[avi550m]

Background

My cousin has been driving a 2003 wagonR handed down from his brother for over a decade now. He is now looking for an upgrade from the wagonR for himself and his wife. They have a budget of around Rs. 8 lakhs max (stretchable to 8.5) OTR Bangalore. Being a car enthusiast, I decided to help him in his purchase decision by researching the various models and making recommendations. When he shifts back to Bangalore this month, we will go for test drives. Until then, I have visited various dealers and tried out the models which are within the price range.

Safety Aspect

A key aspect in this purchase decision is safety. This is because a few close relatives had died in a road accident a couple of years back. Based on this requirement, I have removed the following cars from consideration (NCAP Rating in Brackets):

• Maruti Wagon R (2 Stars)
• Maruti Ignis (3 Stars)
• Maruti Swift/Dzire (2 Stars)
• Hyundai i10/Aura (2 Stars)

This left us with the following models:

• Tata – Tiago, Tigor, Altroz
• Honda – Amaze, Jazz
• Nissan – Magnite
• Renault – Kiger
• Ford – Figo, Freestyle
• VW – Polo
• Maruti – Baleno

Intended Usage

Normally, the vehicle would have been used primarily for the office commute and the occasional outstation trip. With Covid and work-from-home becoming a staple, commuting should be lower but still the form the majority of the driving. I tried to convince him of Automatics, but he is most comfortable with a Manual.


Features to Consider

Given that the wagonR was pretty bare-bones in terms of features (no central locking, manual windows etc), we are definitely looking for a well-featured car.
Here are some of the features which I would consider essential:

Safety Features
2 Airbags, ABS+EBD, Rear Window Defogger, Wash and Wipe, Day/Night IRVM

Comfort and Convenience
Stereo System with 4 Speakers, Steering mounted controls, Electrically foldable ORVMs, Rear Parking Sensors, One Shot Auto Up/Down Drivers Window

Of course, I would prefer more features if possible, like Automatic Climate Control, Touchscreen stereo with Android Auto, Remote Keyless Entry, Rear Parking Camera etc. But those are nice-to-haves, if we can fit them within budget, great.
Also, the car has be available in grey colour.


Active vs Passive Safety – Is NCAP Everything?

Intially, they were very enthusiastic about the Tata Altroz since it is the only 5 star NCAP car in consideration. But, I thought, there is more to safety than just passive safety, which NCAP tests. Rather, I wanted to also look at active safety, which means avoiding the accident.

For that, it meant having a powerful engine (for quicker, safer overtakes), good sized tyres (for braking), good visibility front and back, features like Day/Night IRVM, Rear Defogger, Fog Lamps, Traction Control, ESP etc.

Also, reliability and peace of mind when servicing are important factors. Normally, I would just say Maruti since me and my relatives have had good experiences with a Baleno saloon, 800, A-Star and this wagonR. But with the recent threads on team-bhp, it seems like Maruti’s quality is deteriorating.

Of course, the other contenders have their own issues and reputations to consider as well.


Visiting each dealer, trying out the car and my observations: (Contenders are listed from Lowest to Highest Price OTR Bangalore):

As my cousin is relocating this month, I spent the last few weeks visiting various dealers and trying out the cars to get an initial impression. Of course, the test drives would be left to him, since it is ultimately he who would be driving the car and he has to find it suitable for his requirements. All prices listed here are inclusive of the extended warranty, something I recommend he get, less any current discounts available.

1. Tata Tiago (XZ/XZ+)

Prices:

• XZ: 7.45 lakhs – 15k cash discount – 10k exchange bonus
• XZ+: 7.79 lakhs – 15 k cash discount – 10k exchange bonus

Waiting Period: 6 – 8 weeks

Impressions:

Pros:
+ Good solid feel
+ Very well equipped with all safety features
+ 4 star NCAP Rating
+ Relatively good rearward visibility compared
+ The cheapest car here
+ Good sound system

Cons:
- That three cylinder engine is definitely the noisiest and most vibration filled of all the cars under consideration
- 6 month service interval is annoying
- I went to two tata dealers, and the service levels were poor in each case. The salesperson was not interested in showing me the cars in one location, and was busy chatting with his friends while showing me the car in another
- Boot space is relatively small at 242 litres


2. Nissan Magnite (XL/XV/XL Turbo)

Prices:

• 1.0 XL: 7.36 lakhs (No offers)
• 1.0 XV: 8.17 lakhs
• XL Turbo: 8.53 lakhs

Waiting Period: 4-5 months

Impressions:

Pros:
+ Great VFM, for the same price as a Tiago you get a well-specced XL model with most essential features
+ 4 Star NCAP Rating
+ Feels solid and roomy with a big boot
+ 1.0 Turbo engine version should be fast enough for most highway jaunts

Cons:
- A big gamble with Nissan’s after-sales and support (as per their reputation, team bhp and google reviews)
- Huge waiting period
- The 1.0 engine may not be powerful enough to be sprightly on the highway
- Heavy clutch and notch gear lever
- Dealer was not very enthusiastic, I guess the success of the Magnite has gone into their heads
- Doesn’t come in grey (though the dark brown looks quite good)


3. Renault Kiger RXL/RXT

Prices:

• RXL: 7.54 lakhs (No offers)
• RXT: 8.09 lakhs

Waiting Period: 2-3 months


Pros:
+ Like the Magnite, a lot of car for the money
+ 4 Star NCAP Rating (should be since it is the Magnites sister car)
+ Renault’s after sales should be better than Nissan’s

Cons:
- Same as the Magnite regarding the engine, clutch and gearshift
- Is less feature packed while costing more
- Only available in a light grey colour


4.Tata Tigor XZ/XZ+

Prices:

• XZ: 8.15 lakhs – 15k cash discount – 15k exchange bonus
• XZ+: 8.90 lakhs – 15k cash discount – 15k exchange bonus

Waiting Period: 8-10 weeks

Pros:
+ Basically a stretched Tiago with a huge boot
+ 4 Star NCAP Rating

Cons:
- That three cylinder engine is definitely the noisiest and most vibration filled of all the cars under consideration
- 6 month service interval is annoying
- Rear visbility is worse than the Tiago
- The XZ+ is priced in Altroz territory


5. Maruti Baleno Delta/Zeta

Prices:

• Delta: 8.04 lakhs – 7.5k cash discount – 10k exchange offer
• Zeta: 8.79 lakhs – 7.5 k cash discont – 10k exchange offer

Waiting Period: 2-4 weeks

Pros:
+ NEXA sales experience was the best among all dealers
+ The K12 engine is smooth, refined and powerful
+ Very well featured, with the Delta variant having Auto Climate Control, Remote Keyless Entry, Rear Defogger, Wash Wipe
+ Maruti’s after-sales and service network

Cons:
- Definitely feels the lightest of all cars in this comparison
- 3 Star Euro NCAP Rating
- Relatively Poor rear visibility
- Crowded service centers


6. Ford Figo Titanium Blu/Freestyle Titanium:

Prices:

• Figo Titanium Blu: 8.78 Lakhs – 15k cash discount
• Freestyle Titanium: 8.78 lakhs -20k cash discount

Waiting Period: 2-4 weeks

Pros:
+ Powerful 95 bhp engine
+ Titanium Blu comes with 6 Airbags, Freestyle comes with Traction Control, ESP
+ A couple of relatives have Ecosports and are happy with Ford’s after-sales
+ Good 190mm clearance for the Freestyle

Cons:
- Questions about Ford’s long term-commitment to India (want to avoid a repeat of the Chevrolet situation)
- Not as solid as I thought it would be
- Missing features for the price like Android Auto, Rear Washer (Freestyle), Rear Parcel Tray etc.
- Small boot at 256 litres


7. Honda Amaze S

Price: 8.48 lakhs – 12.5k cash discount – 10k exchange offer
Waiting Period: 2 - 4 weeks

Pros:
+ Smooth and refined engine and gearbox
+ Good cabin ergonomics and visibility
+ Huge boot space

Cons:
- Worried about in-city driveability due to poor low-end torque
- No rear defogger
- Only Honda service center nearby Whitefield has poor google reviews
- Feels reasonably well built but not solid like the Tatas and VW

8. Tata Altroz XM+/XT

Price:

• XM+: 8.29 Lakhs (No offers)
• XT: 8.92 Lakhs

Waiting Period: 8 – 10 weeks

Pros:
+ 5 Star NCAP Rating
+ Feels solid and well built
+ Good highway stability

Cons:
- Unrefined 3 cylinder engine
- Missing features like Day/Night IRVM (XM+), Rear Defogger and wash wipe (both variants), Rear Speakers (XM+), One Touch Down Power Window (XM+)
- The XT is well featured but is close to Rs. 9 lakhs, a bit of a stretch for my cousins budget
- Rear visibility is abysmal, according to me
- New Tata product, so don’t trust its track record, unlike Tiago and Tigor


9. VW Polo Turbo

Price: 8.58 Lakhs (No offers)
Waiting Period: 2-3 months

Pros:
+ Feels very solid, esp the ways the door close with a thunk
+ Powerful turbo-petrol engine
+ Good highway manners

Cons:
- Is an 11 year old model
- VW’s after sales and service
- Is lacking certain essential features like Steering mounted audio controls, rear power window controls for driver, Electrically foldable ORVMs

10. Honda Amaze V

Price: 9.34 lakhs – 15k cash discount – 15k exchange bonus
Waiting Period: 2-4 weeks

Pros:
+ Huge amount of space and good visibility
+ Good cabin ergonomics
+ Smooth refined engine
+ Reputation for reliability
+ 4 Star NCAP Rating

Cons:
- Is definitely a stretch for the budget
- Whitefield Honda’s after-sales has poor reviews
- Missing features like auto-foldable ORVMs, Android Auto for the price
- Poor A/C Performance
- 6 Month service interval is annoying

Conclusion:

Personally, I think coming from the wagonR, the Jazz would be the best upgrade, since it is an effortless city commuter with good visibility and large windows. Of course, it is not really VFM, for those there are the Tata Tiago and Nissan Magnite. The Magnite and Kiger are good but may be dropped since they are relatively new products and the poor after-sales service. I like the Ford twins, but they lack boot space. The Baleno is the most VFM, but its light build and 3 Star NCAP Rating are big negatives. The Polo is something for the heart rather than the head. The Tigor and Amaze are good, but I feel relatively feature light compared to the hatchbacks. The Altroz is sturdy, but lacks the good engine for the price.

What would you recommend from these choices, based on safety, reliability, ease of driving and general overall quality and after-sales.

[car_guy1998]

I would suggest you to have a look at Polo only if you are concerned about the safety as it has better engine, drivability and better build quality when compared to the Baleno.

Or, if you want to stretch the budget, then go for Magnite/Kiger.

[akash_v12]

Originally Posted by avi550m

Background
My cousin has been driving a 2003 wagonR handed down from his brother for over a decade now.

Although all the options you've listed here are good, I'm going to eliminate them one by one.

1. Tata Tiago/Tigor = Great VFM & Safety but still lack the engine to match.
2. Nissan Magnite/Renault Kiger = I wouldn't recommend any freshly-launched products from these brands until at least the issues of the 1st batch are sorted.
3. Maruti Baleno = Far from safe + not that VFM anymore.
4. Ford Twins = You've mentioned it yourself, lack of boot space but still holds as my 4th best option.

So, those are the few cars I'd remove before making a decision.

Options left:

1. VW Polo = Great engine, well built. Lacks the rear-legroom but from the 5 years of owning the Vento, I can tell you that it is one of the best, most-sorted cars in this segment. And seeing that he's going to keep the car for quite long, it's a good option.

2. Tata Altroz = Great build, good rear legroom but again lacks the engine. If he could stretch to ₹10L, I'd ask you to go for the iTurbo. But then again, the Polo stands much better in terms of the engine. So, this will not be my choice.

3. Honda Amaze = The only sedan in this list. A very good car with loads of legroom (relative to the hatches) but again the engines are not the best. The last few years have been very difficult for Honda. Still, it remains the 2nd choice for me.

So, for me, if it was just for the engine, hands down it'll be the Polo. But, he might require the rear legroom in the future and so it'll be the Amaze here.

[swoosh]

Among the cars you have mentioned, Honda (Jazz/Amaze) has a neutral view on the product, after-sales, reliability, and maintenance. All other brands have one or the other issues associated and it might turn out to be a bitter experience for him if something goes wrong with a new purchase

So IMO, Honda Jazz/Amaze is the safe bet considering his experience with MS.

[antz.bin]

I don't have firsthand experience but from what I have read here on TBHP, the engine is distinctly quieter in the Tigor vs the Tiago. Do TD both back to back to understand the difference.

The same engine is also powering the Altroz, which is a great allrounder and IMO the most practical of the 3.

Figo/Freestyle are best enjoyed in their Diesel trims, I myself changed my booking to the diesel at the last moment.

If I were you, I would choose from the Altroz and the Magnite Turbo. Both are solid and practical family cars. A car is not something that we buy again and again, it's better to wait a bit, increase the budget and get the one that appeals the most to the heart. Or there will be a lot of heartache whenever you see the one that you secretly wanted.

Also, other BHPians agree with the heart argument as well. Read everything about it here: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/buyin...to-longer.html (How a more expensive car can work out cheaper (if you hold onto it for longer))

[GTO]

Always love to see such detailed queries . An opening post like this is not just a pleasure to reply to, but it also greatly helps others in the same dilemma.

Since safety is a top consideration, I would pick from these if I were him:

- Honda Amaze: Good all-rounder, safe too. The MT is typically Honda butter-smooth & light to operate. Big upgrade from his WagonR.

- Polo & Altroz, but the latter just in the turbo-petrol guise. It's user-friendly & practical. Amazing highway manners too. Your cousin should extend his budget a bit.

- If open to AT / CVT, only then Nissan Magnite or Renault Kiger. Smooth CVTs, but clunky unfriendly MTs.

[avi550m]

Originally Posted by GTO

- Honda Amaze: Good all-rounder, safe too. The MT is typically Honda butter-smooth & light to operate. Big upgrade from his WagonR.

Would the Jazz be even better than the Amaze in safety and build, since it was sold in European markets and the US too. It does cost more, and the 6 month service interval is unnecessary since it shares the same engine as the Amaze, but i find it to be a natural upgrade from the WagonR, especially if one wants a reasonably tall hatchback with good visibility. However, the Amaze S may be the only Honda that fits within budget. How concerning is Honda's after sales. The only Honda service center near their area has relatively poor reviews and that's what keeping me from recommending it wholeheartedly.

[swoosh]

The fit/finish and overall quality in Jazz is better than the Amaze and thus the slightly extra premium for Jazz. If you are not looking for a sedan look and extra boot space, Jazz would be a perfect choice. It is a niggle free car. Fill it, shut it and forget it.

Regarding the Whitefiled Honda, they try to cheat the customers by jacking up the bills. Every time during the service, the SA estimates the price of 10K to 12K for 6 months service interval which is exorbitant for a small 1.2L NA engine. I generally ask them to remove all the unnecessary work and follow exactly what is recommended by Honda’s service manual which would bring the service cost between 3.5K to 5K

In terms of service quality, it is at an acceptable level. I have never had any issues so far.

[avi550m]

Originally Posted by swoosh

Regarding the Whitefiled Honda, they try to cheat the customers by jacking up the bills.

I generally ask them to remove all the unnecessary work and follow exactly what is recommended by Honda’s service manual which would bring the service cost between 3.5K to 5K

I've had the same experience with different Maruti service centers, so it's not just a Honda issue I guess. They always try and add-on items like throttle body cleaning, changing rather than cleaning filters, using fully synthetic oil by default unless I tell them, and doing a 'waxing' which is a rush job. That's why I too just show them the owners manual and tell them to do those tasks only, and I get wheel alignment/balancing done at my local tyre shop.

[manojfeb14]

I have a Honda Amaze VX CVT Petrol. Its not an enthusiast friendly car for sure but does its job just fine. Nothing to complain so far(just be careful with Ground clearance when you are on a high bump on the road). As you mentioned the space is plenty, CVT is smooth in City and Highway drive is hassle free(I occasionally use Paddle shifters and they work just fine). The reason i preferred it over Jazz was because of bigger boot(420 liters) at an onroad price almost 100k-120k less than Jazz. You have to make peace with some cost-cutting measures(like you can see wires to rear number plate lamps in the Boot, no Bonnet hood insulation etc) and interiors are not as premium as Jazz. Atleast i am fine with these negatives as they don't impact Car's functionality by any means.
Regarding Whitefield Honda service enter, I found it better than Dakshin Honda one near Garuda Mall. Had nothing to complain when i visited it last month.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by avi550m

This left us with the following models:

• Tata – Tiago, Tigor, Altroz
• Honda – Amaze, Jazz
• Nissan – Magnite
• Renault – Kiger
• Ford – Figo, Freestyle
• VW – Polo
• Maruti – Baleno

I see most of the cars in the shortlist are rather low-slung (except for the ones in bold).

After spending 9 years with a WagonR, I have never felt at home in other hatchbacks (unless it is tall boy) and sedans. The tall-boy seating posture and that large glass area visibility spoils you.

Could I suggest that your cousin takes long test drives of each of these cars before taking the final call? Also I would recommend adding Nexon and Brezza to the list - lower variants should be available in budget and would be good replacements for a WagonR.

Upgrading from a WagonR/Santro is always tricky.

[avi550m]

Originally Posted by ashis89

After spending 9 years with a WagonR, I have never felt at home in other hatchbacks (unless it is tall boy) and sedans. The tall-boy seating posture and that large glass area visibility spoils you.

Also I would recommend adding Nexon and Brezza to the list - lower variants should be available in budget and would be good replacements for a WagonR.

I know, one thing I find lacking in modern day cars is the lack of a good glass area and poor rearward visbility. Nexon and Brezza are sadly over budget, as we would only be able to get the base variant, and I do not want to skimp on certain features. That's why I find the Jazz to be the best compromise from the list above. Of course, we will try and go for long test drives in each vehicle, a mix of city traffic and ring road/highway use to get a better idea. Things like seating position, clutch and gearbox, visibility, refinement, ride quality and handling can only be known after they are experienced in a proper test drive.

[viXit]

Have to advice against Nissan for their terrible After Sales. My neighbor outright refuses to service his Terrano at the ASC, no matter how small the job

[Tapish]

I would suggest the Amaze, since it will give him a feeling of having moved up in life, it is a decent package overall and will be good for another 7-10 years looking at his current usage. He doesn't seem to have had issues with driving a 2003 WagonR for the last decade - the Amaze engine, though puny by market standards will keep him happy.

[Sk8r]

I would straight away suggest the Tiago XZ+. It's an excellent VFM package

Also, one of your con is now taken care off ( 6 months service has been updated to 1 year )