Geared up

When is Skoda likely to launch the Laura 1.8 TSI Elegance with a DSG?

R Singh, via email

Skoda hasn’t indicated its intention of bringing in a Laura 1.8 TSI with a DSG gearbox just yet, since the overlap with the Superb in terms of product positioning would be too strong for the company to ignore. It would mean a loss in sales of the Superb, which it wouldn’t want at this point in time. If we were to hazard a guess, we’d say not at least until middle of next year at the earliest.

Pick-up value

I am planning to buy a mid-size sedan. In my mind, I have two options — the Hyundai Verna and the Ford Fiesta. Can you tell me which of these two cars is better? I want a good pick-up, as I drive mostly on the highways.

Ravi, via email

For primarily highway driving, a diesel would suit you best. In that regard, the Hyundai Verna packs a pretty good punch with its 110 bhp, 1.5-litre CRDi engine. That makes it not only quick, but also reasonably frugal. Ride quality is decent too, while it seats four in comfort. Go for the Verna SX that comes with ABS as standard.

Drinking habits

I have a Chevrolet Optra Magnum 2.0 LT which is about a year old. I would like to replace it with an equivalent car which offers the best in fuel efficiency, preferably a diesel. Which one would you recommend?

Subramanian, via email

Since you haven’t mentioned a budget here, we’d suggest the following — for a similar budget, look for the Hyundai Verna CRDi automatic for performance and efficiency, while the Toyota Innova 2.5 D4D wouldn’t be a bad choice either. Otherwise, if you plan to upgrade to a car at a higher price point, have a look at the Volkswagen Jetta or the facelifted Skoda Laura 1.9 TDI. Both have great performance, handling and equipment levels, while fuel efficiency is pretty decent too.

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