In the the face of all the existing cars in the Indian market in the luxury segment, this car today seems a very ordinary one. Compared to its rivals it is small and cramped, especially at the rear, and its ride and handling are nowhere near the benchmark set by the Peugeot 309 and the Opel Astra. The Esteem, which has a high local content, suffers from the familiar "Made in India" syndrome and though Maruti has concentrated greatly on vendor development, quality is not what it should be. The cars main asset is its jewel of an engine, emphassing our belief that the Japanese make the best petrol motors on this planet. The all-aluminium engine with its hollow camshaft which cuts down rotational inertia, is extremely light and responsive. This car may not be the best in its class but still is the best-seller.