Hi team Autocar, at the outset, I am an ardent follower of the Autocar podcast, just love to hear from Hormazd, Sergius and Ketan. Thank you for creating great content. Thank you for upskilling my auto instincts. I have a query. I currently own a Basalt AT Max, 2 years old, with 10K km on the odometer, which I use for my office commute (750-800 km per month). I am considering replacing it. What would be good options in the Rs 15-17 lakh budget? Also, should I replace it now, considering the resale value will keep dropping?

autocar.india

•3h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual, because it fits your Rs. 12 lakh cap and will give you the best mix of city mileage and space in this price. Your running is low, so a simple petrol works well here, and the Brezza’s smooth, unstressed engine is easy in traffic yet does fine for occasional highway trips. Coming from an Xcent, you will like the higher seat, better road view and the comfy ride on broken roads, without feeling too big to park.It is also one of the roomier compact SUVs, with a useful boot, and cheap-to-run service across the country. The lower manual trims should fit under Rs. 12 lakh on-road in many cities; the automatic will likely overshoot your budget.Consider waiting for a month or two, as a new Brezza is due. If by “mid-sized” you meant Creta-class, be ready to stretch well past Rs. 12 lakh; at this budget, the Brezza is the sweet spot.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•4h

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol automatic with the 6‑speed torque converter. For occasional hill driving, it is the easiest to live with at this price, because the gearbox gives smooth crawl and strong low‑speed control for steep starts, and the manual mode lets you hold a lower gear on descents. Coming from a Dzire, the familiar 1.5 engine and Maruti’s light controls make the upgrade stress‑free, while the higher seating and ground clearance help on broken hill roads and village tracks.Aim for the VXi or ZXi automatic, depending on what fits your Rs. 15 lakh envelope in your city. You get hill‑hold, ESP and decent visibility, which matter more in the hills than gimmicks. Be honest with expectations, though: with five people and luggage on a sharp climb, it will feel strained, and you will hear the engine work; use manual mode, and it will still get the job done, just not fast. Fuel economy will drop in the hills into the low teens. Consider waiting for a month or two as a new Brezza is due.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•1d

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the right choice for you. It's a sensible and no-nonsense compact SUV that delivers everything you want. It's easy to drive, ride comfort is good, and there's ample room for 4 passengers. The Brezza is also reasonably fuel-efficient as petrol automatic cars go. The Brezza is also reliable, and maintenance costs are affordable. Maruti's massive service network also adds peace of mind to the ownership experience. The Brezza doesn't feel as exciting or punchy as turbocharged rivals, especially out on highway drives, but performance, on the whole, is fair. The Brezza doesn't have a Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP safety rating, but we expect the updated model to be put to the test. The updated Brezza goes on sale later this month and would be the one to look out for.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza