Honda City, Nissan Kicks or Maruti S-Cross: Which to buy?

COMFORT VS ROBUSTNESS

I have a budget of Rs 12 lakh and I am in the market for a new car that is safe, reliable, easy to maintain and comfortable for a family. I have shortlisted the Honda City 4th Gen V MT, Maruti S-Cross Zeta and Nissan Kicks 1.5 XV. Kindly suggest a car that satisfies my needs.

Muralikrishna, Chennai

It really depends on what your usage is. If you are mainly driving in the city, then the Honda City is the best as it is user-friendly. It has light controls, a responsive engine and is easy to maneuver. Also, in terms of comfort, it is the best, thanks to a spacious cabin with plush seats. The City is a proven car so you don’t have to worry about reliability.

The S-Cross is a very underrated car and while it doesn’t have the same punchy performance as the City or the Kicks, it is very practical, thanks to a tough suspension, lots of space and good reliability. Like most Marutis, it is very easy to service too.

The Kicks is the one to have if you drive on rough roads regularly. The beefy suspension can absorb bumps and potholes far better than the other two and the 1.3-litre turbo-petrol unit has great performance. However, the Kicks feels a bit dated now and doesn’t have the same plush feel of the City.