I’m planning to buy an automatic car for my parents, and I’m really confused between the Hyundai i20 and the Honda Amaze. The car will be used in city traffic, so comfort, ease of driving, and reliability are very important to me. Which one do you think would suit elderly drivers better and be easier to live with in the long run?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Hyundai i20 Sportz MT for your needs. The hatchback has a spacious and comfy cabin, a premium interior, and it is very easy to drive thanks to its light controls. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is smooth, peppy and reasonably efficient too, while the slick 5-speed manual and the light clutch make driving in the city easy. The i20 is also fairly compact, so driving in narrow lanes and parking will not be an issue either. Also coming from your i10, the i20 will feel like an upgrade while still keeping you in the Hyundai family. The i20 has proven to be reliable, and Hyundai's service centres are widespread in the country, so your ownership experience will be stress free.

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•2d

With 90:10 city to highway use and an upgrade from your 2015 Hyundai i20, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong-hybrid automatic is the best fit. In slow city traffic it can move on electric power a lot of the time, so it feels very quiet and smooth and uses less fuel. The automatic makes daily driving easy, the seat is higher than your i20 Active so you see out better, and Maruti's service reach is wide, which helps for long-term peace of mind.Know the trade-offs: the hybrid’s battery eats into boot space, and when you press hard on the highway the engine can sound loud and you may need a bit more planning for fast overtakes.If you prefer the Toyota badge, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid gives you the same smooth city drive with a different cabin feel. If you want a sedan, look at the Honda City and pick the hybrid variant if available near you; it is very smooth and efficient in town, but the boot is smaller than the standard City. Overall, for mostly city driving, the Victoris hybrid lines up best.Renault will be out with the Duster hybrid later this year and that could be an option to consider if you're not in a rush to bring home a new car.

Renault Duster

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•1h

With 50 km a day, a mix of city and highway driving, plus weekend trips, petrol is the safer pick for you. It avoids DPF worries. Modern diesels work fine if you do steady highway runs for 15-20 minutes a few times a week, but if your driving is often slow and short, the filter can clog, and you will see warnings.Between your two choices, pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 petrol. It fits your budget and usage better because its turbo-petrol engine feels stronger on highways, so overtaking is easy even with passengers and bags. It also rides well over rough patches and feels steady at speed, which suits your weekend runs. In the city, it is easy to drive and not hard to park. If you are opting for the automatic, the torque-converter gearbox in the 3XO shifts smoothly and makes city driving stress-free.Know the trade-offs. The 3XO’s boot is not the biggest, so fitting two large suitcases plus extra bags may be tight.If you mostly drive in the city and carry a lot of luggage, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus petrol is the better alternative. Overall, for your mix, the 3XO AX5 petrol lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet