From small to big

I have been driving a Maruti 800 for the last 12 years and am looking to change my vehicle. I’m looking to upgrade to a bigger car (not hatchback), that is economical to run as well. My budget is Rs 5-5.5 lakh. My average monthly driving is 2,000 km in addition to the occasional highway run. Kindly advise.

RK Singh, Jaipur

You do have a couple of options like the Hyundai Accent, Ford Ikon Flair and Ikon diesel and the Mahindra Renault Logan. Considering your requirements, we suggest the latter, given the better ride and comfort of the Logan as well as frugal engines such as the 1.4 petrol and the 1.5 diesel. If you can stretch your budget a bit, go for the Logan diesel which has a torquey engine that is good for both city and highway runs, while returning 16-17 kilometres to the litre.

Hatch 22

Having owned a Santro for the last few years, I’m now planning to upgrade to something larger. With a budget of Rs 6-6.5 lakh, I plan to move to a larger hatch. I was considering the Honda Jazz, but since reports suggest it will be here only in June, I needed something new a little earlier. My choices include the Hyundai i20 and the Skoda Fabia. I cover about 80-90 km per day and travel to Pune about twice a month. Running costs are a priority, but also need a car that is comfortable for a family of five and luggage when the need be. Can you suggest what will suit me best?

Priyank Shah, Thane

How about going in for a diesel and enjoying the benefits of low running costs? The Skoda Fabia diesel will suit you perfectly. It’s a comfortable small car that drives and feels like a big car with excellent build quality to boot. Besides, that 1.4 diesel is efficient and refined for a three-cylinder car. As a highway car too, the Fabia acquits itself very well.

Plush existence

I’m in the market for a Rs 15-17 lakh luxury diesel saloon. I’ve looked at the Volkswagen Jetta, the Skoda Laura and the Hyundai Sonata Embera and was wondering which of the three would you suggest for someone like me. My requirements are for a car that’s well loaded with features, and has a comfortable rear seat. Which of these three do you think will fulfill my needs?

AJ Kothari, via email

The Hyundai Sonata Embera has been facelifted with a bit more power and now runs under the name of the Sonata Transform. It’s the kind of car you will appreciate if space and features for the price are important. It feels bigger than the other two and can also outrun them, thanks to its 2.0-litre common rail diesel engine that produces nearly 150 bhp, against the Laura and Jetta’s 104 bhp. The rear seat is among the best in business, while you get a host of features like steering mounted controls, USB based music system, cruise control, etc.

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