[MADisMynAMe]

Hello everyone, I am in a dilemma of purchasing a reliable, easy to run car for the city. The below, is what is required in the new car. (I have not specified them in order so forgive me for that). This is a lengthy thread, so please bear with me.
- Space (Our Nano and Seltos have pampered us)
- Fuss-free service
- Hassle-free gearbox
- An adequate engine with good FE
- Good headroom and high-seating
- Features (Fog lamps, Wheel covers, Defogger, Rear Power windows)
- VFM price
- Not a demo/used car

We had ignored some vehicles right from the start:-
1. Datsun Go and Go+:- Low sales and poor service with lack of spares.
2. Tata cars:- Service experience, AMT issues (Further specified below).
3. Renault Triber:- The 7 seats would never be used.
4. Sedans:- Too long for the city.
5. Mahindra KUV1OO NXT:- Boring looks and lack of spares with the concern of discontinuation.

Why did I ignore Tata?
At the start of 2016, we were searching for an automatic car for the city so that my mother could easily drive around in it. She was attached to the Nano mainly because it looked cute and it had a high roof. My father was inclined towards the Kwid but my mother somehow did not like the looks. We then went forward and booked the car in Feb 2016. After a wait for 2 months, we got the car in April. The car was quite small and covered basic features at an attractive price. The first service was also quite good.
Things were going well until September 2018. When we started the car, the digital readout was showing Manual instead of Auto. We thought it was a small malfunction and restarted the car, but the Manual below the gear shift indicator remained. When we tried to move the car, it would rev for no reason and there was no power when pressing the accelerator, only revs! This was something unexpected and we took the car by RSA assistance to the service center. They informed us that the accelerator pedal was faulty and was replaced.
However, six months later, the same issue reoccured. This time they checked each and every part of the car and blamed the accelerator pedal again to be the reason. They changed it and we forced them to properly service the car, they took around 2 days to check if the error occured again but it didn't. Without prior notice, they even replaced the tyres! However, upon reaching it to us, for a formality check, when we started the car, it showed up the same error. This time, the service staff was clueless and rather aggressive to us. After a much heated argument, they replaced the pedal once again! However, the trouble did vanish for a few months but reoccured. We were absolutely fed up and kept the car in that condition only. The next year, during pandemic, problems were worse and we took it for service. They replaced the pedal once again for the 4th time but things didn't change much.
Last year, when we took the car for service, the service guys made us sit there the whole day and replaced almost all the parts of the car! I'm talking suspension, tyres, pedals, AC compressor and much more. After doing that, the problem had stopped for good. However, this year, upon starting the car everyday, it would show the same malfunction but upon restarting, it would vanish. During these years, the car has covered 21k kms only!
During this span, the check engine light would always show up and go away. Along with that, while moving over speed-breakers, the issue would show up making us to halt, wait and restart the car! We were fed-up with the car hence bringing us to ignore the purchase of any other vehicle from the Tata stable.

Now, back to the topic. These were the cars initially considered but dropped:
1. Maruti Alto (800):- Small, spacious enough with basics covered for 5 lakh OTR was quite VFM for us. However, it was a manual and the fact that the new one was around the corner made us wait. After seeing the K10, this feels plain-jane.
2. Datsun Redi-Go:- Parents hated the looks, brand value was average and space was less. But it was quite VFM for a 1L engine with AT for 5 lakh OTR. We almost booked it but we were inclined more towards the Kwid. Now that Datsun is gone, I feel it was a great city car spoiled by the brand.
3. Maruti S-Presso:- It looked quite spacious and feature-rich in the videos. However, upon seeing it in real life, we found it like a butter box on wheels with 0 star safety and a few features over the Nano (Touchscreen only to be precise!). Dropped ASAP.
4. Citroen C3:- Dad loved the looks but it was a manual only with basics missing at a high asking price. Lack of showrooms in Goa was also a big let down and a question on the spares of the cars ran around our minds.
5. VW Polo (GT):- The car was my choice (Quick, nimble FTD DNA). But the space and looks were a let down and the asking price was above budget.
6. Hyundai I20 (N-Line):- My choice again but too powerful and out of budget.

Cars considered:-
1. Maruti Alto K10:- Upon launch, we loved the looks and the features offered were good enough for us. It was also spacious inside and the price of 6.25 lakh OTR for the base auto was quite VFM.
2. Renault Kwid:- The car was loved by my father till the launch of the Alto K10. Still he likes the features it offers, it's looks and the price tag.

Other cars above the price which were liked and can be considered:-
1. Maruti Ignis:- Dad liked it for it's funky design, good feature list and the ambience of the vehicle.
2. Hyundai Grand I10 Nios:- The car looked smart, feature rich and the interiors were gorgeous.
3. Renault Kiger:- The car looked compact, funky and the colours were fab! He loved it and the NA engine is his choice.
4. Maruti Baleno:- My sister liked it's design and the feature-set reminded us of our Seltos (HUD, 360 camera). The car can be considered.
5. Maruti Brezza:- The design was liked and the stance was high. It was quite premium and the feature-set was lovely. My dad could stretch for the base auto.

I would love to know the best car for the city by our fellow BHPians. Thanks in advance.

[KPR]

Alto K10 & Kwid are good choices. But you cannot ignore Tata Punch Adventure variant given the safety tag that it has at around 7L budget. There is no well built VFM car at ~7L today barring Tata Punch or Tiago. I'm not a fan of their cars and especially their mediocre 1.2NA engine. But what choice do we have when it comes to build quality in a car at about 7L price ?!

[Malyaj]

I would recommend the Honda Jazz. The CVT would be just over 10 L in Goa. Fuss free ownership, great space and a decent all rounder. Stretching for Brezza / Kiger base variant is not a good idea IMHO, as they don't come with the all important rear wiper, which you will badly need in Goa monsoons.

[MADisMynAMe]

Originally Posted by KPR

Alto K10 & Kwid are good choices. But you cannot ignore Tata Punch Adventure variant given the safety tag that it has at around 7L budget. There is no well built VFM car at ~7L today barring Tata Punch or Tiago. I'm not a fan of their cars and especially their mediocre 1.2NA engine. But what choice do we have when it comes to build quality in a car at about 7L price ?!

After the service experience and the issues of the AMT, if I have to get one of these, it would be a manual only. Will try to convince ourselves to get one though. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by Malyaj

I would recommend the Honda Jazz. The CVT would be just over 10 L in Goa. Fuss free ownership, great space and a decent all rounder. Stretching for Brezza / Kiger base variant is not a good idea IMHO, as they don't come with the all important rear wiper, which you will badly need in Goa monsoons.

The Jazz is quite a good option but the problem is it is way out of budget for us right now. However will try to bring that into consideration. We did have a City and know the service, so will give it a try. Thanks

[AYP]

Strictly within your budget, I don't think any car comes with rear defogger. Other than the defogger, the Kwid Climber seems to meet all your requirements and would be my pick. However, a big miss in the Kwid automatic is the lack of a manual mode. You may do some research on this and see if this is or is not a deal breaker for you. For this reason itself, I would stick with the Alto. I'd go for the Kwid only in its manual guise.

The other options slightly over your budget which I recommend over the Kwid are-

1. I10 Nios Magna-

It is 2 segments above the Kwid and overall a better buy over the Kwid.

2. Ignis Delta-

The Delta is quite VFM and has the best 1.2 NA engine in its segment. The only thing it doesn't have in this variant is the defogger. Though you can get the Ignis Zeta for just about 35k more which not only gives you the defogger but a rear wiper as well. You also get an SUV like 180mm ground clearance with the Ignis.

3. Celerio and the WagonR-

I wouldn't look at these options since you can get the much more VFM Nios Magna and the Ignis Delta at very similar prices.


Among the other options which you have listed, the Brezza seems like the best choice considering its(most likely) 4 star safety rating. It is the only car among your shortlists to have a proper auto box. However, while the VXI is not poorly equipped, in real life, it may not be very reminiscent of the Seltos with its limited but sufficient features. It doesn't have the HUD and the 360 camera.

With that being said, if you do decide to stretch for the Brezza, you also have the option of the Kiger Turbo, the Magnite Turbo, the i20 NA, the Jazz and the Amaze all of which come with a proper auto box as well(CVT). You can get the top variants of these cars for the price of the Brezza VXI AT.

[MADisMynAMe]

Originally Posted by AYP

Strictly within your budget, I don't think any car comes with rear defogger. Other than the defogger, the Kwid Climber seems to meet all your requirements and would be my pick. However, a big miss in the Kwid automatic is the lack of a manual mode. You may do some research on this and see if this is or is not a deal breaker for you. For this reason itself, I would stick with the Alto. I'd go for the Kwid only in its manual guise.

The other options slightly over your budget which I recommend over the Kwid are-

1. I10 Nios Magna-

It is 2 segments above the Kwid and overall a better buy over the Kwid.

2. Ignis Delta-

The Delta is quite VFM and has the best 1.2 NA engine in its segment. The only thing it doesn't have in this variant is the defogger. Though you can get the Ignis Zeta for just about 35k more which not only gives you the defogger but a rear wiper as well. You also get an SUV like 180mm ground clearance with the Ignis.

3. Celerio and the WagonR-

I wouldn't look at these options since you can get the much more VFM Nios Magna and the Ignis Delta at very similar prices.


Among the other options which you have listed, the Brezza seems like the best choice considering its(most likely) 4 star safety rating. It is the only car among your shortlists to have a proper auto box. However, while the VXI is not poorly equipped, in real life, it may not be very reminiscent of the Seltos with its limited but sufficient features. It doesn't have the HUD and the 360 camera.

With that being said, if you do decide to stretch for the Brezza, you also have the option of the Kiger Turbo, the Magnite Turbo, the i20 NA, the Jazz and the Amaze all of which come with a proper auto box as well(CVT). You can get the top variants of these cars for the price of the Brezza VXI AT.

The Nios Magna and Ignis Delta are my primary choice if I have to stretch the budget. The Celerio and WagonR are plain vanilla cars as per my dad and he has kept them as secondary options. The I20 is not to my father's liking and he felt it overpriced compared to the Nios. The Amaze is a big no as it is a sedan and my parents do not like sedans. The Magnite is second to the Kiger for us and if we decide on either, it will be NA only. The Jazz is also quite VFM but news that it will be axed by the end of this year is concerning. Thanks for the suggestion bud.

[gtonsing]

Following this thread. I am also starting to look at these options for a city run and school runs for the wife and occasional use by me and which would be a good fuel efficient supporter for my Creta. My requirement is almost primarily good FA and an autobox. Deffogers, rear wipers etc will be added advantages

[bijims]

Strictly going by your budget, the Alto K10 would be the better choice against the Renault Kwid in my opinion. the engine and gearbox is much better than the Kwid, Having driven and experienced the Kwid which a member of mine does own, it is all fancy gizmos with an SUVish look, nothing else, service, spares and everything else would be much cheaper with Maruti too. The Alto with the K Series engine is a proven formula and a great beater car.
Now, if you are willing to extend your budget, then better to avoid AMTs and get a car with a proper automatic gearbox like:

1. Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT at 10.42 lakhs OTR and Hyundai i20 Sportz DCT 11.49 lakhs OTR are good cars to choose in the segment with best in class space and practicality. The DCT would be fun to drive too with the same engine and gearbox combination as used in the i20 N-line, Venue, Sonet and Verna.

2. I wouldn't recommend the AMT versions of the Kiger and Magnite, you would be better off saving a few bucks and going for the Kwid instead, however the CVT is a different beast altogether and is a worthy choice. the Kiger RXT(O) Turbo CVT and Magnite XV Turbo CVT are similarly priced at around 11.40 lakhs OTR.

3. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXI AT costs just under 13 lakhs OTR, if you are willing to stretch that far, then the Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid-Grade AT at 12 lakhs OTR with further heavy discounts to the tune of up to Rs. 70,000 from dealerships would be a good choice provided you are alright with an old gen Brezza twin. the next option would be the Hyundai Venue S(O) DCT at 12.80 lakhs OTR.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by MADisMynAMe

I would love to know the best car for the city.

Suggestions :
- Ignis : suits your requirements well with the downer being the AMT gearbox. Since you have been working with the AMT the Ignis should not be a problem but check over a TD.
- Brezza : not exactly compact but this is the only proper automatic in your shortlist.
- i10 Nios : for a compact car its quite good and Hyundai AMTs have good reviews. The seat height is lower than the other two.

No idea on the Renault cars, will leave them to you.
Take long TDs of all cars, preferably back to back and decide on what works for you.

PS : I am surprised for your Nano issues, the ASC didn't check the AMT unit and related sensors!
I have seen an issue where an AT refused to shift and turned out to be a faulty sensor in the gearbox.

[MADisMynAMe]

Originally Posted by gtonsing

Following this thread. I am also starting to look at these options for a city run and school runs for the wife and occasional use by me and which would be a good fuel efficient supporter for my Creta. My requirement is almost primarily good FA and an autobox. Deffogers, rear wipers etc will be added advantages

Looks like I'm not the only one in this dilemma.

Originally Posted by bijims

Strictly going by your budget, the Alto K10 would be the better choice against the Renault Kwid in my opinion. the engine and gearbox is much better than the Kwid, Having driven and experienced the Kwid which a member of mine does own, it is all fancy gizmos with an SUVish look, nothing else, service, spares and everything else would be much cheaper with Maruti too. The Alto with the K Series engine is a proven formula and a great beater car.
Now, if you are willing to extend your budget, then better to avoid AMTs and get a car with a proper automatic gearbox like:

1. Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT at 10.42 lakhs OTR and Hyundai i20 Sportz DCT 11.49 lakhs OTR are good cars to choose in the segment with best in class space and practicality. The DCT would be fun to drive too with the same engine and gearbox combination as used in the i20 N-line, Venue, Sonet and Verna.

2. I wouldn't recommend the AMT versions of the Kiger and Magnite, you would be better off saving a few bucks and going for the Kwid instead, however the CVT is a different beast altogether and is a worthy choice. the Kiger RXT(O) Turbo CVT and Magnite XV Turbo CVT are similarly priced at around 11.40 lakhs OTR.

3. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXI AT costs just under 13 lakhs OTR, if you are willing to stretch that far, then the Toyota Urban Cruiser Mid-Grade AT at 12 lakhs OTR with further heavy discounts to the tune of up to Rs. 70,000 from dealerships would be a good choice provided you are alright with an old gen Brezza twin. the next option would be the Hyundai Venue S(O) DCT at 12.80 lakhs OTR.

The I20 is not to my dad's taste, but I'll try to push him for the DCT as the Seltos also has one. Hopefully he agrees.
The CVT is not wanted by my father since the rubber-band effect is prevalent and my dad hates it, along with that the AMT is already driven with, so it might be a better choice provided it is smoother than the Nano (hopefully). The Urban Cruiser is dated and it's interiors feel economy grade so will mostly be skipping that. The Venue is low on rear space, so will be a no.

Originally Posted by shancz

Suggestions :
- Ignis : suits your requirements well with the downer being the AMT gearbox. Since you have been working with the AMT the Ignis should not be a problem but check over a TD.
- Brezza : not exactly compact but this is the only proper automatic in your shortlist.
- i10 Nios : for a compact car its quite good and Hyundai AMTs have good reviews. The seat height is lower than the other two.

No idea on the Renault cars, will leave them to you.
Take long TDs of all cars, preferably back to back and decide on what works for you.

PS : I am surprised for your Nano issues, the ASC didn't check the AMT unit and related sensors!
I have seen an issue where an AT refused to shift and turned out to be a faulty sensor in the gearbox.

I did read about another guy with the same issue and the gearbox was replaced. Here, when asked about the replacement, they simply said that the gearbox is fine and if changed, more issues will show up. We have priorities on the Alto K10 in that budget, and if we stretch, then the Ignis or Nios. Brezza is secondary as it is big for the city.

Thanks to you'll for the advice

[Piyush Kanthak]

Just get the Ignis Zeta, it has all the features you need, it's compact, easy to drive, a well tuned AMT and a smooth 4 cylinder engine, you will get heavy discounts too, your dad will also like the high seating of the car, 3 star will be enough for a beater car and it will also give you really good mileage, service and spares will be easily available. It's a serious underrated car.
Last time i visited, Nexa guy told me that he is ready to give a solid 45k discount on the car.

Don't spend too much on a depreciating asset, if it's a second car it should be VFM and shouldn't make a hole in the pocket.
Ignis is better than the likes of the Kwid Espresso and Alto K10.

[MADisMynAMe]

Originally Posted by Piyush Kanthak

Just get the Ignis Zeta, it has all the features you need, it's compact, easy to drive, a well tuned AMT and a smooth 4 cylinder engine, you will get heavy discounts too, your dad will also like the high seating of the car, 3 star will be enough for a beater car and it will also give you really good mileage, service and spares will be easily available. It's a serious underrated car.
Last time i visited, Nexa guy told me that he is ready to give a solid 45k discount on the car.

Don't spend too much on a depreciating asset, if it's a second car it should be VFM and shouldn't make a hole in the pocket.
Ignis is better than the likes of the Kwid Espresso and Alto K10.

For sure, will try to get hands on the Zeta as it gives me the most VFM package till now. The only problem is pricing. If discounts are available, it will be a steal for sure.

[rayvonnee]

I'm sailing in the same boat. Looking for a small compact city car and had shortlisted the Wagon R AGS, Grand i10 Nios AMT and the Ignis AMT. After having a good long test drive and reading numerous reviews, I felt the Ignis to be really good in terms of giving a nice premium feel and having that Mini SUV look. The Boot Capacity of 260L too seems decent for occasional highway runs. The Wagon R sure did seem larger in terms of the Boot Space and the overall cabin did feel airy too, but does not come with Adjustable headrests for even the driver and co-driver forget even for rear passengers which put me off a bit. Even under-thigh support is not the great. The ride quality of both the Ignis and Wagon R was really good and soaked up bumps very well. The Nios was rejected due to stiffer suspension which made rear passengers unsettled on bad roads. (Maybe it's just my observation)

Now, going by the way Maruti Suzuki has been updating its line up with the new DualJet Petrol Engines, it's put me in a dilemma whether to go in for the Ignis or wait for a facelift or for the Ignis to be updated with the DualJet engine.

Also, good consumer offers are available on the Ignis Manual Variant with hardly any waiting period, but the AMT commands a waiting period of 2 Months (as per the Nexa Dealership in Mumbai)

Can these heavy discounts mean that Ignis stocks are being cleared off and an updated Ignis is on the cards?
Looking forward to what experts on Team-Bhp have to say on this.

[GivethThyBeans]

I can vouch for Ignis AMT, a good tall hatch with a nice peppy engine. No complaints so far with 25k odo in last 2 years.

[Mustang_Boss]

Originally Posted by MADisMynAMe

For sure, will try to get hands on the Zeta as it gives me the most VFM package till now. The only problem is pricing. If discounts are available, it will be a steal for sure.

Please remember that,
- It either could be discontinued or upgraded by this Diwali.
- Maruti re engineers their engines only once in ~7-8 years. The rest all are tunings & mild part changes for reliability/longevity. The current dual jet engines are completely re-engineered.

This is the reason why i had to put it off, Despite being offered a good deal.

Also, please note that the new Dual jet 1.2 cars from Maruti are significantly efficient, roughly by about 15+% in most conditions, irrespective of how you drive. This must be considered, if you are driving ~600+ km's a month.

Wagon R is the one which i recommend. There are good discounts being offered on it + the new three pot is significantly quieter and carries a good resale value for the next couple of years. If you need only a 4 potter, swift or baleno sigma seem to be a good choice.