I have a 2023 Skoda Slavia 1.5 DSG Style, which has covered around 46,000 km. Although the driving experience is unmatched, I have faced quite a few issues with the DSG and battery, and recently had to pay a Rs.16,000 bill for suspension repairs. I am now thinking of selling the car and switching to a more reliable product, possibly a Honda City or Toyota Hyryder. My daily running is around 70 km, so I am looking for something reliable and economical for long-term ownership. I will definitely have to bear a loss on the sale of the Slavia, so I was thinking along the Honda route, especially since Honda is offering better deals compared to some other brands. Please suggest what would be the best solution in my case.

autocar.india

•1d

With a daily running of 70km, you are clocking over 25,000km a year, so fuel efficiency and running costs become very important. Since you are coming from a Dzire VXI, reliability and low maintenance are likely priorities as well.CNG is the most cost-effective option for your usage, and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is the most sensible upgrade. It is a practical, reliable SUV with a factory-fitted CNG kit, good service reach and low running costs. The Brezza CNG also offers a decent feature set and a comfortable ride, making it a very easy car to live with.If you are open to EVs and have access to home charging, the Tata Nexon EV is worth considering. It will offer the lowest running costs and a more premium cabin, but only if your daily route is predictable and you can charge at home. Otherwise, CNG remains the more practical choice.Hybrids like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid or Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid are excellent for your use case, but they won't fall under your budget of Rs 15 lakh.Overall, the Brezza CNG is the most sensible upgrade for your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•1d

The lack of bolts appears to be a parts availability issue rather than a reason to abandon the spare wheel conversion. However, the mounting hardware for a spare wheel carrier is a safety critical component, so generic bolts should not be used simply because they fit the threads. The correct bolt size, thread pitch, length, strength grade and washer arrangement need to match Toyota's specified hardware.The best approach is to ask the dealer to raise a formal parts request with Toyota and escalate it through Toyota customer care. The dealer should also check whether the same spare wheel carrier and mounting hardware is used on the non hybrid Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and whether the required hardware can be sourced through that parts network. This should be confirmed by Toyota before anything is fitted.A reputable fastener specialist can be used if Toyota provides the exact part specification, but there is little benefit in guessing the specification yourself. Avoid drilling or modifying the underbody to accommodate alternative hardware.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

autocar.india

•3d

Go for the Skoda Slavia facelift. It is a genuinely good choice for your requirements. The 1.0 TSI is now paired with the 8-speed torque converter automatic and is a smooth and reliable combination. The facelift also brings in rear seat massagers, which, being chauffeur-driven, is something you will enjoy, and the ride quality is well balanced for Indian conditions. It is not the softest suspension in the segment, but it is well damped and handles potholes and speed breakers without feeling crashy. The AC issue was prominent on the pre-facelift cars, and Skoda has made improvements to the system and it now has a new compressor too, which has addressed the issue and there have been fewer complaints about cooling performance. The Honda City remains the more comfort-oriented option with a slightly softer ride, but the Slavia feels a bit more premium. Since you have already preferred the Skoda from a driving perspective, the Slavia is the right choice. Overall, it is a solid, well-rounded sedan that should serve you well.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia facelift