Delhi

•13w

Hello Auto Car Team, I am planning to buy my first car and would appreciate your guidance. My primary usage will be monthly trips to my hometown, covering around 800 km per trip, once or twice a month. Most of the time, the car will be used by two occupants. My budget is around Rs. 10 lakh, although I can stretch it by another Rs. 1 lakh if the additional value is justified. The cars currently on my shortlist are Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi, Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro, Honda Amaze VX and Tata Punch Adventure Turbo. My key priorities include good fuel efficiency, safety, comfort for long-distance travel as well as low maintenance and reliability as this will be my first car. Given my requirements and budget, which of these cars would you recommend? Also, if there are any better alternatives that I should consider, please let me know. Thank you for your help.

•13w

Given your usage pattern of regular 800 km highway trips with two occupants, your priorities of fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and low maintenance, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi is the most sensible choice from your shortlist. Since a lot of your driving is going to be on the highway, opt for the turbo petrol manual. It has much better overtaking performance than the naturally aspirated version and with a tall sixth gear, fuel efficiency will be good too. It is also a proven, reliable and low-maintenance car with a comfortable ride, good highway stability and a strong service network, which is exactly what you want in a first car that will see long-distance use. The downside is that the turbo doesn't come with an automatic option.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro is the more modern and feature-rich option, however the Brezza still has the edge in terms of long-term reliability. The Honda Amaze VX is a good sedan with a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability, but given your highway usage and the occasional rough patches you may encounter, the higher ground clearance and more robust nature of the Brezza make it the better fit. The Tata Punch is a good value proposition, but it is a smaller car and not as well roomy as the Brezza.

Overall the Brezza VXi remains the most balanced and dependable choice for your requirements.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

from ₹8.26 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.69 Lakh

Honda

Amaze

from ₹8.54 Lakh

Tata

Punch

from ₹6.24 Lakh

•13w•

@amar6699

Go for Amaze because I have travelled with four other persons. It is easy to drive even in narrow streets or village lanes. Go for the petrol version only. Honda spares will be slightly higher but rarely some parts need to be changed. Luggage space is minimum but adequate. Honda is reliable and resale value is good

•12w•

I have got a honda amaze automatic, It's been six years now. I am planning for a new car under 14.5 L on road. Usage- half town, half highway. 700km monthly running max. Usually only three people in car. Sometimes 5 or more. Suggest some option

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•1d

Hi! My annual running is around 9,000km in the city and 3,000km on highways. Should I buy the petrol Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi or the Brezza VXi with the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and manual transmission? The Brezza felt a bit too wide and large for city use, and making U-turns is likely to be more difficult than in the Dzire. I also found the Brezza's softer seats potentially tiring over a 500km highway drive. I'm concerned that the turbo-petrol engine will be more complicated to maintain because of GPF cleaning requirements and the need for RON 95 fuel. Carbon build-up could also be an issue, given that only 30% of my annual running is on highways. On hills, I wonder if the turbo engine will leave me wanting more. By contrast, the Dzire felt more nimble and easy to manoeuvre. Its 15-inch tyres should also be fine for highway use. At cruising speeds below 100kph with two or three people on board, wouldn't it be nearly as good as the Brezza? The popular Z12E engine should also get an upgrade if E27 becomes the baseline fuel. However, would the heavier Brezza be safer in a crash? I plan to sell the car after four or five years, by which time the EV market should have stabilised. Wouldn't the petrol Dzire also have better resale value than the Brezza? Given my usage, what are the reasons I should seriously consider the Brezza?

•20h

From what you have described, go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. You clearly prefer its compact dimensions, lighter feel and easy manoeuvrability, and with 9,000km of city driving annually, these advantages will matter far more often than the Brezza's higher ground clearance or SUV stance. The Dzire should also be perfectly capable of comfortable highway cruising at under 100kph with two or three occupants.The Brezza's main reasons for consideration are its higher ground clearance, more commanding driving position, more potent turbo petrol engine and greater flexibility on rough roads. However, if you already find it too wide for city use and have concerns about its engine and long term maintenance, there is little reason to stretch yourself into it.Both the new Dzire and Brezza have been crash-tested, so the comparison should use their actual ratings rather than assume the heavier SUV is safer. The new Dzire scored 5 stars for adult and child occupant protection under Bharat NCAP. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza has also received a five-star BNCAP rating for both adult and child protection. So, there is no reason to choose the Brezza solely because you assume it will be safer in a crash.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•1d

Hello team, I need some help deciding between an ICE car and an EV. My family has five members, and our usage will mainly involve city driving, although our daily running isn't very high. We also take occasional Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai trips. My priorities are comfort, practicality, safety and low overall ownership costs. I was initially deciding between the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Mahindra XUV 3XO, with the Brezza being the more commonly recommended option. However, when I started comparing on-road prices, I realised that the Tata Punch EV and Nexon EV also fall within consideration. Even the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara could be an option, depending on the variant. This has made me question whether buying an ICE car still makes sense for my usage. The Tata Nexon EV 45 looks particularly attractive because of its battery warranty and additional features, such as ADAS. The lower running costs of an EV are another major advantage. My main concern is its practicality on long trips. I occasionally travel between Mumbai and Goa with my family and luggage, so I don't want range limitations and charging stops to become a headache. For this kind of usage, what would you recommend: the Brezza or XUV 3XO, or the Punch EV, Nexon EV or eVitara? I am not looking for the fanciest car. I mainly want something comfortable for five people, safe, reliable, economical to own and practical enough for occasional Mumbai-Goa trips.

•1d

Given your predominantly city-based usage, an electric car makes sense if you have reliable home charging. The Tata Nexon EV 45 would be our pick if you are comfortable planning charging stops for your occasional Mumbai to Goa trips. Expect to make one or two charging stops, depending on your starting charge, driving speed and conditions. With the right charging apps, these trips are manageable, but your breaks will depend on charger locations rather than simply stopping wherever you fancy.A petrol SUV will be more convenient for spontaneous long-distance trips and will save you the need to plan around charging, but running costs will be higher. If you prefer an ICE car, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is worth prioritising over the Maruti Suzuki Brezza for your family of five. Its wider cabin and spacious rear seat make it better suited to carrying three people across the back.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•6d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•6d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•5d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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