MEET CUTE

The Comet is a bold bet by MG, and a quick spin in it tells us this bet could pay off in the long run

- Anubhav Sharma 

In a country which is borderlineobsessed with size - whether it's phone screens or SUVS introducing a car that is dwarfed by pretty much everything on the road is a rather gutsy move. It doesn't seem to matter that our cities are overcrowded, parking is a nightmare and traffic jams are de rigeur when India goes car shopping, it is still ruled by how much car it gets for its money. Over the years, SUVs have dominated virtually all segments here, and they continue to do so. In this sort of a market, the Comet tries to make a splash by standing, er, tall.

Compared to its other dimensions, the Comet actually does stand tall. In the flesh, it's quite a head-turner mainly because of its size and quirky designeverybody turns to look at this car, and I do mean everybody. An ambulance, which I tried to give way to, kept following me for over a kilometer and eventually passed me, with the driver and the co-passenger giving me a thumbs up with wide smiles. Yes, that level of attention is what the Comet gets on the road. How long that will last once the car becomes a more common sight remains to be seen, but still.

The design is unconventional, but not without flair. There is chrome thrown around the headlights and door handles, a piano-black strip running across, a wraparound LED light strip at the front and rear, a flush windscreen and that unique aero-inspired rear window; all little touches, but ones that help the Comet avoid the 'pod' look. Comparisons with the Nano (or the Smart, for those who know it) may be unavoidable, but that is par for the course when you talk of urban small cars. There are multiple styling and decal packs available to customise your Comet, but only four body colours are on offer.