I'm stuck on the engine power/torque because I drive a 1.6 L Vento which is super fun to drive and hugs the road when cornering uphill at even 60/70 kmph.

BHPian Aj346 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Good day all,

Would sincerely appreciate advice as per below. The confusion just gets worse each time I research more and into more options. At times, I prefer the old automobile scene where there was no choice.

Been looking to buy a new car as my sedan is too low for most roads in Goa, where I have recently relocated to. My primary options are the Nexon, Brezza & the Sonet. Also test drove the Kia Carens but found it too under powered, 2nd gear was not up to the task of going uphill at slow speeds, had to even down shift to 1st when going over a speed-breaker slowly. The sales person admitted to this aspect. Thus ruled out.

The XL6 though a lot more spacious than the Brezza, was marginally under powered for highway driving but is still in the mix but not a favourite.

The Nexon drove the best, overtaking was good and could climb slopes satisfactorily. Only negative was the poor legroom in the back seat. Drove the XZ+ variant.

The Brezza though not best in any segment, mileage was the best overall, roomy feeling because of good headroom as compared to the Nexon and WR-V.

I'm stuck on the engine power/torque because I drive a 1.6 L Vento which is super fun to drive and hugs the road when cornering uphill at even 60/70 kmph. However, I need to move to smaller car with more ground clearance.

Kindly advice between the Nexon XZ+ and the Brezza ZXi or wait for the Hyryder lower variants. Do not wish to spend more than 13L for now as I eventually want to shift to an EV in 4/5 years.

Thanks,

Ajay.

Here's what BHPian Racer911 had to say on the matter:

If you're moving from the Vento especially the 1.6, I'd strongly advise the Tata Nexon as it has the best driving dynamics among the lot and the most mature suspension setup to go over rough roads and ditches. This is not based on reading 500 reviews online, but my personal observation when test driving cars for my sister's purchase. The Tata Nexon was the first Tata car I ever drove and was actually quite impressed. This is the first time I found the suspension setup of a non European car very satisfactory especially for its price segment. Its definitely better than the Hyundais and Kias, and if not better definitely at par with the current gen VWs, though the suspension setups of the 2nd and 3rd gen VW's are nothing to boast about. You'd know what I mean if you've been driving the 1.6 and ever drove the current 1.5 version.

PS: Can't say strongly but why not at least consider the Kushaq and Taigun. I haven't driven them or even seen the Taigun in the flesh but I feel they're definitely worth a look.

Here's what BHPian Roadster101 had to say on the matter:

Why not S-Cross?

• Reliable - check
• Excellent ride quality - check
• Wide dealer network - check
• Availability of spares - check
• Decent ground clearance - check
• Under your specified budget - check

Its bigger than the options you are considering at almost the same price. It might not be fancy and completely up to date like newer generation cars but its still got the basics right and the engine drives like a charm. I strongly urge you to consider the S-Cross over a Brezza or a Nexon.

Happy hunting.

Here's what BHPian Revvman had to say on the matter:

If your driving is mainly going to be in the city and "build quality" is not very high on your priority list, which I think you will immediately relate to when compared to your Vento, Sonet fits the bill quite well for you. Having said that, long waiting period could be a bummer!

On the other hand, Tata Nexon is an excellent package overall but it wouldn't hurt to check out the VW twins - Taigun and Kushaq. Who knows you might as well fall for one of them and stretch your budget. 4/5 years is still a reasonable period of time to enjoy your new car before you go for an EV.

Here's what BHPian itsmeparvathy9 had to say on the matter:

Considering the fact that you are planning on selling your car and moving on to an EV in the next 5 years, I would like to propose the following:

Maruti Suzuki S-Cross:

You get the Zeta manual under 12 lakhs on-road in Goa and as iterated earlier has excellent ride quality, wide dealership network, decent ground clearance and is a reliable car on the whole. Although looks are subjective, it does have a crossover stance. Moreover, it is going to be replaced by the Grand Vitara in the Suzuki lineup. However, if you don't mind these, you can go for it.

Mahindra XUV300:

You have options of both petrol and diesel with the Mahindra XUV300 just like with the Tata Nexon and the Kia Sonet. Both engines are powerful and have enough torque on tap.
Boot space is the major concern here at just 257 litres, but the car is spacious and has the longest wheelbase among sub 4 metre SUVs.

Kia Sonet:

The Kia Sonet gives you many engine and gearbox options to choose from, the car although has limited rear space excels in everything else and is an all-round performer.
Be ir class leading boot, High Ground clearance, fit and finish of the cabin and 4 airbags as standard. The HTX 1.0 IMT, the HTX 1.5 Diesel and even the HTX 1.0 DCT can all be considered and are priced in the ballpark of around 13 lakhs.

Hyundai Venue:

Similar to the Kia Sonet in terms of engine and gearbox combinations, if the styling appeals to you, you may consider the Venue over the Sonet.

Tata Nexon:

The Tata Nexon is one of the favourites in the segment and has both petrol and diesel engine options. It has all necessary features, 5-star safety, enough space in the cabin, excellent Ground clearance, what more could you ask for.

If you want a bigger car for less money, the S-Cross would be my pick, if you want an automatic, the Sonet is the winner here. If you want space and comfort, 5-star safety the Nexon would be the better choice followed by the XUV300.

The Hyryder/Grand Vitara's pricing is yet to be revealed. so, can't comment but considering its heavier than the Brezza with the same engine, power to weight ratio would be less.

Here's what BHPian Gypsian had to say on the matter:

IMHO the XUV300 petrol which is priced 10 lakhs on road or lesser in few states in it's base trim is the best choice, as the same is a delight to drive both in its petrol and diesel avatars and justifies your need for performance and ground clearance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Clutch is light without rough point of abrupt engagement. Coupled with a smooth gearbox, the combination is effortless to drive.

BHPian aaggoswami recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took a test drive of the Brezza manual, here are a few points :

• Engine is muted as far as performance goes. Its more like a 1.2 than a 1.5. My 2015 Swift petrol was more enthusiastic than the K15C in Brezza. But at less than 2000 rpm, its very silent. Rev it more and you will find a lot of noise with slow progress. At 8-9 lakh rupees it could be OK, but at a million rupees and above, this is disappointment.

• My 2014 City petrol is in a different league. There were three adults in Brezza and I was not happy, if someone if planning a holiday with full load, please stay relaxed, nothing can help you. But I guess for majority this will serve the purpose. Flooring the throttle at 70 kmph in top gear resulted into very slow progress, this is too safe a tune I think. Single lane highways will see Brezza struggling to overtake quick cars.
• Bottom end grunt is fantastic though. Nice car for that agonizing, slow urban crawl after a long day at office. Clutch is light without rough point of abrupt engagement. Coupled with a smooth gearbox, the combination is effortless to drive.

• Impressive suspension set up. Roads in my city are broken now due to monsoon, and the Brezza offered very nice ride quality, wasn't stiff and is silent in operation. Stands out to add to comfort, never knew Maruti can get this so good.
• Cabin insulation from outside noise is again not something you would expect out of Maruti. Leaps ahead of what Maruti offers even today in case like Swift, nice effort.
• Hood is heavy, but I don't like the hood extending over lights. That is a place for dust to gather up. Panel gaps are uneven at places. The plastic cladding across running board is something to watch out for. Its should have been more rounded plus not sticking out so much. If that is dirty, as it was in the car I test drove, one has to careful while ingress or egress.
• Steering is too light, good for urban roaming, but tad more weight at speed would be better. It was butter smooth and feather light as compared to my 2012 Innova and lighter than my City.

Overall, nice effort from Maurti, things are better than before but prices have shot up to an extent of calling Maruti product not that strong at value proposition. Now that's something we don't usually come across.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Not worried too much about it being a petrol or diesel. In reality, my daily usage wouldn't warrant a diesel.

BHPian Arun_S recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi all,

I am currently in the market for a new car.

Highly confused, reaching out to our esteemed forum members to get their opinions.

If you feel I have missed any cars and it is worth considering please let me know

I currently drive an Alto 800.

My requirements:

• Preference towards SUV\Compact SUV's due to back pain issues.
• Good Safety Rating - Can't compromise.
• It should be automatic and have Hill Hold Function.
• My budget was earlier 10 L considering that nothing much is there in that price bracket willing to extend until 15L
• Not worried too much about it being a petrol or diesel. In reality my daily usage wouldn't warrant a diesel.
• Have a car, so waiting period is not a major concern.
• No hatchbacks - Can't compromise.
• Most of the time it would be used by 2 Adults + 1 Kid, rarely would be joined by others, 5 seater is more than sufficient.
• Not looking at pre-owned.
• Peaceful long term ownership as I keep the vehicles for long duration.

I understand I can't expect one car to be best in the budget I have, as each one has its limitations. I am looking for one which atleast fulfills at least 70-80% of my requirements.

My shortlist:

Tata Nexon

Pros:

• Good Safety Rating.
• In the market for quite sometime, with good sales numbers.

Cons:

• Comes with a AMT gearbox, have driven it, it is really a pain.

2022 Brezza

Pros:

• Expecting a good safety rating.
• In the market for quite sometime, with good sales numbers.
• Comes with a proper AT gearbox.
• Have good rapport with the MS dealership, so service is not a major concern.

Cons:

• On road price of Zxi comes to 15L, which is just 1 L shy of Astor CVT.
• Based on reviews, the 15C Engine lacks performance, tuned towards fuel efficiency.

Scorpio N:

Pros:

• Looking at the Z4 AT variant.
• Expecting a good safety rating considering how Mahindra is focused on that.
• Comes with a proper AT gearbox.
• Proper BoF SUV.

Cons:

• Brand new models generally will have QC Issues.
• Huge waiting period.
• On Road might be above 17.5 L.

MG Astor

Pros:

• Looking at the Super Variant , 1.5L
• The base variant for CVT itself has lot of much needed features.
• Comes with a proper AT gearbox.
• Nominal waiting period.
• Not a fan of ADAS so no issues in missing them out.

Cons:

• 1.5 L CVT is not engaging to drive, people are commenting it is not able to climb with AC on.
• On Road just above 16L

Honda City 5G

Pros:

• Looking at the V Variant , CVT.
• The base variant has lot of much needed features.
• On Road just above 15L.

Cons:

• Based on review's, bounciness in rear seat, might deter me, as wife normally complains of motion sickness.
• Due to convenience the SUV's offer, this would be last resort.

Nissan Magnite

Pros:

• CVT is good, as per Team BHP review.
• On Road just above 11L for the Top End model.

Cons:

• Built to cost
• Nissan's network and their future plans.

Toyota Hyryder

• Need to wait for their pricing and Team BHP Review.

Cars Not considered:

• Ciaz - Waiting for the facelift
• Korean Twins - Venue\Sonet
• XL6\Ertiga\Carens
• Renault Kiger
• Nissan Kicks
• XUV300

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Here are a couple of threads where members are in similar situations, hope it helps:

• VIZ (2022 Maruti Brezza AT vs Tata Nexon AMT)
• topaz2011 (Tata Nexon vs. Mahindra XUV300 vs. Kia Sonet | Which car should I get for 15 Lakhs?)

As for your options the contest is really between the Brezza and the Astor.

Of the two, since you intend to keep your vehicle's long, I would say the Brezza primarily because of MSIL's fuss free maintenance and better safety on the assumption of this being based on the outgoing version without much changes internally. Both of which are an unknown for the Astor.

Rest should be dependent on your TDs.

Here's what BHPian itsmeparvathy9 had to say on the matter:

Considering your shortlist, The Tata Nexon fulfills most of your criteria, the AMT being the lone downer, no wonder it's the top selling Compact SUV in the market.

As regards MS Brezza, Maruti cars have most often always been tuned for fuel efficiency. The features list is wide though this time around but pricing is on the higher side.

The Scorpio N would most probably fall out of budget.

The MG Astor is good with respect to features and pricing but mileage is very poor as compared to others in your list.

Nissan Magnite is built to a cost surely but is also the most VFM in the segment as well.

The Toyota Hyryder/Upcoming MS Grand Vitara can be considered provided they fall in your budget. The Grand Vitara likely being cheaper though.

Overall considering the requirements, Brezza seems a good pick in all factors except pricing. Buy a lower spec VXI variant and try aftermarket add-ons.

Here's what BHPian sam264_2000 had to say on the matter:

I would recommend either the 2022 Brezza or 2022 XL6 or 5th Gen City CVT. Though you aren't considering XL6, I strongly urge you to give it a second thought. It's a bit pricey but you would be surprised at the package and flexibility it offers. You can also decide to wait for the upcoming S-Cross. I drive the 5th Gen City ZX CVT. I haven't experienced any rear seat bounciness (my wife & kid have motion sickness too) yet at sane speeds between 90kmph to 110kmph. Honda has stiffened the suspension and it shows. You get a lot of car for your money when you buy a City. But to each his own. Get the roomiest, most powerful, reliable and feature rich car available in top of your budget - you won't be disappointed.

Here's what BHPian sreeknair had to say on the matter:

From your list, I would consider Hyryder as first choice if it comes within your budget. Next would be Brezza or City based on whether you have passengers who have difficulty in getting into a sedan. If not, then City will be my choice.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Now that the new Brezza is released, I find the ZXI+ AT to be priced atrociously. I cannot bring myself to pay close to 18 lakh for a sub 4m compact SUV from Maruti.

BHPian VIZ recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi motorheads,

I am searching for a car for past 1 year with below requirements.

Usage: 50 km/ week city usage for a family of two. 900 km round trip on highways once in 2 months to my hometown.

Requirements:

• Safety 4 or more stars with ESP preferably.
• Fuss-free ownership with good after-sale service and parts availability.
• Great ride quality and good NVH levels for poor Bangalore roads.
• Decent mileage.
• Beginner-level driver with 3000KM driven so far. So I will need good visibility of the bonnet/rear and corners. I need a height-adjustable driver seat and rear parking camera. if I can get a 360-degree camera or front sensor, it will be great. But I can live without them.
• Cruise control for highway rides. Paddle shifter optional.
• Boot space minimum 300 litre and foldable rear seats.
• Hill assist.
• Creep function for bumper to bumper traffic.

Initially after researching and few TDs, I decided to go for Nexon ZXA+ (O) in last October. At that time, I saw leaked images of new Brezza. Maruti's reliability, TC over Nexon's AMT and 360 degree camera lured me to wait till the new Brezza is released.

I made a pre-booking for a Brezza ZXI+ AT in June with Bimal Autos, Whitefield, Bangalore.

Now that the new Brezza is released, I find the ZXI+ AT to be priced atrociously. I cannot bring myself to pay close to 18 lakh for a sub 4m compact SUV from Maruti. So here are my options now:

• Go with new Brezza ZXI+AT for Maruti's peace of ownership and decent safety rating (assuming previous generation crash rating still holds).
• Compromise on 360 degree camera and safety a bit (live with only 2 air bags) and go for one variant lower at Brezza ZXI AT. I am also not sure if ZXI will have Suzuki connect subscription which I would like to have.
• Go with Nexon AMT ZXA+ (O) which means compromise on gear box (AMT) and unreliable TASS.

Open to crowd wisdom here and consider other options which may fit by requirements. BTW, I found the Slavia's look to be a head turner, but I am not sure of their claimed 179 GC which is essential for the Bangalore potholes. Another issue is Skoda car's reliability concerns and ASS.

Here;s what BHPian Shreyas_Jain had to say on the matter:

Brezza’s pricing is atrocious, I see no sense in going for that car at that price. Especially when so many options are available.

You specifically mentioned good ride. Nexon has a very sorted suspension overall, but the low speed ride is rather stiff. Smoothens out nicely as speeds rise. Do take a long test drive to see if it works for you.

Your top choice should be the Honda City CVT. Comfortable, reliable, efficient, huge boot and much better street cred than Brezza and Nexon. Upgrade to fatter tires and that takes care of ground clearance issues for 99% people.

I have my reservations over the long term reliability and internal cost cutting of the Slavia. But since your expected usage is very limited, you may risk it. Go for the 1.0 TSi with the torque converter automatic.

Kia Sonet diesel AT could have been the car for you, but that weak crash test rating is not ideal for your long highway trips.

In case you are open to spending 20L, do consider the MG Hector petrol CVT. It’s not the most fuel efficient, but your expected running is too less for it to really matter. Otherwise, it ticks all the boxes and meets all your requirements. It’s urban ride quality is unmatched. Extremely comfortable for cruising.

Here's what BHPian shancz had to say on the matter:

Between the Brezza and Nexon IMO Brezza has better executed features like the bigger and better screens, TC, 6 airbags etc. but that pricing!

The Nexon is quite capable but an AMT on a 14-16 lakh car isn't justified too.

In the end it's your call, do take detailed TD of all your shortlisted cars before taking a call.

Here's what BHPian GreasyCarb55 had to say on the matter:

I don't know why nobody has mentioned this but I will.

If your budget is around 16-18 lakh and you're not keen on a sedan like the Skoda Slavia or Honda City then why not look at the KIA Sonet Diesel AT?

The safety kit is better than Maruti (although not at the same level as Tata) and about 16.9 Lakh (on-road Bangalore) gets you a top of the line KIA Sonet GTX+ Diesel Automatic, this goes up to about 17.1 Lakh (again, on-road Bangalore) if you want the GTX+ Dual Tone. The Sonet Diesel AT get a 6 speed torque converter automatic as opposed to the 7 speed DCT in the 1.0 Turbo Petrol so you probably don't have to worry about DCT failures in Indian conditions (Polo GT owners know the hell you must go through once a DCT gearbox goes KAPUT).

You could also wait for the Toyota Hyryder or Maruti Grand Vitara to see how they turn out (although the pricing of the new Brezza doesn't inspire much confidence).

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Honda's new compact SUV is expected to compete with the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet.

Honda plans to launch two new SUVs in the Indian market. Among them is a new compact SUV that is likely to replace the WR-V.

We got our first glimpse of the model when Honda released the SUV RS Concept. Now, new images believed to be of the production-spec SUV RS have surfaced online.

The car seen in these images has an upright front fascia that appears to be inspired by the Amaze. It has a hexagonal grille with chrome inserts and sleek LED headlights. The rear of the car features L-shaped tail lamp clusters. Overall, it looks like a typical crossover with bits like skid plates on the front and rear bumpers and black plastic cladding around the wheel arches.

Reports suggest that the new SUV will be based on an updated version of the PF2 platform that underpins the Amaze. The car is likely to be powered by a 1.2-litre petrol unit with some form of hybridization and a 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Honda's new compact SUV is expected to compete with the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the Kia Sonet.

Source: Autonetmagz

I was somehow very clear that I wanted a diesel with manual transmission. I don't prefer automatic cars.

BHPian muglikar recently shred this with other enthusiasts.

I got home my Kia Sonet GTX+ 1.5 manual transmission diesel two days back and I want to share my detailed review of the same.

Background:

I used to own a Hyundai Grand i10 Sportz till Feb 2020 and used it for about 7 years and absolutely loved it. That was my first car so maybe I am biased towards the performance. My wife had started using the car in its last few months as she was planning to buy her own soon. In Feb 2020, we gave it in exchange and wife got a Baleno for her. I was to upgrade my car pretty soon but then lockdown hit all of us. Since then, my wife started working from home hence the Baleno remained with me. I was waiting for the right time to go for a new car but had no "good reason" and then normal offices started off. Wife needed the car and now I had the opportunity.

I stay in Pune and work in corporate legal field and have to make weekly trips to Mumbai for my matters in the court and that ways I travel a lot otherwise too. We have farms near Bidar and I have to make frequent visits there as well. So mileage was a very important criteria for me. Looks, colour, etc were all secondary. The vehicle had to have airbags, high fuel efficiency, and comfortable to drive.

Option Hunting:

Now my wife wanted me to upgrade to a very "good car" in terms of looks etc. so it looks smart when I travel around with my clients. Frankly it may sound really weird but I did not have any budget at all. In the sense I could choose anything between 10 to 25 lakhs. But being from a typical middle class family, I did not want to spend "too much" as well. Wife however had a point where she wanted me to "upgrade" to a very very decent looking SUV/sedan.

So we set about checking all of the options. We checked the Slavia, Creta, Kushaq, Taigun, Seltos, Sonet, Thar, MG Astor and I literally took test drive of all these vehicles. However I was somehow very clear that I wanted a diesel manual. Personally I don't prefer automatic cars, my bhabhi has one and I occasionally drive it if I don't have an option, have a Celerio in the family and that is used by me only in case I don't have an option. I somehow prefer the old school manuals.

What I learnt from visiting every showroom and testing every car that was available, it ultimately boils down to "what you want". Somehow I was pretty clear about it this time around and after driving a small Hyundai for 7 years.

Because of the "diesel" preference, half the cars were knocked off and finally we decided to book the MG Astor (petrol, wife's choice so couldn't say no)and Kia Sonet Diesel MT GTX+. This happened on April 19.

I anyway did not want the MG Astor and one fine day I received a mail saying there is a price hike. Used this to cancel the booking and get the refund. Meanwhile I was asking the dealer about my Sonet. and so it happened. Someone couldn't arrange the finance and dealer gave me an option to pickup the Sparkling Silver option. Although I had booked red colour, but then again i don't usually pay much heed to all these things so I said fine and accepted.

Next day I made the payment and decided the delivery date as 22nd June. Before doing so, I visited the dealership to check out various available accessories. Did not take anything that was chrome. Took essentials like mud flaps etc. I have a 15 month old son so thought he might enjoy the CocoMelon videos while driving, so booked a rear entertainment system for about INR 44000. It is yet to come. Dealership says may take about 10 days. Will post an update once it gets fitted.

Delivery experience was great. I have read a lot of bad reviews about those but for me it was good. The vehicle was ready as per the promise.

Next day it was my parents marriage anniversary so decided to take them to Mahad Ashtavinayk Darshan which is a short drive from Pune.

Fuel efficiency: 21.9 KM/L. Total Kms 158.1 Kms.

Next day I had a hearing in Mumbai so took the car. Light city traffic in the morning in Pune, Expressway and then bumper to bumper trafiic in Mumbai ,While coming back there was light traffic in Pune. I was able to achieve 23.7 Km/L and covered 302 Kms.

I always drive between 85-95 kmph, always soft on the pedal.

I hope to share more regarding my travels soon.

Thanks.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The iMT is a breeze. Driving this car in the city is much more comfortable than the manual transmission.

BHPian roadheat recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello,

Thought of sharing a review of my recently purchased Kia Sonet Anniversary Edition iMT petrol. Its been 2 months and have driven approximately 500kms.

Booking:

I had booked this car in January 2022, well informed by the sales advisors that it will take atleast 4-5months for the delivery. So I had offered them two options: HTX iMT petrol , or the Anniversary Edition iMT. And I was okay with any color from White,Black, Gray & Silver. I kept inquiring every fortnight for any update & by March, I was pretty tired of waiting. One day the sales guy told me that there was an allocation that was available, it was a Gravity Gray Anniversary Edition iMT Petrol. and asked me if I was interested. I accepted the offer provided I get a pre delivery inspection & got them to share the VIN No. which was (Feb 2022). So we went ahead with the registration procedure & got delivery of the car post Holi.

* The SA insisted on installing a lot of add ons like chrome bars etc. but I chose only the floor mats. I did not want any cosmetic addons since I was already buying the Anniversary Edition.

I will break down the hits & misses about the car.

Hits

• Interior: The car feels plush with the dual tone interior, feels very roomy and big inside. Its perfect for a family car. I put seat covers with a stitch that enhances the look, although factory seats are also fabulous. I had to put seat covers since i have a kid and its not easy maintaining the factory seat covers. The 8" Touch Screen with wireless phone projection is another plus point. The whole interior has a leatherette finish which feels very premium.
• Exterior: Looks great with its sporty accents. The Gravity Gray looks buffed compared to the White, Silver. & Black. The front obviously looks awesome with the tiger nose grill. The R16 Alloy Wheels compliment well.
• Drive: The iMT is a breeze. Driving this car in the city is much more comfortable than the manual transmission. The crawl mode in 1st gear is a boon in bumper to bumper traffic. On highways, it can be really powerful when the turbo kicks in.
• Suspension/Handling: Suspension is great in city & on highways. Car absorbs a good amount of vibrations off the road.
• Auto Headlamps: Headlamps turn on / off , automatically when you start/stop the car.
• Welcome Mirrors:The car's ORVMs open automatically when you walk towards the car.
• Keyless ignition: You can start the car with your keys from outside. That's a cool feature to be able to ignite your engine before you walk in and have it ready to drive. Inbuilt rear window retractable sun screen is great to have in the summers.
• Boot Space: Huge boot space to accommodate luggage for a family of 4. No complaints.

After sales service has been great so far.

Misses:

• Rear Wiper: Rear Wiper should have been provided. Feels like it is so little to provide when you are offering so many features on the car.
• Inbuilt Navigation: Wireless Phone projection is not compatible with many phones. Seems like they have a software issue which is not yet resolved. one of the Sales Advisor at service centre told me that its incompatible with the iPhone 13 as well & those customers were left absolutely disappointed.
• Tyres: I am not sure about this. Is it the size of the car to tyres or my driving style, but the tyres really feel drifty at turns. I can feel a slight drift in the car.
• Panel Gaps: This is one big concern. the car has a lot of cuts & curves which means as many body gaps. & i live next to a playground, so i have so much dirt accumulating in these body gaps that its impossible to clean this on a daily basis.
• Rear Side / Port Glass: Looks fantastic, but it needs to be cleaned / wiped accordingly. After such a short while, you can see some wipe marks on the glass, (the car cleaner must have wiped it with the regular cloth)
• Paint: The Gravity Gray somehow does not feel like a deep paint. The Black & White both look like they are deep paints, however the gravity gray feels like a layer lesser than the black / white colors. Even the black plastic moulds at the bottom , over the wheels etc feel like they need regular polishing. They lose their shine & catch white stains when washed with regular water / cloth.
• First Service: The Car felt less responsive in the 1st/2nd gear after the first service. It felt like as if they turned off the Turbo. I got it checked with the advisor/engineer, took a few test drives. They said that there is nothing wrong with it. I still feel that the turbo response has been changed. ( maybe the turbo kicked in previously at 2000rpm, & now its 3000rpm).
• Overtaking: One has to be cautious while maneuvering a overtake in the iMT. It may not be as responsive as a manual transmission and you will need to spend sometime driving the iMT to understand how the car behaves.
• Mileage: I get a mileage of 10kmpl , and the advisors at the service centre state that 10kmpl is an acceptable mileage for city driving.
• Turning Radius: I find the Turning Radius very inconvenient to make turns/u-turns. There have been times when the turning has been inadequate for parking lot ramps at certain malls. Compared to the Nissan Micra I have, the turning radius of the Sonet is very bad.

Overall, I am very happy with the purchase & love the drive. I have bought it as a family car & it satisfies all my major requirements. Looking forward to some long drives soon. Would definitely recommend the Kia Sonet iMT (buy the HTX variant or above for features).

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

My father was initially keen on buying a new compact SUV for about 15 lakhs for my mom and continuing to use his 2013 Ertiga for his daily commute.

BHPian Yash98 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

This thread is for my parents who live in Mumbai. They are both corporate employees who drive themselves to work, with my mother traveling 60 kms per day and father traveling about 12 kms per day to and from office.

We are currently in the process of buying a new car and are faced with a dilemma. My father was initially keen on buying a new CSUV for about 15 lakhs for my mom and continuing to use his 2013 Ertiga for his daily commute. However upon discussing further we also began considering buying two new hatchbacks for both mom and dad. So we are now in a dilemma and need your guidance to help us make the correct choice. I have outlined some key points below:

Criteria:

• Comfortable front seats (the car will mostly have 1 or 2 occupants 90% of the time).
• Good fit and finish of interiors (our 2013 Ertiga has aged in typical Maruti fashion).
• Preferably a peppy yet frugal petrol engine (Thanks to 110+ rupee fuel prices in Mumbai).
• Android Auto, reverse camera, 2 or more airbags, ABS+EBD as mandatory features
• Minimal Niggles (since my parents do not have the time to keep visiting the showroom during the week).
• Mom's car will preferably be an automatic.

Pro hatchback:

• Congestion in Mumbai has made driving a nightmare and hatchbacks are much easier to maneuver and maintain.
• We believe that hatchbacks offer 80+% features of a CSUV at half the price, so why pay extra.
• City drivability of most hatchbacks is good due to the engine being tuned for city driving.
• If we do need to switch to EVs in the future, we can easily sell one car and upgrade, thus reducing the initial investment today.

Pro CSUV:

• It will be a true upgrade and we can also become part of the recent hype around this segment.
• They offer better road presence and dad feels can command more respect on the road.
• Taller driving position and ability to better maneuver potholed roads in Mumbai monsoons.
• The neighbors will like this option more.

Top Contenders:

Hatchbacks:

Hyundai Grand I10 Nios, Suzuki Ignis, Suzuki Swift, Tata Tiago (though worried about niggles).

CSUV:

Kia Sonet, Vitara Brezza, Tata Nexon (Possible niggles).

Looking forward to hearing from you guys!

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Car prices today are insane. 15-lakhs isn't a lot of money to buy two good cars. A garage with an Ertiga + Compact SUV is superior to one with two 7.5-lakh rupee hatchbacks.

Retain the Ertiga, it's only 9 years old anyway, and spend the entire 15-lakhs on a great compact SUV. That way, you have two nice cars in the garage. My top choice would be the Kia Sonet. Avoid the AMTs.

Here's what BHPian lamborghini had to say on the matter:

If the Ertiga is in good condition, it makes sense to retain it and get a new auto CSUV, but at the same time it's 9 years old and maybe lacking some safety kit (depending on trim) and creature comforts : if not today, you may have to replace it in the near future.

Personally, I would look for 2 good pre-owned automatics: low run, within warranty, with clean service and accident / flood / damage history.

Main reason: better value, you get to avoid the bane of the AMTs.

My pick would be a low run 2020 Honda Amaze diesel CVT (the width will be easy for your mother to drive + diesel for her higher running) for around 9L, paired with a manual Brezza / Ertiga lower trim but newer model with safety kit for around 7L.

Here's what BHPian condor had to say on the matter:

My suggestion - one hatchback, one slightly bigger for when the need comes up. One of these can be a used one. You should be able to do it in the 15L range this way.

You have not mentioned if the re-sale value of the two cars is being included in the 15L. The Ertiga is a bit old now, apart from the ageing. Time to let it go.

Here's what BHPian sunilch had to say on the matter:

What niggles are you referring to from both Tata products? These both are selling since long and in good numbers. I don't expect niggles but ASS can be a gamble I guess.

I don't the see S-Cross there. It is a good car and AT available in petrol. It isn't an SUV but a good hatchback with good space and fit-finish as you desire.

Do consider a pre-owned one - S-Cross AT might be rare in the pre-owned market so MT can be considered. A new Tiago can be combined with it.

Sunil

Here's what BHPian mkumar79 had to say on the matter:

Ertiga, even if aged, is immensely practical and can surely hold up the overall fight against any of the new CSUV kids. Your Dad seems happy with it as well.

In my view, it would be better to be dealing with the one known good service center and even better if it's a Maruti Suzuki. So the new Brezza with the 6AT and subdued front stance fits best for your Mom.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

As I don't like changing things, I would keep this car easily for 10 years atleast so I am confused if I should wait for the new Brezza.

BHPian Snowflakes recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians,

I need your valuable inputs in buying our first car (automatic).

At the start of this year we had shortlisted the Ecosport & Polo as one of our next cars, but then the rumours of ford shutting shop started and we put our purchase on hold. Then we started looking at the Polo but could not get hold of one before it was discontinued.

I haven't considered Kia or Hyundai cars for there safety aspects. Decided not to go for the XUV300 & Nexon as they are AMTs and their ASS is a hit or a miss.

Now I have narrowed down the search to the S-Cross Zeta version. I know lot of people have mentioned it's a 4 speed AT but after reading multiple reviews here I felt it should suffice my needs. In a year I may travel around 10k kms. Now with this news coming out should I go ahead with this booking as nearby Nexa dealer has promised a delivery within next 6 weeks or should I drop this car as it's reaching it's end of life. As I don't like changing things, I would keep this car easily for 10 years atleast so I am confused if I should wait for the new Brezza. The reason for not pursuing the Brezza is the wait times would be atleast 4-6 months at the time of launch.

So, need your advice on whether I should go ahead with this purchase or look for which other cars.

Here's what BHPian amol4184 had to say on the matter:

• IMO, we are at a pivotal point in the life of S-Cross and waiting out all upcoming launches by Maruti would be wiser because:
• MS will probably launch the next gen S-Cross which looks like an entirely new (and better looking) car compared to current one.

You are going to hang on to the car for 10 years which is a long time. I personally would not want to get stuck with last of the generation old product that does not have anything exceptional going on for it. I mean its not a bad car but its not iconic in the way the VW Polo is/was.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Ford service experience has been fantastic so far over the years, and I will hope that it stays that way.

BHPian ABH_1512 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Service update:

Baahon recently completed the 1,30,000 kms mark and the service was done accordingly at the FASS (Ganges Ford) here in Calcutta. Some of the parts needed replacement after this long period of ownership and hence the service bill was on the higher side due to the parts change and the corresponding labour charges.

Parts changed:

• Rear Shock Absorber (RH)
• Engine Mount
• Bar bush stabiliser
• Steering Rack

The normal service included the following routine items and were duly changed as per schedule:

• Engine Oil
• Air Filter
• Oil Filter

So, apart from the regular service and all the work involving the change of parts, the total cost came to around ₹ 33,000. In the case of the steering rack, the good folks at Ford and the dealer offered me a 30% discount as goodwill warranty and hence saving me some bucks in the process. The service experience has been fantastic so far over the years, and I will hope that it stays that way.

Now, the steering rack was changed since I was getting a constant sound while moving on uneven roads and it got amplified due to the recent North Sikkim sojourn.

Turned out, after the trip, the right side shock absorber also went kaput since coming out of the factory and had to be changed and so was the engine mount. Now, after the change of parts, the car just feels like new again and I am now very inclined to give it an inside makeover as I might have mentioned earlier as well. No fixed timeline though, since the interiors doesn’t need much fixing. May be, changing the seat covers will give the car a fresh look.

Some pictures of recent times, just to get some attention:

The present odometer reading stands at 1,30,530 kms and Baahon is chugging along nicely.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.