I am trying to decide between the Toyota Corolla Altis and Volkswagen Jetta. Performance, rear-seat passenger comfort and overall cost of ownership are concerns. Diesel or petrol is another dilemma. I will drive about 40,000 kilometres annually spread across both city and highway driving. I will be upgrading from a Honda City. Please advise.
Mohit Jain, via email
At 40,000 km-a-year, a diesel sedan should ideally be the choice. Of the two, we would recommend the Toyota Corolla Altis for you. The 1.4-litre D-4D diesel engine is very frugal and has good driveability, even though its performance is quite sedate when compared to the Jetta. It even has good rear-seat passenger comfort and is easy to get in and out of. Maintenance costs should be competitive too. A new, updated Corolla Altis is expected in May and we suggest you go ahead and book yours then.
Face-off?
I had almost bought the new Hyundai i10 but somehow Ford got stuck in my head and here I am — oscillating. I already have a Toyota Corolla, Honda City and Maruti Suzuki Alto. This is the replacement we are considering for the Alto, which is also an upgrade . The driving is going to be limited to the city and the occasional family outing. The Ford Figo 1.2 Duratec Petrol EXI on-road will cost me around Rs 4,57,000 and Hyundai i10 on-road, Rs 4,50,000 (discounts inclusive). If I take a look at features, the Figo looks completely updated, while I would still need to shell out some extra bucks for a stereo in the i10. Power is not much of a concern to me; I felt the i10 was more modern with better fuel efficiency, but the ride quality, build and the handling felt somewhat inferior next to the Figo. Design-wise, I like the Figo better. Fuel efficiency: the i10 offers 20 kpl, while the Figo restricts itself at 15 kpl. Your opinion would be much appreciated.
Viggya Harsh, via email
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You have rightly pointed out the highlights of both the cars, and it seems you have your answer right there. Considering you enjoy driving and were impressed by its looks, the Figo seems to be the car that suits you. Yes, it doesn’t have the kind of fuel efficiency or the performance of the i10, but then again your priorities seem to be more towards looks, practicality and ride and handling. The Figo would indeed be a good choice.
Future proof
I am planning to buy a new car. My monthly running is 700-750 kilometres and my budget is around Rs 8 lakh. Should I go for a diesel or a petrol car? I have shortlisted the Volkswagen Vento and the new Ford Fiesta. Please help me finalise my next car.
Kamal Kishore, via email
The new Ford Fiesta does look promising and we expect it to be priced competitively, but the launch is only expected around June. We have not driven the car, so we cannot tell you more about it. However, if you are in a hurry, the Vento petrol is a decent option. It has good space, nice ride, build quality and a decently powerful motor that is efficient as well. It may not have the features or the looks of the new Fiesta, but at that price point, it is still quite compelling.
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