Automatic response

WHICH CAR?

We suggest you hold back your decision till the end of the month, as Hyundai will launch the i10 automatic with the new and more powerful 1.2-litre "Kappa" engine. Not only will the i10 automatic offer more space than the Santro, it will also have all the safety features like ABS and airbags, of which ABS is available as an option on the Santro automatic. Besides the i10 is a more contemporary car and very driver friendly. It's definitely the car for you.

Well spaced

We are looking at upgrading from our Hyundai Santro to a larger car. Our budget is around Rs 6 to 7 lakh and have narrowed down our choices to the Skoda Fabia and the Maruti Swift Dzire. We need a car that has good interior space, comfortable seats and safety features like ABS and airbags, since we have two small children. We particularly liked the interior space of the Fabia and its features, but appreciate the ease of owning a Maruti. The car will be primarily used for city-runs. What would you suggest?

Jason, Mumbai

Give the Skoda Fabia a shot. It has well built interiors as you rightly pointed out, the seats are well designed and there's ample leg and knee room. It also has the best ride quality for a small car in India, better even than the Dzire. Both the Swift Dzire and Fabia offer airbags and ABS on the ZXI and 1.2 Ambiente respectively. If you really don't need that boot space, then the Fabia 1.2 is all the car you need.

Diesel driven

I own a Skoda Laura, now I need a second diesel car, a smaller three-box. The car will be used within Mumbai as well as to travel to my factory on the outskirts of the city. I have short-listed the Suzuki Swift Dzire DDiS and the Hyundai Verna CRDi. Since I am a driving enthusiast, I haven't included the Mahindra Renault Logan in my list. And for the same reason, I have included the Verna, despite the fact that the Dzire is cheaper by Rs 1.5 lakh. What do you recommend?

Prashant Desai, Mumbai

Yes, the Verna diesel is indeed a stonking machine to drive without compromising on fuel consumption. The Swift Dzire diesel is not all that bad to drive either and is pretty fuel efficient too, but it cannot compare to the Verna CRDi in outright performance terms. However, if that Rs 1.5 lakh is too significant for you to ignore, go ahead with the Dzire.

By the way, if you want more performance from your Dzire diesel, there are tuning kits available that can increase the power output.

These cost around Rs 30,000, but remember, you will have to be disciplined with your car's service and maintenance.

Any automotive questions?
Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in