Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ZXI+ AGS 1.2

Autocar India

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Keep your budget around Rs 6-8 lakh and go for a simple petrol car. With a Rs 70,000 in-hand salary, the idea is to keep ownership easy and stress-free rather than stretching your budget, especially since your job involves regular travel and you are new to owning a car.For your usage, a petrol car makes the most sense as it is easier to maintain and better suited to mixed driving. Since you live in a village, focus on comfort, durability and ease of use over features or performance, because what will matter most is how reliably the car handles daily travel.Within this, go for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R if you want maximum practicality. It is spacious, simple and extremely easy to live with, making it a perfect first car for both family use and regular travel. If you want something that feels a bit more modern and stylish while still being easy to own, then the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is a good alternative.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Autocar India

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We would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq. With your 70 percent highway use, it is the most comfortable and fun to drive compared to the Tata Nexon and Kia Sonet. Coming from a Wagon R AMT, you will notice a big step up in how stable and secure it feels at 80-100 km/h. Also, how well it absorbs bad patches, and how smoothly the 6-speed torque converter automatic shifts without the slight jerk you sometimes feel in an AMT. The 1.0 turbo petrol also has strong mid-range pull, so overtakes are easy even with family and luggage. Safety is another strong point, and its high-speed stability stands out on long drives.Do keep in mind that Skoda’s service network is smaller than Tata's and Kia's, and since all three are turbo petrols, fuel efficiency will not be very high. Also, the rear seat in all three cars is best suited for two adults rather than three, unlike your Wagon R.

Skoda Kylaq

Tata Nexon

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

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Opt for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ZXi+ AMT. It fits your brief for a smaller, easy automatic under Rs. 9 lakh. Compared to your Baleno, the Wagon R feels much easier in the city. It is shorter, turns in a tighter space, and is simple to park. The AMT is tuned well here, so starts and slow traffic are smooth enough, and the steering and pedals are very light. The seat is set at a friendly height, so getting in and out will be easier than in many low cars. Maruti’s service network is everywhere, which means stress-free ownership.One thing to be aware of is that the cabin will feel simpler than your Baleno, and on rough roads, you may feel more movement. It is fine for daily city runs, but on highways, it might not feel as solid as bigger cars. If you want a plusher cabin and a bit more comfort, look at the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Sportz (O) AMT. It too has a smooth AMT, but is a tad larger in size than the Wagon R.During the test drive, try some stop-and-go traffic and tight parking situations to assess smoothness and visibility.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Autocar India

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We would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.2 AMT for you. Its elevated seating and large windows give a great view out and will put you at immediate ease. The Wagon R is also easy to drive thanks to its light steering and small turning circle. The Wagon R with the larger 1.2-litre engine also has sufficient pep for the city, while the AMT auto brings in convenience. The AMT is smooth enough, but you will feel a lag and pause in shifts if you drive with enthusiasm.Do note, the Wagon R isn't the ideal highway vehicle. It doesn't feel quite as surefooted as a lower-riding vehicle would. As an alternative, you could consider the Tata Tiago AMT XT.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Tata Tiago

Autocar India

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Go for the Honda Elevate VX CVT - for your needs, it is the easiest upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki WagonR and the most practical for daily use. The seat is higher than a regular car but not too high, so it is easier to get in and out without climbing. The rear seat is spacious and comfortable, the doors open wide, and the floor is relatively flat, which helps. The boot is big and square, so a folded wheelchair fits cleanly. The CVT is also seamless in operation and will feel like a big upgrade over the AMT in your Wagon R.One thing to be aware of: the boot lip will be a bit higher than your WagonR's, so you lift the wheelchair a little more while loading.If you often carry more people or want a lower loading height for the wheelchair, look at the Maruti XL6. It has very easy step-in and comfy captain seats in the middle row. But you will likely need the third row folded to keep the wheelchair in the boot.When you test drive, carry the folded wheelchair and try loading it, and have your mother step in and out of the rear seat to check the height and support.

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki XL6

Autocar India

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Go for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R VXi 1.0 AMT - for a short 12 km office run, it uses less fuel, is very easy in traffic, and gives all the basics without spending extra. Since you already have a Hyundai Verna for longer trips, the Wagon R’s small size and tall seat make daily city driving and parking simple. The AMT's shifts are relatively smooth, if a bit slow, but it will make driving in stop-and-go traffic a lot less tiresome. If you don't encounter much traffic on your route, then the manual will be fine too. The VXi has the basics: good AC, power windows, remote locking, rear parking sensors, and a simple Bluetooth music setup with a Smartplay dock available to mount your phone. Maruti’s wide service network and low-cost parts also make it a safe and easy second car to own.One thing to be aware of: the Wagon R can feel a little basic, and if you want something with a bit more style, then the Maruti Suzuki Swift is a better bet.Test drive both the manual and AMT and see which works better for your use.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Autocar India

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Go for a clean Maruti Wagon R VXi manual from a trusted seller; it is the easiest first car to live with under your budget and will help you build confidence fast. The Wagon R sits a little taller, so you step in and out easily and see the road clearly, which really calms nerves when you are new. The steering is light, the clutch is easy, and the gear shifts are simple, so city drives feel stress-free. For your once-a-month highway run, it cruises calmly at normal speeds. The AC is strong, and you will find Maruti service and parts almost anywhere, which keeps running costs low even if you use the car only sometimes.One thing to be aware of is that older Wagon Rs do not have many safety features by today’s standards. So, look for a car with at least a driver's airbag and ABS if possible. Also, it can lean a bit in fast turns, so do not push it hard on the highway.If you want something newer for the same money, a Renault Kwid 1.0 manual is worth a look; it feels nice to drive and has good ground clearance, but it is narrower for four adults. When you test drive, practice a tight U-turn, reverse into a parking spot, and do a short highway stretch. Buy the car that feels easiest to handle and has clear service records, even if it is a year older or a trim lower.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Renault Kwid

Autocar India

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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.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

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The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is a good pick for your requirements. It's a reliable car that's affordable to maintain and comes backed by Maruti's massive service network.What makes the Wagon R well-suited to you is its spacious cabin. The Wagon R is surprisingly roomy for a car of its size and can accommodate five passengers in decent comfort. We'd recommend the more powerful 1.2-litre version, which adds more power over the base 1-litre engine. The 1.2’s superior performance makes a noticeable difference in both everyday driving and occasional highway trips.You can consider the Wagon R ZXi 1.2, which is within your Rs 6.5 lakh budget. If you are open to spending a bit more, the ZXI Plus is worth a look. It packs in a touchscreen-based infotainment system among other feature additions.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

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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.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Dzire