Autocar India
•14w

I am planning to buy a car primarily for commuting to my office, which is around 12 km from my home. I already own a Hyundai Verna. I am looking for a second car that offers good fuel efficiency along with basic features for daily use. Which car would be the most suitable for my requirements?

Verified
•13w

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXi 1.0 AMT - for a short 12 km office run, it uses less fuel, is very easy in traffic, and gives all the basics without spending extra. Since you already have a Hyundai Verna for longer trips, the Wagon R’s small size and tall seat make daily city driving and parking simple. The AMT's shifts are relatively smooth, if a bit slow, but it will make driving in stop-and-go traffic a lot less tiresome. If you don't encounter much traffic on your route, then the manual will be fine too. 

The VXi has the basics: good AC, power windows, remote locking, rear parking sensors, and a simple Bluetooth music setup with a Smartplay dock available to mount your phone. Maruti’s wide service network and low-cost parts also make it a safe and easy second car to own.

One thing to be aware of: the Wagon R can feel a little basic, and if you want something with a bit more style, then the Maruti Suzuki Swift is a better bet.

Test drive both the manual and AMT and see which works better for your use.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki

Wagon R

from ₹5.77 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.69 Lakh

•13w

How's Honda Amaze & Honda City cars?

•13w

I am a first time car buyer. Which car should I go for with my 10lacs budget?

•13w

If you have owned house , install EV CHARGES Setup, purchase low budget ev car

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

Verified
•4h

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

VehicleHyundai Exter
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
•1d

Can I get the mirror-to-mirror width with both the mirrors open and folded? My parking space is only 8 ft wide.

Verified
•20h

The width of your parking space is 8ft, which is about 2.44 metres. That is quite tight for most modern cars, especially with the mirrors open. For example, a typical midsize SUV like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta is around 1.8 metres wide without mirrors, and with mirrors open, the width can go up to around 2.1 metres. With an 8ft width, you'll have very little clearance on either side, especially if you need to open the doors, so you'll need to park close to the passenger-side wall to have enough space for the driver to open the door and enter/exit. The good news is that most modern cars have electrically folding mirrors, so you can fold them in before entering the parking space. With mirrors folded, the width drops back to the body width, which is usually around 1.8 metres for most SUVs and 1.7 metres for smaller hatchbacks and sedans. If you want a car that is genuinely easy to park in an 8ft space, you should look at smaller hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios or Tata Tiago. These are around 1.7 metres wide with mirrors folded and will give you more breathing room. The key is to make sure the car you choose has electrically folding mirrors and to get into the habit of folding them before entering the parking space.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Tiago
VehicleHyundai Grand i10 Nios
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
•2d

I am planning to upgrade the Swift Car 2016 petrol variant to a Hyundai Creta and need advice based on my usage. My daily commute is 10 - 15 km within the city, with occasional outstation trips totalling about 600 - 800 km per quarter. Low maintenance and generous boot space are my top priorities. Given this driving pattern, which engine and variant would you recommend? Should we go for a hybrid car or a petrol one?

Verified
•1d

Based on your usage, the Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is the most sensible upgrade from your Swift. Your daily running is low, and your highway trips are occasional, so a petrol engine is the most cost-effective and hassle-free option. The IVT automatic is smooth in city traffic and reliable over the long term, which aligns well with your low-maintenance priority. The Creta also offers a generous boot, making it a practical choice for your outstation trips.A hybrid does not make financial sense in your case. Your running is not high enough to justify the additional cost, and the fuel savings would take a long time to recover. The Creta petrol IVT strikes the right balance between comfort, practicality and ownership costs, making it the best fit for your requirements.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

Is it worth waiting for the new BREZZA, or are there better alternatives for Mumbai city use and a few random trips outside, say 2 to 3 in a year, up to Pune, Panchgani, etc

Verified
•4d

Go for the Brezza, but wait for the new model as it's just a few weeks away. The Brezza is easy to drive in traffic, rides well over broken roads and speed breakers, and the automatic is smooth and stress-free. The cabin is airy, the visibility is good, and Maruti service reach in the city makes ownership simple. For the odd Pune or Panchgani run, it feels stable enough if driven in a relaxed manner. A point to consider if you often go up the ghats with four people and luggage: the 1.5 petrol is smooth but not very strong, so overtakes need a little planning.If that bothers you, the Skoda Kylaq with the automatic is the better alternative. It feels quicker in the hills and in gaps, and the gearbox responds a bit faster, which helps both on the ghats and in stop-go Mumbai traffic. You will trade a slightly firmer ride and a lower city mileage for that extra shove.For mostly city use, though, buying the Brezza is the sensible call.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
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•2d

My budget is around 14 lakhs, and I am confused between the MG Windsor exclusive, the Tata Nexon Empowered 45 and the Tata Punch Empowered S40. Please Suggest.

Verified
•2d

Go for the MG Windsor Exclusive. At Rs 14 lakh, it offers the best ownership experience of the three. The Windsor is a genuinely spacious family car with a comfortable ride, a premium cabin and a strong feature set. It feels like a proper step up from your 2018 Nexon, with a more mature driving experience and a much more spacious rear seat. The Nexon Empowered 45 is a good car, but it is essentially an evolution of what you already own, and the Windsor simply feels like a bigger upgrade for the money. The Punch Empowered S40 is a solid value proposition, but it is a smaller car and does not feel as premium or as spacious as the Windsor. The only real drawback with the Windsor is that MG's service network is not as extensive as Tata's, but it is still a well-supported product in most major cities. Overall, the Windsor Exclusive is the best fit for your budget and your upgrade expectations.

VehicleMG Windsor
VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleTata Punch
•3d

I currently own a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8 ZX Variant AT, which has covered 55,000 km and has been an absolute peace of mind. I am now planning to upgrade my vehicle with a budget of around Rs. 30 lakh. Which car would you recommend?

Verified
•1d

If you have enjoyed 55,000 km of trouble-free ownership with the Innova Crysta, the most logical upgrade is the Toyota Innova HyCross. It retains the core strengths of the Crysta - reliability, comfort and Toyota's experience - while offering a genuinely meaningful step up in refinement, technology and efficiency. The Toyota Cars hybrid powertrain is particularly well-suited to Indian conditions, delivering strong fuel economy in the city and a smooth, effortless driving experience on the highway. The cabin is a significant upgrade over the Crysta, with a more modern layout, better materials and a more premium feel overall. The only caveat is that the HyCross does not offer the same diesel torque as the 2.8, so if you are a very heavy highway user who values that diesel punch, you may want to consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel as an alternative. However, for most owners, the HyCross represents the best balance of reliability, comfort and long-term peace of mind.

VehicleToyota Innova Crysta
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO

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Posted on: 9 Apr 2026