Chandauli

•27w

I am looking to buy a petrol automatic car under ₹12 lakh, primarily for city driving. My main priorities are good mileage, ease of driving, and overall affordability. Could you please suggest the best options available in this budget?

•25w

While there are quite a few petrol automatic options within your Rs 12 lakh budget, the most fuel-efficient options include the
Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT (and its twin the Toyota Glanza), Maruti Suzuki Dzire AMT, Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT, Maruti Suzuki Fronx AMT (and its twin the Toyota Taisor).

All feature AMT gearbox options. While AMTs aren't the most sophisticated or smoothest type of automatic transmission, they are fine for average city driving. What sets AMTs apart from other automatics is real-world fuel economy, which is on par and sometimes even better than a comparable manual's.

Of the above options, we'd choose between the Baleno, Glanza, Fronx and Taisor. Their larger 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine makes them feel a bit zippier than the Swift and Dzire that use 1.2-litre three-cylinder units.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Baleno

from ₹6.44 Lakh

Toyota

Glanza

from ₹7.44 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Dzire

from ₹6.97 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.57 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.28 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Taisor

from ₹8.22 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•21h

Should I go with new Maruti Suzuki Baleno facelift with 3-cylinder or Glanza G variant with 4 cylinders?

•17h

If you want to buy now, go for the current Glanza G. We are yet to drive the new Baleno with its three-cylinder engine, but going by our experience with the Swift, it is unlikely to be as smooth as the existing four-cylinder unit, and performance is likely to take a small hit as well.The new Baleno does get more features, which is something to keep in mind, but if engine refinement and performance are important, the current Glanza's four-cylinder engine has the advantage.There is also an important timing factor with the Glanza. The current Glanza has not received the update yet, but the facelift is due to launch on October 14 and will also move to the new 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine. So, if you specifically want the smoother four-cylinder engine, this is effectively your last opportunity to buy the current Glanza.

Hi Team, I am planning an upgrade from my Honda Amaze 2016 model to a compact SUV or a spacious hatchback with a budget not exceeding 11 lakhs. My daily usage is 55-60 kms, so monthly a 1.1k kms. Plus, I drive daily on the highway, with bumper-to-bumper traffic half the time.

•1d

With a daily 55-60 km commute that is split between highway and bumper-to-bumper traffic, your priority should be a car that is comfortable, easy to drive and fuel-efficient. At around 1,100 km a month, you are right on the threshold where fuel efficiency starts to matter, but not enough to justify the higher cost and complexity of a diesel or hybrid. A petrol engine with a smooth automatic gearbox is the sweet spot here.Given your budget of Rs 11 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible upgrade from your Honda Amaze. It is a spacious hatchback with a comfortable ride, a refined petrol engine and a smooth automatic gearbox that makes daily traffic far less tiring. The Baleno also offers excellent fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs and Maruti's unmatched service network, which is important for long-term ownership. The AMT gearbox works well in the city and takes the sting off your left foot in traffic. If you are set on a compact SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is the best fit within your budget. It gets a four-cylinder petrol engine that is refined and punchy and offers a higher seating position and better ground clearance, which can be useful on rough patches and speed breakers. However, you will have to settle for a lower variant compared to the Baleno.Between the two, the Baleno is the better choice for your usage. It is more spacious, more comfortable and better value for money. The Fronx only makes sense if you specifically want the SUV stance.

Picked up the new Baleno three days ago and still getting used to how quiet the cabin is compared to my old one. Mileage's been around 19 in the city so far, not bad for daily traffic. Still figuring out half the buttons on the touchscreen though.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•5d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

Kia Seltos

Tata Nexon

•2d

I am 52 years old and have been driving since my 20s. I need to drive around 2,500km a month, with 55% of the driving on highways, 30% on rugged rural roads and 155 in the city. My commute includes travelling to and from my farms, so I also need to occasionally transport 200-250 kg of fertiliser or farm produce. My budget is around Rs 10-12 lakh. Please advise which vehicle I should buy.

•2d

Given your usage pattern, the Mahindra Bolero is the most sensible recommendation. Your monthly running is high, with a significant highway component, but the key factor is the 30% rugged rural roads and the need to occasionally carry 200-250 kg of farm produce. The Bolero is built exactly for this kind of use case. It has a tough ladder-frame chassis, simple mechanicals and a reputation for durability on rough roads. The diesel engine is robust and well suited to long-distance running, and the suspension is designed to handle poor road conditions and heavy loads without complaint. It is not the most refined or feature-rich vehicle, but it is reliable, easy to maintain and has excellent service reach in rural areas. At your budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, it is also one of the few vehicles that genuinely meets your requirements without compromise.If you want something more comfortable and modern, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering, but it will not be as rugged or as load-friendly as the Bolero. For your specific needs, the Bolero remains the most practical and dependable choice.

Mahindra Bolero

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•1d

I am getting an aggressive offer of 17 lakg including extended warranty from dealers for Honda Elevate ZX CVT before the facelift. What’s your suggestion as the prices look attractive for the top variant of Honda Elevate?

•15h

At Rs. 17 lakh including extended warranty, the Honda Elevate ZX CVT is a very attractive deal. The Elevate is a fundamentally sound product with Honda’s proven 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a smooth CVT gearbox and a reputation for reliability and low running costs. The ZX is the top-spec variant, so you are getting the full feature set, and at this price it is excellent value.The facelift is expected soon, but the changes are likely to be incremental rather than transformative. The core mechanical package will remain the same, so you are not missing out on a new engine or gearbox. The facelift will likely bring some cosmetic updates, a refreshed interior and possibly a few new features, but it will also come at a higher price.If you are happy with the current Elevate and the deal on offer, there is no strong reason to wait. The car will continue to deliver the same ownership experience Honda is known for, and the money saved can be put towards fuel, insurance or other ownership costs. The only reason to wait would be if you specifically want the latest design and features and are willing to pay a premium for them. Otherwise, this is a deal worth taking.

Honda Elevate

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