I am planning to buy a new sedan with a budget of around ₹9 lakh. I am specifically looking for a car with a 5-star safety rating and an automatic gearbox. Could you please suggest the best options available within this budget?

Autocar India

•16h

With mostly 24 km a day in city traffic and a family of four, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire top petrol manual fits your use best. It rides smoother than the Wagon R on broken city roads, so you and your family feel less tired. The steering and clutch are light, and the car feels steady on the highway. You also get a big boot for bags, while the car still stays easy to park in tight spots.Two small trade-offs: the seat is lower than the Wagon R, so you sit less upright, and you need to bend a bit more to get in and out.If a high, easy step-in seat is your top need, the Wagon R ZXi works well for short city trips and narrow lanes, but it can feel bouncy on bad patches and is not as wide for two adults in the back. Skip the Ertiga unless you often carry six or seven people; for four in a metro, its extra size just adds parking and traffic hassle. For your daily city use, pick the Dzire top petrol manual.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Autocar India

•1d

Since you are content with your Alto 800, a sensible upgrade would be the Maruti Suzuki Swift or Dzire. They keep the compact, fuel-efficient, fuss-free nature you like, but will feel like a definite step up from the Alto for your family.If you'd like to make a bigger jump to an SUV, then you have a number of options available, from the Maruti Brezza to the Hyundai Creta. They will offer much more space, but will also feel larger and a bit more cumbersome to drive in the city.Do write to us with your budget and which segment you are looking at, and we can help you further.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•3d

Unfortunately, there is no hybrid vehicle on sale at this price point. Also, your minimal 15-25km daily usage doesn't warrant the initial price stretch for a corresponding diesel vehicle.Since you still want to keep your running costs down, you could consider a Maruti Dzire CNG, which is smooth, efficient and very easy to drive. The Dzire is very comfortable and spacious, with the only downside being its CNG tank that eats into its boot space. If you're not in a hurry, Hyundai will be updating the Exter soon, and even Maruti is likely to introduce the new Brezza in the coming months, so you could wait for those options too.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire