I am a professional from Aurangabad, Maharashtra, and am presently using a Hyundai Santro for the last four-odd years. My average running per month is about 1200 -1500 kilometres. I want to buy a car that is feature rich, comfortable and has good all-round performance. My budget is about Rs 6 to 7 lakh.
I have narrowed down my choices to the Hyundai i20, Fiat Punto and Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. Please suggest which of these cars should I consider. Also, what works best for me, petrol or diesel? If there is any other option for a car in my budget, please do tell me.
Ramesh Magar, via e-mail
Since you have been using a Hyundai Santro, and we are guessing that you are happy with it, why not go in for the i20? It is loaded with features, has good interior space, rides well and its engines have decent performance on offer. For your kind of running, a petrol engine works fine, considering the overall lifecycle costs. Look at the 1.2 Asta version that is not only loaded to the gills, but also has airbags and ABS as standard.
Tall order
I belong to a middle class family and I want to buy my first car. My budget is Rs 3 to 4 lakh. My family consists of my parents, my wife and two daughters aged 1 and 9 years. All adult members in my family are quite tall, about six feet, so legroom is a priority here. Most of my driving would be 30 km within the city and the occasional long drives. I need a car that is comfortable, easy to maintain and has good fuel economy. Which car would you suggest?
K Ravi Shankar, Lucknow
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We would suggest that you look at the Maruti Suzuki Ritz. The petrol LXi version should be within your budget and it has good legroom and overall space for a family of your size. It has good performance in both city and highway conditions and the overall ride quality is good too. It is reasonably efficient, delivering 11-13 kpl in city conditions and over 15 kpl on the highways. The Ritz is also cheap to maintain and overall maintenance costs and spare part prices are on the lower side.
BMW nut
I have a BMW 320d Highline, which is less than a year old. It is a fantastic car, but I am thinking of upgrading to the new 530d. What is your opinion about the car? Do you think it is as good a driver’s car as the 320d? I love driving and don’t use the services of a chauffeur at all. What is a good decision, in your opinion? I am a die- hard BMW addict and have no interest in the competition — I am considering this one model.
Ajit Menon, via email
The new 530d is longer and more spacious now. It has become a touch softer in the process and isn’t as driver-centric as the previous generation car. Yet, when you drive it, you won’t confuse it for anything but a BMW. The steering is still more lively than the competition and the overall dynamics are pretty good. It may feel larger and more plush (which is a good thing), and you will enjoy every moment behind the wheel. Go for it!
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