Hindustan Motors Ambassador Test Drive Review - Auto Portal

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The Hindustan Motors Ambassador has been an iconic car ever since it was first launched in India. Not only this was the first car to be ever manufactured in India, it was also the only car to be in production for almost 50 years. Discontinued in 2014, the HM Ambassador served both politicians and taxi drivers and hence we had this curiosity to know, why was this such a popular car? So, here's our review of the HM Ambassador 2000 DSZ.
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[@thekcra]

Not to forget we had more rains, more mud, more villages to cross and tougher ditches and bumpier roads to navigate without a satellite navigator and mobile phones to ask directions to take the best built route, with the simple water from tap or stream instead of the modern coolant...the Amby and Padmini made the country proud all the decades.

[@sarkarinaukar9658]

an apt comment..

[@PrajwalTejaswi]

My grandpa owned this car, i loved driving this beast, it's better than most of the cars ryt now. Its a serious machine which people did accept for such a long time.

[@abirnaskar4940]

respect Hindustan Motors Ambassador and Royal Enfield Bullet

[@meetshivamp]

abir naskar lol people are blind followers of re they are Complete junk from 1950

[@varundiwaker1744]

hmm

[@kabirgrover1547]

abir naskar # throw each and every car out of india fucking this car is insult to consumer sovergenity , insult to other cars of this price range # shitty ambassador

[@goyamjain20]

And Mahindra Thar?

[@adhithakhilan3745]

I needs 2011 &12 dicel engine. Where i buy please tell. Me

[@nishant.sandhu]

love for AMBASSADOR and PREMIER PADMINI will never die..😘😘 legends always lives...✌✌

[@anintikachakraborty5391]

Who remembered our yellow ambassador of our city of joy,I know no one remembered here😭😭😭,but we Bengalis will remember it forever😄😄😄

[@siddharthshukla8034]

I wish ambassador and contessa should come back

[@manishachoudhrani4024]

Correct

[@TummalaAnjaneyulu1565]

I have this car.i am using since 1995.still in good condition.not getting spares.it is low maintained car.

[@autoheadroy1140]

what was the intent of this review? you are comparing a classic to a modern matchbox like the alto? Autoportal, i have seen better sensible reviews on the internet. I saw this video just because i was charmed to see the old classic being taken up in the reviews! but i was totally disappointed. First, when you are reviewing a classic, you should say about all the things that we miss in today's cars, and how good an Ambassador was, in terms of the sheer road presense and the aura of solidarity. My request, i totally loved the idea of reviewing classics, but please do it with a good script.

[@amritmondal7573]

it's a nostalgia in WEST BENGAL! I always try to get an AMBASSADOR when ever i need a cab!

[@soumyaghosh255]

Maruti omni is the favourite car of kidnappers in bollywood movies.

[@npasam]

lol yeh i was scared of omni when i was a kid.

[@nikhilpaleti3872]

+Soumya Ghosh And also Sumo, I dead cried while I waas going to the beach in a Sumo as a kid and thought we would be KILLED!!!

[@soumyaghosh255]

hehe...now old sumos are blown up in movies..

[@viksam009]

We used to call it Maruti Van. Nobody used the name Omni.

[@ayushbarua1783]

sahi bola

[@SBha30]

The poor guy is sweating his balls off. Come on AutoPortal, give him a few paid days off ;)

[@pranavyadav769]

Really such a legend . last time i used ambassador in 2012.

[@justa5885]

i still dream that when dis car is going to come back with all fresh looks nd features and also priced at a premium so that we can proudly call it the rolls royce of india

[@karthikar1706]

I support ambassador car because it was not a car it was legend 😍

[@thekcra]

thanks for this. None ever think of talking of such Indian road legends as newer flashy brands are selling in the hundreds every month with new models. my family is lucky to have owned a Fiat Premier Padmini and an Amby in their prime times. The Padmini though lasted from 1978 until 2004. When there were no great 10 lane highways and cemented roads these two models carried India into the generation we are in now.

[@siddhartharay1835]

but this car still can steer well in the monstrous traffic conditions of Calcutta roaf

[@mahinahmed2316]

Dam., I love this car,, Hindustan motors should develop and upgrade its standards...

[@vishnusankar.v.s621]

whatever,, I'm proud to say that i'm an ambassador owner.

[@semlan5208]

Vishnu Sankar.V.S 129 km/h is enough?

[@Ambassador_Ganesh]

great

[@kashyap5]

Autoportal should phase this host out, just like HM did with Amby. Though Amby deserves a place in the Hall of Fame! And our expressionless host in the Hall of Shame!

[@Imperial791]

Kashyap Rao hahahah

[@armaansaumya]

@@gtcfktu moron

[@harikrishnanpallikara6366]

ambassador is best. I want my ambassador back

[@madhumahadev6406]

I have travelled in this car with my parents... That too at 80 to 90 kmph speed... A well maintained Ambassador has less engine noise... It was like a disciplined catch up with Maruti Esteem VXI then on road... ambassador is that good car. I wish it makes a comeback in an all new avatar. No one wishes to miss this legend. But please, don't compare Ambassador with Alto... Because, Ambassador has served the most respected Indian officers (army). But Alto? This answers the question...

[@susantpanda5]

One of the best cars ever produced in India. compare with the new model cars which needs air bag and so on for the driver and passenger safety ..let me tell the engine in front is much safer. Please compare how many lives lost in an ambassador accident and how many in those new models.

[@susantpanda5]

@Rishabh Anand . Please clarify.

[@Nilotpal_Chakravarty_]

Ambassador has no crumple zone the chassis is rigid meaning in the event of an accident the car will not crumple or crush this is dangerous as the passenger has to take the brute force of the accident a rigid and strong chassis and a steel body doesn't equate to more safety like the ambassador which will surely get 0 stars in NCAP the body needs to dissipate energy from the force generated by the accident and so the body needs to flex bend and crumple lots of engineering is involved and a steel body doesn't equate to a safe body

[@coolandclassy8898]

Ambassador Car an Amazing product from HM

[@ganeshradiga]

This was not a review but a postmortem on demise of Ambassador from Indian car market. Classic example of Indian innovation and keeping up to the market

[@nathu3773]

It is still a kickass car..........low maintenance , fully accident proof .This car can literally run over an SUV even without a scratch on it. Chuthiya review salaai. You are comparing a car which HM refused to give upgrade on its engine with cars that came with refined engines after the year 2000.

[@sandeeppatnaik376]

Its a very good sedan sorry! Its a combat sedan tank very safety car in the term of accident car to car or anything in ur front u will not feel a single injured to you very strongest car ever i thought HM SALUTE TO YOU FOR THIS CAR THANX

[@vjbhat1565]

Yes i had 1972 model and damn it was a tank

[@amaltiwari7269]

I really enjoyed watching this video. It's different and brings back so many memories. Kudos to the young anchor. He may not be as smooth and charming as Ashish but has great potential and with time he will be great. Keep it up.

[@AllOut842]

Good job..! want to see more stories on Ambi...:)

[@VishwasRavindran92]

Taxi drivers know how to manuever and Hindustan Ambassador! Cause they are driving this cars for last 15-25 years!

[@arjunsubramaniam8066]

do a crash test of alto and ambassador and talk about the car

[@kaushikdas5122]

arjun subramaniam well said

[@TheEnforcersVlog]

I once saw a crash in road.

[@pramit7745]

It will fail

[@rajuseth1683]

alto will be on mars

[@malharpathak4941]

Take Ambassador to NCAP and it will surely receive zero stars. It's strong outer body is giving an illusion of safety. Volkswagen Polo has got four stars, upcoming polo and Yaris will definitely get five.

[@kierancurtis8545]

The Alto may pass it, but it most certainly won't outlast it!

[@TheEnforcersVlog]

Kieran Curtis I saw an alto crashed with an ambassador and rest you can imagine

[@rajkumarn.t4581]

@@TheEnforcersVlog after that there will only be some pieces of alto

[@mkan5944]

@@rajkumarn.t4581 no the alto will be a crumpled heap of metal 😂

[@varunaditya7690]

Why don't you review Alto LXI "TRIBUTE"

[@submergedSerenity]

I hope i dont see this host ever !!!!

[@billmcdonald0256]

Not All Classic Cars are all crome Brite colors ((🚗)) They found their way into the Auto History This humble car gave working people their independence Thankyou for the History and Ridealong 🙂 You can park this Classic beside a Ford "Model T" or a VW Bug Anyday

[@The_Ballo]

If India had not somewhat liberalized their markets, you would all still be driving Ambassadors

[@SagarSingh-su4ti]

Thanks to the anchor for not dooming the image of the Ambassador. It's such an iconic car and he made the script really well. And yes, I had my share of laughs too! Nice work.

[@mailmemaheshraj]

Ambassador my favourite car...I love AMBASSODOR ❤️❤️❤️

[@kmedias]

Crap!.. I touch 100 speed on highways even today....I have an Amby Avigo Petrol which is as good as any new age car! Your review is like comparing Amitabh bachan with Ranveer singh

[@Straight.Forward.Indian]

It's like comparing Sachin Tendulkar with Virat Kohli.......

[@ishbasu2395]

I have government avigo petrol

[@abhilashnayar8134]

Absolutely Correct 🖕,Its 2000 cc Engine, It lacks Sudden pick up but if u drive it according to Rpm Alto will be back, Breaks are also good, It has disc brakes on front & Drum at rear with Auto Adjustors,After 2004 This car can stop just like modern cars

[@dhrumilysheth]

Srsly ?? If such guys can review cars, I am changing my career right now to auto reviewing. ATLEAST i will do better then this idiot who just insulted the ambassador even by sitting in it. #Timewasted

[@PrasadVandavasi]

hey great review, can you do other old cars too. Like 118ne, premeir padmini, maruti gypsy etc. We can these cars growing up but never acutally got a chance to ride them!

[@rajeshtm508]

Amby is always a king of Indian roads. It's strong body and classic style with seat comfort makes a unique vehicle. Hope it will come back to indian roads soon in a new avataar.

[@virtuosowins]

I got an used Amby for the grandparents home as a kid when I went on a scooter drive with my grandfather. We stopped at a place he knew and the man of the house casually mentioned he was willing to sell it and my father felt like buying it. It was bought as though we were buying a pen or pencil from the shop. Early 80s ambassador that stayed between 1988 and 1994. Petrol version hand gear.

[@ravigogoi]

I grew up on one of this... Feeling sooo proud now.

[@aditya434434]

stop it yar.... that is our indan pride. you are saying about the older version model. how can you compare it to alto which came in the year 2008 or later. It is you who only dont like the vehicle. The remaining 99.99% love ambassador in INDIA

[@chandanamonkar2306]

this sweaty balls guy is more legendary than the car! hilarious review. he is probably a valet who has taken a car from a Mainland China

[@sudhan152]

that boot can litrally fit 10 deepika padukone in it😁😁. Amby is always the legend. i had two of them. both diesel one had matador engine and the other had trekker engine. i learned my driving in these mamoths. i love them.

[@vijubabu3685]

Yu r so lucky to av 2 amby cars..i also wish i had one amby car...it looks gr8.i got my license from dis car...i felt very comfort wen i driven this car.

[@Eyebrows842]

I love 50s cars I wish a US or Canadian company would have made a car with the same body for 60 years so I could buy one I don't think I could import one from India

[@diveshtomar6835]

King of indian roads

[@ranerohit1205]

HM should have improved on the interiors and the engine output with the times but keeping the exterior same . the car would have still sold like the Jeeps. even the Mini is loosely based on a classic design but has the power and features of a modern car . Another example is the Mercedes g class whose exterior design has not changed since inception in the 70s but safety and features are similar too a modern car

[@agniswar.dasmitra16]

Man you are absolutely correct. I also have the same conception.

[@savoryicon]

this is a maharaja car, legendary. i always wanted to own one of these and a.Royal Enfield bullet. i am waiting for that.day

[@sumapeter5269]

Old is gold

[@iksvaku20]

Thank you for this review. It was great to see the old faithful after a long time. I agree that it cannot compare to any modern car. Yet, I have travelled across the country in the ambassador for 20 years, in the mountains, deserts, across streams and mud slides - never has it let me down. I even learnt to drift in it! Typically, the top speed one could achieve (with a lot of patience) was 120kph - with the old engine - though you had to ensure at least an eight car gap from the car ahead due to the lack of braking effectiveness.

[@kautuksahni]

Planning a Car under 15L +- 1L!! Need your help!! Planning to buy a car under 15L rs. Got super confused between Ciaz/Verna/City. We need top model Diesel variant. With City I have heard about the not good engine as compared to its petrol variant. Whereas Verna has bit less space and the suspension problem. So Ciaz was the top priority. But the problem is there is news that in Jan/Feb Ciaz is coming with a new model with more features. Can you help me with this should I wait or should I go ahead with Honda city diesel/Verna/Ciaz... Can you help me if Honda City in diesel is worth a buy or suspension problem is still there in Verna or is Ciaz coming in jan/feb? so that i can make me decision accordingly.

[@vintageempirical5950]

Beta, Its one of the best car of golden era, this car is unique, this car came at that time when duster,kwid,fortuner,tavera,inniva swift,dzire,amaze,mobilio,ciaz,endeavour,ecosport,bolero,xuv,scorpio was not there. Dont insult this car be inbyour limit just make other video shiwing good features, this car is one of the best sedan car in its segment.

[@skrao565]

Though the review was done well and with enough jest, it was in no way justice to the vehicle. This is NO tribute. You completely missed many things about the car. This is the only car that will give you a seating comfort for a really long trip, say a 2-day drive. You can safely drive this car in rough conditions, say the border of an Indian road (with all the shrubs, imperfect endings of the road and mud) with ease while the most recent cars watch with envy. Also, it is so sturdy that a 20+ lakh most updated modern SUV will not scratch the occupants of the Ambassadro if it carshes into one. What you missed is the royal looks - still dream of owning a black Ambassador with silver lining (the kind that the Indian Army used to have or still has). If HM had spent some effort to upgrade this car, it could have easily created a loyal segment to sustain itself or even grow.

[@rishabhgoyal6399]

Ambassador and Fiat are 70 designs but are solid enough to crush an Alto in head on collision I wish Government or this NGT rule of 15 years get dropped

[@rammohan3358]

The reviewer had never seen a car before joining autoportal.

[@adarshsrivastava1711]

This model has power steering how it's fell hard to move staering....kuch bhi bolo gai

[@sud78]

the tribute could have been a little respectable. even Jeremy clarkson in those days serial top gear show had given a serious review!.The ISUZU petrol powered 1800cc engine was quite good if I remembered.

[@goutamdebnath9830]

King of the Indian roads ...♥️

[@limp939]

It is a shame that this atrocity of a review will get viewed more often than the comments below which, I think, show what people really think of veteran of the Indian roads. Autoportal's reviews are just a series of answers to the same questions asked about various cars. The passion that the masses have for different models is never described - so much so that it leaves one wondering whether the journalists are truly as dispassionate about cars as they make it seem from their reviews. There was so much history of the Ambassador that could have been covered. Absolute shame.

[@kaushikdas5122]

Heard that ambassador may be re launched by french company peugot which has bought the brand..

[@munnij8031]

The owner of the car is khem singh

[@vickychoudhary5529]

Now this is something new. Nice concept and specially the boot scene.

[@ananthavishnu1]

Very unprofessional approach. It feels like someone wrote all the lines for him and he's putting up some kinds of skit Says it is hard to turn the car... Goes on to turn it with ease Says it's hard in traffic... Goes on to drive through left side of all those cars waiting in the traffic Says an alto can overtake it.... Doesn't show us speedo reading At least try to accelerate Maybe you should stick to driving these 'modern' hatchbacks dude. It has the same charm of a bullet. It might breakdown. But it is easy to fix. It can take a hit. Again, it's easy to fix. As you said, some guys won't understand the value of this machine. And BTW, if you were aiming for sarcasm in some areas, you overshot it by virtue of great acting skills. Work on the presentation man. PLEASE do! especially when you're trying to say something about a classic

[@pranavkamdi8458]

Still the build quality is better than marutis

[@Itachi_of_hidden_leaf]

wish to see again with modern tech and new model.

[@ShivKamalUpadhaya]

I am finding one of these.. I will paint it dark grey and black wheels will be good for me..full black interior and a.c. I love this car..god knows why..

[@TheDiptu]

whats wrong with the guy....he speaks in kind of a weird manner

[@travelwaala]

True legend Ambassador

[@hemanathanautomotiveassoci2647]

Indian 1 road king.... R you Really engineering guy

[@anandhakannan552]

you know why it's a legendary car?? because it is only for legends, not amateurs like you

[@anandvijayakumar6586]

AMBASSADOR CAR USED By Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt.Indira Gandhj,Shri Rajiv Gandhi.And more Taxis in cities like Kolkata,Mumbai Chennai etc.

[@darshan123ify]

Dis car having its own charm

[@--..--.-.]

I have a 2002 ambassador and I have no problem going to the 5th gear. Obvious now that the anchor's a crappy driver. And it's so safe compared to the midget cars out now.

[@ksarawindsrivastavva6988]

i will not confirm until i drive the car because the legend will never die

[@singhromeo1]

Kidnapper thing made me laugh so hard bro

[@MonteCarlo185]

You guys didn't even upload this on April 1... What's next..maybe give him to review Auto rickshaws and bullock carts too

[@juborazmahi3777]

Our first indian car.

[@cosmichitmen2994]

Best vehicle for safety and durability

[@bibhuprakashjena9956]

The best car till now

[@Reddylion]

hmm.. nice car it was. RIP.will miss !

[@mailmemaheshraj]

MY FAVOURITE CAR....

[@varunchowdary1704]

yoy

[@varunchowdary1704]

you are cootrct

[@varunchowdary1704]

you are correct

[@sureshmithal4378]

Vhi 100 kmph aramse pakadti h me khud salaya h disel model

[@Lone_wolf_31]

Bring back the ambassador with a 3.5L CRDI diesel putting out 250 hp.

[@btarunr]

I'm glad we didn't sell our 1959 Amby with a Petrol engine.

[@buba4267]

“ That’s the smell of Britain in the ‘50s!” - Jeremy Clarkson

[@chiranjivkumar7054]

Please one video on Contessa too

[@tklinson]

The manufacturers of Amby should rework and bring new 21st century standard Amby.

[@AniketPawar096]

man, don't compare this legend with new childish cars, its always mother of all Indian cars..

[@bbaraiourdigitalclassroom834]

I wish tata would have purchased it and re launch it in Indian market... It's noT a car it's an emotion 🙂

[@enigmatic2923]

Why is talking all shit Ambassador can go very fast I have driven my self and I learnd my driving from this car Its a legend

[@bharathsiddaraju2486]

We are watching AutoPortal not a comedy show. So please get us information's which are necessary and no need of any comedy stuffs please. Positives and negatives of which which have to prefer from your portal. Thank you.

[@bisohomecare7545]

He dodn't know about the Amby,he is a kid ,we can leave his comment, Maintenance of Amby is entirely different than any other vehicle,a well maintained Amby he need to drive .poor boy

[@rajb5595]

Ur specifications about an Ambassador are done casually. The veh was presented to the buyers in different trims in the later years of its timeline. The petrol versions BMC and isuzu had the smoothest engines . Overall , its an iconic and a stand alone veh . Comparison with other contemporary cars is unjustified, as its a matter of the heart over brain .

[@griffgriffiths9982]

They can't be as bad as you say! I still want one!

[@patakarlo]

whats the year model

[@mepuluk]

I am from Sri Lanka, if I owned one, I would tear down its core inside, and fix with 7000 Tesla 2170 batteries under the hood, and an inverter and an induction motor fixed to the differential behind, connecting the wheels.

[@Vaazhgavazhamudan]

still i love ambossdor car

[@williamanderson6896]

''its eeeeeeenough guys'' 1:43