My elderly parents, who are over 80 years old, stay in a remote subdivision town. We need a car to visit doctors and occasionally go to relatives’ houses. The expected monthly travel is approximately 400 km. We want to invest in a budget-friendly car like a Wagon R. We once had a first-generation Alto, but had to sell it due to age. Please suggest a suitable car.

Autocar India

•2d

The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a good pick for your requirements. It's a reliable car that's affordable to maintain and comes backed by Maruti's massive service network.What makes the Wagon R well-suited to you is its spacious cabin. The Wagon R is surprisingly roomy for a car of its size and can accommodate five passengers in decent comfort. We'd recommend the more powerful 1.2-litre version, which adds more power over the base 1-litre engine. The 1.2’s superior performance makes a noticeable difference in both everyday driving and occasional highway trips.You can consider the Wagon R ZXi 1.2, which is within your Rs 6.5 lakh budget. If you are open to spending a bit more, the ZXI Plus is worth a look. It packs in a touchscreen-based infotainment system among other feature additions.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•3h

The new Renault Duster 1.0 turbo-petrol should be acceptable in the city, but it is not the most effortless choice for predominantly urban use like yours.The 1.0 turbo makes about 99hp and 160-166Nm, and the torque comes in from around 2,000rpm, so performance at low revs will feel merely adequate rather than strong. You will need to work the gearbox to keep the engine in its power band, especially with a full load or on inclines, and that can get tiring in bumper‑to‑bumper traffic. The good bit is that the clutch is light and the engine reasonably refined, so it won’t feel cumbersome or heavy in daily use.However, there is no automatic with the 1.0 turbo. It comes only with a 6‑speed manual, which is a drawback for an 85% city‑running profile. If you prioritise smoothness and ease over outright punch, an automatic CVT in this segment will suit you better.The Kia Seltos 1.5 iVT offers seamless, jerk‑free power delivery and feels very smooth and responsive in typical city driving. Similarly, the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol CVT, which has the same gearbox as the Seltos, is another good option. Both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta make urban driving more relaxing, even if performance is only adequate rather than exciting.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•4h

The Maruti Suzuki Invicto is nowhere near as popular as its twin, the Toyota Innova HyCross, though both are virtually the same car. With the Invicto not being in as much demand, better discounts are possible, but you will also take a hit in resale value when you go to sell it. If you are comfortable with the Maruti-Suzuki badge, choose the Invicto Zeta+ (7‑seater) strong‑hybrid. It offers the most usable three‑row comfort, smooth city driving, and the widest service network.At over 4.7 m long and with about a 2,850 mm wheelbase, it offers real space across three rows. The strong‑hybrid setup keeps the city running very smooth, often shutting the engine off at low speeds and running on pure electric power. As a result, fuel efficiency is very good.The one thing you give up is ADAS features. The Invicto doesn’t offer lane keep, adaptive cruise, or AEB, which some rivals provide at this size. If you specifically want ADAS and more top‑end features, consider the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid ZX (O) instead. It adds active safety tech, but it will cost you more and involve longer wait periods.

Maruti Suzuki Invicto

Toyota Innova HyCross