I want to upgrade from my Maruti Suzuki A-Star to a compact SUV. My usage will be mostly on highways, and I want an automatic car. My budget is around ₹12 lakh. I have driven 1.35 lakh km in my A-Star, which has good power in third gear, good fuel efficiency, and high reliability. I am looking for a similarly powered, reliable, and fuel-efficient SUV that can be used for the long term. Please suggest options.

Autocar India

•3w

1,35,000km is a commendable amount, and since you're accustomed to the reliable peace of mind a Maruti Suzuki gives, we'd recommend sticking with the brand. There are two options - the Brezza and Fronx - that are surprisingly different from one another, each with its own pros and cons.

While the Brezza is larger and more spacious, its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is not particularly punchy nor fuel efficient. Especially in automatic guise, and you will feel strained out on the highway, where you do most of your driving.

The Fronx may be a bit smaller, but its 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine offers far more punch, while remaining reliable and fuel efficient. Given your usage, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 Turbo AT should be the pick for you.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

from ₹9.36 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.79 Lakh

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Advait

•2d

Hello, firstly thanks to Autocar for guiding and helping common folk over the years! Kudos! I was planning to buy a car for City use (Mumbai), car to be primarily driven by parents, daily drive would be maximum 10km, need an automatic. Constraints - Parking space is tight, so planned to go with sub 4m cars, since it'll be for parents needed easier ingress and egress without pressure on knees. Narrowed to Brezza. Is it a good choice? If not what alternate cars can be considered? Furthermore, when is the facelift for Brezza due? There is no urgency as such to buy, what do you suggest should we go ahead now, or wait out for the facelift? Thanks!

Autocar India

•7h

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a good choice for your requirements. It is a spacious, practical, and compact SUV that is easy to drive in the city. The 1.5-litre petrol engine lacks punch and delivers mediocre performance. But it's smooth and refined and, coupled with a fairly responsive automatic gearbox, does the job for city driving quite well. More importantly, the Brezza is easy to get in and out of thanks to wide-opening doors and a comfortable step-in height. The Brezza is also a very reliable car, and Maruti's service network is very strong, so you won't go wrong there. The facelifted Brezza is expected to be launched later this year, though we are not aware of an exact timeline. The other alternative cars you could consider are the new Hyundai Venue, which is today the best overall compact SUV, or the Kia Syros, which is extremely spacious, especially in the back seat.

Vijish

I have a 20 km one-way commute, and I wish to get a bike instead of a car for two reasons: first, the Mumbai traffic, and second, because a bike gives better mileage. My travel time takes approximately 1-1.5 hours. Which bike do you suggest that offers great ride comfort and decent mileage?

Autocar India

•9m

Since you have a pretty long commute and fuel efficiency is your priority, you should be looking at either a 125cc or a 150/160cc commuter motorcycle. In the former category, options like the TVS Raider, Hero Super Splendor / Glamour / Xtreme 125R and Honda Shine / SP125 / CB125 Hornet are bikes you should be considering. Do bear in mind that some of these are simple, no-nonsense commuters with more traditional seating positions, and some are feature-rich, snazzy-looking options - pick the one you think will suit you better. In the latter category, you should be considering Bajaj Pulsar N160, TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Suzuki Gixxer, Yamaha FZ models and Honda Unicorn / SP160. Over here, the Yamaha and Honda bikes are slightly less powerful and have better fuel economy, while the other three are slightly sportier.In general, the 125cc bikes will be more fuel efficient and more affordable to purchase, while the 150/160s will be less so in both regards. However, if you spend a lot of time at fast highway speeds, then going for a larger machine will make sense because it will feel more relaxed at higher speeds. A test ride will help you decide which bike is the best fit for you.

TVS Raider

Hero MotoCorp Super Splendor

Hero MotoCorp New Glamour

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R

Honda Shine 125

Pracy

•1w

I need to buy a new car and am confused between the Skoda Kylq and the Kia Sonet. It will be used only in the city and driven by the owner. Please advise.

Autocar India

•49m

If it's a manual you are looking to buy, then we would pick the Kia Sonet, as you would find the clutch pedal and gear shifts lighter. Given that you are primarily driving in the city, this is something you would appreciate. However, if it's an automatic you are looking to buy, then the Skoda Kylaq would be our pick. The gearbox is a torque convertor unit, which is smoother and better suited to stop-and-go traffic than a dual clutch transmission (DCT), which is the auto option on the petrol Sonet.

Kia Sonet

Skoda Kylaq

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