Upcoming Maruti Suzuki cars in India (2)

Autocar India

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With 1,200 km a month in Chennai and mostly city traffic, moving to one automatic is sensible if your family’s schedules work with a single car. In that use, the Tata Nexon EV Medium Range is the stronger fit in your Rs. 15-17 lakh window. It is very smooth in stop-and-go traffic, there is no clutch heat or strain, and the instant response makes gaps easy. Your monthly running suits an EV well, and if you can install a home charger, you start each day with a full “tank” and very low running costs. As your only car, the Nexon EV has enough space for a small family, rides comfortably over broken patches, and feels easy to place in tight lanes and parking. If you can stretch your budget, the Hyundai Creta EV would make for a much better EV with a better driving experience and a larger and more comfortable car. Two watch-outs: you need a fixed parking spot with charging, and longer highway trips will need some planning around chargers.If you would rather stay with petrol, pick the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic in a mid trim. It keeps life easy in traffic, sits a bit higher for a better view, and you already know Maruti service from your S-Cross, and if you can stretch for the hybrid, it will keep your fuel costs in check. Overall, for city-heavy use, the Nexon EV makes the most sense.

Tata Nexon EV

Hyundai Creta Electric

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

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We're assuming that by hybrid, you mean a strong hybrid wherein the electric motors also power the wheels. In that case, there are currently no models on sale in India that fall under 4 metres or your Rs 15 lakh budget. The most affordable strong hybrid on sale currently is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXI, which is priced at Rs 16.38 lakh (ex-showroom, India). However, if you mean a mild hybrid system where a small electric motor and battery merely assists the engine, you should go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It measures under 4 metres, falls under your Rs 15 lakh budget, and its a very easy SUV to drive and live with. For your daily city run, its idle start-stop and energy assist help save fuel in slow traffic, and the restart is smooth so it feels easy. The size makes it simple to park, yet you sit high and the suspension handles broken roads well, which matters when you’re doing this distance every day. Maruti’s wide service reach also keeps upkeep simple when you’re clocking many kilometres.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

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Given your 70% highway use, frequent hill drives, comfort and safety needs, and street parking in a tier-3 town, the Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol manual is the strongest fit for the next 8-10 years. It feels solid and safe and has a 5-star crash safety rating, stays steady at highway speeds, and its higher seat makes it easy for seniors to get in and out. The driver seat is height adjustable so you get a clear view out, so you won't have any trouble given your 5ft height. On climbs and descents the manual gives you good control, the engine pulls well from low speeds, and the ride stays comfy even over rough surfaces. The substantial ground clearance also helps on rough village roads and to clear tall speed breakers, and Mahindra’s service reach is fairly wide outside big cities.Do note though, the XUV 3XO has a small boot in comparison to rivals, so highway trips with your family will require some planning. If you want an easier ownership experience, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual is a fine alternative. It’s very easy to see out and park, rides comfortably, and service support is everywhere, though its engine isn't as punchy and it's not as feature-rich.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•2d

Since you're looking for an easy, comfortable automatic car under Rs. 15 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT is the one you should be looking at. It is very easy to drive in traffic thanks to the light controls, the torque converter automatic shifts smoothly, and the tall seat makes getting in and out easy for a 60-year-old. The ride is calm over broken roads, so daily runs and longer trips feel less tiring. Maruti’s wide service network and low part costs also make life easier over 8-10 years, and resale is usually strong.Two things to note: it is not the quickest thanks to the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine that puts out just 103hp, and if the ZXI is over your budget in your city, you'll have to settle for the VXI automatic that will feel a bit basic inside. Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro AT only if he wants stronger pull and more features for the money. Overall, for comfort, ease, low upkeep and trust, go for the Brezza automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•16h

Mostly city use with a sensitive lower back and an under Rs 20 lakh cap points to a taller, easy-to-drive automatic. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT HTX (A) fits this brief best. The seat height makes getting in and out simple without bending or climbing. So, the ride is soft at low speeds, thanks in part to this variant's smaller 17-inch wheels, so your back gets less shock from broken roads, and the automatic moves smoothly in traffic. You sit upright with a clear view out, the steering is light, and the 360 camera takes the stress out of parking. What's more, this should just about fit in your budget, and it gets you ADAS features as well. Kia’s wide service network helps with easy, reliable ownership over many years, too. The other good option is a Hyundai Creta, but getting these features will require you to move to a top-spec variant only, which is out of your budget. You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris 1.5 petrol AT, which offers even lower running costs but is not quite as comfortable as the Hyundai or Kia.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•2d

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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For mostly city driving, a strict Rs 10 lakh budget, and a new driver, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG LXi fits your requirements well. It is easy to drive in traffic thanks to the light controls and a smooth gearbox. The tall seating position gives you a clear view of the road, and the suspension handles bad patches and speed breakers without scraping. Running on CNG will keep daily fuel costs low in stop-and-go city use, and Maruti’s wide service network makes ownership simple.Do note a few trade-offs. On CNG, the pickup is calmer, so with the AC on or with five people, it will feel slower. The boot is virtually unusable because of the CNG tank, and you must be okay with visiting CNG pumps and possible queues. Also, depending on your city, the on-road price of the LXi CNG may stretch past Rs. 10 lakh, so check local quotes.If CNG pumps are far from you or you want a stronger pickup, the same car in LXi petrol is worth a look. For mostly city driving on a budget, the Brezza LXi CNG still lines up best with what you need.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•2d

With 50 km daily in the city and some highway trips on weekends, and a Rs. 10-12 lakh cap, the Mahindra XUV 3XO in a mid petrol automatic variant fits best. It is easy to drive in traffic, the automatic takes the stress out of moving slowly, and its size makes parking simple. On the highway, it feels strong and steady, so overtakes are easy, and the ride stays comfortable on rough patches. The cabin feels solid, safety is a clear plus, and you get the key features you need within budget.Two things to note: the back seat is better for two adults than three, and fuel use in heavy city traffic is not the lowest.If you want lower running costs, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi automatic variant is a safe alternative. It is smooth and easy to live with, though not as quick to drive as the XUV 3XO.For your mix of city and weekend use, the XUV 3XO lines up best for the money.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•2d

With 80 km of mostly city driving and a clear move to a petrol automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic best fits your needs. Its automatic is smooth and calm in traffic, so that it will feel like a big upgrade from your current AMT. The engine is easy-going and does not feel stressed on long commutes, and Maruti’s wide service network helps when you are piling on daily kilometres.A few trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest in this group, and the cabin is not as flashy as some rivals. But for daily ease, comfort over bad roads, and low-stress ownership, it nails the brief.Why not the others for your use: the Tata Nexon with AMT still has a slight jerk and slow shifts in stop-go, which can get tiring over 80 km a day. The Kia Sonet automatic is quick but can feel a bit fussy at very low speeds. The Hyundai Venue CRDi is diesel, so it does not match your petrol ask.If you want stronger pick-up and more features, look at the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic; it’s brisk and still smooth, though city mileage may be lower. Overall, pick the Brezza automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

Kia Sonet

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

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It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter