Delhi

Amit Bodh

•2w

I am planning to buy my first car. My budget is a maximum of ₹7 lakh. I am thinking of Ignis, but I am also confused, as it has not received any major updates in a long time.

Autocar India

•1w

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis, for some reason, never really clicked as a mainstream car and isn’t among Maruti-Suzuki’s big sellers. The quirky styling is not to everyone’s taste, and that’s probably why it hasn’t found mass appeal like the Maruti Suzuki Swift. That said, underneath it uses the same tried-and-tested 1.2-litre K-series petrol engine, so mechanically it’s proven and easy to live with.

In fact, the Ignis is quite an interesting car. The part-hatch, part-compact-SUV design gives it a distinct character, and the tall stance and good ground clearance are definite advantages on bad roads. It feels compact to drive, but you sit a bit higher than in a regular hatchback, which many first-time buyers appreciate.

The reason Maruti-Suzuki hasn’t updated it significantly is simple: average monthly sales of around 2,000 units are low by Maruti standards, so it doesn’t justify heavy investment. The company seems content to let it continue as a niche offering. That, however, shouldn’t dissuade you if you genuinely like the car. It’s reliable, relatively affordable to maintain and fits comfortably within your Rs 7 lakh on-road budget.

If you want something more mainstream and easier to resell later, you could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R or even the lower variants of the Swift, which are hugely popular. But if the Ignis appeals to you, there’s no strong reason to avoid it.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Ignis

from ₹5.96 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Wagon R

from ₹5.57 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.44 Lakh

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Satyajit

•1w

Don't worry about updates, just go for it. Honestly, if you are ok with a 3 cylinder car and 1000cc engine, the Renault Kiger is a good option in the budget, but has to be the Automatic varient. The manual is just horrible. But if you are a light driver, the suspension is really unmatched.

Prateek Goyal

•1w

As you are buying your first car, I suggest going with the Ignis top-end. I have two Ignis cars at home: a manual Delta and an AMT Zeta. It's a value-for-money car, even better than the Wagon R. Plus, you will get a 4-cylinder engine. They have already started replacing 4-cylinder engines with 3-cylinder engines, and with this engine, there is some sound and a little bit of vibration.

Amit Trivedi

•1w

There have been rumours that it might be replaced by XBEE or some other car from the Suzuki stable. I do not know if that is true. But I, too, am interested in the top trim MT of IGnis. My reasons are a small zippy car that is good on mountains and decent on highways. And a rear wiper and washer, smooth engine, low cost of ownership, projector headlamps, and a working fog light (halogen, not an LED one). This would be my second car and would be used personally, but mostly on open roads and highways. As an alternative, Baleno Delta, Fronx Sigma, and Swift VXi (opt) are there at a similar price. The i10 and Tiago/Punch I want to avoid for different reasons. What do you say, Autocar?

Avilash

•1w

Bro definitely go for Ignis it's a great car. 4 cylinder rocks. You will really like it

Latest questions people are discussing

•16h

I am looking for a compact car under ₹6 lakh. I am open to buying either a new car or a second-hand one, but my main condition is that the car should not have very low or very high seating, as there is a knee problem in the family. Please suggest which car would be a good option to buy within this budget.

Autocar India

•2h

For your needs, either the Tata Punch or the Maruti Suzuki Ignis would be a good option. The Tata Punch sits at a comfortable height, and its doors open up to almost 90 degrees, which makes ingress and egress easier. The seating position is also not too tall, so it should feel comfortable even for someone with knee issues.If you want something that feels more spacious, especially in the rear seat, then the Ignis ticks all the boxes as well. Its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is smoother, more responsive and nicer to drive too.To buy these cars brand new, even the base variants will be slightly above ₹6 lakh on-road. If you are okay with stretching the budget a little, you can go ahead with a new car. Also, you can consider used versions of higher variants within your budget.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

RATHI MRINALINI

•4d

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

•2d

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

P Kumar

•6d

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos HTX (A) with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and automatic transmission. What are your thoughts on this variant? Is it a good choice, or would you recommend any other cars in the same segment?

Autocar India

•54m

The Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol engine is a nice pick if you are not necessarily looking for exciting performance. Power delivery is smooth, refinement is good, and there's enough performance for average city driving. There is enough power for gentle cruising on the highway, too. You will miss the punch from the engine when you want a fast overtake, though. The 1.5 NA petrol engine works particularly well with the IVT auto gearbox. If it's a punchy performance you are looking for, the Seltos with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is worth a look. Alternatives include Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, whose 1.0-litre/ 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines feel strong and exciting.

Kia New Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

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