Almost all cars today are equipped with basic safety features like ESP, along with ABS with EBD. It helps prevent an accident in the first place, and these also have 6 airbags to protect the occupants in case of a collision. Hence, as far as safety features go, most cars have you covered. That said, if you're looking for an automatic vehicle with an excellent 5-star BNCAP crash test rating within your budget, the Maruti Dzire AMT is the one to go for. The engine is smooth and refined, and even the AMT (automatic) is relatively smoother than many other options at this price. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and it drives well on the highway, too. Alternatively, you could consider the Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza, both of which are 4-star BNCAP-rated vehicles.

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno or even its sister car, the Toyota Glanza, would be a good option to buy. The car is spacious with comfy seats, and it is fuel-efficient too, both the manual and the automatic version (AMT). In our standard test cycle, we got 13.80kpl and 17.50kpl in our city and highway cycles for the manual, whereas the automated manual transmission (AMT) achieved 11.86kpl and 17.21kpl. The Baleno sits below 4 meters in length and is compact enough for the city. However, if you would like something smaller, consider the Hyundai Exter. It won't be as efficient, in the manual we got 9kpl and 14kpl for city and highway runs, but this is still good. Also, you will also benefit from a slightly higher seating position and a lower price.

If you are a new driver, choosing an automatic transmission will be comfortable and convenient for city driving. Since most of your usage is in urban conditions, you can choose either Maruti Suzuki Fronx Alpha AT or the Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT. Both are reliable and easy to maintain. Fronx makes more sense if you plan to move to a tier-2 or tier-3 city. Maruti Suzuki has the widest service network and easy availability of spare parts, which adds to long-term peace of mind.

All bikes you have shortlisted make for good beginner bikes with their unique strengths. The Yamaha XSR155 / MT-15 will be the lightest and easiest to manage machines with a sporty and engaging engine + chassis combination. They will also return excellent fuel economy. However, over long stretches of bad roads, the stiff suspension will cause some discomfort.The Honda CB350 H'ness and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are laid-back roadsters with torquey, smooth 350cc engines. They will be more comfortable but will not have as good fuel economy or handling capabilities. It all boils down to the sort of experience you are after and the design you like the most, so a test ride of all four is in order.