I have a 2015 Nissan Micra XV CVT, and I think it's time to replace it. I am planning to buy a new car with a strict on-road budget of Rs.13 lakh, and it must be an automatic. My monthly running is very low, around 200-300 km, and I plan to keep the car for the next 8-10 years. My priorities are reliability, affordable service costs, and hassle-free ownership. I have shortlisted the Nissan Magnite Tekna Plus Turbo CVT and the Tata Nexon Creative AMT. Which one would you recommend? Also, are there any other automatic cars in this budget that I should consider?

autocar.india

•2d

For your usage pattern, the Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza would be the most sensible choices. Both cars are essentially the same underneath, so the decision comes down to dealership experience and after-sales support in your area. The Baleno/Glanza offer a more spacious cabin than the Maruti Suzuki Swift, making them better suited to long-distance highway runs, and now get the same 3-cylinder engine too - the Toyota Glanza facelift is soon to launch. The suspension is well-tuned for Indian roads, and the seats are comfortable enough for extended journeys, which will help reduce fatigue on your 500-600 km trips.The Hyundai i20 is also a strong contender, with a more premium interior and a slightly more planted feel at higher speeds. However, the Baleno/Glanza has a more spacious rear seat and better fuel efficiency, which makes it a more practical choice for your requirements. In terms of safety, all three cars offer similar levels of equipment, but this Hyundai Car feels slightly more solidly built.If you are open to considering other options, the Tata Altroz is worth a look. It has a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating, a solid build, and good highway stability. And if you stretch your budget slightly, you can get the diesel engine, which will be hugely beneficial on the highway in terms of performance and mileage, and is also better than the Altroz's own petrol engine.It's worth noting that all the hatchbacks you've shortlisted use naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engines, which, though adequate, might feel lacking out on the highway, where you will do most of your driving. Thus, we would also recommend checking out some turbo-petrol options that fall in your price range, such as the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, Renault Triber, Hyundai i20 N-Line and Tata Punch, which all meet your needs well.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Glanza

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hyundai i20

Tata Altroz

Nissan Magnite

Renault Kiger

Renault Triber

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•20h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG. It is the better choice if your priorities are mileage, comfort and overall ownership experience. The Dzire CNG is lighter, more aerodynamic and more efficient than the Brezza CNG, so you will see better fuel economy in both city and highway driving. It also has a comfortable suspension setup, which makes it good for daily commuting and long drives. The Maruti Brezza CNG is a good car, but it is heavier and less efficient, and the higher ground clearance does not really add much value unless you specifically need an SUV. If you want the best mileage and comfort in a CNG car, the Dzire CNG is the clear choice.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•17h

With a daily running of 70km, you are clocking over 25,000km a year, so fuel efficiency and running costs become very important. Since you are coming from a Dzire VXI, reliability and low maintenance are likely priorities as well.CNG is the most cost-effective option for your usage, and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is the most sensible upgrade. It is a practical, reliable SUV with a factory-fitted CNG kit, good service reach and low running costs. The Brezza CNG also offers a decent feature set and a comfortable ride, making it a very easy car to live with.If you are open to EVs and have access to home charging, the Tata Nexon EV is worth considering. It will offer the lowest running costs and a more premium cabin, but only if your daily route is predictable and you can charge at home. Otherwise, CNG remains the more practical choice.Hybrids like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid or Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid are excellent for your use case, but they won't fall under your budget of Rs 15 lakh.Overall, the Brezza CNG is the most sensible upgrade for your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder