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I purchased a Toyota Etios Petrol G variant in March. It is giving me an average of 13 kmpl. However, after the recent rise in petrol prices, I plan on selling my car and opting for the diesel Etios. The V variant that I’m considering costs Rs 8.26 lakh and delivers a company claimed fuel economy of 24 kmpl. My yearly commute is 30,000 km. Even if I get a fuel economy figure of 20 kmpl, I reckon I’d be saving Rs 2.5 lakh over three years. Would it make sense for me to sell the petrol and opt for the diesel Etios? What price can I expect to sell my Etios petrol for? I checked with a Toyota dealer who offered me Rs 4 lakh! What is the diesel Etios like in terms of handling, driving pleasure, pickup and power when compared to the petrol Etios? Is there any other car I must consider?

Nemish E Palwe, via email

If you consider that your car is about six months old and has about 10,000 km on the clock (mileage is an assumption), then your current Etios petrol should fetch you about Rs 5.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh (rough estimate, since there aren’t enough Etioses in the market up for sale, also prices differ from region to region). Your kind of use, since the beginning, warranted a diesel. If you were to sell your car, assuming you get Rs 5.75 lakh for it, you will lose about Rs 1.5 lakh of the value. You will get an average of 16-18 kmpl daily if most of your driving is in the city. In that case, you will probably save about Rs 2 lakh, which translates to Rs 50,000 over and above the loss in depreciation.

The petrol is more sprightly and refined, has a nice torque spread and is just easier to drive. If you are okay with it, you can go ahead with the Etios diesel, but only if you get the kind of price we’re suggesting.

Cruze control

I am confused about whether to buy the Chevrolet Cruze or the Skoda Laura. Which do you think would be a better option for me as I will be using the car only for driving pleasure every Sunday? I have heard there is a new Cruze coming out soon. When will it be here?

Laharilal Borana, via email

The Chevrolet Cruze is a decent handler, is comfortable and looks the part too. Moreover, it’s well-loaded and quite decently built. It may not be as much fun to drive as the Laura, but considering that your heart is set on the Chevy, you can go for it. A facelifted and slightly tweaked Cruze is only expected by sometime next year, probably by mid-2012.

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