I am planning to buy a car for the first time. I have a family of four. I am unlikely to drive much within the city; most of my driving will be on highways - primarily for weekly trips or occasional visits to out-of-town locations and temples. I commute to work on a two-wheeler. Among the SUV category options I have researched, the upcoming Maruti Brezza Facelift appeals to me. Mileage, cost-effectiveness, and serviceability are important to me. Would the Brezza be the right choice?

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Brezza, but wait for the new model as it's just a few weeks away. The Brezza is easy to drive in traffic, rides well over broken roads and speed breakers, and the automatic is smooth and stress-free. The cabin is airy, the visibility is good, and Maruti service reach in the city makes ownership simple. For the odd Pune or Panchgani run, it feels stable enough if driven in a relaxed manner. A point to consider if you often go up the ghats with four people and luggage: the 1.5 petrol is smooth but not very strong, so overtakes need a little planning.If that bothers you, the Skoda Kylaq with the automatic is the better alternative. It feels quicker in the hills and in gaps, and the gearbox responds a bit faster, which helps both on the ghats and in stop-go Mumbai traffic. You will trade a slightly firmer ride and a lower city mileage for that extra shove.For mostly city use, though, buying the Brezza is the sensible call.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•2d

Pick the Skoda Kylaq. For mostly city runs, it is the easiest to live with, thanks to its compact dimensions and smooth auto gearbox and for the few highway runs you will find it also cruises calmly and feels secure at typical highway speeds. Fuel efficiency is not class leading, expect 8-9kpl in the city and about 14kpl on highway runs but with your 750 km a month running this will not pinch you. As an option you can also consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, it too has a smooth gearbox and its city ride is nice and plush, but wait for just a month as an update is right around the corner.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•5h

Yes, the Kia Seltos HTK iMT is a reliable choice if it is driven normally and maintained as per the service schedule. The iMT system itself has proven to be dependable in the market, and because there is no clutch pedal, it also reduces driver fatigue in city traffic.For typical city and highway use, the iMT works well and does not require any special driving techniques. Avoiding aggressive launches, riding the accelerator on inclines and repeated hard acceleration will help maximise clutch life, but that is good practice with any manual transmission. There is no need to be overly cautious or alter normal driving habits.If annual running is low to moderate and the appeal of a clutch-free experience is important, the iMT is a good middle ground between a manual and a conventional automatic. However, if most driving is in heavy stop-start traffic and convenience is the top priority, the IVT automatic remains the better option because it is smoother and requires even less driver input.

Kia Seltos