Which car should I buy under a Rs.13 lakh on-road budget? I don’t need fancy features in my car. I want a good engine that doesn’t feel laggy, is low maintenance, offers better safety, and has good mileage. Should I wait for a flex-fuel car, considering the current scenario is not good, or should I buy a second-hand diesel car? No sedans.
Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It fits your brief perfectly: it has a strong, naturally aspirated petrol engine with no turbo lag, low maintenance costs and a proven ownership record. This Maruti Suzuki car has features on offer that cover all the expected basics with none of the fancy, flashy bits. Maruti’s service network and affordable parts make long-term ownership and maintenance easy. Wait for just a month, as an updated Brezza is due to arrive.
On flex fuel, there is no need to wait. India is currently at E20, and there is no set roadmap as yet for higher blends. In any case, modern engines are engineered to handle E20, and the impact is mainly a slight drop in fuel economy rather than any major reliability concern. Maruti has also gone on record to state that their E20 engines are material compliant for slightly higher ethanol blends, so from a reliability point of view, you will be fine; however, mileage could drop.
A used diesel is not the right call unless your running is very high and you are comfortable with the risks of DPF issues and higher maintenance as the car ages. For most buyers today, a good petrol SUV is the safer and more sensible long-term choice.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
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Posted on: 18 Jul 2026
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