I own a 15-year-old i10 and am looking for an upgrade. We are a family of five. Most of my driving is on highways, and my annual driving would be around 10,000 km. I am looking for a long-term ownership option that is reliable and fuel-efficient. My budget is around ₹9 to 11 lakh.

Autocar India

•2w

The car that fits all your requirements is the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It is a spacious hatchback with a decent-sized boot. The rear space is decent for your family, it gives a fuel efficiency of around 12-13kpl in the city and around 17kpl on the highway. It is a refined engine, with good enough power for everyday use and occasional highway drives. The suspension is tuned for Indian roads, and it has decent ground clearance, too.

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Maruti Suzuki

Baleno

from ₹6.65 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Dhaval Kothari

•2w

I want to buy my first car with a budget of up to ₹10 lakh for a family of four. My daily commute is around 70 km, and the car will be driven by both me and my wife. Which would be the best option considering fuel costs, comfort, low maintenance cost, and long-term reliability?

Autocar India

•13h

Buying your first car is always an important decision, and it pays to err on the side of practicality, ease of driving and a brand with a strong reputation for reliability and after-sales support.For a small family, the Honda Amaze CVT is a very solid option. Its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient. The CVT automatic is seamless and relaxed to use in traffic, and Hondas are known for their dependability. For a long daily commute like yours, that smoothness really helps reduce fatigue. The Amaze VX CVT, priced at just under Rs 11 lakh on-road, is worth stretching to if you can.If going beyond Rs 10 lakh isn’t possible, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It, too, is reliable, inexpensive to maintain, and well-suited to family use. However, it comes with an AMT (AGS) rather than a CVT. An AMT is convenient, but it isn’t as smooth or as intuitive as a CVT, and in heavy traffic, you will notice the gearshifts more. Over a 70km commute, it may require a bit more attention from the driver.The Baleno Zeta AGS, at around Rs 9.6 lakh on-road, fits neatly within your budget while still delivering the low running costs Maruti is known for.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Sushma

•3d

I am in Bangalore and planning to buy my first automatic car as a new driver, with a budget of ₹10-12 lakh. I am confused between the Baleno AMT, i20 iVT and Sonet. Earlier, I was thinking of buying the Punch, but due to service issues, I am not considering it. The Exter AMT also seems like a good option.

Autocar India

•1d

Given your requirements, you should consider the Hyundai i20 IVT. Unlike the Maruti Baleno and Hyundai Exter which get AMTs, the i20 offers a more seamless drive experience thanks to the CVT automatic, which is smooth and user-friendly. The Sonet, meanwhile, comes with a DCT automatic, which is more jerky in stop-and-go traffic than the CVT.The Hyundai i20 IVT is powered by a refined 88hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine that has a claimed efficiency of 20kpl. This hatchback offers a spacious and comfortable cabin and comes with all the features expected in this class. Being a Hyundai car, the i20 will also be reliable and easy to maintain. Hyundai i20 IVT prices range from Rs 8.13 lakh to Rs 10.34 lakh (ex-showroom).

Sunny

I am thinking of buying a new Kia Seltos and have decided on the HTK-O model. I am confused between the petrol and diesel variants because the diesel costs around ₹2.30 lakh more, and my driving is around 1,500-1,600 km a month. Which one should I choose?

Autocar India

•5h

With a monthly running of around 1,500 to 1,600 km, the petrol version of the Kia Seltos HTK(O) makes more sense than the diesel. Earlier, the big fuel efficiency gap between petrol and diesel helped recover the higher diesel purchase cost fairly quickly. Today, with tighter emission norms, diesel engines are no longer as efficient as they once were, especially in city conditions. As a result, recovering the roughly ₹2.3 lakh premium you pay for the diesel is likely to take well over five years. This makes it a less logical choice purely from a cost point of view.If most of your driving is in the city, the petrol engine will also be quieter, smoother and easier to live with daily. The diesel still makes sense only if you have very high highway usage and plan to keep the car for a long time. Otherwise, the petrol Seltos fits your usage better and keeps the initial investment lower.If fuel efficiency is a key concern and you are open to other powertrains, you could also consider a strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, which will be significantly more efficient in city driving. It is also worth noting that the next-generation Hyundai Creta and even the current Seltos are expected to get strong hybrid options by early next year.

Kia New Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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