I’m a first-time car buyer with a budget of around ₹8 lakh, looking for comfort, good mileage, and an automatic transmission. My usage split is 60% city and 40% highway. Will the Maruti Baleno suit me?

autocar.india

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Pick the Maruti Fronx CNG Delta. It fits your Rs. 10 lakh budget better than Brezza CNG, and you will save a lot on fuel costs given your high running. It is light and easy to drive in city traffic, yet still has good ground clearance for broken patches, and Maruti’s service network makes maintaining it easy.For your once-a-month 200 km highway trip, the Fronx CNG cruises calmly if you keep a steady pace, and the cabin is comfortable enough for family use. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is roomier and feels tougher, but the LXi CNG typically crosses Rs. 10 lakh on-road.Do note, though, the performance with CNG is not great, and the boot is small. You'll also have to plan trips around CNG refills and contend with CNG station queues. If you want to avoid all that, go for the Baleno 1.2 petrol manual instead. It stays within budget and still returns good real-world mileage.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

autocar.india

•2d

Go for the Renault Triber or its sister car the Nissan Gravite. For a family of five on a tight Rs. 8 lakh budget, nothing gives you this much space and flexibility. You get real rear-seat room, easy access, and with the third row folded you have a huge boot for bags, strollers, or a weekly shop. The third row is quite useable too should you have extra passengers. Your running is modest, so the petrol suits fine, and it is easy to drive in the city. Lower and mid trims usually fit your budget in many cities, and there is an automatic option if you want it.The issue is performance. With five on board and luggage, it feels slow on highways or during overtaking. Cabin quality is simple too, but it is practical and tough enough for daily use.If you prefer a 5-seat hatchback and want something more polished, look at the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It is roomy for five, very efficient, and cheap to run, though the boot is smaller than the Triber with seats folded. If you want a higher driving position, the Tata Punch is worth a look, but shoulder room for three at the back is tighter.

Renault Triber

Nissan Gravite

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

autocar.india

•1d

With just 12,000 km on your 2017 Datsun Redigo, the car is still relatively fresh mechanically, but the bigger issue is Datsun’s exit from India. While basic servicing and spares are still available through Nissan, long-term parts availability and resale value will only get tougher with time. If you plan to keep the car for another 5-7 years, it is still usable, but if you are already considering an upgrade, now is a sensible time to move on before resale value drops further.Between the Maruti Baleno and the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, the Baleno is the better upgrade. It offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot, a more comfortable ride and a stronger resale value. The Grand i10 Nios is a good city car, but the Baleno feels like a more substantial step up from the Redigo. Go for the Baleno petrol manual or AMT, depending on your budget and driving preference.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios