Vivek Menon, Author at DriveArabia

2017 Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI

by Vivek Menon. July 10, 2017.

The Good:
– Phenomenal powertrain
– Excellent handling
– Class-leading boot space

The Bad:
– Cabin design borders on dull
– Few ergonomic issues
– Brand perception

2017 Toyota Fortuner

by Vivek Menon. March 20, 2017.

The Good:
– Great styling inside and out
– Fair space and features
– Great offroader

The Bad:
– Limited third-row legroom
– Lazy steering and gearbox
– Rides a bit stiff

2016 Lexus LX 570

by Vivek Menon. October 4, 2016.

The Good:
– Good ride comfort
– Cabin space and tech
– Well-equipped offroader

The Bad:
– Overly expensive
– Lumpy onroad handling
– Least power in its class

2016 Ford Ranger Wildtrak

by Vivek Menon. August 31, 2016.

The Good:
– Unique, practical look
– Cabin space and features
– Economical offroader

The Bad:
– Somewhat harsh ride
– Noisy highway drive
– Some hard cabin plastics

2016 Changan CS75

by Vivek Menon. June 11, 2016.

The Good:
– Competitive pricing
– Cabin space and features
– Comfortable ride

The Bad:
– Hard-plastic cabin bits
– Slow acceleration
– No all-wheel-drive option

2016 Ford Expedition Ecoboost

by Vivek Menon. June 3, 2016.

The Good:
– Powerful turbo engine
– Cabin space and features
– Good ride and handling

The Bad:
– Limited styling updates
– Steering lacks feedback
– Hard cabin plastics

Long-term update: Vivek’s Renault Megane running the marathon

by Vivek Menon. May 20, 2016.

It has been quite a long time since we posted an update about our Renault Megane. Nine months, three dealer services, and 37,000 km later, the odometer in our Megane now ticked over at 67,246 km, thanks to my other business that requires a lot of driving. Contrary to popular belief, the Megane seems to be easy on running costs even with dealer maintenance, so its Nissan underpinnings are a blessing.

First drive: 2016 Ford Ranger WildTrak in the UAE

by Vivek Menon. February 18, 2016.

The Ford Ranger WildTrak has been around for a while, although it has gone under the radar largely due to the fact that it only came with a diesel engine. Despite the visual modifications, its strong resemblance to the commercial variant never helped either. Just as diesel prices dropped significantly, Ford decided to update the Ranger WildTrak for 2016, trying to make it more appealing to people who desire a pickup truck that is too big to fit in the average parking space.

First drive: 2016 Hyundai Elantra 2.0 in the UAE

by Vivek Menon. January 31, 2016.

The Hyundai Elantra is a subcompact that has been around since a long time. Although not much of an attention grabber, it is apparently a sales success in the Middle East, owing to the great exterior design and price tag. However, the Koreans’ penchant to continually evolve meant that Hyundai finally went all-in to make the car a more complete package rather than just a looker. And how the all-new 2016 Hyundai Elantra has grown from its past is what we were to witness when the local dealer invited us for a day-long media event that included an extensive test-drive.

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe LS

by Vivek Menon. January 24, 2016.

The Good:
– Decent styling
– Cabin trim and features
– Fuel economy

The Bad:
– Truck-like handling
– Low front bumper
– Third row fit for kids only

Vivek Menon

2017 Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI

2017 Toyota Fortuner

2016 Lexus LX 570

2016 Ford Ranger Wildtrak

2016 Changan CS75

2016 Ford Expedition Ecoboost

Long-term update: Vivek’s Renault Megane running the marathon

First drive: 2016 Ford Ranger WildTrak in the UAE

First drive: 2016 Hyundai Elantra 2.0 in the UAE

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe LS

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