My dad currently drives a 2009 Hyundai i10 that is still in good condition with only 38,000 km on it, but due to its age and limited usage, it now needs frequent maintenance. I want to upgrade to an automatic hatchback for him. His usage will be around 200 km a month, mostly highway driving with occasional city trips. Please suggest an easy-to-drive, low-maintenance automatic car within a ₹7 lakh budget. Should I choose a new car or a pre-owned one?

Asked by: Sanket

In your budget, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXi or ZXi AMT based on the features you want. It is easy to drive with good seat height for easy ingress and egress, and being a Maruti Suzuki car, it should be reliable and easy to maintain, even with low running. Ride quality is good and should keep him comfortable on highway commutes.

A more premium choice is the Maruti Suzuki Ignis. The Delta AMT should just about fit your budget, and its smoother and more powerful 1.2 litre four cylinder engine makes it nicer to drive than the Celerio.

If you are open to a used car, you can explore Spinny.com, where you may find more premium options like the Swift or the Glanza within your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

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Autocar India Team

Dec 05, 2025

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