I want to buy a new car for my parents, who are first-time drivers, so an automatic is a must. We live near a highway, so most driving will be highway or short village-to-town runs. I want a hatchback with low maintenance and easy driving for beginners. My budget is up to ₹10 lakh. I’ve shortlisted the Maruti Swift 2024 ZXI AMT - what do you think?

While the Maruti Swift ZXI AMT is a good choice, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT Alpha, which costs a similar amount. The Baleno's engine feels stronger and will be more suited to highway driving. Like the Swift, the Baleno is also easy and cheap to maintain and delivers good fuel economy. 

Also worth looking at is the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.2 AMT. It has the same engine as the Baleno, but what makes it worth considering for your parents is its higher seating and elevated driving position. Getting in and out of the car is easy and the large glass area makes visibility very good. Also, the high seating also gives confidence when driving on the highway.