Face off

I have a budget of Rs 11 lakh, with which I want to buy a car — either the Volkswagen Vento Highline diesel or the new Skoda Rapid Elegance diesel. Is there any difference between their ride quality and suspension? Which do I pick?

Gautam Chandgothia, via email

Both the Skoda Rapid and Volkswagen Vento are identical, save for the way they look and minor changes on the interior. The Rapid has a slightly softer suspension setup and in our initial impression we found it rides a bit better than the Vento. At the end of it all, it boils down to whether you mind spending the extra money on the Vento or not and whose service and sales are easier to access. Either way, you should be happy with the car.

Big H

I want to buy a car within a budget of Rs 10 lakh. I have shortlisted the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and the Fiat Linea T-Jet. My priorities are good driving feel, mileage, comfort and long term durability.

Dhiraj Shetty, via email

If it’s thrill and ease of maintenance you seek, then look no further than the Honda City. It’s good fun to drive, has lots of space both in the front and back and it is efficient too. Moreover, the engine is strong and overall reliability is quite good too. A new, refreshed version of the Honda City with cosmetic changes can be expected by January 2012.

Twenty twenty

My monthly commute is 2,000 km and I am considering opting for a Volkswagen Polo Comfortline, or a Hyundai i20 Sportz. I’m also considering the Ford Figo Titanium. I want a car which is sturdy, offers good mileage and low maintenance costs too. Which of these must I pick, and should I stretch my budget and upgrade to a higher version?

Aditya Parasramka, via email

Of the three, we find the Hyundai i20 to be the most practical. It may not be the most fun to drive and the handling does feel a bit nervous but it is the best equipped, has the most space and feels well-finished too. It has the most powerful engine and it's surprisingly efficient . If you extend your budget by a little bit, go in for the Asta that gets two airbags and ABS as standard.

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