I’m looking to replace my Toyota Corolla with an SUV. My budget is about Rs 20 to 22 lakh and am looking for one that has some off-road ability, since I spend my weekends with friends at some off-roading sites outside Pune. After going through the reviews, I’ve shortlisted the Ford Endeavour Thunder+ and the Mitsubishi Outlander. Fuel efficiency isn’t of much concern, but it should drive like a car on other days, while also be good at handling the off-road bit. Which one should I go for?
Sanjeev Singh, via e-mail
The Ford Endeavour Thunder+ is great for off-roading and has decent on-road behaviour too. The 3000cc diesel engine is quite torquey and efficient, while there’s seating for seven.
But if you want something that’s more refined and a terrific balance between on and off-road behaviour, go for the Mitsubishi Outlander. It’s more nimble and a joy to drive, while it also has more features and kit than the Endeavour.
Small issues
We are a family of five adults and a child, based in Thane city. I’m looking for a car that offers good comfort and ride quality, low maintenance costs, decent mileage and resale value. The car will be self-driven and would cover 250 to 300 kilometres a month. I wish to replace this car with a sedan in five years. I’ve shortlisted the Hyundai i10 Kappa Magna and the Chevrolet Spark LT. My heart says i10, but most people are recommending the Spark. I also like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, but am doubtful about rear seat comfort. Also, the LXi is the only variant that fits my budget of Rs 4 to 4.5 lakh. I am now confused. Do you think it makes sense to wait for the Maruti Suzuki A-Star? Please suggest the right car since I plan to finalise the purchase in November.
Abhijaat Sinha, Thane
You are a bit confused, right? Here goes the answer — you want maximum value for money, then there is nothing to beat the Chevrolet Spark. You want the newest small car on the block — then you better buy the Hyundai i10 or the upcoming A-Star.
You want to leap-frog a segment and get something more fun to drive and slightly more spacious - then the Swift is for you. Hope you end up buying the car that suits your needs the most!
A tale of two Citys
We are going to purchase a car and our budget is around Rs 8 lakh. Please let me know if I should opt for the Honda City ZX or go in for the new City. The bookings for the car opened in my city just a couple of days ago and I’d like to book it immediately, before I get stuck in a long waiting list. So please let me know if it’s better to go in for the old car or buy the new one. Can you also let me know the difference in mileage between the two cars.
Honey Sethi, Ludhiana
Why not go ahead and book the new Honda City? It’s a much better car on all fronts — whether it’s performance, space, ride and handling, safety or even features. It’s a generation up on the City ZX and is a more pleasing design. Both, the last generation and new City return around 12 to 13 kilometres to the litre, but the new City also offers superior performance. In the long run, it will hold its value better than the ZX, especially over a 3-5 year period. Don’t waste time by getting stuck in a long waiting list, go ahead and book it.
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