WR vs Passo (My Analysis)
This comparison will be between WR and Passo mainly, but some other cars will be used as reference which I have personally used e.g. Mehran 07, Cultus 04, City 02, Swift 12 etc.
Recently I had a chance to drive WR of a cousin, it was a short trip, but I try to drive it fast on GT road, and slow on rough patches as well.
Seats:
The seats of Passo are better than WR in terms of thickness, cushion effect. But the seats of WR are not bad either? The driving position of WR and Passo is upright. While driving position in Cultus is lying down, due to which drive of Cultus is uncomfortable, while drive of WR and Passo is way better than Cultus.
There are some additional options in Passo as is in other JDMs, i.e. Height adjustment, arm rest, back seats become bed for children, and back seats are dividable and foldable.
WR back seat is foldable but not dividable. Swift rear seats are dividable + foldable.
Seats of Honda City 2002 are also very stiff with stiff suspension.
Seat comfort - Passo 7/10, WR 6/10, Cultus 4/10, Mehran 3/10, City (2002) 5/10
Driving Position - Passo 8/10. WR 8/10, Cultus 5/10, Mehran 4/10
Interior Plastics:
WR lacks in quality of interior plastic i.e. dash board, door linings etc. as compared to JDMs, but even than it is far better than Cultus. Plastics of Passo are of high quality, they give a solid look.
Initial models of Cultus upto 2004 had solid interior plastics, but the new cultus after about 2006 or so have pathetic quality plastic
Plastics: Passo 8/10, WR 6/10, Cultus (old) 5/10, Cultus (new) 4/10, Mehran 2/10
AC:
AC of Passo is mind blowing, it will chill u within minutes, had to turn it off even, by turning on the AC, there is no major impact on fuel economy.
WR AC is good enough, one major fault is that the steering wheel becomes in between the middle vent toward driver side and blocks the air flow.
AC - Passo 8/10, WR 6/10, Cultus 4/10, Mehran 2/10
Interior Space:
Front leg space is Passo is more than WR, Front passenger seat is a bit compact in WR and legs seems to be touching dash for some persons.
Due to upright position, the leg space of WR at rear seats is more than Passo, but due to somewhat better seats and angles, passenger at rear seat o Passo is also comfortable. 4-5 headrests in Passo are advantage for long travels.
Overall from inside Passo is very broader than WR and WR seems to be a narrow car, the distance between 2 doors is less in WR, passenger is felt very close to the driver, hand brake area is also very narrow, distance between driver and door is almost negligible. Passo have ample space in all these areas and give a feeling of big car.
In WR there is more space between the head of passengers and roof, so it gives a feel of carry sort of car, while in Passo driver and passengers feel more compact protective.
Yes bench seat in Passo can accommodate a child in front.
Sound Dampening of Passo is very good, u avoid hearing air or surrounding bad sounds.
Interior Space: Passo 8/10, WR 6/10, Cultus 7/10, Mehran 3/10
Boot Space:
If WR has 100 unit boot space, then Passo has 150 unit boot space.
Rear tray is an advantage in WR.
Boot Space: Passo 7/10, WR 5/10, Cultus 5/10, Mehran 3/10
Engine Sound:
Engine sound of Passo 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] gen is very soothing. Although there is sound when u accelerate the car, but there is no sound of engine on highways when it gets stable, u can only hear tires sound.
Engine sound of WR is also good enough, means it is less, but u can hear it, may be due to less dampening of sound and thinner body.
Cultus roars a lot, produces lot of sound in local and highway drive.
Engine Sound: Prius 9/10, Passo 7/10, WR 6/10, Cultus 3/10, Mehran 3/10
Acceleration/Pick:
WR takes the lead in this case, its acceleration is awesome, while Passo needs some time to get speed esp. when 3-4 ppl are on board. But when there are 1-2 ppl, pick is adequate, not bad.
Acceleration: Passo 6/10, WR 8/10, Prius 9/10, Cultus 7/10
Fuel Economy:
Fuel economy of both the cars is good enough, around 14 in local, 18 to 20 on highway with control speed.
But Passo needs a lot of pampering, ideal use of engine oil and petrol/hobc mixing? It does knock on bad fuel.
Fuel Economy: Passo 7/10, WR 8/10, Cultus 6/10, Mehran 6/10, Prius 9/10, Aqua 10/10
Brakes:
Brake of both the cars are good but Passo?s is better due to ABS. Brakes of WR lacks due to 145 tire profile. Cultus has pathetic brakes so does Mehran.
Brakes: Passo 9/10, WR 7/10, Cultus 5/10, Mehran 3/10
Body:
Body of Passo is heavy, doors are heavy, and closing of doors, bonnet and boot is very smooth, weight 910 Kg
WR body is lighter, doors are light, and closing of doors, bonnet and boot is not that smooth but better than Cultus, Weight 825 Kg approx.
Accessories:
Passo has advantage in following accessories which WR lacks:
-Auto tranny
-ABS
-Air bags
-UV protected glass all around (u cannot feel heat on your body even in intense sunlight)
-Traction control (in some Passo)
-Power and retractable side mirrors
-Indash LCD / Back vie camera (optional)
-Adjustable headlights
-Push start (higher versions)
-All power windows
-Rear wiper
Accessories: Passo 8/10, WR 3/10, Cultus 2/10
Suspension:
Suspension of Passo is made for city drive, u hear rattling sounds from front when u goes on extreme bumpy roads, villages etc. however on straight roads or city roads of medium quality even, its suspension is good enough.
Suspension of WR is sound less even on bumpy roads.
Suspension: Passo 6/10 WR 7/10
Feel of Drive:
When u drive Passo, you have a solid feeling, as of big cars, I feel more comfortable in Passo than Corolla 2012.
Drive of WR gave me a hollow feeling (cannot explain), it can be due to less stuffy interior, or less weight of car, but it all depends upon from which car u are upgrading to WR, coming from Mehran, Cultus, will feel a lot better, coming from JDM, may not experience that charm.
Drive: Passo 8/10, WR 6/10, Cultus 4/10, Mehran 3/10
Steering:
Steering of Passo and WR are buttery and responsive due to EPS. Cultus steering is equal to driving a Donkey Cart, Mehran steering is lighter than Cultus.
Steering: Pass0 9/10, WR 8/10, Cultus 3/10, Mehran 4/10
Clutch:
Why i opted for an automatic car, because after driving Cultus too much due to hectic routine, i developed pain in my left knee, and due to poor seating position of cultus i developed bodyaches and backache often. Cultus clutch is too hard, really pathetic.
WR clutch is like a butter, really impressd. No clutch in Passo
Clutch: Passo N/A, WR 8/10, Cultus 2/10, Swift 4/10, Mehran 4/10
Ground Clearance:
GC of WR is good for local roads. GC of Passo is better than other JDMs, but u have to be careful.
GC: Passo 6/10, WR 8/10, Prius 3/10, Vitz 4/10, Cultus 7/10, Mehran 9/10
Parts availability:
JDMs parts are usually expensive and difficult to find out in some cases.
Availability of Parts: Passo 5/10, WR 9/10
Resale:
JDMs almost always lose price on resale, keep a figure of 70-80 deficit in your mind.
Same goes to WR, WR resale is establishing, keep a figure of 70-80k deficit on resale.
Price:
WR VXL costs 999 (car)+20 (WHT)+5 (color)+15 (reg) +21 (Tires and accessories) = 1060
Passo - Basic package-? cost around 1180 unreg, higher packages 1250 ? 1350 k, 2012 model, less driven cars of good grade.
Which car I'll prefer to take out of my garage, of Passo and WR, in following situations:
Local Drive alone - Passo
Local drive 4-5 adults - WR
Motorway drive alone or 4-5 adults - Passo
Going to market, have to park car for 2 hours - WR
GT road drive alone - Passo
GT road drive with family - WR
Going to Hilly areas (Murree etc.) - WR
Last words:
80% of my drive is alone and on highways, I would opt for Passo any day for myself in terms of features and ride comfort. My 2 requirements were Automatic Car and Hatch back which are fulfilled by Passo.
But anyone who wants a zero meter car, don't want to go to mechanic for 2-3 years, cannot figure out JDM parts easily, lack of experience or trusted person around to buy a good JDM, should opt for WR.
JDM maintenance is less but costly, PkDM maintenance is cheaper but more.
I am planning to buy WR for my father, so that he can get rid of mechanics (have old cultus atm) for 2-3 years, Power steering, good fuel economy, ample space in car for family for short trips, very soft clutch, in case of maintenance has to go to dealership nearby. After all we will buy what my father wants.
MY ANALYSIS IS BASED ON MY ASSUMPTIONS AND EVERYONE HAS RIGHT TO DIFFER FROM IT.
Regards