Maruti Suzuki Jimny 1.5 Petrol Alpha MT

Autocar India

•1w

For mostly city use in Chennai with an on-road cap of Rs. 16 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT fits your brief best. It has a simple 1.5-litre petrol, naturally aspirated engine without a turbo and a 6-speed torque-converter automatic, so it moves off gently and stays smooth when traffic is slow. The higher seat and compact size make it easy to see out, thread through gaps, and park, and Maruti service is widespread in Chennai.The flip side is that it is not very quick if you push hard, and the cabin feels a bit plain in this price range. If you want the full set of non-turbo petrol cars with a torque-converter automatic near your budget, these are the ones to look at: Maruti Suzuki Ertiga AT and Toyota Rumion AT in the lower trims if you need seven seats; the Maruti Suzuki Jimny AT has the same simple automatic but may just cross Rs. 16 lakh on-road in Chennai, so check deals. Most other petrol automatics in this price range use AMT or CVT-style gearboxes, not a torque converter.Do you need a turbo for a Chennai office run? Mostly no. In heavy traffic, you rarely use the extra power a turbo brings. Some small turbos also have a slight pause and then a jump when you press the pedal, which is not as soothing in stop-and-go driving. A non-turbo with a torque-converter automatic is usually the calmest. A turbo is worth it if you often carry a full family, climb flyovers a lot, or do fast runs on OMR/ECR or the highway. Overall, for city-only use, you will be happy without a turbo.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Autocar India

•1w

Of your cars, you should replace the Maruti Ignis with a Kia Seltos diesel automatic. This gives you the convenience and better fuel efficiency you are looking for, while allowing you to keep the City for its VTEC driving experience and the Jimny for rough roads or compact lanes. The Kia Seltos diesel auto is smooth and relaxed in traffic thanks to its smooth torque converter, and on highways, it cruises at low engine speed, so it feels calm and will likely use less fuel than your Honda City or Maruti Jimny. The back seat is wide enough for family use, the seat height is good for elders, and the boot is much larger than the Ignis, so it works well as the main family car.One thing to keep in mind is that you will miss the Ignis’s tiny size, and though the Jimny is a compact car, it isn't quite as light and manoeuvrable as the hatchback. Overall, the Seltos feels like a more upmarket and high-tech alternative to your existing cars, and should be a good upgrade that works in a variety of situations.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Honda City

Autocar India

•3w

Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar Roxx are hardcore off‑roaders first and family cars second, so they’re great on broken roads but compromised as primary road‑trip machines.They really come into their own on dirt tracks, bad village roads and unpaved sections, and they also deliver that rugged, “tough toy” appeal - the Thar Roxx especially has a lot more visual muscle and emotional pull. But for a family of five, we’d immediately rule out the Jimny: it’s simply too narrow for three adults or growing kids to sit comfortably in the back for any length of time, and luggage space is also very limited.The Thar Roxx can realistically take a family of five, but for long highway runs, its suspension is on the firmer, bouncy side, and overall refinement isn’t as good as some of the softer, more road‑biased SUVs. You’ll feel more vertical movement, more noise, and over a full day’s drive that gets tiring, especially for rear passengers.If your main requirement is road trips with the family and you don’t have a specific off‑roading need, a “soft‑roader” is the better tool for the job. Something like the Tata Sierra 1.5 diesel gives you the same tough‑as‑nails image and presence, but with a far more comfortable ride, more space, better highway manners and a more relaxed driving experience over long distances.

Tata Sierra

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

•5w

The choice of model depends on your usage. If you go for trips outside Manali and need off-road ability, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is the right pick for you. It is a superb off-roader and will let you explore trails around Manali. The 4x4 capability will also come very handy in the rain when it tends to get slushy and in the winter when you'll have snow to deal with. The Jimny's narrow width also makes it manageable on tight, hilly roads. On the flipside, the turning circle is large, so you'll need to put in more effort on narrow winding roads. What also works against the Jimny is its engine's performance. It lacks punch and can feel frustratingly underpowered.If you don't intend to use your vehicle for off-road adventures and will only use your car in fair weather, the Skoda Kushaq is easily the better everyday choice in terms of performance, comfort and features. Its turbocharged 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines deliver punchy performance, which you will appreciate on hilly roads. The Kushaq is also significantly roomier than the Jimny.Do note, the Jimny is a four-seater while the Kushaq can accommodate five passengers in reasonable comfort. The Kushaq also packs in more features and technology, giving it a more premium feel.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•5w

For your usage of mainly city driving (30km daily) with occasional highway trips and a family of four, we would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq.The Kylaq offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin for four adults, and the torque converter automatic is smooth, which makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. It is also compact enough, so parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces won’t be an issue. On highways, too, it feels stable and enjoyable to drive.The Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue are good options for the city as well, but both use a DCT automatic, which is not as smooth at low speeds as a torque converter, especially in stop-and-go traffic.The Citroen Basalt is actually great value for money and offers excellent cabin space, making it very comfortable for a family. However, it is a larger car, so it won’t be as easy to park and manoeuvre in the city. If you prioritise space and comfort over ease of driving, it is definitely worth considering.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not suitable for your needs. It is primarily an off-roader, has heavier steering, and is not as easy to drive in the city. The ride is also bouncy, and overall, practicality is limited for family use.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Citroen Basalt

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

•11w

The main reason the Jimny is adept at handling the slope up is its rear-wheel-drive layout. Unlike the rest of Maruti's model range, the Jimny (like the Gypsy before it) uses a ladder-frame chassis and a longitudinally mounted engine that sends power to the rear wheels. This is in accordance with its AllGrip Pro 4x4 system, which can then engage the front axle on command. However, a rear-wheel-drive layout is inherently better at tackling steep slopes as the weight of the car falls onto the rear wheels when the nose is pointed upwards, and power at the rear 'pushes' the car up the hill. In a front-wheel drive car like the Swift, the car is trying to 'pull' its way up the hill using wheels that don't have enough traction, hence momentum is required to get it going. While an AWD car like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris will help to an extent, what you want is a RWD car. Our recommendation at your budget is the Mahindra Thar Roxx, which is available at your budget in a decent mid-spec variant. Its combination of rear-wheel drive and strong petrol and diesel engines should make light work of that slope, with enough control to tackle the sharp turn at the end safely.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Autocar India

•15w

Without knowing your budget, it's hard to guide you to the right vehicle. We have listed the options for you to consider - Maruti Suzuki Jimny - Great off-road and efficient enough for a 4x4. However, small size means a tight cabin, and performance is dullMahindra Thar 4x4 - Very capable off-road and good engine. Two door layout is inconvenient for rear seat passengersMahindra Scorpio N 4x4 - Capable off-road, strong diesel engine, seating for 7 passengersMahindra Thar Roxx - Excellent off-road, strong diesel engine, great imageMaruti Suzuki Victoris AWD - Decent off-road ability, engine scores well for efficiency. Power and performance is unexciting

Mahindra Thar

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Mahindra Scorpio N

Autocar India

•19w

Yes, the Maruti Suzuki Jimny is very adept off-road, thanks to Suzuki's All-Grip Pro 4X4 system, which also features a low ratio. However, it does feel bouncy on regular roads - just like most 4X4s. Thus, we would recommend you look at the all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder or the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. These SUVs use Suzuki All-Grip Select, which does not have a low ratio but has a Snow mode and also allow you to lock AWD. For the winter Spiti trails, this should suffice. Moreover, these SUVs will be far better in terms of ride comfort in the city and on the highway.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•19w

The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is an off-road vehicle and doesn't make for an ideal city vehicle. While small in size, the Jimny has a large turning circle, the steering is on the heavier side (which means it'll need more effort), and the ride isn't the comfiest you can get for the money. Fuel economy is also not exceptional for this size of vehicle. However, your daily commute of 6-8 km is short enough to overlook many of these lesser aspects of a Jimny. It's an undoubtedly charming vehicle that stands out from the crowd. Alternatively, you could consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which is a comfier, more practical and easier to live with compact SUV from Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•21w

There are not many AWD or 4x4 vehicles that meet all your requirements perfectly, but there are some to consider. Your best option is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, the ZXI Plus AWD AT variant, although you will have to stretch your budget slightly.It is a 5-star rated car from both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP, so you're well covered on safety, and overall, it is a well equipped and comfortable family car. As a bonus, it comes with Maruti's renowned reliability and low running costs.Alternatively, you could consider the Mahindra Thar Roxx, the MX5 2.2 Diesel MT 4x4 variant, which is also safe and offers more space and a more robust 4x4 system, but it's not as reliable or comfortable as the Maruti Suzuki.Or you could look at the Maruti Suzuki Jimny, which is a capable off-roader and falls easily in your budget, but it is not as comfortable, and its small size makes it less practical as a family car.

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Jimny