Q: Between the Honda City petrol and the Fiat Linea T-Jet, which will be better suited to my monthly running of 1,000-1,200km?
Shivasankar
A: The Linea T-Jet is a much nicer car to drive than the City, especially on the highway. The Fiat 1.4 turbo-petrol engine packs a solid punch, especially in the mid-range which makes overtaking effortless.
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However, in town, the City is a better choice thanks to its responsive engine and light controls. Also, the City is more spacious, fuel efficient and likely to be cheaper to maintain in the long run. However, for those long runs, the joy the Linea T-jet will give you makes it worth it.
Q: Will Maruti launch the 1.6-litre diesel engine in the Ciaz? If yes, when can that be expected and also, will it come mated to the CVT or dual-clutch automatic gearbox?
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A: We have no information on Maruti’s plans to launch a 1.6 diesel in the Ciaz and think it will be unlikely. The Fiat 1.6 diesel engine is fully imported which would make it very expensive, especially in the competitive segment the Ciaz is in. Also, there are no plans to offer an automatic version of the diesel Ciaz.
Q: I would like to know whether Ford Figo Aspire Diesel Car is BS-IV/Euro-IV compliant. Further, is it possible to make it Euro-VI compliant when the norms come into force?
DM Engineer
A: Yes, the Ford Figo Aspire is Bharat Stage (BS)-IV compliant but it is not possible to make it BS-VI when the norms come in. In fact, no car can be easily converted to BS-VI norms as it implies retro-fitting of complex hardware and in some cases a new engine altogether, which is not possible. However, it won’t be immediately illegal to drive a BS-IV car even when stricter norms come into force.
Q: I plan to buy an SUV which I'll use for frequent out-of-town trips. My budget is up to Rs.15 lakh and I've shortlisted the Hyundai Creta and Ford EcoSport. Which one should I go for? Also, please let me know if there's a better option within the budget.
Vaibhav Kumar
A: The EcoSport is a good choice for city commuting and if you are self driven. It’s a really nice car to drive with excellent ride and handling and good performance. However, the Creta is overall a better choice as it feels more premium, has better interiors and is very refined too.
The Creta is a size bigger too and hence offers greater passenger space and a larger boot.