United Motors has finally launched the much-awaited United Bravo in Pakistan, and held an official launch event this Saturday in Lahore.
The 800cc hatchback is meant to compete with Pak Suzuki’s Mehran, that has remained a top-selling unit in the local industry since over two decades. United Bravo comes with a number of improvements in comparison to its rivals, such as better safety and drive-assist features.
We already know most of its details, thanks to leaks and rumors that came in earlier ahead of its official unveiling.
As seen earlier, Bravo is a rebadged Dahe 350, a China-made hatchback, that has a familiar 3-cylinder Euro II engine capable of producing 50 bhp and 60 nm torque – a similar engine is present in the Suzuki Mehran.
As predicted, the new hatchback has significant changes over its rival, it features power steering, power windows, central locking, fog lights, rear view camera, alloy wheels, and a touchscreen media panel on the console. And all that at a decent price of Rs. 850,000, as announced by United at its Lahore event.
This could make things unfavorable for Pak Suzuki, as United Bravo has an aggressive price, and costs almost the same as a Mehran VXR (the air-conditioned variant). Additionally, the car is also expected to affect Suzuki WagonR – another hatchback with a price starting at Rs. 1,114,000.
Its a relatively newer addition to Suzuki’s lineup, made available a few years ago, though it saw a massive 82% increase in sales volume in 2017. It has a 1000cc K-series engine, and comes in two variants, namely VXR and VXL.
Do note that even the WagonR VXL (the higher variant, price Rs. 1,234,000) lacks several features that are present in the United Bravo, such as power windows for all seats, rear camera, and a modern infotainment system. The price difference between the two cars is pretty significant at Rs. 384,000.
We’ve drawn a comparison chart for you to compare the three cars, and check the feature list for yourself below:
| Feature | United Bravo | Suzuki Mehran VX | Suzuki Mehran VXR | Suzuki Wagon R VXR | Suzuki Wagon R VXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 800cc | 800cc | 800cc | 1000cc | 1000cc |
| Transmission | 4-speed | 4-speed | 4-speed | 5-speed | 5-speed |
| Power steering | ✔ | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
| Power windows | All four seats | X | X | X | Only front seats |
| Central locking | ✔ | X | X | X | ✔ |
| Air conditioning | ✔ | X | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Rear window defroster | ✔ | X | X | ✔ | ✔ |
| Security alarm | ✔ | X | X | X | ✔ |
| Keyless entry | ✔ | X | X | X | ✔ |
| Touchscreen infotainment | ✔ | X | X | X | X |
| Alloy wheels | ✔ | X | X | X | X |
| Reverse camera | ✔ | X | X | X | X |
| Price | Rs. 850,000 | Rs. 726,000 | Rs. 840,000 | Rs. 1,114,000 | Rs. 1,234,000 |
Suzuki has already decided to discontinue Mehran VX and VXR by the end of April next year. Though in addition, the company might also need to make changes to its WagonR in order to compete with United Bravo.
Its launch could make a bigger impact in Pakistan’s developing auto market, and is expected to push other key manufacturers to focus on delivering features instead of the usual degraded products that have been continuously sold locally.
What’s your opinion on the newly launched United Bravo? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.