[petrocarb]

Hello bhpians,

I'm on a lookout to find sub-4 meter car for my father who will be 75 now, and I've shortlisted three options: the Maruti Dzire, Hyundai Exter, and Tata Punch. (All in AMT guise)

Let me break down my analysis (Have driven Exter and Punch and not the new Dzire) and request your expert insights!

Dzire (Latest Gen)
Pros:

• Great fuel efficiency - 25.71 kmpl (AMT). Real world not out yet
• Impressive 382L boot space that can easily handle weekly grocery runs
• Engine performance is smooth and tuned to city driving
• Top-notch safety credentials with 6 airbags and Electronic Stability Program

Cons:

• The AMT gearbox can get a bit tricky in stop-and-go city traffic
• Because of size of tyres and suspension tuning it may not be ideal in bad road conditions (The ground clearance is also rated at 163 mm)

Hyundai Exter
Pros:

• Suspension and ride quality that can handle our diverse road conditions
• Steering that's light and easy to manoeuvre
• Packed with modern features like sunroof and wireless charging
• Comprehensive safety package with 6 airbags

Cons:

• Fuel efficiency in city conditions seems a bit modest at 10-12 kmpl. Relying on real feeback from some of the owners
• Seat design might not be ergonomically perfect for all body types.
• Absence of a driver armrest could be a minor inconvenience
• Build quality is unknown since the car hasn't been crash tested

Tata Punch
Pros:

• 5-star safety rating that provides peace of mind
• Ground clearance that can tackle rough and uneven terrains
• Reasonable interior space
• Robust build quality

Cons:

• Engine performance might feel slightly underwhelming during overtaking
• Service issues that my father will absolutely hate to have. He has been driving Marutis all his life
• Some friends have reported lower than expected mileage

The usage pattern is almost 95% City and 5% with below mentioned parameters
- Daily city commuting with minimal highway trips
- Prioritising driving comfort and ease
- Safety requirements should be covered
- Reliable after-sales service
- Ride comfort for senior citizens

What would you recommend considering these specific requirements? Are there any other models I should explore?

I was also suggesting to look for Kylaq/Magnite, but ease of owning and maintenance is of prime importance and my father is not keen on experimenting now

Cheers!

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

The usage pattern is almost 95% City and 5% with below mentioned parameters
- Daily city commuting with minimal highway trips
- Prioritising driving comfort and ease
- Safety requirements should be covered
- Reliable after-sales service
- Ride comfort for senior citizens!

This is a no brainer when I look at this, latest Gen Dezire ticks all the boxes right?

Exter is the next interesting option, but for the mileage and maintenance cost in the long run. Ride also will be less than Dezire for city roads.

[yedukrishnan199]

The upcoming Honda Amaze seems to be a good choice, too. It should provide you with a reliable, safe, and practical car with a good engine and gearbox combo (especially the CVT). Do consider it as it is launching at the end of the month; otherwise, the Dzire seems to be the best option.

[petrocarb]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

This is a no brainer when I look at this, latest Gen Dezire ticks all the boxes right?

Exter is the next interesting option, but for the mileage and maintenance cost in the long run. Ride also will be less than Dezire for city roads.

Yes does tick all the boxes. The only doubt I have is with ingress/egress.

Originally Posted by yedukrishnan199

The upcoming Honda Amaze seems to be a good choice, too. It should provide you with a reliable, safe, and practical car with a good engine and gearbox combo (especially the CVT). Do consider it as it is launching at the end of the month; otherwise, the Dzire seems to be the best option.

It would have been a good option, however I find the seating position even lower than Dzire and that will be a dealbreaker for us.

[PetrolHead2272]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

Hello bhpians,

I'm on a lookout to find sub-4 meter car for my father who will be 75 now

I was in the same boat last year. My grandfather turned 83 and wanted a new car.
We considered a few cars - Baleno, Glanza, I20, Fronx and Dzire. He was adamant on sticking to Maruti Suzuki as every car he’s owned comes from their factory. His heart was set on Baleno, but considering Toyota’s superiority as a brand, I somehow managed to convince him for the Glanza automatic.
It’s been a year and 8k kms up and he’s loving the car.
So i’d suggest the same for you. A Glanza S Amt, would be probably around 9.5 lakhs OTR. Ingress isn’t an issue for him and his requirements were the exact same as you’ve listed above.
Cheers

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

Yes does tick all the boxes. The only doubt I have is with ingress/egress.

Head to the showroom and try it out with your parents. The ingress / egress is a matter of age and height, which is person dependent. I had a similar situation recently where I assumed the taller stance of GV would be helpful for my aged mother, which was not the case. She still feels the low slung Altis is convenient for her

[Hispaniola]

Get a car with a 360-degree camera to help with parking in tight spaces. Ingress and egress should be important parameters—low-slung sedans or small hatchbacks may not be suitable. Better under-thigh support would also help him at his age. Do let us know your father's height for better suggestions.

My wife, who is lean and 5'8", finds the Amaze’s front seats good enough, but I, at 6 feet, find them lacking in under-thigh support.

The jerky experience of an AMT might not inspire confidence while driving, but at slower speeds, he might find it manageable. A CVT, however, would be perfect.

The Magnite CVT could have been a good suggestion, but it might require a compromise on ease of servicing.

The Baleno lacks safety features but is very comfortable (my father owns one).

I think the Citroën C3 AT lacks a 360-degree camera otherwise was worth looking at(my father was keen on getting one)

The XUV300, Nexon, Sonet, and Brezza might be inconvenient due to their seat height and could feel a bit too large. That said, you might want to wait for the Kylaq.

The Fronx Turbo AT would have been a great suggestion, but it is priced high for what it offers, and its safety is questionable.

There are many cars in the sub-4m segment, but the ones listed above are those my father considered before finalizing the Baleno. Six airbags, better sheet metal, good handling and suspension, and almost 90% of his driving being within the city somehow made us overlook the missing safety ratings.

[antz.bin]

People tend to get used to what they have already. So the answer might be close to what he drives currently.

My 70+ yr old mother with knee issues is more comfortable in the Civic than in the comparatively higher Logan. My father at 74 was more comfortable in his Civic than he was in my Figo (both being practically the same height from the ground), both out of habit.

Do make sure he is in physical condition to be able to drive. The elderly lose eyesight, spacial awareness etc which may be essential in keeping them and others on the road safe. He may be alright for now but these things tend to happen so keep an eye out.

[petrocarb]

Thanks all for some great feedback. I should have called out his current drive.

My father currently drives 2016 Baleno Alpha which he finds okay in terms of seating position but would prefer a little higher seating position.

We'd be going to showrooms and try out the newer stuff. Unfortunately we live in different cities so I'll still need to filter the options for him. I believe he can live with good AMT options.

I'll also check out the new Baleno to see if there any any changes on the seating position.

Would have gone for Fronx/Taisor if it was updated with latest baleno specs. Not sure if it does already. I think he

@antz.bin thanks ! That's a good input.

Cheers !

[Silver Knight]

I suggest you wait a little bit.

The upcoming Honda Amaze and Skoda Kyaq promise to shake things up.

Honda Amaze: Learning from the success of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, Honda is poised to launch a compelling alternative, likely equipped with a smooth CVT transmission.
Skoda Kylaq: This compact SUV offers a comfortable, commanding driving position and impressive value for money.

[jsl]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

We'd be going to showrooms and try out the newer stuff. Unfortunately we live in different cities so I'll still need to filter the options for him. I believe he can live with good AMT options.

I'll also check out the new Baleno to see if there any any changes on the seating position.

I would recommend you to stay away from Maruti’s AMT as I own a Glanza AMT and after just 2 years the clutch and pressure plates burnt without any warning or a burning smell, I have detailed my ordeal dealing with ASC on this thread below.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...ml#post5874514 (Maruti's AMT woes) Post#458


Instead I would recommend you to check out Hyundai’s AMT or CVT of either Hyundai or Honda which are mechanically more sorted than that of Maruti’s.

[splendor blende]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

The usage pattern is almost 95% City and 5% with below mentioned parameters
- Daily city commuting with minimal highway trips
- Prioritising driving comfort and ease
- Safety requirements should be covered
- Reliable after-sales service
- Ride comfort for senior citizens

What would you recommend considering these specific requirements? Are there any other models I should explore?


Cheers!

Hey petrocarb,

I'm not sure if you're considering the used market, from personal experience I would definitely reccomend the Ford Ecosport. Comfortable ride, decent ground clearance and adequate space in a sub 4m crossover- compact suv- hatchback love child. Ingress and Egress is also quite easy.

Add to the equation the oodles of torque from the diesel and upwards of 20kmpl when driven sedated on the highway too. Somehow I haven't experienced any problems with service after Ford's exit from the Indian market.

Front bumper, windscreen and fuel line were replaced last year for ~35k and took 2 days.

If you're purely looking at a new car then go for the Dzire, the new generation is quite the looker and is a good effort at taking away the taxi tag from the car.

Cheers
SB

[harshaguduru]

Originally Posted by petrocarb

Hello bhpians,

I'm on a lookout to find sub-4 meter car for my father who will be 75 now, and I've shortlisted three options:

Recently we were in the same dilemna .

3 points to consider:

• Dont for a sedan. A slightly higher ingress-egress and seat height are mandatory for comfort at that age
• Dont worry about mileage unless the car will be driven over 500-600km per month
• Lesser tech the better

Given the comfort with Maruti - I would recommend the Fronx/Jimny if budget is convenient or the Wagon over the other models . Desire would have low seating and fairly challenging blindspots
Do let us know what have you decided when you do so.

[sjain2054]

I am in the exact same situation. I had posted about this on the Citroen C3 review thread but got no responses.

A car for a 75 year old should have the following -

1. A naturally aspirated engine. This is because 95% of the running will be in the city and 90% of that 95% will be within 5kms. The car will probably run for less than 500km per month (that too in a busy month). The 3 cylinder turbos will give trouble with such low running.

2. CVT or TC automatics only. With such low running, does it matter if one gets a AMT or CVT/TC? I do not know. All I know is that whatever little running a 75 year old will do in the city confines, it should be smooth. TC and CVT will give a better experience.

3. High sitting. Yes, if one gets used to a Civic low sitting or even a Baleno low sitting then they might find that more comfortable than a Logan or a Sonet (examples given by Bhpians above). But, at the same time, if one 'upgrades' to high sitting then within a month they will love it and never go back to Civic or Baleno. High sitting of Nexon, Sonet, Wagon R, Ignis etc should be priority for older people.

4. 2-3 features are enough. 360 degree camera, air purifier, ventilated seats, auto dimming IRVMs are all the features a senior will want. These assist in driving and give comfort within the city.

5. Compact. For seniors, a car the size of Wagon R is perfect. For some (all?) cities of India, even a sub 4m is big for seniors to maneuver around. Wagon R, Ignis, Kwid sized cars are perfect because they sit high enough and are compact.

I feel that there is no car with these parameters in the car market today. The closest is Kia Sonet Diesel but that does not make sense for someone with very low running. Ignis, Wagon R are AMTs with none of the features mentioned.

BYD Seagull seems to be perfect that way. Internet says that it will be launched in February 2025. Is that true? From what I have read and seen, it is the size of Chevrolet Beat, gives a lot of space inside being an EV and will be priced within 12 lakhs. It should tick all the parameters written above. Time will tell.

[DCEite]

Originally Posted by sjain2054

2. CVT or TC automatics only. With such low running, does it matter if one gets a AMT or CVT/TC? I do not know. All I know is that whatever little running a 75 year old will do in the city confines, it should be smooth. TC and CVT will give a better experience.

I feel that there is no car with these parameters in the car market today. The closest is Kia Sonet Diesel but that does not make sense for someone with very low running. Ignis, Wagon R are AMTs with none of the features mentioned.

Why don't you consider the Maruti Brezza ?

Comes with a TC (The conventional AT !)
Ease of ingress and egress
High seating
4 cylinder Naturally aspirated engine
Bullet proof reliability
Easy after sales