Mumbai

•1d

I am a first-time buyer. My salary is Rs 4.2 lakh per year (CTC). Which company and which model would suit me?

•4m

With a CTC of Rs 4.2 lakh per year, the key is to keep the purchase affordable and running costs low. The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 is the most sensible starting point. It is reliable, easy to maintain and has excellent service reach, which is exactly what you want as a first-time buyer. The 1.0-litre petrol engine in this Maruti Suzuki car is efficient, and the car is easy to drive in the city.

If you need a bit more space, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a good alternative with its tall-boy design and larger boot. If you are open to a slightly higher budget, the Tata Tiago is worth considering for its stronger build and more premium feel, but Maruti's service network and lower maintenance costs make it the safer long-term choice at this budget. The Alto K10 is the most practical and financially sensible first car.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Alto K10

from ₹4.28 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Wagon R

from ₹5.77 Lakh

Tata

Tiago

from ₹5.43 Lakh

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•4d

I currently drive a 2014 Hyundai Grand i10 Asta AT, which has covered around 58,000km. I am looking to upgrade primarily because I need more boot space to accommodate my son’s folded wheelchair. The new car will be purchased through a corporate lease for four years. Around 90 percent of the driving will be in the city, with an average daily usage of about 50km. I need help with a few aspects of the purchase. First, is it worth paying a premium for an EV given my usage? Second, are ADAS and other technology features genuinely useful for this kind of usage, and should ADAS be considered a make-or-break feature? I would also appreciate a shortlist of cars that would suit these requirements.

•1d

Given your usage, the key requirement is a larger boot for your son's folded wheelchair, along with a comfortable and hassle-free city driving experience. With 90% city driving and around 50 km a day, an EV can make sense if you have reliable home charging, but the premium is only justified if you are committed to keeping the car for the full lease period and maximising the running cost savings. Otherwise, a petrol automatic car is the more straightforward choice.ADAS and tech features are nice to have, but they should not be the deciding factor. In city driving, features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are not as useful as they are on highways, and auto emergency braking tends to be too sensitive to pedestrian crowds; thus, it's only better out on the highway, not so in your case. Focus on a car with good visibility and a comfortable driving position instead. For your shortlist, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Swivel seat could be an ideal option. The front passenger seat swivels out fully to enable people with mobility challenges very easy entry. The boot is also large enough to store a folded wheelchair. You will have to order this from select Maruti dealers, so check with a few in your area. Being a company approved and provided system, there is a warranty for the swivel seat as well as the entire car. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is another option. It offers a large, square boot that should also take a folded wheelchair and the ride is very comfortable, especially at low city speeds. If you are looking for a slightly larger car, the Kia Seltos IVT or the Hyundai Creta IVT are worth considering for their bigger boots and more premium feel, but make sure the step in height is comfortable for your son.

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•18h

How much should I pay for my Tiago interior cleaning? Never got them cleaned. Can I go with some random cleaners and washers?

•1d

I want to buy a car for my late-50s parents. My budget is up to Rs 13 lakh. Monthly average running is under 500km, with a mix of city and highway driving, though it may increase occasionally. Rs 13 lakh is not a fixed budget, so if I can get a reliable and VFM car below that budget, it would be great.

•1h

For your parents, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible choice. It is easy to drive, comfortable and reliable, which is exactly what you want for parents. The low monthly running of under 500 km means a petrol car is the right choice, and the Baleno’s 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine is smooth, efficient and proven over the long term. It is also easy to maintain and has Maruti’s extensive service network, which adds peace of mind.This Maruti Suzuki car is also spacious enough for occasional highway trips and offers a comfortable ride. It is well within your Rs 13 lakh budget, making it a value-for-money option without compromising on reliability or comfort.If you want something with a slightly higher seating position, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a good alternative, but the Baleno remains the more practical and cost-effective choice for your parents’ needs.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•6d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

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•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•6d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

Hi, I have been using Honda City CVT for the past 10 years and now, I am looking for an SUV with similar comfort but with the latest technology. My monthly running is approximately between 700-800 km mostly within Delhi.

•5d

Given your usage of 700-800 km a month in Delhi and a 10-year ownership of a Honda City CVT, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most natural upgrade. It retains the same Honda ownership experience, offers a comfortable ride and the CVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Elevate also sits at a sensible price point and is backed by Honda’s strong reliability record, making it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.If you want a more premium experience with a richer feature set, the Kia Seltos IVT is a good option. The IVT gearbox is smoother in traffic, the cabin feels more upmarket and the Seltos offers a wider range of modern features. However, it does come at a higher price point. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is worth considering if you enjoy driving, as it offers a more engaging experience and the torque convertor gearbox is also the smoothest around. The ride is a bit firmer and the ownership experience is not as straightforward as Honda or Kia, so make sure the dealer in your area is well reputed.

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