Which car would be more suitable for city use and occasional highway driving: the Swift or the Ignis? My budget is around Rs 8 lakh, which can be stretched. Or should I look at lower variants of the Sonet or 3XO?

Autocar India

•5w

In your budget, you can get the Swift VXI (O) and the Ignis Alpha petrol manual. Between the two, we would suggest going for the Maruti Suzuki Swift as it is the newer car of the two and has a more modern cabin with better interiors.

The one distinct advantage the Maruti Ignis has over the Swift, however, is that it still uses the older 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine, which is smoother and feels more peppy compared to the new three-cylinder engine in the Swift. On the upside, the Swift will prove to be more efficient.

If you are going to be driving more often on the highway, we would also suggest considering the Mahindra 3XO or the Skoda Kylaq. We would not recommend the absolute base variants, though, and suggest the REVX M in case of the 3XO and the newly launched Classic Plus in case of the Kylaq, as they offer the basic features you would want without feeling too stripped out.

The advantage of the 3XO and the Kylaq is their turbo petrol engines, which make them more versatile as the added power helps them handle both city and highway duties better. They are also five-star rated in Bharat NCAP, which adds an extra layer of safety.

We would not recommend the Kia Sonet right now as it is due for an update soon, and the lower variants come with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine, similar to the Swift and Ignis.

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Srujan

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I really like the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI AT, but I am unable to finalize my decision because of the rear seat space and a few other compromises. My other options within a ₹14 lakh budget are the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX and the Nissan Magnite CVT. Considering these choices, which would be the best option overall? Also, what should I prioritise more in this segment - space and practicality or driving performance?

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It's a shame that the Skoda Kylaq's rear seat space is not quite up to the best in the segment, because otherwise it is a superb compact SUV that scores highly on most other counts. Of the other options, the Nissan Magnite, while capable and a great value for money, feels like a sub-segment lower in terms of quality, space and performance. The Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX should be your best bet because it offers both - performance and rear-seat space. In fact, it has one of the most spacious cabins in the segment, although the boot is a bit smaller than others. The RevX offers a good feature set as well, along with a few unique styling embellishments, and overall, we feel this is the one you should pick.

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My wife has recently started learning to drive and is looking to buy her first car, which she will primarily use for daily office commuting (around 40-50 km per day). She prefers a petrol automatic car with a relatively high driver seating position. Since this will be her first car, I am inclined towards a Maruti Suzuki model, unless a Hyundai option makes a very strong case. We are currently considering the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, Maruti Suzuki Celerio, and Maruti Suzuki Ignis (we are not considering the WagonR). Among these, the Celerio and Ignis seem like better options, but we are slightly concerned about the possibility of them being discontinued in the near future. We would also consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift, but we are a bit apprehensive because it is a slightly larger car for a beginner driver. Our budget is ₹6-9 lakh on-road. Which of these cars would be the best choice for her needs?

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The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is the best option for your wife. Its compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre, and the relatively high seating position gives a good view of the road, aiding confidence behind the wheel. A peppy engine and the convenience of AMT also help its case. The Ignis is a bit firm in its ride comfort, though. Maruti Suzuki has not announced plans to discontinue the Ignis, though the model has been around for a while. Even in the case of the model being discontinued, you will not have trouble with service support and parts availability for years to come.

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I am planning to buy a compact SUV with a diesel automatic gearbox, and my budget is around ₹12–14 lakh on-road. I generally prefer choosing the variant just above the base model, as it usually offers the best value for money rather than going for the top-spec variant. My shortlisted options are the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Sonet. While value for money is my main priority, my child is insisting that the car should also have a sunroof. Considering these requirements, which car would you recommend buying?

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While the Tata Nexon has its strengths in a tough build and good suspension, its AMT gearbox is no match for the torque converter automatic. It comes paired with the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet's 1.5-litre diesel engine. The Hyundai and Kia's smooth diesel engines and slick auto gearboxes deliver a very polished driving experience, which you will love. Of the two, the Hyundai Venue is newer, offers more rear seat space and a few more frills like a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. You'd get a Venue diesel-auto HX5 in your budget, which is reasonably well equipped and also packs in a sunroof. We can't recommend it wholeheartedly, though, because it misses the safety of a rear wiper. If rear seat space isn't a deal breaker and you are comfortable with the idea of buying a car that will be replaced in the near future, the Sonet diesel-auto HTX is definitely worth a look. For not much money over the Venue HX5, it packs in a whole lot more equipment such as LED headlights, push button start, leatherette seats and front seat ventilation. Also, it has the safety of a rear wiper, rear disc brakes and front parking sensors.

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