Maruti Suzuki Baleno

The Maruti Baleno Zeta AGS will be a good option to consider. This version will fit in your budget and has good fuel economy for an automatic. Your high usage, it also has comfy seats, a good ride and a decent feature list. 

Adding to the convenience is Maruti's widespread network and low maintenance cost. It is easy to drive in the city, has a practical and spacious cabin and a comfy ride for long drives. 

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis and Baleno share the 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, which is known for its smoothness, refinement, free-revving nature and fuel efficiency. The Ignis is relatively smaller in size than the Baleno, and with its light controls, will be a touch easier to drive and park in tight spaces. 

That said, the new Maruti Suzuki Swift is still an excellent, fun-to-drive option, with a nicer steering (it returns to centre more naturally than the Ignis' unit), and its darty nature. Its 3-cylinder petrol engine is also very good in terms of drivability; yes, it doesn't revv as freely as the 4-cylinder 1.2 unit, but if you don't regularly spin the engine beyond 4000rpm, it'll keep you satisfied. 

Do drive the new Swift once, it might just be the one for you.

While the Maruti Swift ZXI AMT is a good choice, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT Alpha, which costs a similar amount. The Baleno's engine feels stronger and will be more suited to highway driving. Like the Swift, the Baleno is also easy and cheap to maintain and delivers good fuel economy. 

Also worth looking at is the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.2 AMT. It has the same engine as the Baleno, but what makes it worth considering for your parents is its higher seating and elevated driving position. Getting in and out of the car is easy and the large glass area makes visibility very good. Also, the high seating also gives confidence when driving on the highway.   

 

Given your requirements, you should choose between the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20. The Baleno comes with an efficient 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine that's mated to a 5-speed AMT automatic. It has a spacious cabin, and being a Maruti car, it will be reliable and affordable to maintain. The i20, meanwhile, also comes with a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, but that comes mated to a smoother CVT automatic gearbox. Do note, this Hyundai car can also be had with a punchy 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic in the i20 N Line. 

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta AMT will be a good choice for you. It is a very good city car with a light steering, a convenient AMT gearbox and good fuel efficiency as well. It has a smooth and reliable petrol engine, and Maruti is excellent when it comes to after-sales and service too. 

There are a number of options available based on your requirements. If you want a hatchback, go for the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It comes with a smooth 4-cylinder engine paired to an AMT automatic gearbox, and it comes with 6 airbags and a 4-star safety rating from Global NCAP. However, if you prefer a small SUV or a crossover, consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, which comes with the same four-cylinder engine and safety features as the Baleno. Do note, both these models are also available as rebadged Toyotas in the form of the Glanza (Baleno) and Taisor (Fronx).