Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•17m

For your requirements of a 5-member family, long-term ownership, low maintenance and good all-round ability, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi manual is the best fit among your shortlist. It offers the most space here, especially at the rear, which makes it more comfortable for three passengers. The suspension handles bad roads and potholes well, and the overall ride is well-suited for both city use and highway trips, including ghat sections.The 1.5-litre petrol engine is simple, proven and reliable, which is important if you are planning to keep the car for 10-15 years. It also pulls well with a full load on slight inclines, which matches your requirement. Maruti’s wide service network and lower maintenance costs further add to long-term peace of mind.The main compromise is that the VXi variant misses out on some features, including a better music system, and compared to smaller engines, fuel efficiency in heavy city traffic may not be the best, though it remains reasonable overall.The Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Exter are easy to drive, but both feel smaller inside and are not as strong on hills with a full load due to their smaller 1.2-litre engines. You can also look at the Maruti Suzuki Fronx or Toyota Taisor turbo manual as options. The 1.0-litre turbo engine is more punchy than the Brezza’s engine and, despite being a small 3-cylinder unit, it has very little turbo lag and is fairly refined. Both cars are spacious, have good ride quality and offer a bigger boot than the Brezza. The only downside is that while the rear seat is spacious, it does not feel as wide as the Brezza.So overall, for a balance of space, comfort, reliability and long-term ownership, the Brezza VXi is the most sensible choice.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai Venue

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•1d

For your requirement, the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Sportz (O) AMT is a very sensible and well-suited choice. It is compact, easy to drive and park in city conditions like Bengaluru. The light steering, along with the AMT gearbox, makes stop-and-go traffic much less tiring, which is ideal for your parents. It also offers a comfortable ride and a familiar hatchback form factor, making it an easy upgrade from your current Santro.Given your monthly running of 500-700 km, a small petrol automatic fits perfectly, and Hyundai’s strong service support adds to the peace of mind.That said, one thing to be aware of is that AMT gearboxes can feel slightly jerky at low speeds. If smoothness and comfort are a higher priority, you could consider slightly stretching the budget for options with smoother automatic gearboxes like the Hyundai i20. It comes with a more refined IVT/CVT option and offers a more seamless driving experience.If your parents would prefer a higher seating position for easier ingress and better visibility, the Hyundai Exter AMT is also worth considering as an alternative.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•2d

Between your two choices, the Mahindra XUV 3XO offers more for your money. It sits a segment above the Hyundai Exter and therefore has more interior space. That said, only go ahead with the Mahindra if the showroom is willing to offer a proper test drive.In terms of the powertrain, the XUV 3XO’s turbo-petrol engine offers stronger performance than the Exter’s naturally aspirated unit, while ride and handling are also superior. While you will be giving up some creature comforts compared to the Hyundai, such as a dashcam and keyless entry, the XUV 3XO is still very well equipped for the price. In our real-world tests, the XUV 3XO managed 10.4kpl in the city and 14.9kpl on the highway, which is actually better than what we recorded in the Exter.What you do give up is boot space. Despite its larger size, the XUV 3XO actually has a smaller boot than the Exter. If that is a concern, then consider the Kia Sonet HTK 1.2-litre petrol MT instead.On the test drive, check if the clutch and shifter action are to your liking, and whether performance and refinement meet your expectations.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Exter

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•1w

Looking at your budget and your requirement for space - especially headroom - we would recommend you look at the Hyundai Exter. The car has plenty of head as well as legroom at the front and the rear, too. The rear in particular is very good with ample room to stretch your feet out below the front seats, and the rear seatbacks are a bit more reclined than normal, effectively creating even more headroom. The Exter is also an easy and comfy car to drive with a light steering that weighs up as you drive faster. With your Rs 11 lakh budget, you will also be able to purchase the top-end version and would thus enjoy all of the features on offer.

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•1w

Go for the Hyundai Exter. It's taller (than regular hatchbacks) seating height eases entry/exit, which your elderly parents will appreciate. The ride is also good, and it soaks up road bumps quite nicely; it's only when you hit sharp potholes that you will feel a thud inside. Being a Hyundai, you will have a good service experience and low maintenance requirements and costs. With your Rs. 12 lakh budget, you will also get the top spec model, and thus you will enjoy all the features that it has to offer. You can also consider the Tata Punch, which, in addition, is an easy step-in and out height has wide 90 degree opening doors that would further ease entry and exit for your parents. The seats are also a bit softer, and the ride is also more plush, adding to the comfort factor. However, your requirement of peace of mind ownership may not be met as the quality of Tata dealers is not uniform across the country. Thus, enquire about the specific dealer in your area before making a decision.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•1w

The Tata Punch is a good option, and as you have stated, it does indeed offer more headroom than the Tata Altroz. Since it appears that this is of priority to you, another option would be the Hyundai Exter. The tall stance liberates a lot of interior headroom, and like the Tata Punch, the Exter too has a compact overall footprint. The Exter would also fit well within your Rs 10 lakh budget, especially a mid-level variant, which you have said that you are open to and would prefer instead of a top model.

Tata Punch

Tata Altroz

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•1w

Go with the Hyundai Exter. It is the best vehicle within your budget and for city usage. You will only get a base model Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi in your budget, and while a high-spec Tata Punch will fall in your budget, it isn't particularly smooth, refined or fuel-efficient.The Hyundai Exter, which has just been given a mild facelift, offers a smooth and refined 1.2-litre petrol engine and a relatively smooth AMT gearbox. The AMT is preferable over the MT gearbox as the majority of your driving is in the city, and the convenience of not having a clutch will be appreciated. It's well-equipped at this price, and running costs will be relatively reasonable as well.

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2w

Without knowing your exact requirements, it will be hard to suggest any one option as there are plenty of models available across body styles within a budget of Rs 8 lakh. Your Rs 8 lakh cap rules out most CVT or torque converter automatic options, and you'll have to go for an AMT.If you want a small hatchback for the city, pick the Tata Tiago AMT, which comes with a solid build, a decent features list and a 4-star safety rating. If you prefer a sedan, go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire AMT, which stands out for its relatively spacious cabin, comfy ride quality and a 5-star crash safety rating.However, if you prefer an SUV bodystyle, consider the Hyundai Exter AMT, which comes with a smooth 1.2-litre engine and a lengthy features list. Do note, you'll have to settle for the entry-level automatic variants of the latter two, given your budget.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Tata Tiago

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•2w

Yes, the Tata Punch Adventure AMT is an excellent option, given your requirements. It's tall with a high seating position, which gives you a commanding view out - great for a new driver, yet it's compact enough not to be intimidating around town. It will also feel like a good upgrade from your old Celerio.Since safety is also a consideration for you, the Punch has been given a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and gets 6 airbags as standard, plus a good amount of standard safety equipment. If there's a potential drawback, it's that the Punch's 1.2 petrol engine and AMT gearbox aren't the smoothest combination, and as a new driver, the jerkiness at low speeds is something you will have to learn to drive around.Also consider the Hyundai Exter SX Smart AMT and the Nissan Magnite Kuro AMT as well, as both have smoother powertrains than the Punch.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Nissan Magnite

Autocar India

•3w

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is still in production. It is worth noting that the Ignis is a bit long in the tooth now, and sales are very low, especially so by Maruti standards. Thus, there could be a possibility of it being discontinued or updated. In any case, being a Maruti model that has been on sale for a while now, you would still be able to get it serviced for a fairly long period of time.If you are, however, worried about this, you could consider the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch, which are two cars that will offer similar benefits of being compact, high-riding and available with an automatic transmission.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch