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?

Autocar India

•2d

Go for a clean Maruti Wagon R VXi manual from a trusted seller; it is the easiest first car to live with under your budget and will help you build confidence fast. The Wagon R sits a little taller, so you step in and out easily and see the road clearly, which really calms nerves when you are new. The steering is light, the clutch is easy, and the gear shifts are simple, so city drives feel stress-free. For your once-a-month highway run, it cruises calmly at normal speeds. The AC is strong, and you will find Maruti service and parts almost anywhere, which keeps running costs low even if you use the car only sometimes.One thing to be aware of is that older Wagon Rs do not have many safety features by today’s standards. So, look for a car with at least a driver's airbag and ABS if possible. Also, it can lean a bit in fast turns, so do not push it hard on the highway.If you want something newer for the same money, a Renault Kwid 1.0 manual is worth a look; it feels nice to drive and has good ground clearance, but it is narrower for four adults. When you test drive, practice a tight U-turn, reverse into a parking spot, and do a short highway stretch. Buy the car that feels easiest to handle and has clear service records, even if it is a year older or a trim lower.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Renault Kwid

Autocar India

•41m

Pick the Kia Seltos GTX diesel automatic with 15-18k km a year and lots of highway use, it will cost you less to run, and it feels stronger and more relaxed on the open road. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and friendly in traffic, and on the highway, it settles into a calm, easy drive that suits long trips. On mileage, the diesel will give you clearly better real-world numbers than the turbo petrol DCT, especially on the highway, think roughly 3-4 kpl more on long runs, and a bit more in the city too. Service for the diesel can be slightly costlier per visit than petrol, but even with that, total ownership cost usually works out lower for your usage. Resale for diesel automatics in this class is strong today, which also helps long-term cost.One thing to be aware of: the diesel is a little noisier at idle than the turbo petrol, and like all new diesels, it has an exhaust filter that prefers some highway time now, and then your driving mix suits it well.If you mainly want a quieter cabin in town and more outright performance, then the Seltos GTX turbo petrol DCT is the better choice. But expect higher fuel use and an automatic that can feel a bit jerky at very low speeds.For your pattern, the diesel automatic fits best. On your test drive, do a steady 90-100 kph cruise and a few quick overtakes from 60-80 to feel how little effort the diesel needs. Then check if you are comfortable with the engine sound at idle.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•13h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza - for your need of a comfortable 5-seater with easy rear access, it fits best under your budget and daily city use. The Brezza’s seat height is just right, so elders do not have to bend or climb, and the rear doors open wide which makes getting in and out simple. The rear seat has a longer cushion than most cars at this price, so thigh support is good even on longer trips, and the backrest angle is relaxed. In the city it rides softly over speed breakers and broken roads, keeps small bumps away from the cabin, and the light controls make it easy to drive.One thing to be aware of is that the engine is tuned more for smoothness than speed, so it will not feel very quick if you push hard, though that shouldn't be a problem given that most of your driving is in the city. We recommend opting for the ZXi+ AT, as the smooth torque converter automatic will make life easier around town.If rear seat space and the easiest entry for elders are top priority, the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga gives you the roomiest back seat and a very calm ride, but it is longer and a bit harder to park. When you test drive, have your elders get into the rear seat themselves and sit for 10-15 minutes, and drive over a few rough patches to feel the support and ride.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza