I currently drive a 2015 Renault Duster 85 PS diesel, which was my first car (bought used). I absolutely love its low-end torque, confident handling, compliant suspension, and light off-road capability. Living in a hilly region, I especially enjoy how effortlessly it tackles steep climbs. I'm now planning to upgrade, mainly for modern features and better safety. However, I don't want to lose the driving characteristics that made me love the Duster. With a maximum budget of Rs. 12 lakh (on-road), would the Maruti Suzuki Brezza Turbo ZXi be a genuine upgrade or would it feel like a downgrade in terms of torque delivery, driving dynamics, suspension comfort, and hill-driving capability?

autocar.india

•2h

If Rs. 1.6-1.7 lakh price difference isn't too much of a stretch for you, then get the entry-level Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol. It feels far more modern, and more premium than the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and besides being more spacious, even in its base-spec packs most of the essential features you'd expect at this price.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•22h

For your usage, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is actually the most sensible choice. Your running is low, your usage is mostly city with occasional weekend trips, and you want reliability, low maintenance and fuel efficiency. The Dzire is built exactly for this brief. The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine is smooth enough in everyday use, and the car is light, easy to drive and very efficient in the city. Concerns about the three-cylinder engine are largely overstated. Modern 3-cylinder engines are well balanced and refined at city speeds, and the Dzire is tuned for efficiency and reliability rather than outright performance. In our real-world testing, the Dzire has managed 14.5kpl in the city and 20kpl on the highway. The Maruti Suzuki Swift is essentially the same mechanical package in a hatchback body, so the decision there is simply whether a hatchback or a sedan better suits your needs. The Honda Amaze is a good alternative if you specifically want an automatic. It gets a CVT, which is much smoother compared to the AMT on Dzire, but it's not as fuel efficient. In our standard test cycle, the CVT Amaze mileage is 9.94kpl in the city cycle and 16.62kpl on the highway loop. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Fronx are both good cars, but they will not be as efficient in the city as the Dzire.Go for the Dzire manual and do not worry about the 3-cylinder engine – it is a well-proven, efficient and reliable package.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•1d

The new Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 Boosterjet appears to be a logical upgrade from the Baleno RS. It retains the familiar Boosterjet character while offering a more modern, E20-compliant package with improved safety, better features and the added practicality of an SUV. If paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, the Brezza ZXi+ variant could also prove to be a more relaxed highway cruiser than the Baleno RS. The Brezza 1.0 Boosterjet is a good choice if you value the service network of Maruti Suzuki cars, reliability, and ownership experience.You could surely consider exchanging the Baleno RS for the Brezza at the Maruti dealership if you're getting a great deal. However, we recommend first getting the car evaluated by a few reputed used car dealers or independent buyers to understand its true market value. Comparing multiple offers will help ensure the best possible resale price before finalising the exchange with the dealership.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza