Need help: Which new car (~₹10L–₹15L) for very bad roads in a small town? — showrooms limited locally

Hi everyone,

Really need help deciding this — sorry for the long post!

Our current car (Hyundai Xcent VTVT+ 2018, bought second-hand in 2021) is in bad shape because the roads here are awful — full of deep potholes, flowing water, and half-dug stretches. The mechanic did some jugaad fixes but says full repair will cost over ₹1 lakh, so we’ve decided to buy a new car.

Our situation: • Only Kia, Hyundai, Tata, Maruti, Nexa showrooms in town. Mahindra showroom is 100 km away. • I just learned to drive; my dad relearned after 25 years, so neither of us knows much about cars. • Local mechanics charge 2–3× city rates, so service network matters. • Usage is low — under 400 km/month. • My mom wants to keep budget around ₹10L, but I feel going up to ₹15L might be worth it if it brings real benefits.

What we’re looking for: • High ground clearance & durable suspension (roads are horrible). • Good mileage. • Low maintenance and easy parts availability. • Decent comfort and safety — not looking for luxury.

Questions for the community: 1. Which new models would you suggest (from brands available locally or otherwise)? Please recommend specific trims/variants if possible. 2. If I move budget from ₹10L → ₹15L, what will we practically gain? (Examples: better ground clearance, stronger engine, ADAS/safety, better suspension, hybrid/automatic options, warranty/after-sales). Which of these are actually useful for our bad-road situation? 3. Which features are worth paying extra for here, and which are unnecessary? (Tyre profile, suspension tuning, underbody protection, engine size, hybrid/electric, sunroof, low-profile tyres, ADAS, etc.) 4. Any red flags or common failures to avoid for cars used in very bad small-town roads? 5. Service/ownership tips if we pick a brand with limited local presence (how to manage repairs/parts without burning money)?

Thanks — please be direct and practical (we’re inexperienced, so no jargon-heavy answers). If you need more details, please ask.