Gomati

•10w

I have been driving a Hyundai Santro Xing for the past 21 years and am now looking to replace it with a similarly sized petrol hatchback. I need an automatic car that will be used mainly for city driving in Bangalore. My budget is around Rs. 10 - 12 lakh. Which cars currently available in India would you recommend?

•10w

An ideal upgrade from your Santro is the Hyundai i20 IVT, which is powered by a refined 1.2-litre petrol engine that's mated to a smooth and seamless automatic transmission. This Hyundai car is spacious, feature-rich and feels like a huge step up over your outgoing hatchback car. And it will easily fit your Rs 10-12 lakh budget.

However, since you've mentioned that you want a car of a similar size to the Santro, we'd advise you to opt for the Grand i10 Nios instead. It is more compact in size than an i20, which makes it easier to drive and manage. It is powered by the same engine as the i20, although it's mated to an AMT, which gets you the convenience of an automatic, but is not as smooth as the i20's transmission. Also, the Grand i10 is much more affordable than the i20, and even though it has fewer features, it has almost all the features that you'd use daily.

In summary, the Nios is a sophisticated, compact replacement for the Santro that'll cost you between Rs 8-9.5 lakhs, but if you're looking to upgrade, then the i20 IVT is the one to go for, that's priced between Rs 10-12 lakh (on-road).

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

i20

from ₹6.63 Lakh

Hyundai

Grand i10 Nios

from ₹6.19 Lakh

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•2d

Bought a Hyundai i20 for my father after initially looking at SUVs.

•2d

I own a Grand i10 (2019) model and my annual running is 1,42,000 km. My daily running is 88 km. Should I install Lovato CNG kit or replace it with Exter CNG or Swift CNG. The car is in good condition.

•2d

With a daily running of 88 km, CNG absolutely makes sense from a running cost perspective. Since your Grand i10 is a 2019 model and in good condition, it might be worth spending and getting a CNG kit installed from a reputed installer. Do keep in mind that you will have to sacrifice boot space completely. However, if you're open to contributing more towards a new car, consider selling the Grand i10 if you're getting a decent price for it, and get the Hyundai Exter CNG. With the Exter CNG, you get the same smooth, efficient powertrain as the Nios, a factory-fitted CNG tank backed by the company warranty, and an added advantage is that its twin-tanks are placed beneath the boot floor, so you won't have to sacrifice luggage space either.

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

•15h

I’m a working professional looking for a comfortable car with ample legroom, with a budget of Rs 8-12 lakh. My daily commute is around 55km, with occasional long trips with family. Should I consider an EV, petrol or diesel, and which segment would best suit my requirements? I’m looking for a decent-looking car with a little bit of performance and a softer suspension setup. My existing car is a Chevrolet Cruze, so I would also like something that feels comfortable and sufficiently powerful compared with my current car.

•10h

Coming from a Cruze, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the closest fit to the character you are looking for within Rs 8-12 lakh. It has a strong 1.2-litre turbo petrol with 200Nm, a spacious cabin with excellent rear legroom, good ground clearance and one of the better ride qualities in this segment. The suspension is slightly firm rather than genuinely soft, but it deals with bad roads very well.With 55km of daily running, diesel does make lot of sense as long as you do regular highway running. An EV is worth considering only if home charging is available, but at this budget it would mean compromising on the performance and space you seem to value.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is another option if low running costs, easy ownership and attractive styling are priorities. But it doesn't feel as premium as the 3XO.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am confused between the Elevate and the Creta. I understand that the Creta is the more established one, but with Honda, the value it brings is amazing, while the price of the Creta is a bit higher than the value it offers. I am mostly a city driver, with around 95% of my driving in the city and occasional highway trips, covering around 10,000km per year. Can you help me get some perspective?

•5d

The Hyundai Creta is the more premium product with a richer feature list. Since your usage is mainly in the city, you are likely to appreciate the Creta's smoothness and refinement, as well as the additional features it offers. Sure, this Hyundai car might cost a bit more, but it is a proven product that commands strong brand equity, which is likely to translate to higher resale value. The Honda Elevate gives you most of what you need at a significantly lower cost, and Honda’s service network is strong enough to make ownership hassle-free. Go for the Elevate if you value its stronger engine performance, else for a refined drive experience, pick the Creta.

Hyundai Creta

Honda Elevate

•6d

Help me choose the right car for my usage. Please be practical and challenge my assumptions. My situation: I am 31 and work as a software developer. I currently work from home in Balsane, Dhule, but I am moving to Mumbai around March. My wife and I are expecting a baby in February. My parents live in a village where local transport is poor. My Mumbai office is near Powai, but parking is difficult. I prefer a manual car. Usage: My current running is around 10,000 km per year, but it may increase. I travel between Mumbai and Balsane, which is around 400 km one way, around 5-7 times a year, along with Dhule/Sakri and local trips. I also drive around Mumbai on weekends. The AC is usually on, and on long trips, the car will have my wife, baby, and luggage. Budget: Rs. 6-9 lakh on-road. I am willing to spend more only if it is genuinely worth it. Shortlist: - Tiago XE Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart Petrol - Punch Pure+/Smart CNG - Brezza LXi turbo-petrol Please tell me: 1. Which one should I buy and why? 2. Petrol vs CNG for my usage? The CNG premium is around Rs. 1 lakh, and the nearby village pump may open around Diwali, but this is not guaranteed. 3. What real-world mileage can I expect with the AC on? 4. Please consider loan interest, fuel costs, maintenance, depreciation, and resale value. 5. Is the Brezza worth the extra money? 6. Give me one final choice and tell me what I should avoid.

•6d

The Brezza LXI Turbo is far superior to the Punch and Tiago as far as smoothness, performance, and cabin space are concerned. It is also backed by Maruti's widespread support network, and the ownership experience is likely to be fuss-free. The on-road cost of the Brezza LXI will fall within your Rs 9 lakh budget, and even though you might miss a few features, it still feels worth opting for. Alternatively, you could also consider the Maruti Dzire VXI MT for its large boot, comfy ride and strong fuel efficiency.

I currently drive a Hyundai i10 CNG, with daily running of around 6 km in Gurgaon city traffic and a monthly highway drive of around 200 km. I am now planning to upgrade my car, with an on-road budget of Rs. 12 lakh for a petrol sub-4-metre SUV, up to Rs. 14 lakh for a petrol midsize SUV, and Rs. 15 lakh for an EV. I live in a rented apartment on the second floor, so I am apprehensive about getting an EV. I prefer an EV, but installing a charger could be complicated due to the sanctioned load. My running could increase to nearly 800 km per month in the future. My key priorities are: - Good suspension and ride comfort, as I have a back problem - Decent fuel efficiency in heavy city traffic - Low to medium maintenance costs - Auto hold and ventilated seats would be good to have I sometimes consider buying a manual, but I mostly prefer an automatic. I am currently considering the Maruti Brezza, Baleno AMT, Fronx AMT/AT, Sonet iMT, Exter AMT, and even the upcoming Inster, VF3, and Bayon. I am open to other suggestions as well. Note: I had a bad driving experience with the Punch AMT, as it caused back fatigue.

•2d

Given your priorities of ride comfort, fuel efficiency and low maintenance, the Maruti Brezza automatic is the most sensible upgrade. It offers a comfortable ride, a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine and Maruti's strong service network, which keeps long-term ownership costs in check. The torque converter automatic is smooth in city traffic, and the Brezza's higher seating position will help with your back issues. The Sonet iMT is not the right choice here. While it is a good car, the iMT is not a true automatic and will not offer the same ease of use in Gurgaon traffic. The Baleno AMT and Exter AMT are also not ideal given your back issues and the fact that AMT gearboxes are not as smooth as torque converter automatics in stop-start conditions.On the EV front, your apprehension about charging is valid. Without a straightforward home charging solution, an EV will add unnecessary complexity to your ownership experience. The upcoming Bayon is interesting and if you can wait a few weeks you would have a better picture before making a decision. For now, the Brezza automatic strikes the best balance between comfort, efficiency and hassle-free ownership.

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