Linea acceleration

WHICH CAR?

My company is planning to upgrade me from an Esteem to something in the Rs 8 to 9 lakh price range. The choices include the new Honda City and the Maruti Suzuki SX4 ZXi. However the purchase won’t be made until the last quarter of the current financial year, by which time I hope the Fiat Linea would be here. I was wondering if I should ask my administration department to consider it as well and whether it will be ideal for my kind of running. I cover about 1,200 to 1,400 kilometres a month and the car is primarily chauffeur driven.

Abhay Saxena, via email

The Fiat Linea could be added to your list of options as it’s ready for launch around mid-December. We expect it to have rear seat comfort and legroom that’s as good as the Honda City, while overall ride comfort and performance too will be competitive. Besides the Linea is the only one to offer a choice of petrol or diesel engines among the three cars here. Go ahead and ask your admin department to add the car on to their list.

Comforting

I am looking to buy a saloon in the Rs 20-25 lakh bracket and have narrowed down my choices to the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry. My buying decision will be based on back seat comfort, quality and overall performance and efficiency. Kindly suggest the best option for me.

Tanveer Bhalla, via email

Why not go ahead and buy the new Honda Accord. The engine is refined, powerful yet efficient enough for most quirements. The rear seat is as comfortable as the Camry and legroom is plentiful. Besides it offers better value in comparison to the higher priced Camry and will probably offer better residual value when it’s the time to sell it off.

Going cheap

The Skoda dealer in my vicinity has offered me a fat discount on the Superb. He is willing to offer the car to me, keys in hand, for Rs 17 lakh. On the other hand, I’m aware that the car will become a generation old once the new Superb is made available next year. So do you suggest I should go ahead for the Superb or consider something like the Laura? Please suggest.

Amir, Mumbai

The to-be-phased-out Superb is quite a good car. The diesel engine is punchy yet fairly frugal. It’s just as spacious as the new Superb and it feels more imposing. A Superb for the price of a Laura isn't a bad choice.

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