Maruti Suzuki Dzire VXI 1.2 Petrol MT

Autocar India

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For your needs, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXI. It comes with a refined 1.2 petrol engine paired with a slick 5-speed manual gearbox, and combined with its light controls, makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. The Dzire is also an efficient car, with Maruti claiming it'll do 24.79kpl with the manual and 25.71kpl with the AMT automatic. The cabin is comfy, the ride quality is absorbent, and it also has a reasonably sized boot, all of which you'll appreciate on your long drives. The sedan has also proven to be safe, as it has a 5-star crash safety rating from Bharat NCAP. And to round it off, it's backed by Maruti's widespread service network, which will give you peace of mind, especially since this will be your first car.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

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The entry-level Tata Altroz diesel-manual fits your budget. It is spacious, fuel-efficient, and has a decent-sized boot by hatchback standards, too. The Tata's highway stability is excellent, refinement isn't one of its strengths, and it does get quite noisy.Alternatively, you could consider the mid-spec Maruti Suzuki Dzire. Even though it is only petrol-powered, its 3-cylinder engine is extremely fuel-efficient. The clutch, gearbox and steering are light, the car is very spacious, and its boot is large. While the Dzire is a very comfortable car, engine performance on the highway is a bit dull. However, if you are a sedate driver, this is the one to go for.

Tata Altroz

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

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Since your usage has reduced, it makes sense to retain your Maruti Suzuki Dzire if it is serving you without any issues. Even if you have a major service coming up which involves changing its suspension, tyres, brakes, clutch, etc., the total cost to keep your car in top shape will only be a fraction of what you'll otherwise have to spend to purchase an all-new car.And being a Maruti car, it is likely to hold its value, and even if you decide to sell a few years down the line, its resale price is not likely to drop too sharply.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

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Go for the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire. It is the most well-rounded choice in this budget with a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating, a comfortable ride, spacious cabin, genuinely usable boot and very easy city manners thanks to its light clutch and effortless controls. It also feels premium enough inside for the price.The one trade-off is the new 3-cylinder petrol engine. It is impressively efficient, but if refinement and outright performance matter to you, it is not as smooth or punchy as a good 4-cylinder petrol.If that matters, the Honda Amaze is the alternative worth considering. Its 4-cylinder petrol engine feels smoother and more refined, though the Dzire is the more comfortable and better-rounded package overall.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

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For your requirement, check out the Tata Punch. It sits higher than the Dzire, the doors open wide, and the seat base is set at a nice hip height, so you don’t drop down into it or climb up too much. It also feels tougher over bad roads than your Wagon R, yet is still short and easy to park, which helps in tight city spots. The best part is that the Punch is available in a wide variety of flavours, and since you haven't specified a budget, there's bound to be something for you. There are many variants to choose from, as well as petrol, turbo petrol, CNG, manual gearbox, AMT and even an electric version, in case that suits you.Two things to note: the base petrol engine (or its CNG counterpart) isn’t very quick for fast highway runs, and the automatic can feel a little jerky when moving slowly; the manual is smoother in traffic. If you want the same easy cabin access but a smoother engine and gearbox, look at the Hyundai Exter mid trim. It also has a tall seat and the city-friendly size, but there isn't as much choice or variety as in the Tata car.Overall, for your “high seat, easy entry” need, the Punch fits best without jumping to a much bigger, costlier car.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

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Unfortunately, there is no hybrid vehicle on sale at this price point. Also, your minimal 15-25km daily usage doesn't warrant the initial price stretch for a corresponding diesel vehicle.Since you still want to keep your running costs down, you could consider a Maruti Dzire CNG, which is smooth, efficient and very easy to drive. The Dzire is very comfortable and spacious, with the only downside being its CNG tank that eats into its boot space. If you're not in a hurry, Hyundai will be updating the Exter soon, and even Maruti is likely to introduce the new Brezza in the coming months, so you could wait for those options too.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

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With mostly 24 km a day in city traffic and a family of four, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire top petrol manual fits your use best. It rides smoother than the Wagon R on broken city roads, so you and your family feel less tired. The steering and clutch are light, and the car feels steady on the highway. You also get a big boot for bags, while the car still stays easy to park in tight spots.Two small trade-offs: the seat is lower than the Wagon R, so you sit less upright, and you need to bend a bit more to get in and out.If a high, easy step-in seat is your top need, the Wagon R ZXi works well for short city trips and narrow lanes, but it can feel bouncy on bad patches and is not as wide for two adults in the back. Skip the Ertiga unless you often carry six or seven people; for four in a metro, its extra size just adds parking and traffic hassle. For your daily city use, pick the Dzire top petrol manual.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Autocar India

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Since you are content with your Alto 800, a sensible upgrade would be the Maruti Suzuki Swift or Dzire. They keep the compact, fuel-efficient, fuss-free nature you like, but will feel like a definite step up from the Alto for your family.If you'd like to make a bigger jump to an SUV, then you have a number of options available, from the Maruti Brezza to the Hyundai Creta. They will offer much more space, but will also feel larger and a bit more cumbersome to drive in the city.Do write to us with your budget and which segment you are looking at, and we can help you further.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

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Mostly city use by your parents, low yearly running, and a hard cap of about Rs 11 lakh on-road points to the Honda Amaze CVT.Why this fits your brief: compared to your 2013 i10 AT or the other AMTs you've shortlisted, the Amaze’s CVT will feel calmer and smoother at low speeds, so stop-go traffic will be less tiring. The cabin is simple, the seats are supportive, and visibility is good, so it is easy to drive and park. Petrol is the right pick for 6,000-7,000 km a year.Two watch-outs: the Amaze sits low, so getting in and out is not as upright as something like the Hyundai Exter. Fuel efficiency also won’t be as good as the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. In our real-world tests, the Amaze managed 13.28 kpl (combined), while the Dzire averaged 15.41 kpl (combined). If that is a concern, the Dzire is a good bet, though the AMT won’t be as smooth as a CVT. If your parents value a higher seat and an easy step-in, pick the Hyundai Exter AMT.Overall, for mostly city use and comfort for your parents, the Amaze CVT lines up best with what you described.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Autocar India

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With 500 km a month, mostly city and some highway, and a Rs. 10 lakh budget, the Honda Amaze V CVT is a good option. Its CVT automatic feels very smooth in traffic and when parking, making it very easy to drive and live with.You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, which is more comfortable as far as seats and ride quality goes. Its engine is more efficient too, with the only downside being that its gearbox isn't as smooth as Honda's. The Dzire has got a 5-star safety rating, and as far as size goes, its length is similar to the Fronx, and the Dzire is narrower, making it more compact, thus easier to park than the Fronx.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire