Mumbai

•12w

I have upgraded from a Fiat Punto 90 HP to a Fronx because of spares issues, as my car had clocked 2,50,000 km. But the ride on the Fronx is not as nimble as compared to the Punto. Can you recommend an upgrade, as I do a lot of highway runs, mostly in the mountains? My budget is approximately ₹18 lakh.

•11w

Check out the the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature. It will feel closer to your old Punto than the Fronx does. The steering has good weight and the car turns in eagerly, so it is easy to place in tight bends and hairpins. The suspension takes rough patches well without tossing you around, and the car feels steady at highway speeds. The 115hp turbo petrol has strong pull once spinning, so quick overtakes on climbs are simple, and with the manual, you have full control of gears on steep sections. It also has a solid safety record, which matters on hill roads.

A couple of things to note. At very low revs, you may need a downshift to get going cleanly on an uphill, so keep it in the right gear. Also, Skoda’s service reach is not as wide as Maruti’s, so check dealer support in your town.

Other alternatives include the Renault Duster Techno Plus 1.3 Turbo, which feels tough, comfortable and characterful, but not as nimble, and as it's a brand new product which means its reliability is yet to be proven. You could also check out the Citroen Basalt X 1.2 Turbo AT, which is excellent value for money, but its dealer network is even smaller than Skoda's, so that needs to be borne in mind.

Explore cars mentioned

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.38 Lakh

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.88 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.92 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

•11w

I have done a 200 km trip in Skoda Kushaq 1.0 tsi.

•11w

Am planning to upgrade from Fiat Punto evo to a new one, honestly could come across any car that gives ride and handling like punto, after driving many SUVs , duster feels the next best alternative.

•11w

I havnt used car yet , planning to buy first time car , my monthly drive distance would be around 500KM in city only , i want reliable , and more safety prospect car ? Can anyone suggest which would be best in 10 to 12 lpa

•11w

Hello Autocar, I currently own an i20 Nline N8, 1l Turbo, 7 speed DSG. Almost driven 36k and own it for 34 months. 60/40 split between city and highway drive. Looking to upgrade to a hybrid or BEV which can meet my drive requirements. I would still own the i20 as I just love the stability and nimbleness for highway and city cruises, but would like to upgrade the suspension to a much comfortable feel without impacting the current stability and drive feel. Options please

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More questions on similar cars

•1w

Hello Autocar family, I am planning to buy a new car for me and my grandfather. I already have a Hyundai Santro at home, so this will be my second car. The mandatory requirements are a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera, and decent mileage. My daily commute is around 30 km, including 20 km on the highway and 10 km in the city. The cars we are considering are the Kia Seltos GTX A, Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T, Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXI Plus (O), Hyundai Creta N Line, and Tata Sierra Adventure. I am also open to considering the Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. We are both confused and haven't been able to agree on one option. Please help us out, guys!

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos GTX A. It is the most balanced choice for your requirements. Your daily usage of 30 km, with a mix of highway and city driving, does not justify a diesel, so a strong turbo-petrol with a reliable automatic gearbox is the better choice.This Kia car offers the panoramic sunroof and 360-degree camera you want, along with a well-rounded ownership experience, a wide service network, and a comfortable ride for your grandfather. The Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 T is also a good option, but it is a much larger vehicle and not as easy to live with in the city.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXI Plus (O) is a strong value-for-money proposition, but the Seltos feels more premium and better finished. The Hyundai Creta N Line is a good alternative if you prefer Hyundai, but the Seltos feels like the more complete package. The Tata Sierra Adventure is interesting, but its turbo-petrol engine still needs a longer ownership track record.The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but the Seltos offers a better overall ownership experience. Overall, the Kia Seltos GTX A is the car you are most likely to be happiest with over the next five years.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

I'm considering buying a second family car. My priorities are a comfortable 5-seater, high ground clearance and a smooth driving experience, with a budget of under 10 lakh. Which is the better choice among the Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Skoda Kushaq?

•1d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It is the most sensible choice for a second family car under Rs 10 lakh. It offers a comfortable 5-seat layout, good ground clearance and a smooth, fuss-free driving experience. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Maruti Suzuki car is refined and easy to live with. Plus, Maruti’s service network and low running costs make it a very easy car to own long-term. The rear seat is comfortable for family use, and the ride quality is well-suited to bad Indian city roads.The Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon are both good cars, but the Sonet’s rear seat is spacious, and the Nexon’s would also feel tight for a family of five. The Skoda Kushaq is spacious but is a more driver-focused car, and would go well above the Rs 10 lakh mark for even the base version.The Brezza is not the most exciting car in the segment, and there is an updated one arriving in just a few weeks.

I am 62 years old and drive around 1,000km a month. I currently own a 6-year-old Maruti Suzuki Baleno and now want to buy what will likely be my last car. Please suggest the best option. My priorities are fuel efficiency, low maintenance, ease of driving and a budget of around 10 lakh.

•9h

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the best fit. It is a simple, dependable car with good ground clearance and a comfortable driving position. It is easy to get in and out of, handles bad roads well and is backed by Maruti’s strong service network and low maintenance costs. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and reliable. The Brezza is also a sensible upgrade from the Baleno, offering a more commanding driving position without being difficult to drive in the city. You can keep this Maruti Suzuki car for many years with minimal fuss. However, you might have to stretch your budget a little past Rs 10 lakh to get more features and an automatic gearbox.If you want something even more compact and easy to park, plus with more features for the price, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is also worth considering, but the Brezza feels more substantial and comfortable for long-term ownership. There is a facelifted version coming out very soon, but the changes are expected to be minor, so if you can haggle with your dealer for a good price on the outgoing model, you should try to get a discount.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•4d

I want to buy a low-maintenance car for my father, who is 65 years old. My budget is around 15 lakh. His daily commute is around 30-40km, and he also visits our farm 7-8 times a month. Which car would you recommend?

•3d

For your father, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza petrol automatic is the most sensible recommendation. At 65, ease of use, reliability and low maintenance are far more important than outright performance or flashy features. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simple, proven and well-suited to a 30-40 km daily commute, while the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Maruti’s service network is the best in the country, which means low running costs and peace of mind over the long term.This Maruti Suzuki car also has enough ground clearance and a robust suspension setup to handle occasional farm visits without any fuss. It is not the most exciting car in the segment, but it is comfortable, easy to drive and built for hassle-free ownership. At Rs 15 lakh, it is one of the most dependable choices you can make for your father. Since the Brezza facelift is just around the corner, you can wait for that or try to get a good deal on the outgoing model.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•1w

I currently own a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8 ZX Variant AT, which has covered 55,000 km and has been an absolute peace of mind. I am now planning to upgrade my vehicle with a budget of around Rs. 30 lakh. Which car would you recommend?

•6d

If you have enjoyed 55,000 km of trouble-free ownership with the Innova Crysta, the most logical upgrade is the Toyota Innova HyCross. It retains the core strengths of the Crysta - reliability, comfort and Toyota's experience - while offering a genuinely meaningful step up in refinement, technology and efficiency. The Toyota Cars hybrid powertrain is particularly well-suited to Indian conditions, delivering strong fuel economy in the city and a smooth, effortless driving experience on the highway. The cabin is a significant upgrade over the Crysta, with a more modern layout, better materials and a more premium feel overall. The only caveat is that the HyCross does not offer the same diesel torque as the 2.8, so if you are a very heavy highway user who values that diesel punch, you may want to consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel as an alternative. However, for most owners, the HyCross represents the best balance of reliability, comfort and long-term peace of mind.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1w

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

•5d

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Swift

View all Posts

Posted on: 28 Apr 2026

Need expert advice?

Ask the Autocar community and experts.

Found this useful? Your experience matters to others

Still have questions?

Need expert advice?