I’m in the construction business and I travel to my sites once in a while. I currently own a Tata Sumo and I plan to upgrade to an SUV or MUV. I have a budget of Rs 8 to 12 lakh and I’ve narrowed down my choices to the Tata Safari, the Mahindra Scorpio and Mahindra Xylo. Apart from sites which have some amount of off-roading, I also do a lot of highway driving. Comfort and economy are important, as is the ability to handle some off-roading. Can you suggest which one out of the three will be best suited for my use?
Amol Pawar, Mumbai
Out of the three, the Mahindra Xylo is best suited to your needs. The engine is powerful and the gearing apt for both city and highway use. It’s also frugal enough, but most importantly, it has lots of room for seven to eight persons and some luggage. If you aren’t doing any serious off-roading, it will be more than enough, despite being rear-wheel driven, since it has pretty good ride and sufficient ground clearance for the rough stuff. Also at around Rs 8 lakh, it’s terrific value. Go for it!
Decisions, decisions!
I usually drive short distances within the city and do the occasional highway run. I really enjoyed using my first generation Honda City, which I just sold after driving it for 45,000 km in six years. I have just test driven the new City. During the test drive, the sales person tempted us to test drive the Civic. While the City felt better to drive, the interiors were quite cramped. Is it worth paying the Rs 3 lakh extra for the base model of the Civic, considering that it is about two-and-a-half years old? I have heard rumours that the price has been reduced recently since Honda is planning to phase out the current Civic model. I am really confused and would like your advice on whether I should go in for the City or is the Civic worth the extra spend?
Mitren Thakkar,via email
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The Civic isn’t getting phased out anytime soon. What will happen is that the current Civic will get a facelift, but there won't be any mechanical changes. As far as the choice between the Civic and City is concerned, it boils down to your priorities. The Civic offers great space and performance while the City will offer very good performance and fuel efficiency, albeit with somewhat cramped interiors. It eventually boils down to whether you want to spend the extra Rs 3 lakh or not for the added space and features. Either way, both are very good cars. Take your pick!
Minor issue
I have been struggling to find a good car for myself. My requirements are for a petrol hatchback in the Rs 2.8 to 4 lakh range. My daily driving is about 50 kilometres a day with the odd 300 kilometre highway driving thrown in, once a month. Mine is a family of five and this will be a self-driven car. Since I measure 5ft 11 inches, occupant space is important, boot space isn't. It should have decent fuel economy and should be cheap to maintain as well. I plan to own the car for at least three years before upgrading. Can you please suggest the right car for me?
Anand Aggarwal,via email
Stop your search at the Hyundai i10 1.2 Kappa Magna. It’s comfortable for someone your size, even in the driver’s seat. It’s powerful for both city and highway use and will return upwards of 10 kpl all the while. The rear seat is just about comfortable for three occupants, ride quality is good and overall build quality is excellent. Besides, by virtue of being a Hyundai, it is inexpensive to maintain and spares are easily available. And three years down the line, when you plan to upgrade, you will also enjoy good resale value.
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