My wife currently drives a Santro and is looking for an automatic petrol car with an elevated driving position and a small SUV stance. She wants comfortable rear seating for our parents, a narrow footprint (not very wide), and easy handling since she is a tentative driver. Monthly running is about 300 km in the city. She liked the Tata Punch, I find the 3XO bulky, and the Exter seems to have lower seating - what options would you recommend?

You are right. Even though Hyundai Exter has a tall overall stance, it has a lower seating position, more like a hatchback. That aside, however, it is a good choice with a relatively smooth 1.2-litre petrol engine and AMT gearbox.