Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 CNG Delta

For a Maruti Suzuki Baleno with two people in the city, set 29 PSI in all four tyres, checked cold; for occasional highway runs with two onboard, use 30-31 PSI cold. Maruti’s placard (fuel-lid/door frame) for most Baleno trims lists 29 PSI for normal load, which balances ride comfort and steering feel in city speeds under 60 km/h. 

On highways, adding 1-2 PSI helps the tyre run cooler (due to less sidewall flex) at sustained 80-100 km/h and can improve straight-line feel slightly without making the ride harsh. In fact, a note, most people fearing high speed blowouts lower tyre pressure on highways, this is very dangerous and can actually lead to blowouts on older and weaker tyres, due to heat build up. This happens as with lower pressures, sidewalls flex a lot, leading to internal friction. Thus, raising pressure by 1 or 2 PSI is actually better.      

If you’re carrying 4-5 people or luggage over 50-80 kg in the boot, go to 32 PSI cold. Always set pressures cold (after the car has been parked for at least 3 hours or driven under 2 km), because heat can raise readings by 2-3 PSI; don’t bleed air from hot tyres.

The one thing you give up by running 30-31 PSI on the highway is a touch of softness over small bumps; expect a firmer feel over sharp joints compared to 29 PSI.

Once a month, use a digital gauge with ±1 PSI accuracy, check all four tyres and the spare, and rotate every 8,000-10,000 km to keep wear even and pressures consistent.

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Maruti Suzuki Dzire are well-suited to your requirements. Both models are very fuel-efficient and are affordable in terms of maintenance costs. You can get the top-spec versions of either model within your budget, and there's also the option of an AMT automatic gearbox that adds convenience without impacting fuel economy. 

Both models pack in safety essentials, and it's reassuring to know that the Baleno is a 4-star Bharat NCAP-rated model while the Dzire is a 5-star Global NCAP-rated model. 

We would suggest you consider the Hyundai i20 IVT. The gearbox is smooth, the cabin is spacious, and within your budget, you can get the Sportz (O) variant. It is compact, easy to drive and park in the city, and also offers a reasonably large boot.

If you want something slightly larger, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It is more spacious inside, more comfortable for a larger family and also has a bigger boot. The AMT gearbox is not as smooth as the CVT in the i20, but it is well-tuned and will also be more efficient.