG assistance calling control right next to the speech command’s button. You are bound to accidentally press this while talking to the car and be prepared to speak to a friendly MG customer care assistant after pressing the darn button. Overall, the car handles well and behaves confidently in its approach at all speeds. The range drops quickly when sprinting this car around town, and regenerative braking does add a few kilometres to your daily drive, especially in traffic. The re-gen and all 4 disc brakes work in good tandem to complement each other, making this one of the most confident braking EVs.
Verdict
Tata also plans to evolve the Nexon EV next year but making the first-mover advantage is always a great business opportunity. The new MG ZS EV is a welcome addition to the evolution of existing EVs in India. As we all know, competition improves the market, and the MG ZS EV is a worthy competitor in its segment. We sure hope these EVs evolve further in time and improve the overall market scenario for EVs in India, only if the EV charging infrastructure through independent charging services improve their quality and quantity over time!
For all the automotive enthusiasts, the new BMW X4 launched in India today. BMW has refreshed the Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) with striking design elements, added equipment and attractive features. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, the new BMW X4 will be available in diesel and petrol variants at all BMW dealerships across India from today onwards.
Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The BMW X4 popularised the distinctive Sports Activity Coupe concept in India. It instantly became the vehicle of choice for customers who have a unique style that stands out from the rest of the crowd. At the same time, they desire the luxury and performance similar to a sports activity vehicle. And this is the USP of BMW X4! The way it fuses Sheer Driving Pleasure with head-turning looks and sporty adventure is inimitable. Now the new BMW X4 is ready to continue this status in its segment with a refreshed exterior and an attractive profile with multiple technology features. Its forever bold persona will make a statement that’s impossible to forget.”
The new 2022 BMW X4 is available in an exclusive ‘Black Shadow’ edition in limited numbers only. Designed with a focus on dynamics, it’s tailored to suit the needs of motorsport enthusiasts.
The car has been launched in a diesel and petrol variant at the following ex-showroom prices –
BMW X4 xDrive30i 2 litre inline 4 petrol – INR 70,50,000
The new BMW X4 is available in Black Sapphire and M Brooklyn Grey metallic paintworks. They are paired with Leather Vernasca upholstery with ‘Black’ decor stitching. M interior trim Aluminum Rhombicledark with highlight trim finisher in Pearl Chrome is standard.
Service Inclusive and Service Inclusive Plus are optionally available for all BMW cars. These service packages cover Condition Based Service (CBS) and maintenance work. They begin from 3 years / 40,000 kilometres and can be extended up to 10 years / 2,00,000 kilometres, starting at an attractive pricing of INR 1.52 per kilometre. The BMW X4 also comes with optional BMW Repair Inclusive that extends warranty benefits from third year of operation to maximum sixth year, after the completion of the standard two-year warranty period. Together, these packages provide complete peace of mind and freedom to enjoy unlimited driving pleasure.
BMW India Financial Services offers an attractive BMW 360˚ financial plan with ‘drive away monthly price’ of INR 89,999/-, assured buyback and flexible end of term options. Customized financial solutions can be further designed as per individual requirements.
The distinctive sports activity coupe design of the new BMW X4 looks impressive. The significantly redesigned exterior reinforces the off-road look and sportiness. The new front is immediately noticeable with its striking BMW kidney grille, thin headlights and redesigned front apron.
The distinctive BMW mesh kidney grille has all-black mesh-inserts and frame finished in ‘M High Gloss Shadow line’. Adaptive LED Headlamps are now 10mm slimmer and flatter, creating a more focused face. They are designed in M Shadow line with black accentsand have Matrix function as standard. Moving below, the newly designed front apron conveys power through the M Aerodynamic package which features components in body colour in front / rear apron and side sill covers. Vertical air intakes and bumper inserts in dark shadow metallic add further boldness.
The side profile is tremendously athletic and sporty. A visual black frame is created around the coupe-style windows with M High Gloss Shadow line. It extends from window recess cover, along the guide rail, mid pillars, to the base of the side-view mirrors and finally the roof rail. 20” light M alloy wheels double spoke and M Sport Brakes with red callipers display track readiness.
The rear is tidier with increased painted surface and bumper in M Aerodynamic package. The bumper is done up in dark shadow metallic colour with new anvil-shaped inlays in high gloss black and vertically arranged reflectors. The enormous width of the car is emphasized through two-part wrap-around LED rear taillights, a large automatic tailgate and wide free-form tailpipe in black colour.
Interiors and Features
The interior boasts comfort and functionality in a new sporty ambience. The interior has clearly structured surfaces and an ergonomically impeccable cockpit design that ensures the driver’s focus remains one hundred per cent on the intense driving experience. Driver and front passenger enjoy the flair of a premium SAC with Sports Seats which impress with numerous electrical adjustment options and memory function. Rear passengers can tilt the seats backwards by up to 9˚ for added comfort. The modern design of the center console, instrument panel in Sensatec, usage of M headliner anthracite and galvanic embellisher adds to the cabin’s premiumness. M leather steering wheel with ‘Walknappa’ black with black stitching and M logo spells exclusivity.
A relaxed and harmonious lounge atmosphere is promised thanks to a large electrically operated Panorama sunroof. Ambient Lighting with six selectable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood. Welcome Light Carpet, projected from the side sill, welcomes passengers in glamorous style. Features such as electroplated controls and 3-zone automatic climate control with extended options add to the overall luxurious feel. The boot has a capacity of 525 litres and can be expanded further to 1,430 litres by folding down the 40/20/40 split rear seat backrest.
The innovative petrol and diesel engines from the BMW EfficientDynamics family offers spirited power delivery as well as responsiveness even at low engine speeds. Thanks to their unrivalled BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, they meld maximum power with exemplary efficiency. The three-litre six-cylinder diesel engine of the BMW X4 xDrive30d produces an output of 265 hp and a maximum torque of 620 Nm at 2,000 – 2,500 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km / hr in just 5.8 seconds. The two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of BMW X4 xDrive30i produces an output of 252 hp and maximum torque of 350 Nm at 1,450 –4,800 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 -100 km / hr in just 6.6 seconds.
The 8-speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission claims to perform smooth gear shifts. For driving pleasure, the 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission is available with steering wheel paddle shifters.
BMW xDrive, an intelligent all-wheel-drive system monitors the driving situation constantly and is quick to respond. The compact, low-weight and efficient all-wheel-drive system distributes the engine’s power between the front and rear axle exactly to suit the driving situation and the surface. Electronically controlled ‘Automatic Differential Brakes/Locks (ADB-X)’, extended ‘Dynamic Traction Control (DTC)’, Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control help to conquer every terrain. Adaptive Suspension makes it possible to adjust the damper characteristics to suit any given driving situation, increasing comfort and driving dynamics.
BMW EfficientDynamics doubles ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ with features such as Auto Start-Stop, ECO PRO mode, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution and many other innovative technologies. Using the Driving Experience Control switch, driver is able to choose between different driving modes (ECOPRO, COMFORT, SPORT/ SPORT+) to suit diverse driving conditions.
The new BMW X4 features cutting-edge safety technologies. It provides optimal support in any situation with six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensor, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.
A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier in the automotive industry. The modern cockpit concept BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes 3D Navigation, a 12.3-inch digital information display behind the steering wheel, a 12.3-inch Control Display and BMW Head-up Display. The occupants can operate a number of car functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. Hands do the talking with BMW Gesture Control that recognizes six predefined hand movements for control of a number of functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay® / Android Auto ensures seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions. Harman Kardon Surround Sound System with 16 speakers sound like an engrossing treat for the ears.
The spread of driver assistance systems is more extensive than ever. Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or through narrow driveways.
Overall, the new BMW X4 offered in both 2 litre inline-4 cylinder petrol and 3 litre inline-6 diesel engines look promising with the diesel producing a whooping 620 Nm torque. The stance is sporty and newer colours do seem appealing. Priced competitively for an enthusiast SUV, let us know your thoughts about the new BMW X4.
