Road petrol

Should I buy the Maruti Suzuki Swift or the Ritz? I’d like to go for the petrol VXi model of either of these two. My daily travel is not more than 30 km maximum. Do you think I should go for a diesel instead?

 
-Ravichandra Passi, via email

Since you drive only 30 km a day, you don’t need a diesel car — a petrol is just fine. The tall-boy architecture of the Ritz allows it to be a better commuter compared to the Swift, while its 1.2-litre petrol engine is refined yet exuberant. Despite its taller stance, the Ritz is a fun car to pilot, with a good steering wheel setup, supportive seats and crisp handling. Though the Swift is the driver’s car between the two, we expect Maruti Suzuki to feature the new 1.2-litre engine in the Swift — so till that comes around, we’d recommend the Ritz to you.

Swift desire
I was planning to buy the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire diesel, but I was told that there is a waiting list for the car. Though I am not in a terrible hurry, I still would like to get a new car at the earliest. I was thinking of going for the new Tata Indigo Manza instead. It is slightly cheaper than the Dzire, has good space at the rear and has quite a few features that the Dzire does not have like Bluetooth, digital trip meter and electrically adjustable mirrors. The engines in both cars are also the same, but the one in the Tata is a bit more powerful. So what should I do? I enjoy driving and cover around 50 km in a day. The car will primarily be used for commuting during the week.

- Riju Thomas, via email

It’s a tough choice, mainly because when you look at it rationally, the Manza makes more sense. It is a decent car and Tata has done a good job with it, as compared to the Indigo. However, the Swift Dzire is a better overall car in terms of driving pleasure and is well put together. Though the Manza offers a good ride, the Dzire is the better handler. Agreed the Manza makes for a compelling rational decision, but for you, the Dzire is the car we’d recommend.

Going on a Cruze

I want to choose between the Skoda Laura, Volkswagen Jetta and the Chevrolet Cruze. I shortlisted these cars after doing some amount of research. Essentially, I wanted a large-ish diesel sedan which offers both performance as well as comfort. Both the Skoda and the VW are a bit over the budget, but I found them beautifully engineered. The Cruze actually came as a surprise – I was impressed with its looks and outright performance. But rear space is at a premium in the Cruze. It offers great value for money, and I am indeed tempted to go for it. But do you think it makes sense to go for a Chevy over Skoda or VW? Please let me know.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          - Venkatesh, Bangalore


You haven’t told us whether you will be chauffeur-driven or would be driving the car yourself, because that would help us arrive at the right car for you. In case you will be using the back seat most of the time, the Jetta is your best bet as it’s spacious and rides well too. It’s a capable, proven car and has lots of delightful, thoughtful bits. If you are on a budget and find the Cruze’s price point irresistible, then why not go for the Chevy? The Cruze also rides well and is a decent car to pilot especially because of that stonking engine. There’s nothing wrong in going for a Chevy, as GM India is getting quite aggressive in its sales and after-sales service strategy.

Any automotive questions? Ask us at bijoy.y@bsmail.in