I want to buy a mid-size car and my budget is around Rs 7 lakh. My daily commute is about 30 to 40 km and my criteria are low cost of maintenance, good fuel efficiency, contemporary technology, comfort and good performance. I plan to hold on to the car for at least four to five years. I have short listed the Ford Fiesta 1.6 S and the Maruti Suzuki SX4 ZXi. Which car should I buy?
Yash Ganeriwala, via email
Given your selection criteria, the Maruti Suzuki SX4 suits your requirements the best. It is marginally less efficient than the Ford Fiesta, but it does enjoy a lower cost of maintenance, is good fun to drive and is fairly comfortable as well. Over a long period, the car will also hold better resale value when you finally plan to upgrade. It is the better bet for you.
Swift cause
I have used a Maruti Zen for the last six years and I am happy with its performance. Now I’m looking for a change, and plan to buy a new car. My daily city commute is about 40 km, with the occasional long trip on weekends/holidays. My budget is in the range of Rs 4-5 lakh and I’ve narrowed down my choices to the Hyundai Getz Prime, Chevrolet Aveo U-VA and the Maruti Suzuki Swift. Since I’ve bought Marutis on two previous occasions, I’d prefer either the Getz or the U-VA. I am looking for a hatchback that’s fully loaded, with good interior and boot space and decent fuel efficiency. Which car do you think would be right for me?
Ramachandrappa M, via email
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Despite having owned two Marutis previously, we still suggest that you go in for the Maruti Suzuki Swift. It offers better value over the other cars you’ve mentioned, besides offering better fuel efficiency than either. It’s also more contemporary and is as easy to drive around town as it is on the highway. Besides, you don’t have to worry about service, given Maruti’s terrific reach in all corners around India. Go for it.
Small choices
I want to purchase a new car and my budget is about Rs 3.5 lakh. I’ve selected the following cars — the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R LXI and the Hyundai Santro eRLX GLS. My preference is for a car that’s low on maintenance, enjoys good fuel efficiency and is comfortable. Kindly advise which car is the better choice on these fronts.
Devendra Agrawat, via email
Among the two, the Hyundai Santro is the one for you. It’s nearly as fuel efficient as the Wagon-R, enjoys similar cost of maintenance and offers a touch more comfort in terms of ride. The Santro is also the more well-rounded car among the two; besides, it offers more features for its price than the Wagon-R. If you can stretch that budget by a bit, take a look at the Hyundai i10. It’s a generation up on the Santro and even better engineered.
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