Toyota Glanza Automatic on self drive hire

Who the Glanza Automatic suits

Anyone who has not driven a manual in years, visitors home from the Gulf, Singapore or Malaysia, and anybody who would rather spend a day of Indian traffic thinking about the road instead of the clutch.

What it is like to drive here

In town it does the thing automatics do: the car creeps forward on its own and you steer. On the open road to Kanyakumari or up towards Thirparappu it holds a gear sensibly and does not hunt. The cabin is a little wider than the Swift's, so three in the back is less of a negotiation. It is the same footprint to park.

• No clutch — the single biggest difference in town traffic
• The roomiest cabin of the hatchbacks we keep
• Quiet at highway speed

Questions about the Glanza Automatic

I have an overseas licence. Can I hire the automatic?

Yes. Bring your passport, your home licence and an international driving permit alongside it. We take copies at handover, the same as for anyone else. The automatic is usually the one visitors ask for, so it is worth booking it before you land.

Is an automatic harder to drive on the ghat roads?

No — easier, if anything. On the climbs inland you are not changing gear on a slope, and coming down you can hold a lower gear. What it will not do is engine-brake as hard as a manual in low gear, so give yourself more room on a long descent.

Is the Glanza the same as a Baleno?

It is the same car underneath, sold by Toyota rather than Maruti, with Toyota's badge and service. For a hire it makes no practical difference to you except the name on the front.