I want to buy a new car for my parents. My father used to drive, but he no longer does so due to age and health-related issues. I live in a Tier-2 city and previously owned a 2010 Wagon R 1.0. Although it had covered only 40,000 km, it is now showing signs of ageing, such as rusting and high maintenance costs. I am looking for a hassle-free new car, and since it will mostly remain parked in the garage, it won't see much usage. Budget is under 8 lakh.

autocar.india

•1d

A city fuel efficiency of 13-15kpl with the air conditioning on is slightly on the lower side for a Wagon R 1.0, but it isn't necessarily a cause for concern, especially if you're driving in Lucknow's city traffic with frequent stops and the AC running throughout your journey.Your 20km daily commute should be enough for the engine to reach its normal operating temperature, but fuel efficiency can still vary depending on traffic conditions, idling time and driving style. We'd recommend checking that your tyre pressures are maintained at the manufacturer's recommended levels, avoiding hard acceleration and excessive idling, and using good-quality fuel from reputed fuel stations.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

autocar.india

•4h

The Maruti Suzuki E Vitara only makes sense if you have a dependable home charger. Daily 100 km is easy for an EV, and running costs will be significantly lower than those of ICE vehicles.But we'd suggest you pick the Grand Vitara Zeta+ strong hybrid. With 100 km a day on highway and rural roads, it will cut fuel bills the most without charging worries, and the SUV's height and suspension handle broken patches well. Performance is quite zippy thanks to the electric motor's instant torque, and you will still see 20-plus kpl if you drive at steady speeds.The Dzire ZXi+ AMT is significantly cheaper to buy and quite efficient. Performance on the highway will seem quite dull, especially since you're coming from an Ecosport diesel.

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

autocar.india

•16h

The Taigun 1.5's character is very different from the 1.0 TSI's. While the latter has some lag followed by a strong surge of performance, the 1.5 pulls in a more linear, consistent manner. That said, the 1.5's drivability as well as outright acceleration, is much stronger than the 1.0. Since your vehicle is only 6 months old (covered by factory warranty), we'd advise you against any performance modifications, which will void your warranty. But if you're keen on sprucing up the Taigun's performance, upgrade your car's air intake and exhaust system. These mods will ensure that your engine feels a bit livelier, while adding some aural drama too. If budget permits, you could consider an ECU remap - performance gain will be noticeable. Do keep in mind that not many tuners can tune the 1.5 TSI's ECU reliably, so do your research carefully before opting for it.

Volkswagen Taigun