After 19 years, I’m looking to upgrade from my first-generation Wagon R for physical reasons. I’m not a fan of too many features but want similar roominess, easy ingress and egress, good manoeuvrability, minimal maintenance, and peace of mind, as I plan to keep the car for a long time. My driving is mostly in city traffic with occasional highway runs. Do turbo engines make sense for city use, or have modern engines evolved enough? I’ve shortlisted the i20 and Amaze for their smooth 4-cylinder automatics, but I’m unsure about ingress and egress. My budget is ₹12 lakh.

Autocar India

•12h

It's a safe bet to buy the Maruti Suzuki Brezza now, but do note that your budget will restrict you to the lower LXi or VXi variants. Coming from a Wagon R, you’ll like the upright seating, great visibility and light controls, and the simple 1.5 petrol feels easy in traffic with the same fuss-free ownership Maruti is known for. The Brezza also rides more comfortably than a hatch and has usable rear space and boot for family runs. A facelift is unlikely to change the basics - especially in the lower variants - and will most likely see a bump in prices.Keep in mind, though, the LXi is quite basic, and the VXi only adds a few more features. Also, the engine, while powerful enough, isn't very exciting or strong out on fast highways.If features matter more than badge, look at the Nissan Magnite or Renault Kiger mid-trims, which land under Rs 11 lakh on-road and offer better equipment, representing stronger value for money. However, they feel a size smaller, and their dealer network is smaller than Maruti’s.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Nissan Magnite

Renault Kiger

Autocar India

•3d

Go for the Victoris. It is the newer and bigger vehicle, offering more cabin space, greater practicality and a larger boot than the Brezza. The interior also feels more premium and modern, which will make a difference over the years of ownership.The only notable drawback is that the coupe-like sloping roofline slightly compromises rear headroom compared to a more conventional SUV design. However, for most buyers, this is unlikely to be a deal breaker.The discounts are not necessarily a cause for concern and are fairly common on newly launched models as manufacturers and dealers look to build momentum.Another factor worth considering is that the Brezza is expected to receive a facelift later this year. Buying the Victoris now means getting Maruti's newer product with a fresher design and cabin.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•3d

If you can stretch your budget to the Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG, then get that now. It has a dual-CNG tank setup, so you still get a usable boot, and it is a larger car than the Brezza, which means a significantly roomier cabin.The Brezza facelift is due by the end of this year, but there is no definite timeline or confirmation on specifications. However, with the GST norms benefiting sub-4-metre cars with a petrol engine smaller than 1.2 litres, it is possible that the current 1.5-litre engine could be phased out. There is no confirmation yet on which engine the facelifted CNG Brezza will get. The facelift is expected to bring minor styling and feature updates, and if those are not important to you, then you can buy the current Brezza CNG right away.However, if the Victoris is not beyond your budget, then overall it is the better choice.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza