Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXi 1.0

For your requirement of an automatic car under Rs 7 lakh for city driving, we would suggest going for the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXI AMT.

It is a proven product and well-suited for daily city use. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is refined for a 3-cylinder unit and feels responsive, with enough torque for typical city conditions. The AMT gearbox is well-calibrated and smooth, which makes it easy to drive in stop-go traffic.

The Celerio is also compact and easy to park, which is important for city usage. At the same time, the cabin is surprisingly spacious and can comfortably seat four adults.

If you want something with even more space, you can also consider the Maruti Wagon R VXI AMT, which just about fits within your budget.

CNG cars are cheaper to run, but the flipside is a drop in performance. For someone who drives primarily on the highway, a CNG is not ideal. We'd recommend a petrol engine, which will give you more power and help you comfortably maintain highway speeds. 

If you are comfortable with a Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, the larger 1.2-litre petrol engine is a natural upgrade. The engine gives it much more zip than the 1.0-litre unit of your model, and you will feel the benefits on highway drives. Do note, the tall Wagon R isn't the ideal highway vehicle. 

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a good pick for your needs. It's spacious and good to drive, and what will ease your comfort out on the highway is its 5-star Global NCAP crash rating.  

By definition, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a 'compact' sub-4-meter car; we assume you mean your father would like a smaller hatchback instead. In this case, the Maruti WagonR would be a good option. It's notably shorter in length compared to the Dzire and narrower too, so your father should find it easier to manage within the city. 

The higher seating height also gives you a better view outside, and it helps with an easier entry and exit, too.   

It really comes down to what you see of 'value' in a car. For instance, if you must have a touchscreen audio system with Android Auto or Apple CarPlay connectivity, then the ZXi+ is the variant you should buy, as this is the only version that offers it. 

However, on the whole, we think the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXi 1.0 is the best pick as the 1.0 litre engine delivers sufficient performance for general use and the VXi has virtually every feature of the 1.2 ZXi except for the steering-mounted audio controls.   

We would recommend you to consider the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXI AGS, which should fall within your budget. It is a tall hatchback, with good visibility all around, a light steering, and its petrol-automatic combination is smooth and efficient. Being a Maruti, it is likely to deliver a fuss-free ownership experience.

If you can increase your budget slightly, you could consider the Maruti Wagon R, which will be even easier to enter and exit the vehicle. Being a very popular model, its resale value will be stronger than the Celerio too.