My monthly running is around 1,000 km, and I am planning to buy a car within a budget of ₹12 lakh. I have shortlisted a few options, including the Maruti Suzuki Brezza (Vitara), XL6, Honda Amaze, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, and Hyundai Venue. My priorities are good mileage, safety features, comfort, and adequate boot space. Which model should I prefer and why? Also, should I consider a diesel variant? I have been advised against diesel due to my relatively low running and concerns related to DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid). Please suggest.

Autocar India

•25m

Pick the Tata Nexon Creative petrol (MT). For your 1,000 km/month and Rs 12 lakh budget, it gives you five-star safety, a comfortable ride, and a useful 382-litre boot.

For your usage, petrol makes more sense than diesel; you avoid DPF hassles with frequent short trips under 10-15km, as well as the higher diesel purchase cost. The Nexon’s suspension keeps the cabin composed over speed breakers and broken patches better than most in this price band. You still get practical space for a family, with a 382-litre boot that can handle two large suitcases, and real-world efficiency of around 16kpl on the highway.

If you prefer a simpler, naturally aspirated engine, then consider the Hyundai Venue 1.2 MT, but note that you will be giving up some cabin space.

On the test drive, check rear-seat comfort over rough patches and highway cabin noise at 80kph.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Nexon

from ₹8.67 Lakh

Hyundai

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from ₹9.39 Lakh

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Alwyn

•13h

I am looking to buy a car/SUV under an on-road budget of ₹18 lakh in Mumbai. We are a family of four, including an infant, so safety and child seat compatibility are important. My monthly driving is around 150 km, mostly within the city, with very little highway usage. I am specifically looking for an automatic car with good fuel efficiency. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•1h

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the most sensible choice here. It is very easy to drive in traffic, has a smooth and reliable automatic gearbox, and offers good fuel efficiency. It also comes with ISOFIX mounts for a child seat and is known for low maintenance and hassle-free ownership, which is important for long-term peace of mind.The Tata Nexon DCA automatic is another strong option, especially if safety is your top priority. It offers a more solid build and a reassuring feel on the road, and is practical for family use. However, it is not as fuel-efficient, and the gearbox is not as smooth as the Brezza’s in slow traffic.The Honda Elevate VX CVT can also fit within your budget and is worth considering. It offers excellent ride comfort, very smooth automatic behaviour and good space, which is helpful with a child seat. However, unlike the Brezza and Nexon, where you can get higher variants within your budget, with the Elevate you would be opting for a mid-spec VX variant rather than the top model.

Gagan Deep

I want to buy a petrol SUV/car. My budget is around 13 lakh. My priorities are mileage and safety.

Autocar India

•11h

Consider the Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre MT in the HX6 trim. It has recently received a full five-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol offers sufficient performance, along with good refinement and efficiency. The official claimed fuel efficiency is 18kpl, and you should get reasonably close to that on a steady highway cruise.Alternatively, if you are looking for a larger car, consider the Kia Seltos HTE with the 1.5-litre NA engine and manual combination, which also offers good efficiency for its size.On the test drive, check if the pick-up from the engine is satisfactory and whether the cabin feels comfortable for longer journeys.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

Ajay Kandari

•2d

My budget is 14 lakhs, and running is 100km per week (50% highway and 50% Traffic). I prefer feature and performance equally. I am confused which SUV or hatchback with a naturally aspirated engine and low maintenance to opt for? Please suggest a low-maintenance turbo engine option, if any. Kindly provide the best options.

Autocar India

•11h

Go for the Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre MT in HX6T trim. It has the naturally aspirated engine and low maintenance you are looking for, and is very well-equipped for its segment. Your 5,200 km/year running suits a simple NA engine; you avoid turbo complexity while still getting adequate performance for a 50:50 city/highway mix. For everyday use, the NA engine is silent and refined, with good throttle response. The new Venue’s cabin also looks and feels premium, and the space has improved compared to the previous generation.The one thing you give up is outright punch. Quick overtakes above 80kph may need a downshift, whereas small turbo engines feel stronger here. If you find pick-up lacking, then try the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, which has a lot more power and will make highway journeys easier.On the test drive, check second-gear crawl over speed breakers, in-gear pick-up and highway cruising ability.

Hyundai Venue

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