Advice needed: Pre-owned diesel hatchback for city commutes

I own a Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo for highway runs & am looking to add a diesel hatch for city commutes.

BHPian Aaakash118 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello everyone, I’m looking to buy a used beater car for city usage. Currently Venue 1.0 is the only car in garage. While that little turbo petrol is pure fun on highways, in city it becomes quite thirsty. Rising fuel costs make matter only worse. Or maybe the reason for this itch of a new car is that I always wanted to have two cars in my my garage. Long story short, I’m looking to add a diesel hatch to the garage.

Budget- 3-5 lacs.

Requirements

1. Has to be diesel, no compromises on this.
2. High ground clearance will be appreciated. The car will be used for kids’s school purpose and a patch of road in between turns into a sea during rains. Venue’s high gc has come in handy there at times.
3. Must be safe. Though it will be for city usage, I may use it on highway once in a while.
4. Maintenance cost must be low, I intend to keep this car for at least 4-5 years.
5. My last three cars have been Alto, Fabia and Venue. So want to try a brand out of these three’s.

Cars Considered

1- Ford Figo/Freestyle- As everyone knows, Ford’s 1.5 tdci is a gem and truly fun to drive. But I haven’t found many cars in the used car market. There is a 2018 Freestyle available in my area with 1.2 lac kms on board. Asking price is 4.6 lacs. Does this car make sense given the high odometer reading?

2- Fiat Punto/Avventura- The one which appeals most to heart. The cars are true head turner on road, got that tank like build quality and I expect the car to be reliable given the popularity of 1.3 Multijet. But there is almost no service network of Fiat, is that a big issue? Another thing is that almost all cars I have found are with dealers, don’t know if I can trust them or not.

3rd- Toyota Liva/Etios Cross- The most sensible entry in the list. These cars are built to last and are also quite city friendly. A dealer is asking 3.7 lacs for a 2015 Etios cross and claims it to be very little used, even the stepney is claimed to be unused. Does this car make sense?

4th (Wild Card Entry)- Maruti Brezza- The reason for considering this car is that it’s easily available on platforms like cars24 & spinny unlike the above three. So that gives some peace of mind as they offer warranty with their cars. Yes, i will have to increase my budget by 2 lacs but this in one car which impressed me even in 2019 before I zeroed down on Venue.

So, which of these can be the best beater car? And what are the things I need to keep in mind while going for one of these?

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

There are enough Figos & Aspires on the road for Ford & the aftermarket to continue supporting them. My top choice would be the Freestyle from this list. It's a lot of fun to drive and that diesel engine is a workhorse. Second & safer option would be the Etios Cross. Avoid the Avventura for ownership headaches & the Vitara Brezza for being mediocre.

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

Though the Avventura tugs at the heart, I would skip it at this time. Spares, resale, maintenance are the concerns.

To a lesser extent, the same with the Freestyle. But still, can take a chance on these.

The Etios Cross should be fine, though the ugly duckling in this list.

The Brezza is vanilla. Can do a lot, but wont stand out.

Look around, may be across the state. FB marketplace, Toyota Trust, or other sources.

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

The most fun to drive choices sadly are backed by manufacturer's who have left & have poor brand presence which could impact servicing & parts which could be a little concerning as the vehicle ages, though routine service and over the counter parts shouldn't be a big issue.

Of these, I'd pick the Liva Cross (preferably a stock model without the oversized bling alloys) or would consider stretching for the Brezza or the S-Cross 1.3 (which would probably be the more engaging option).

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

My suggestion is to go for the Freestyle. They should be available at a reasonable discount, and you are safe for at least five years with that car. You will also get a newer vehicle with Freestyle for the same money. If you have a Ford ASS nearby and don't intend to take that car on highways, settle with the Freestyle. Etios cross is rare, and it will always have the Toyota markup.

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