Charged up and let down

Instead of a test drive in the new Honda Civic Hybrid, our correspondent gets the runaround.

A new hybrid car from Honda? Well, you would at least expect them to showcase the model at all showrooms. But much to my surprise when I went to check out the new Civic Hybrid at a company outlet in Gurgaon, I was politely told, “Sorry sir, but we don’t have that model”. Upon asking where could I go to check it out I was told to go to another outlet which was on my way to work.

As I found myself standing outside that particular outlet, I was dismayed to learn that the hybrid was nowhere to be seen here as well. Normally, I am not too keen on test drives, but this was a hybrid, so the curiosity level was a few notches more — and so was the disappointment on not finding it.

This time I was told that there is only one showroom in the Delhi region which has the Civic Hybrid on display. But there too, I was told that the model was not available for a test drive.

Now, the idea of travelling a good 20 km from where I was didn’t sound too appealing, and even less so when all I could do was stare at the car. So I sternly asked the car salesman, “How do you expect me to by a new car without even taking a test drive and especially when it’s such an expensive car?”

To his credit, he was polite and told me that it was the company’s decision not to give free drives and he couldn’t do much about it. As I shook my head in disbelief, he offered me to at least give a touch and feel of the car. Look but don’t touch... Not a nice way to sell an expensive car. “But that’s a good 20 km away from here!” He again had a look on his face which said, “It’s your problem, boss, not mine!”

So then I asked a few routine questions about the car and the engine specifications, and the salesman told me some details of the concept car. I was told that I would be sent a detailed email on the engine specifications and all other details of the car — which, should I say predictably by the time of writing this piece had not arrived. Hybrid or phantom car?

Score: 5/10. A polite and helpful staff doesn’t make up for the fact that you can’t test drive a car which you intend to buy

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