Hi I am currently using an S-Presso manual car and planning to upgrade to an automatic sub-4-metre SUV. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh, and my annual usage is around 6,000 km, with 60% highway and 40% city driving in Chennai. I am also planning to take solo trips twice a year. Please suggest a car that offers good mileage, low maintenance costs, and strong safety.

autocar.india

•4h

With just around 7,000km a year, mostly in the city, a simple petrol car makes much more sense than a diesel. Since you have already driven the Brezza and found it smooth and easy to drive, it would be my first choice. The new 1.0 litre Booster jet is refined, has good low speed tractability and is more than adequate for your occasional highway trips. We also found it impressively efficient, with the onboard computer showing 11 to 14kpl even during hard driving.One important point, though: the new Brezza 1.0 Turbo is manual only. If you are looking for an automatic, the 1.5 litre petrol is still the only Brezza powertrain with an automatic, and that pushes the price beyond your Rs. 10 lakh budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•2h

At 183cm and 140kg, your priority should be a car with a genuinely accommodating driving position, easy ingress and enough seat and cabin width, while keeping running costs reasonable. The Brezza is one of the better options around Rs 15 lakh because of its spacious, boxy cabin and seats that accommodate larger adults well. We found the current Brezza capable of comfortably seating five adults, with good overall space and a comfortable driving position.If you want something more spacious and can stretch slightly, the Honda Elevate is worth a serious test drive. Its front seats are particularly comfortable, ergonomics are excellent, and the elevated driving position gives plenty of room around the driver. Its ride and handling are also very good.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1d

With your requirement of keeping the purchase cost as low as possible while also getting something reliable, go for the Honda Amaze CVT. The CVT is smooth, the car is easy to drive, and Honda’s ownership experience is among the best in the segment. It will also be the most affordable option on your shortlist, which fits your budget constraint perfectly. It should be more than sufficient for your parents and their usage, but bear in mind, it's not much larger than the Figo they're moving from, so it may not feel like as much of an upgrade. Also, make sure entering and exiting the vehicle are not an issue for them, as it is quite low-slung.The Elevate CVT is the largest vehicle here, and as such gives a bit more space and comfort than the others, and it meets your other requirements, but if you're locked in on the V CVT variant, it might feel a bit barebones. The V CVT is well within your Rs 17 lakh budget, so consider going up a variant, as that would make it worth your while.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza, however, might be your best bet. The ZXi AT is great value for money; efficiency and hassle-free ownership are Maruti hallmarks, and the 6-speed AT gearbox is as smooth, if not smoother, than Honda's CVT. It's compact enough to be easy to drive, yet almost as spacious as the Elevate, with easy ingress and egress. We feel this will be the best fit for your parents.

Honda Amaze

Honda Elevate (2023-2026)

Maruti Suzuki Brezza