I have tested vehicles like Citroen C3, Tata Tiago, Tata Punch, Nissan Magnite, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Renault Kwid and Kiger.
BHPian OctyBoy recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Why the need for a new car?
I live in the Delhi NCR region, and this year, the previous car met its fate and was scrapped. I don’t have a car at present and find it quite difficult to move with family for leisure travels and outings. This has brought me into the car market.
My Major Requirements:
- Vehicle should preferably be Petrol (15-year validity in NCR) along with lower running mainly just for recreational purposes.
- Preferably manual transmission since running would anyway be less.
- Good after-sales experience with cheap maintenance costs.
- Safe and reliable to run.
What Car to choose?
Due to the budget requirement that I’ve set up, I’m finding that I don’t have many choices in the new car market, which is further compounded by the exit of Ford and the discontinuation of the Polo. Moreover, I’d want to preferably avoid cars from the Maruti Suzuki stable due to safety concerns, as mostly I won’t be travelling alone (I might be the one in the minority but I still don’t have faith in Maruti for safety even after New Dzire’s 5-star crash test rating).
I have tested the following offerings in the new car market and here are my observations that I’ve recorded:
1) Nissan Magnite
Fairly nice offering from Nissan but the recent developments with Nissan globally are stopping me from going forward with this. Moreover, I’ve doubts regarding the after-sales service for a brand that’s struggling to survive with a single car in its portfolio.
2) Renault Kwid and Kiger
I found the Kwid a little too tight for someone sitting just behind my driver’s position. Again, the service concern exists similar to Nissan.
3) Hyundai Grand i10 NIOS
A good and comfortable car for the price. It ticks all major aspects like a refined engine, low NVH, smooth and easy controls along with a good after-sales service. Shortlisted.
4) Citroen C3
I can only get the NA engine within my budget. Two of my personal observations:
- The gear shifting wasn’t as smooth as something like, say a Honda or a Hyundai (I don’t know whether it had anything to do with my just my specific unit).
- The driver ergonomics weren’t the best, in my opinion.
Lastly, I’d also like to highlight the fact that I found the dealership guys’ behaviour very unprofessional. Firstly, they refused to be able to bring the vehicle to my home for a test drive on weekends, citing that they have huge footfalls during weekends (I don’t know if they have such high footfalls then why are they the last on the sales chart each month). Secondly, I don’t want to prolong the ordeal but what’s the most interesting fact is that they finally arrived at my residence and guess what day it was – Saturday.
5) Tata Tiago
It has received an update in terms of the equipment on offer in 2025. Space wise nice and the best in terms of safety for the price, however, its reverse gear seemed to get stuck and required re-slotting even by the SA who first tried to sweep my concerns under the rug. Not very impressed by the executive’s approach at just this initial stage, when I’ve been warned many times regarding the bad service experience with Tata (probably a trailer to say the least).
6) Tata Punch
Not test driven yet.
In the pre-owned market, I’m looking at offerings mainly from the Honda stable (primarily City) due to their 10-year unconditional warranty, E20 compliance even on older models, fairly safe and reliable offerings. The major concern in going the used route is that no one in my family has yet purchased one. However, I’m looking at a few direct owner listings of the 4th gen City which are within my budget and around the 30k – 40k odo mark (kindly suggest if these around 4 – 5 year old specimens are worth going after).
Pros of a New Car:
- Stress-free ownership from the get-go.
- Full manufacturer warranty (along with warranty extension options).
Cons of a New Car:
- Higher depreciation
- Lack of basic features like a rear camera (due to the budget constraints). Fitting these from outside would likely void the warranty for the electricals, at the very least.
- Narrow selection of models fitting in the budget.
Pros of a Pre-Owned Car:
- Wider selection of models.
- Most models have all the essential equipment I’m looking at like rear camera, electronic ORVMs, rear ac vents, etc.
- Vehicle from a higher segment in many cases.
Cons of a Pre-Owned Car:
- Inspection required by a mechanic before purchase.
- Lack of manufacturer warranty (Honda is an odd one out as it’s offering a 10-year unconditional warranty on its offerings).
I’ve set up a list of pros and cons for both options. I would be enlightened if other experts on the forum could comment on my choice of cars in both pre-owned and new options and add their opinions on the vehicles considered, as well as suggest more options post analysing my requirements.
I’d also like to know of places/services for pre-owned vehicle inspection for those who suggest the pre-owned route. If any BHPian wants to tag along/give leads for pre-owned options, I’d be more than happy to talk.
Here’s what GTO replied:
Entry-level cars have gotten expensive, and 8 lakhs gets you new models with many compromises.
For 8 lakhs, you should just get a used City or Creta. Am also seeing many Sonets & Seltos in the 8 – 9 lakh range (asking price). Can’t go wrong with any of these.
If you have to buy new, then the i10 Nios, Swift and C3 Turbo (Turbo only). The last two are lots of fun to drive.
Here’s what BHPian AJ56 replied:
Get a Camry from 2014, you’ll get excellent condition, low-mileage, single-owner cars for around 6-6.5L. It’ll go for 4 years straight till 2029, after which you can sell it for 2-3L and get another used one.
I picked up a 2013 for just 6.8L. Keep 2-3L aside for basic maintenance like fluids, brakes, tyres and suspension and you’ll be set. Mine had 66k kms, single owner and had only gone to the dealer for services. These three points are non negotiable, walk away from any car that doesn’t meet all 3.
I’ve had it for nearly a year now and couldn’t be happier. Ride quality is even better than my Accord, super silent cabin with excellent NVH. Decent straight line performance, hits 100 in 8.5 seconds. Servicing at the dealer is relatively cheap.
Except manual, it meets all your requirements perfectly and is much safer than the other micro cars you’re considering buying new. City too is ultimately a small car and not very stable at high speeds in crosswinds on highways. Going up a size gets you more power and stability (and safety).
Here’s what Bhpian Himanshu_trikha replied:
For a New Car
I bought a Baleno Delta AGS under 8 lakhs for city commute this December, the offers are still going around.
This was preferred over Swift Due to the 3 pot engine in the New Swift.
Grand i10 was not considered since Baleno offered better value for money.
Reliability of the car was a factor in consideration as this is used a beater City car with Multiple drivers.
For an Old Car:
Pick a used Sonnet, ticks comfort and features and looks better than Venue IMHO.
Honda City is a great car, but then the practicality offered by Crossovers is unmatched.
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