I currently own a Hyundai i10 and am planning to buy a second car for my son. He drives around 75km every day between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, with a monthly running of around 2,200-2,400km. On weekends, I'll also use the car for occasional highway trips of around 200km. My budget is around 10 lakh. Should I consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG LXi, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG, or would a petrol car be a better option? Please suggest.

autocar.india

•18h

The Hyundai i20 IVT is the best fit for this usage. With daily bumper-to-bumper driving in Bengaluru and occasional 200km highway trips, a petrol automatic is the right choice. The i20's IVT gearbox is one of the smoothest automatics in this price range, making it far more relaxing in heavy traffic than an AMT, while remaining comfortable on the highway.There is also no reason to delay buying a petrol car because of concerns around ethanol blending. Modern E20-compatible petrol engines are designed to run on E20 fuel, and there is currently no official roadmap beyond E20. The impact on ownership is limited to a slight reduction in fuel efficiency, and it is unlikely to affect the car's longevity or resale value if it is maintained as per the service schedule.At a budget of Rs 10 lakh, an SUV with a conventional automatic is difficult to find. Most options in this price bracket use an AMT, which is not as smooth or refined as the i20's IVT in stop-start traffic. If a higher seating position is a priority, the Maruti Fronx AMT is worth considering, but it requires accepting the compromises of an AMT.

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

autocar.india

•12h

The Hyundai Venue Diesel is the better choice for this usage. With an annual running of around 15,000km, split between 60 percent city and 40 percent highway, a diesel is well-suited to the driving pattern. It will deliver excellent fuel efficiency on long highway drives while remaining refined and easy to drive in the city.For a first-time buyer planning to keep the car for around 10 years, the Venue also makes a strong ownership case. Hyundai has a widespread service network, the 1.5-litre diesel is a proven engine, and the Venue's compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre in traffic while remaining comfortable enough for family trips.The Kia Sonet HTK+ Diesel uses the same engine and is a capable alternative. However, the Sonet is expected to be replaced next year, whereas the Venue is the newer product, making it the more sensible long-term buy. The Maruti Brezza ZXi continues to be an excellent petrol SUV with lower maintenance costs, but for your annual running and highway usage, the diesel Venue is better aligned with your requirements and will be more fuel efficient on longer journeys.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•17h

With a family of four, predominantly highway driving, relatively low city usage and priorities such as fuel efficiency, low running costs and a widespread service network, the Brezza is a natural fit. While we don't yet know everything the facelift will bring, going by the strengths of the current model, we expect it to build on an already excellent package with updated styling, more features and possibly some mechanical refinements.The Brezza's naturally aspirated petrol engine is proven, easy to maintain and well-suited to buyers who don't drive very high annual distances. It also offers a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and one of the strongest service networks in the country, which is particularly reassuring when travelling to smaller towns and places of worship.Unless you're looking for a more premium or performance-oriented SUV, we don't see a compelling reason to look elsewhere. Based on what you've shared, we'd recommend waiting for the updated Maruti Suzuki Brezza, as it should remain one of the most sensible and cost-effective family SUVs in its segment.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza