Hello, Autocar. As a car fan, I’ve been a reader for quite some time. I want to buy a new car for my parents, who are first-time drivers, so an automatic is a must. I want a hatchback that is easy to drive and low on maintenance. Most of the driving will be on the highway or from the village to the nearby town. I’ve shortlisted the new Suzuki Swift ZXI AMT. Please share your opinion. Is there any other option you would suggest, if not the Swift?

Autocar India

•15w

The Maruti Suzuki Swift that you have shortlisted is a decent option for your parents. The controls are light and easy to operate, and the engine is tuned for efficiency rather than performance. Thus, your parents, who are first-time drivers, would find this a good car to use.

The only issue is the AMT gearbox, which is not a smooth shifter. Take a test drive and see how they feel about this. If you are open to an electric car, you can opt for the Tata Punch EV. It would offer a smooth and easy drive, and the high seating point would offer good visibility.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.44 Lakh

Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.28 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Anirban

•3d

My driving is around 800 km a month. I am not sure which one would be more value for money: Swift or Baleno/Glanza. Currently, I drive an Urban Cruiser but am looking for a change. My priority is ease of city driving, comfort on highway drives, and I will go for an AMT. The more fuel-efficient and safe, the better. Though safety and efficiency do not go hand in hand. Please help me decide.

Autocar India

•14h

The Swift's 1.2L 3-cylinder petrol engine is very drivable and is likely to deliver slightly better fuel efficiency compared to the Baleno's/Glanza's 1.2L 4-cylinder unit. The Maruti Suzuki Swift is quite peppy up to 60kph of speed, after which you will find performance to be a bit lacklustre. And since you've mentioned you want a car for city and highway usage both, we recommend you opt for the Baleno or Glanza instead, for its more effortless performance.There's little to choose between the Baleno and Toyota Glanza, as both are nearly identical. Though the Glanza's beige-black interior colour scheme looks a touch more upmarket than the Maruti's.

RATHI MRINALINI

I am a new driver and have been driving in Bangalore for the past three years. I currently own a second-hand Maruti Celerio. I am planning to buy a new automatic car with a budget of ₹9.5 lakh. Could you please recommend a safe and comfortable car that is easy to drive?

Autocar India

•1d

We would recommend sticking to the Maruti family and upgrading to the new Swift. The Swift, in its ZXI AMT guise, will fit in your budget and deliver your requirements. It is compact, which makes it easy to handle, and has enough power at 82hp for the city and the highway from the 1.2-litre engine.In terms of efficiency, the AMT version returns 12.7kpl in the city and 19.7kpl on the highway. The AMT is one of the nicer versions in the segment and makes light work of city driving. The ride comfort is good too, and the Swift is tuned for bumpy Indian roads. The ZXI will also get you a good kit like 15-inch alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and rear AC vents.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Akhil Singh

•2d

I am looking for an EV as my daily travel is around 75 km. I have a 3.3kW charging facility free at my office, plus a fast DC charger nearby. My budget is flexible as I am exploring the new Tata Punch EV, Nexon EV and Curvv EV, considering the ₹3.5 lakh discount on the Curvv EV. What should be the logical choice, considering I don’t have much experience in driving, hardly, for 4-5 months as of now?

Autocar India

•11h

Among the options you mentioned, the Tata Punch EV Long Range is the most logical choice. It is compact, easy to manoeuvre and park, and its smooth electric power delivery makes city driving very simple for someone with limited driving experience. With your daily running and office charging facility, range should never be a concern. The new car is also very well-priced and a great value for money, thanks to the price cut compared to the older car.The Tata Nexon EV is a good step up if you want more space and a slightly more premium feel. It offers a bigger cabin and boot, which can be useful if you regularly travel with family.The Tata Curvv EV becomes attractive because of the ₹3.5 lakh discount, but it is a larger car and may feel slightly intimidating to drive initially.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Curvv EV

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