Mumbai

•17w

My family consists of five adults: myself, my wife, my parents, and my brother. I currently live in a different state, while my family stays in my hometown, and I visit them once every two months. During those visits, all five of us travel together, and in the next couple of years, our family size may increase to six members after my brother’s marriage. Our usage will be minimal, around 300 km per month, mostly on highways during occasional trips. I prefer an SUV-like driving position with good visibility of the bonnet. I am confused whether I should opt for a 5-seater or a 7-seater. If going for a 7-seater, I am considering the Maruti Ertiga VXI. If a 5-seater is more practical, I would like suggestions based on reliability, mileage, safety, rear seat comfort for three adults, and resale value. My budget is ₹12 lakh, and I prefer a petrol manual car with a long ownership period of around 10 years.

•17w

Your usage pattern is unique. You drive only occasionally but always with the full family, and in the near future, your family will grow to 6 members. A 5 seater will feel fine today, but it will become a limitation very quickly, especially for highway trips where comfort matters most.

The Maruti Ertiga VXi works perfectly here. It is a proper 7 seater with usable third row space, good comfort for all passengers and a relaxed driving nature for highways. It is also known for good mileage, low maintenance and strong resale, which is important since you plan to keep the car for 10 years. The petrol engine is simple and proven, and even supports E20 fuel, so it is future-ready as well.

Most importantly, it solves your core problem. You get a car where all family members can travel together comfortably, without compromise.

If you go for a 5-seater instead, options like the Maruti Brezza or similar SUVs will give you a better front seat experience, and that SUV bonnet view you like, but for 3 adults at the rear, it will always feel tight, especially on longer trips. And once your family becomes 6 members, it simply will not work.

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•17w

Thanks for the reply. In safety wise is Ertiga ok for my usage

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•6h

Recommend a 7-seater vehicle primarily for city driving and occasional (once in a quarter) outstation (hills and plains) drive. My daily driving is about 100 km.

•5h

For your usage, the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid is the best fit. Your daily 100 km city driving makes fuel efficiency and ease of driving very important, and the HyCross Hybrid excels here with its strong hybrid system that delivers excellent fuel economy in city conditions. It is also a genuinely comfortable and spacious 7-seater, making it ideal for family use, and Toyota’s reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs makes it a sensible long-term ownership choice. For your occasional outstation trips, including hills, the HyCross Hybrid has enough power and refinement to handle highways and inclines comfortably. The only drawback is the higher upfront cost, but given your high daily running, the fuel savings and ownership experience justify the investment. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG is worth considering, but it is not as refined or as comfortable as the HyCross. Overall, the HyCross Hybrid is the most balanced and sensible choice for your usage pattern.

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•5h

I have driven to Ladakh from Delhi twice before, both times in a diesel manual, and had no major issues while climbing or descending. I am planning to go again, this time in a 1.5 NA petrol automatic Brezza. I am a bit apprehensive about how to use the automatic gearbox and paddle shifters while climbing and going downhill.

•1h

You should be fine in the Brezza 1.5 NA petrol automatic on your Ladakh trip. But do keep in mind that the naturally aspirated engine will lose some power at altitude, and won't feel as effortless to drive as some older turbo-diesels. That said, the Maruti 1.5 petrol is a proven, reliable unit and will still get the job done. You do not need to worry about the torque converter automatic either. On climbs, simply use the manual mode or paddle shifters to hold a lower gear and keep the engine in its power band. On descents too, use the same approach to hold a lower gear and use engine braking rather than riding the brakes. The Brezza is a robust, dependable car and you will not face any major issues if you drive sensibly. The only thing to keep in mind is that the car will feel a bit slower at altitude, so plan overtakes carefully and be patient on steep climbs. Otherwise, enjoy the drive - the Brezza should handle it without any drama.

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•7h

I want to know which car under 12 lakh is suitable as per my requirements listed below. I only drive on weekends in Delhi's traffic. I want to finalize either Nissan Tekton base model 1.0 litre turbo engine and Brezza Turbo VXI. Is buying Turbo engine 3 cylinder not a good decision as I drive very less and that too within the city and less. I have heard that a turbo car requires more maintenance, is less fuel efficient, has carbon blockage, handling its wear and tear is also expensive compared to an NA engine .

•3h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi. With your usage pattern which is very low running, mostly weekend city driving in Delhi traffic - a simple, naturally aspirated petrol engine is the better choice. It will be easier to live with, more predictable in stop-start conditions and generally lower maintenance over time. The Brezza is also a proven product with Maruti’s strong service network, which is a big advantage for long-term ownership.The Nissan Tekton is a good car, but the 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder is not the ideal fit for your usage. Turbo petrol engines are at their best on highways, where the extra performance benefits come into play. In city driving with very low mileage, you are unlikely to see those benefits, and the engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds.On your second question, the concerns around turbo petrol engines are often overstated. Modern turbo petrols are reliable, but they are more complex than naturally aspirated engines and can be more expensive to repair if something does go wrong. The key point is that they are not the ideal for low-mileage, city-only usage.The Brezza VXi is the safer, more sensible choice for your requirements.

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•1w

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•6d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

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•1w

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•6d

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•6d

Hi, I have been using Honda City CVT for the past 10 years and now, I am looking for an SUV with similar comfort but with the latest technology. My monthly running is approximately between 700-800 km mostly within Delhi.

•6d

Given your usage of 700-800 km a month in Delhi and a 10-year ownership of a Honda City CVT, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most natural upgrade. It retains the same Honda ownership experience, offers a comfortable ride and the CVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Elevate also sits at a sensible price point and is backed by Honda’s strong reliability record, making it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.If you want a more premium experience with a richer feature set, the Kia Seltos IVT is a good option. The IVT gearbox is smoother in traffic, the cabin feels more upmarket and the Seltos offers a wider range of modern features. However, it does come at a higher price point. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is worth considering if you enjoy driving, as it offers a more engaging experience and the torque convertor gearbox is also the smoothest around. The ride is a bit firmer and the ownership experience is not as straightforward as Honda or Kia, so make sure the dealer in your area is well reputed.

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