Mumbai

•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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Maruti Suzuki

Baleno

from ₹6.92 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.92 Lakh

•38m

@autocar.india great one

•3m

If you want something with a slightly higher seating position, you can always go with Maruti Suzuki fronx with the given budget

•38m

Makes sense 👍

More posts on similar cars

•14h

I heard that Baleno facelift is going to be launched soon. What to expect from Maruti this time? Is design going to be changed completely?

•1d

I want to buy a new diesel car under Rs. 15 lakh for my family and official tours. Please suggest.

•11h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. It is one of the few diesel options left under Rs 15 lakh, and it is well suited to your use. The diesel engine is punchy, efficient and well suited to highway driving, while the car itself is spacious enough for family duties and comfortable enough for long journeys. It also offers a good balance of features, safety and value for money. If you want something slightly more premium and are willing to stretch your budget a little, the Kia Seltos diesel is also worth considering, but the 3XO remains the stronger value proposition in this price range.

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•1d

Hi, I own a 2014 (October) Duster diesel 85PS and have driven 1.25 lakh km. I am extremely happy with it. I want to change now, primarily because I want to upgrade to newer features. I have almost finalised the new Duster 1.3-litre, but the lack of a diesel option is the only factor stopping me. I am from Vizag and have a 50:50 city-to-highway usage pattern. Kindly advise.

•2h

Given your usage pattern of 50-50 city and highway driving, the lack of a diesel option in the new Renault Duster is not a deal-breaker. The 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine is a strong performer and offers good drivability on highways, while still being manageable in city conditions. This new Renault car also brings a significant upgrade in features, safety and overall refinement compared to your 2014 model, which seems to be your primary motivation for the upgrade.The only caveat is fuel efficiency. The diesel Duster was known for its strong efficiency, especially on highways, and the turbo petrol will not match that.If you drive a lot and prefer to stick to diesels with all the modern bells and whistles, the Kia Seltos and Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel are worth considering.

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•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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