Delhi

•13w

I’m planning to buy a new car for casual use with a budget of under Rs. 11 lakh. It will primarily be used for city driving, including daily office commutes and occasional weekend trips, with an expected monthly running of around 300 to 400km. My priorities are reliability, low maintenance costs, good fuel efficiency, and a car that is hassle-free to own over the long term. I’m currently confused between the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Swift, Honda Amaze, New Brezza, and Fronx. I don’t specifically need a turbo-petrol engine, although I’m open to considering one if it offers good features. I would prefer a manual gearbox, but I’m also willing to consider an automatic or AMT if it delivers good mileage in city driving. The Dzire has caught my attention, but I’m slightly hesitant because of its three-cylinder engine. Please clear my confusion.

•12w

For your usage, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is actually the most sensible choice. Your running is low, your usage is mostly city with occasional weekend trips, and you want reliability, low maintenance, and fuel efficiency. The Dzire is built exactly for this brief. The 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine is smooth enough in everyday use, and the car is light, easy to drive and very efficient in the city. Concerns about the three-cylinder engine are largely overstated. Modern 3-cylinder engines are well balanced and refined at city speeds, and the Dzire is tuned for efficiency and reliability rather than outright performance. In our real-world testing, the Dzire has managed 14.5kpl in the city and 20kpl on the highway.

The Maruti Suzuki Swift is essentially the same mechanical package in a hatchback body, so the decision there is simply whether a hatchback or a sedan better suits your needs. The Honda Amaze is a good alternative if you specifically want an automatic. If the Honda Amaze price fits your budget, it gets a CVT, which is much smoother compared to the AMT on the Dzire, but it's not as fuel efficient. In our standard test cycle, the CVT Amaze mileage is 9.94kpl in the city cycle and 16.62kpl on the highway loop. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Fronx are both good cars, but they will not be as efficient in the city as the Dzire.

Go for the Dzire manual and do not worry about the 3-cylinder engine – it is a well-proven, efficient and reliable package.

Explore cars mentioned

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•1d

Hi! My annual running is around 9,000km in the city and 3,000km on highways. Should I buy the petrol Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi or the Brezza VXi with the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and manual transmission? The Brezza felt a bit too wide and large for city use, and making U-turns is likely to be more difficult than in the Dzire. I also found the Brezza's softer seats potentially tiring over a 500km highway drive. I'm concerned that the turbo-petrol engine will be more complicated to maintain because of GPF cleaning requirements and the need for RON 95 fuel. Carbon build-up could also be an issue, given that only 30% of my annual running is on highways. On hills, I wonder if the turbo engine will leave me wanting more. By contrast, the Dzire felt more nimble and easy to manoeuvre. Its 15-inch tyres should also be fine for highway use. At cruising speeds below 100kph with two or three people on board, wouldn't it be nearly as good as the Brezza? The popular Z12E engine should also get an upgrade if E27 becomes the baseline fuel. However, would the heavier Brezza be safer in a crash? I plan to sell the car after four or five years, by which time the EV market should have stabilised. Wouldn't the petrol Dzire also have better resale value than the Brezza? Given my usage, what are the reasons I should seriously consider the Brezza?

•20h

From what you have described, go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. You clearly prefer its compact dimensions, lighter feel and easy manoeuvrability, and with 9,000km of city driving annually, these advantages will matter far more often than the Brezza's higher ground clearance or SUV stance. The Dzire should also be perfectly capable of comfortable highway cruising at under 100kph with two or three occupants.The Brezza's main reasons for consideration are its higher ground clearance, more commanding driving position, more potent turbo petrol engine and greater flexibility on rough roads. However, if you already find it too wide for city use and have concerns about its engine and long term maintenance, there is little reason to stretch yourself into it.Both the new Dzire and Brezza have been crash-tested, so the comparison should use their actual ratings rather than assume the heavier SUV is safer. The new Dzire scored 5 stars for adult and child occupant protection under Bharat NCAP. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza has also received a five-star BNCAP rating for both adult and child protection. So, there is no reason to choose the Brezza solely because you assume it will be safer in a crash.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•1d

Hello team, I need some help deciding between an ICE car and an EV. My family has five members, and our usage will mainly involve city driving, although our daily running isn't very high. We also take occasional Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai trips. My priorities are comfort, practicality, safety and low overall ownership costs. I was initially deciding between the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Mahindra XUV 3XO, with the Brezza being the more commonly recommended option. However, when I started comparing on-road prices, I realised that the Tata Punch EV and Nexon EV also fall within consideration. Even the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara could be an option, depending on the variant. This has made me question whether buying an ICE car still makes sense for my usage. The Tata Nexon EV 45 looks particularly attractive because of its battery warranty and additional features, such as ADAS. The lower running costs of an EV are another major advantage. My main concern is its practicality on long trips. I occasionally travel between Mumbai and Goa with my family and luggage, so I don't want range limitations and charging stops to become a headache. For this kind of usage, what would you recommend: the Brezza or XUV 3XO, or the Punch EV, Nexon EV or eVitara? I am not looking for the fanciest car. I mainly want something comfortable for five people, safe, reliable, economical to own and practical enough for occasional Mumbai-Goa trips.

•1d

Given your predominantly city-based usage, an electric car makes sense if you have reliable home charging. The Tata Nexon EV 45 would be our pick if you are comfortable planning charging stops for your occasional Mumbai to Goa trips. Expect to make one or two charging stops, depending on your starting charge, driving speed and conditions. With the right charging apps, these trips are manageable, but your breaks will depend on charger locations rather than simply stopping wherever you fancy.A petrol SUV will be more convenient for spontaneous long-distance trips and will save you the need to plan around charging, but running costs will be higher. If you prefer an ICE car, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is worth prioritising over the Maruti Suzuki Brezza for your family of five. Its wider cabin and spacious rear seat make it better suited to carrying three people across the back.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•6d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•6d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•5d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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