Delhi

M Murali

•1w

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?

Autocar India

•1m

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 ₹6.65 Lakh

Toyota

Glanza

from ₹7.36 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Dzire

from ₹7.13 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.79 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.44 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Taisor

from ₹8.24 Lakh

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Gautam

•2d

Hi. I'm a first time car buyer. Want to buy a spacious and comfortable car within 11 lakhs. I don't have much of a driving experience so the car should be easy to drive and maintain. Much of the car use would be within the city and my monthly run of around 200kms. I'm considering both manual as well as automatic options. I would like to know your suggestions.

Autocar India

•2d

We would suggest you consider the Hyundai i20 IVT. The gearbox is smooth, the cabin is spacious, and within your budget, you can get the Sportz (O) variant. It is compact, easy to drive and park in the city, and also offers a reasonably large boot.If you want something slightly larger, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Baleno. It is more spacious inside, more comfortable for a larger family and also has a bigger boot. The AMT gearbox is not as smooth as the CVT in the i20, but it is well-tuned and will also be more efficient.

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

M Goutham Krishna

•2d

My office is located 10km from my house, with mixed city and highway driving. I am planning to buy a car which is automatic and fuel-efficient. Budget around ₹10 lakh. Could you please suggest a car that will be relevant for up to 15 years?

Autocar India

•1d

We would suggest you go for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AMT. The Fronx has a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre engine mated to an AMT gearbox that is well-tuned and smooth enough for daily driving. It is also fairly spacious, offers a large boot and a comfortable ride, which makes it an ideal companion for everyday city commutes and occasional highway drives.If you want something smaller and easier to manoeuvre, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT. It is a more compact car, which makes it even easier to drive and park in the city. However, the new Swift now comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, which feels a bit less powerful compared to the Fronx’s four-cylinder engine. Because of this, the AMT gearbox also works better with the Fronx engine than it does with the Swift.Within your budget, you can also consider the Hyundai i20 IVT/CVT in the Magna variant. The CVT gearbox is very smooth, which elevates the overall driving experience and makes the car extremely easy to drive in traffic. The interiors of the i20 also feel quite premium. The only downside is that you will have to trade a bit of fuel efficiency for that smoothness, which is something to keep in mind since efficiency is an important factor for you.

Aadi

I am planning to buy a new car but am confused between the Tata Punch Pure Plus (2026), Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta, and Maruti Suzuki Fronx. My budget is around ₹8 lakh, but I can stretch it up to ₹9 lakh. My usage will include both city and highway driving, and at times, there will be three passengers seated in the rear. I am also considering increasing my budget further to buy a Tata Nexon, which has added to my confusion. Could you please help me choose the right option?

Autocar India

•1d

The new Tata Punch is a solid choice in the Rs 8 lakh budget; however, it is quite narrow, which means seating three in the back seat can be a bit tight. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is better in this regard, with a slightly wider and more comfortable rear seat, but do visit both showrooms and experience them yourself. Both cars are comparable in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Baleno’s four-cylinder engine is more refined than the Punch’s three-cylinder unit.Apart from the different body style and slightly raised suspension, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is essentially the same as the Baleno. Therefore, the main reason to upgrade to the Fronx is if you need the higher ground clearance or want the turbo-petrol engine, which is not available on the Baleno.Regarding the Tata Nexon, to get a reasonably well-equipped variant, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 10 lakh and opt for the Pure Plus petrol variant. For the additional money, you get an SUV body style, a roomier cabin with a better rear seat than the aforementioned options, and a turbo-petrol engine with much stronger performance. If it isn’t too much of a financial burden, it is worth stretching to get the Nexon. But if you want to stick to your budget, the Baleno remains a good choice.

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