Autocar India
6w

I've been driving a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Diesel Manual for a decade. It has been a great car in almost every aspect. My only complaint is its low ground clearance, which has resulted in numerous scratches on the underbody. Is there any SUV or MUV that can match the comfort of the Ciaz and also be as future-proof as a Maruti Suzuki?

Verified
6w

Pick the Maruti Suzuki XL6. It feels closest to your Ciaz for ride comfort and rear-seat ease, but with far higher clearance and shorter overhangs, so those speed breakers won’t chew the underbody. The 1.5-litre mild hybrid engine is smooth in traffic, sips fuel in the city, and should be easy to live with for a decade plus. Service and parts support will be typically Maruti-strong. You’ll also like the relaxed automatic, captain seats, and the way it just glides over bad roads. 

Highway cruising is calm rather than exciting, which matches how most Ciaz owners drive on long trips. If owning and running an EV is feasible for you, consider the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara. The running costs are unbeatable, it has good ground clearance and it's well priced too. Plus, you get the same Maruti peace of mind as your Ciaz or the XL6.

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Maruti Suzuki XL6

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1w

Hi Autocar Team, I currently own a 2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi (P) and have covered 100,000 km. My daily running is around 90–95 km for my office commute, and I live in Delhi-NCR while working in Greater Noida. I am a family of two, and my ownership experience so far has been completely hassle-free. The Swift is still running perfectly and delivers an average of around 22 km/l. Since I have now crossed the 100,000 km mark, should I consider upgrading? Given my daily running and the fact that I can manage home charging, I feel an EV could suit my requirements. Should I consider the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Alpha or the VinFast VF6 Wind?

Verified
2d

Given the usage, the Maruti Suzuki E Vitara Alpha is the better fit. A 90- 95 km daily commute, combined with the ability to charge at home, makes an EV a sensible upgrade. The E Vitara is a well-rounded package, backed by Maruti’s extensive service network and established ownership experience.The VinFast VF6 Wind is an interesting alternative, with a larger battery and a longer claimed range. However, VinFast is still a new brand in India and does not have the same service reach or long-term track record as Maruti. The e Vitara’s 50.8kWh battery and 550km ARAI-claimed range are more than adequate for the daily commute, while the service network of Maruti Suzuki cars across Delhi-NCR and Noida is a significant advantage for long-term ownership.The VF6 Wind’s 59.6kWh battery and 525km claimed range are impressive, but its limited service footprint and lack of an established ownership history make it a riskier choice at this stage. The E Vitara Alpha also gets a good set of features, including a 360-degree camera, ADAS and a 12.3-inch touchscreen, making it a well-equipped and practical upgrade from the Maruti Suzuki Swift.The VinFast car does have an advantage in terms of rear-seat and boot space, although for a family of two, the e Vitara should be more than adequate. It also feels more solid and planted at higher speeds, while offering considerably more power and a more engaging driving experience. However, these advantages are not enough to sway the overall decision. For this particular use case, the e Vitara Alpha remains the safer and more sensible choice.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki e Vitara
VehicleVinfast VF6
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
8h

I've had a TUV 300 for 10 years and have driven around 1.5 lakh km in it, mostly on long trips in the hills and on treacherous roads. I now want to buy another car with a budget of approximately Rs. 16 lakh on-road. I live in Gurgaon and am confused about whether I should stick to a diesel car or switch to petrol, considering the current E20 situation. I am also wondering if I should move to an automatic. Is an EV a possibility? I do not want a sunroof. My city driving is minimal, at around 200 km a month. Please suggest a low-maintenance car.

Verified
32m

Given your usage, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the most sensible recommendation. Your running is predominantly long highway and hill trips, and diesel still makes the most financial sense in this scenario. The XUV 7XO diesel is a proven engine, and the automatic gearbox will offer you ease of use on steep inclines. The car also offers a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a robust build, which is important given your experience with treacherous hill roads.On the E20 front, there is no reason to switch to diesel purely because of ethanol. Modern petrol engines are unaffected by E20. The main impact is a drop in fuel efficiency, not reliability. However, in your case since your running is high opt for diesel. EVs are not the right fit for your usage. Your running is low in the city, but your long trips in the hills would make charging infrastructure and range planning a hassle. The XUV 7XO diesel automatic is a lower maintenance car than your TUV 300, and Mahindra's service network is strong in Gurgaon and across North India.If you want a petrol alternative, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is a good option. It is smooth, reliable and easy to drive, but it will not be as efficient as the diesel on long highway runs. Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the best fit for your usage and budget.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleKia Seltos

Popular discussions right now

6d

I want to buy a car for 40% city use and 60% long trips. I own a 2015 model of Celerio AGS. Should I buy Baleno AGS considering E20 fuel in the future.

Verified
6d

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
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