Hello all.
I am looking to buy a new car in the next 3-4 months (if the current Covid situation improves). My current ride is a 2010 i20 petrol (Magna variant), which has fulfilled my needs. I am looking to replace this car as it is ageing and lacks certain creature comforts. However, the space and levels of fit and finish offered by the i20 (by 2010 standards) are impressive. Hence, I am looking for a spacious (5- or 7 seater) car driven mostly by me, as our family has regular trips to our second home and we require to carry stuff. My yearly running is approx. 5K to 6K km. My driving style is mostly sedate, so I am not considering a fast, performance-based hatchback or sedan, but overall the new car should be a bit fun to drive (this factor is missing in my i20 because the engine is not enough for the car’s built and weight).
I have listed my basic requirements and some options that I considered after reading initial and ownership reviews on Team-BHP.
Note that I have not test-driven any of the cars mentioned below, but I will test drive them once the Covid situation improves.
Requirements
1. Budget: Max. INR 10L OTR in Mumbai (±25K). Cannot exceed this budget.
2. Fuel: Petrol (and/or CNG if available)
3. Transmission: Preferably automatic (AMT, CVT, TC, etc. My only experience driving automatics is with my cousin’s 2016 Baleno CVT, which I found to be smooth and drove a couple of times. Therefore, please suggest me which type of automatic variant to consider.)
4. Space: Spacious cabin (for 5 people or occasionally 6 people) and boot because of the reasons mentioned earlier.
5. Safety: 2 or more airbags, ABS (which is common in most new cars today), defogger plus rear wash and wipe, and ISOFIX seats (if available)
6. Service centers: Should be reasonably close (I live in North Mumbai) and overall experience should be above average (my overall experience with Hyundai was quite good)
7. Looks and ride quality: Clean looks without too many cuts and creases. Less amount of chrome. A high GC is welcome. Should have a stable ride quality on city roads and highways (either when travelling alone or with passengers). i20's ride quality is so-so.
8. Gizmos and infotainment: I am not techno savvy, so the less number of gadgets or gizmos the better. No wireless charging, no sunroof, and no digital instrument clusters (I prefer analogue clusters.
) However, steering-mounted audio+call controls and a touchscreen infotainment system (with navigation assistance and decent sound output) are welcome.
Options considered
First of all, I am not particularly interested in Hyundai cars, as, from my experience, the costs to maintain Hyundai cars are high as the cars age (service costs in metro cities and spare parts are quite expensive). For this reason, since few years, I have been servicing my i20 at my FNG. In addition, I am not fond of the new design language adopted by Hyundai. Second, I am not considering sedans because of their low-slung seating position (I suffer from occasional low backache) and also I find hatchbacks easy to drive and park. The only sedan I liked because of its high stance was the Maruti SX4, which has sadly been discontinued. However, I am open to consider any sedan (compact or otherwise) with a high seating position.
I did some research on online car portals and found the following cars to match most of my requirements and within my budget. I have listed only the major positives and negatives for each car per my opinion (and no offence is meant to any existing/prospective car owners).
A. Renault Triber: This is the car that meets most of my requirements, and the topmost dual-tone automatic variant is in my budget. Positives: Flexi-seating capability and a large boot when used as a 5-seater car. Good levels of equipment in the 2021 refresh version. Negatives: Underpowered 1L engine (when the car is loaded to its capacity). Nonexistent front and rear bumpers. Also, no experience with Renault’s after sales and service in the immediate family or friend circle.
B. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga: In my current budget (10L OTR in Mumbai), I can afford only the Vxi petrol or CNG version, which lacks some safety features, such as rear defogger and wash, and a good infotainment system. Positives: Spacious for 5 or 7 people and their luggage. Decent 1.5L engine. Presence of a Maruti service center nearby. Negatives: Too big to drive in crowded areas (this is my opinion though and not a negative point). Li-ion battery used in the vehicle is expensive; also, the car requires a minimum of 30 minutes of running per week to charge the battery (as per official Team-BHP review).
C. Tata Nexon: The number and combination of variants are mindboggling, so I haven’t mentioned any particular variant here. Positives: 5* safety. Good front looks. Decent level of equipment. Negatives: Rear looks. Too many variants, which is confusing.
D. Maruti Suzuki Breeza: Positives: Decent looks (except front chrome grill) and equipment. High GC. Negatives: Below-average interiors and quality (A friend of mine who owned the previous version complained that interiors used to rattle like a ‘compass box’, so I don’t know if the quality of interiors has improved in the refreshed version.) Li-ion battery cost and maintenance.
E. Ford Ecosport: This was my dream car when it was launched in 2013. Positives: Good looks. Negatives: Expensive. I can afford only the Trend variant within my budget and it is not that feature rich. Less space for 3 people at the back.
I am particularly inclined towards the Renault Triber, but the negatives listed above make me reconsider my decision. Existing owners please throw light on the car’s performance when it is loaded to its capacity. I would also request fellow BHPians to suggest me other options that I may have missed (even upcoming cars).
@ Moderators: Please merge this post in an appropriate thread if required.
Thanks and stay safe.