We are a family of two. Occasionally we are four when my daughter and son-in-law visit Pune. On an average we drive about 500 km a month with the rare Pune-Mumbai drive thrown in. Presently we are using a Hyundai Santro and we are happy with it. However, we are now looking for a different car and we intend to buy either the Volkswagen Polo or Nissan Micra. We like both but cannot make up our minds which one is better. Our budget is around Rs 6 lakh (flexible up to Rs. 6.5 lakh) and we are looking at fuel efficient, durable car. Can you recommend which of the two is the better choice?
Ajit Ghate, via e-mail
Of the two hatchbacks you have mentioned, we'd suggest the Nissan Micra for you. It has well designed and roomy interiors, a three-cylinder engine that is more enthusiastic than the one found on the Polo and yet is easier to drive around town due to its comfortable gearing and strong in-city driveability. It also has a more pliant ride and the controls and overall build quality are of a high order. Nissan may have a fledgling service network for now, but that shouldn't present a problem if your primary use is in a city like Pune where support is available. Go in for the top-end XV that has all the safety and convenience features you would expect from a premium hatch.
Sensible catch
We are a family of four and are looking to buy our first car. We have shortlisted two cars. i.e. the Chevrolet Beat and the Ford Figo. But I am confused which one to choose. The Figo is spacious, but the Beat has good looks. We may drive about 300 km per month and occasionally on highways. Please help me make the correct choice.
Vijay Shende, Nipani
More From This Section
You are right when you say that the Beat is a better looking car, but we believe that the Figo presents itself as a better case for you. It is more comfortable, more practical and has a more sorted ride and handling setup. The 1.2-litre engine may not be as powerful as the one on the Beat, but is decent nevertheless. Ford, like Chevrolet, also offer competitive pricing for the after-sales service and spares. We also think, in due course, the Figo might have a better resale value as well over the Beat.
Star power
I am buying my second car. I already own a five-year old Hyundai Santro and will retain it. I’m making the unlikely choice of going in for a second small car with a few objectives in mind; it should be an automatic, return good mileage, should have standout looks, good to drive around town with the occasional highway jaunt and have decent resale value when I plan to upgrade three years down the line. The long waiting period for the Maruti A-star automatic has kept me thinking. Booked in September — a week after launch — I have been promised the car by January or February because of production constraints. This waiting period has me wondering if I have made the right choice. Is the car worth the wait considering my objectives? The Hyundai i10 is an incredibly tempting choice, but I am distracted by its top-of-the-line Asta model that is over Rs 7 lakh on-road in Bangalore, some Rs 2 lakh more than the A-star. Do you think it’s worth the wait? I have been asking myself this repeatedly for the past three months.
Thomas, via e-mail
Well, the Maruti A-star automatic is a small production volume car with limited appeal, which explains the long waiting period.
Nevertheless we think it might well be worth the wait. It handles quite well and is a joy to dart around town. It may not have the i10's highway driveability, but it isn't bad either.
Expect it to return about 2 kpl less on an average than a manual A-star and it should still be efficient enough. It's worth saving the extra Rs 2 lakh, considering you plan to upgrade in three years’ time. Be patient and hopefully the three months will pass in the blink of an eye.
Any automotive questions?
Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in