Cruze control

I currently drive a Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire VDi and have a monthly commute of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 km. I would like to purchase a diesel car that will be self driven, and am considering the Skoda Superb, Skoda Laura AT, Toyota Corolla Altis, Chevrolet Cruze and the Volkswagen Jetta. Comfort, mileage and low maintenance costs are my priorities. Which car do I buy?

Aman Khullar, Chandigarh

The fight is then between the Laura, Cruze and Jetta, you can read our comparison between the three cars on www.bsmotoring.com. We think the Cruze is what you ought to go for, though.

To Rio or not

I am looking for a car with good suspension and ground clearance for a small family of three, which is why I think buying a sedan or an MPV doesn’t make sense. Most hatchbacks, however, have poor ground clearance, barring the Fiat Punto. While the Ford Fusion was a good car, it’s no longer in production and the Mahindra Mini Xylo is still some time away. This brings us to the only car likely to satisfy my needs — the Premier Rio. The pricing suits me, but quality might be an issue. Does it make sense to ignore quality because of the price? Given the almost non-existent sales and service infrastructure, does it make sense to buy it? If the market rejects the vehicle, Premier may simply stopassembling Rios and the hapless buyer will be left stranded for want of spares and service. What do you think?

Sridhar Rao, via email

Okay, the Fiat Punto has good ground clearance, which is suitable for most purposes. Are your driving conditions so bad that a Punto cannot manage? Not just the ground clearance, but the Punto’s suspension is well built and can handle bad roads. The other option is the Mahindra Verito — agreed it is not a hatchback, but its underpinnings are immensely capable. You could opt for these two instead of buying the Rio, which you are not sure will give you peace of mind.

Sedan decision

I want to purchase a diesel car in the range of Rs 8 to 12 lakh, that will mainly be driven in the city. I have shortlisted the Nissan Sunny, Volkswagen Vento and Hyundai Verna. Please help me pick one.

Sahil Gupta, Ludhiana

The Sunny has good attributes like rear comfort, space and fuel efficiency. The Vento is good looking, built well and great to drive. The Verna has a powerful engine, a lot of features, looks good too and is comfortable at the rear. You can choose between the three depending on your expectations from the car.

Auto love

I am planning to buy a small car with automatic transmission for my daughter to commute to work and back. She’s lived abroad for 10 years and isn’t comfortable with a manual. Our budget is Rs 6 lakh. Could you recommend a reliable, easy to drive vehicle, which is fuel efficient too?

Lakshminarayana Nittala, via email

There are two good options for an automatic car around Rs 6 lakh that are reliable, efficient and easy to drive: the Hyundai i10 and the Maruti Suzuki A-star. Both are good cars in their own respects. The i10 is taller, so easy to get in and out of, while the A-star is more youthful. Your daughter can choose between these two depending on her preferences.

Any automotive questions?
Ask us at srinivas.krishnan@bsmail.in