One of the most popular vans in India, the Maruti Omni, has been around since 1984. Since then, the Omni received only one major facelift, which was in the year 1999. It is hugely used as a people and luggage mover all across the country.
The Omni is available in two main versions- the family and the cargo version. The family version has 8 seats, with two of these seats in the opposite direction to the driver, facing the rear of the vehicle. The cargo version does not have rear seats, whereas both have sliding doors. In the year 1999, the roof of the vehicle was raised, to accommodate taller people and cargo.
The engine in the Omni is a 3 cylinder 796 cc motor, which produces a maximum of 37 bhp. The engine of this vehicle is located directly under the front seats. This location is unique, since it helps in maximizing space from the Omni.
The major problem with this vehicle has been a complete lack of safety features. There is no bonnet, which means there is no protection from the front, in the event of a crash. It has not been fitted with any kind of crumple zones, to withstand the impact of accidents. Additionally, travelling in the Omni is quite unsafe, as it is capable of turning turtle while negotiating bends at high speeds.
Quality of interiors is quite bad, with cheap plastics being used all around. It is virtually a box on four wheels, built only for transportation from point A to point B. There is no power steering, which makes handling the vehicle a bit tough.
The Maruti Omni has been around for a very long period now. It still does well in terms of sheer sales numbers, being one among the top ten selling vehicles every month. The LPG variant of the Omni is the most cost-efficient vehicle in India.
Despite the above mentioned factors, it would be good to see the Omni get a face lift. Freshness of looks, coupled with some more safety features such as a small bonnet and optional ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) for the front passengers, could increase the sales even further.
