I am looking to buy a new car and my budget is Rs 15 lakh. My biggest priority is a comfortable ride that can filter out jerks from speed breakers and potholes. Are there equipments or devices that can be fitted to a car to drastically improve the ride quality? I also request you to let me know the fuel efficiency figures of the cars you suggest.
Jignesh Desai, via email
Autocar India says: Since low-speed ride comfort is a priority, do consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or the mild hybrid variants of the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder – all three are built on the same Suzuki platform. All these SUVs tackle bad roads competently and absorb shocks well. Further, their suspension feels solid, giving confidence over bad roads.
In their mild-hybrid-manual iteration, expect about 10.5-11kpl in the city, although this figure could vary based on driving style and traffic conditions. Between the three, choose whichever you think looks better, and based on what equipment you are getting for Rs 15 lakh.
Among MPVs, the Ertiga is a great option, and it has the same engine-gearbox combo as the others. Another option worth considering is the MG Astor, which is tuned to offer excellent low-speed ride thanks to its soft suspension set-up. The 1.5 non-turbo petrol’s fuel efficiency is likely to be in the same ballpark as the aforementioned cars.
To improve ride comfort, there isn’t any device as such. However, do experiment with different tyre pressures from time to time (increase or decrease) till you find the right balance. You’ll be surprised to know how much of a difference tyre pressures make on ride quality.
