Heavy fuel

I am a first-time car buyer, and I will be driving about 1,800 km a month, mostly within the city with very few long weekend trips. With the cost of petrol in India shooting up, I am thinking of buying a diesel car and my budget is Rs 4 to 5 lakh. Do diesel cars require more maintenance after three or four years? What are the typical problems associated with them? And what is your opinion on the Chevrolet Beat diesel?

Jagannathan K, via email

For your kind of use, a diesel car will be a good choice. While the average per-kilometre maintenance cost is slightly higher for a diesel car, it is offset by the price-per-litre of diesel by a substantial margin. So you shouldn’t worry about maintenance costs, if you follow service schedules. And modern diesel variants are as good as petrol cars. The Beat diesel is a good urban car which is easy to manoeuvre and has light controls. It isn’t an impressive highway car though, but if you are going to be spending most of your time in urban environs, the Beat diesel should work out just fine.

Forward and back

My monthly commute is about 1,200 km (Andheri West to Worli) and I am unhappy with the back support offered by the rear seat of my Hyundai Accent. Now I want to replace it with another new car, keeping in mind 1. Ride comfort, especially at the rear, 2. Fuel economy, 3. Economical maintenance costs over the next six to seven years, and 4. Safety and sturdiness. I also need your guidance on diesel versus petrol, as I have been using only petrol cars for the past 25 years. I have shortlisted the Volkswagen Vento, Honda City, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Etios and the Hyundai Verna. My budget is a maximum of Rs 11 lakh.

Arjunlal G Wadhiwa, Mumbai

Of the cars you’ve mentioned, the Vento, Fiesta and Verna have very good ride quality, a good set of safety features (airbags/ABS), decent fuel economy and good build quality. We think what would work best for you would be the new Verna, specifically since it has a comfortable rear seat with good back support, decent leg room and a soft suspension set-up that makes it particularly good on bad roads. Both petrol and diesel versions are up to the task, and are refined and reasonably frugal too. Considering the route you use for commuting each day with its start/stop conditions, we recommend you go for the Verna CRDi.

Moving swiftly

I am planning to replace my five-year old Tata Indica Xeta (petrol) because it offers low mileage (approximately 10 kpl). I have shortlisted the Fiat Punto diesel and the forthcoming Maruti Suzuki Swift. I have taken the Punto for a test drive and like it. Price-wise, the Punto appeals to me since this car will be at least Rs 75,000 cheaper than the Swift and comes with a few extra features too. Is it worth waiting for the Swift, considering the extra financial implication?

S K Shrivastava, Noida

Yes, the Punto is a well-loaded car with a best-in-class ride and handling setup and it’s particularly good on bad roads. However, the Punto isn’t as spacious on the inside given its size and Fiats typically don’t enjoy good resale value. We believe the new Swift is what you should be looking at, even if it’s more expensive than the Punto. It promises to be easy to drive and live with, Maruti’s service network is quite strong and service quality is generally good. And when you do plan to trade in for an upgrade a few years down the line, you will get good value for it too. Maruti dealers are currently taking bookings for the new Swift and we suggest you go right ahead and place your order.