I am from Goa, have sold my Celerio AMT & am planning to buy an automatic hatchback in the price bracket of ₹8.00 to ₹10.00 lakhs. My usage is about 50-60 Kms a day, mostly in the city with occasional highway runs. Would it be prudent to buy the existing Maruti Baleno or wait for the upcoming facelift, or go for the Hyundai i20 with the CVT(IVT)? My only grouse with the Baleno is that it's no longer available with the CVT, but the AMT. Also, neither of these cars is 5-star rated for safety, hence I was also thinking of the Tata Altroz DCT, but then it comes only with a 3-cylinder NA engine & not with the Turbo, what say?

autocar.india

•2h

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•18h

If you are looking for a small hatchback with a proper automatic transmission and want to avoid AMTs, the Hyundai i20 CVT is the most straightforward recommendation. It uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is smooth, refined and well suited to city driving. The car is a step up from your i10, while still being compact and easy to drive. Being a Hyundai, it also offers a familiar ownership experience.The Honda Amaze CVT is another strong option. This Honda car has a footprint similar to the i20's, but in a sedan body style. The key is to focus on cars with a CVT or a torque-converter automatic. Avoid AMTs and dual-clutch automatics if smoothness is your priority.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•2d

Given your high running of 3,000-4,000km a month on the highway, the priority should be a car that is comfortable, stable at speed and easy to live with over long distances. The Hyundai i20 IVT is a good hatchback, but at that kind of running, a compact SUV makes more sense because of the higher seating position, better ground clearance and generally more comfortable ride over broken patches. Between the Kia Sonet DCT and Tata Nexon AMT, the Sonet DCT is the better fit for your usage. The DCT is a proper automatic gearbox, which is smoother and quicker to respond than an AMT, especially on highways where quick gear changes matter during overtakes. The Sonet also feels more refined, more premium and better put together overall. The Nexon is a solid car, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth or as enjoyable on long highway runs. The only caveat with the Sonet DCT is that dual-clutch gearboxes can get a bit jerky in heavy stop-start traffic, but on highways, they are in their element. Overall, the Sonet DCT is the best fit for your usage and budget.

Hyundai i20

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon