Hatch dilemma

I am 25 years old, self-employed and based in Pune. I am looking for a car that offers me good mileage as well as space for five and decent luggage room. My average monthly driving is 1,500-1,800 km and the car will be regularly used in the city as well as on the highway. I can spend up to Rs 5.5 lakh on the car. I am confused between the Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol/diesel and the Hyundai i20 Magna. Which one do you recommend, considering long-term usage, reliability and fuel efficiency?

Siddharth Khandelwal, Pune

The Swift is great fun to drive, but when it comes to interior room and boot space, it comes up short. Still, the petrol is pretty fuel efficient, while the diesel is extremely frugal. The i20, on the other hand, is spacious, but is not as exciting to drive as the Swift. The i20’s 1.2-litre is also decent when it comes to fuel consumption. And is better built too. We recommend you go for the i20.

Fast answer

I intend to buy a car in the entry D-segment. Which car would you recommend among the Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and even the Hyundai Sonata Transform (if it’s in the picture)? I have absolutely no issues on the price, except for the Jetta Comfortline, which I think is overpriced. Also, like every guy, I would prefer a 500 hp Mustang Cobra, but beggars can’t be choosers - so which one of these can give me the best when it comes to driving/acceleration?

Rakesh Jayakumar,via email

Among the four cars, if the only criterion for you is performance, then there can be no doubt that it has to be the Civic for you. The 1.8 engine is buzzy and rev-happy, and it is the best driver’s car amongst the four. The Sonata is a good all-rounder and value for money, while the Corolla is not a driver’s car - it’s better to be driven in it. The Jetta’s diesel motor is torquey, but it’s not a terribly exciting car to drive. Have fun, but drive safe.

Clutch release

I am 58 years old. Because of a problem in my left leg, I wish to avoid using the clutch pedal. My driving is within the city, and I cover about 15 km a day. My budget is Rs 7 lakh and I intend to retain the car with me for seven years. Does the Fiat Linea or the Maruti Suzuki SX4 come with automatic versions? The Honda City automatic works out to be too expensive. The Hyundai Santro AT is dated, so is the Wagon R auto. What options do I have?

A K Jauhari,via email

You are in luck. The one car that suits you really well is the Hyundai i10 automatic. It is a very good modern car and fits well within your budget. Hyundai has also recently introduced the Verna diesel automatic, but that again would be at least two lakh rupees over your budget, like the City automatic.

Go for the i10 automatic — it is a capable car with a nice engine and good build quality too. And it is an excellent car for the city.

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