I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹15-17 lakh. My daily running is approximately 50-70 km, with 80% city driving and 20% highway usage. I will be upgrading from a Honda Amaze diesel manual, which has been delivering good mileage in both city and highway conditions.

Autocar India

•4m

Go for the Kia Sonet HTX diesel manual for your 50-70 km a day with mostly city use, as it keeps fuel bills low like your Honda Amaze diesel. But feels like a clear step up in terms of comfort, features and safety.

In stop-go traffic, the Sonet diesel pulls cleanly from low speeds, so you do not need to shift gears as often, and the clutch is light, which makes daily driving fairly easy. The higher seating position gives a better view out, and getting in and out is also easy. It is still small enough to park without stress, but the cabin feels nicer and more solid, and highway runs are relaxed thanks to the strong mid-range of the diesel engine. Kia’s network is wide now in most cities, and upkeep has been reasonable for owners in this price range.

A couple of things to be aware of. The back seat is not very wide, so three adults will feel tight on longer trips. Also, like all new diesels, it has a particulate filter, which requires you to run a regeneration cycle periodically.

If you prefer Hyundai’s aftersales and a slightly softer ride, the Hyundai Venue diesel manual is a good alternative. If your priority is the lowest running cost, look at the Maruti Victoris CNG.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.59 Lakh

Honda

Amaze

from ₹8.83 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.39 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.44 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Nitesh

•1d

I recently purchased a Hyundai i20. Earlier, I owned a Hyundai i10 and received a good exchange value for it. Now, I am planning to buy a second car for my personal use, while the i20 will be used by my family. My budget is up to ₹14 lakh, and my monthly running will be around 1,500 km. Could you please suggest the best car for my needs and explain why it would be a suitable choice?

Autocar India

•17h

Go for the Maruti Victoris VXi manual as it fits your Rs 14 lakh budget and represents a step up from your i20. You will sit higher, see the road better, and it deals with bad roads and speed breakers better than the i20, yet it is still relatively easy to park and thread through traffic. The controls are light, the petrol engine feels smooth and calm in the city, and Maruti’s wide service network makes ownership simple almost anywhere. One thing to be aware of: the engine is more about smoothness than speed, so if you're on a highway with four people and luggage, you may need to plan your overtakes. While the Victoris VXi MT will be ideal, if you want to benefit from lower running costs, consider the Victoris LXi CNG. If a big part of your 1,500 km is highway and you want lower fuel bills and stronger pull at low speeds, look at the Kia Sonet diesel manual mid variant. It suits long runs well, though the ride can feel a bit firm on sharp bumps. If you want to stay with Hyundai, check the Venue diesel manual, which is mechanically identical to the Sonet.

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Jay Patel

•1d

I am planning to buy a new car and would appreciate your expert recommendation based on the following requirements: Budget: ₹20-22 lakh (on-road) Usage: Daily commute of around 50 km, mostly in heavy city traffic (Mumbai) Priorities: Ease of driving in city conditions and overall comfort I am open to all fuel types: petrol, diesel, or electric, but I am unsure which would be the most sustainable and cost-effective option for my usage, especially considering heavy traffic conditions.

Autocar India

•20h

Go for the Hyundai Creta Electric for your 50 km Mumbai commute, an EV is the easiest and most comfortable to drive while keeping running costs low. In traffic, it pulls away smoothly, feels very quiet inside, and with a rated range of 420km to 510km, depending on which battery you choose, charging requirements will be minimal. The driving position is commanding, visibility is good, the steering is light, and the ride handles bumps well, which helps on broken city roads. One thing you have to make sure of, however, is that a charger can be installed at your home, which is essential to EV ownership today. If you're uncertain about the charging, consider a strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. It also delivers very low running costs (though not quite as low as an EV), and the advantage is that you don't have to charge it.

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Venkat

•3d

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹12-13 lakh. I am specifically looking for a diesel car. My usage will be approximately 60% city driving and 40% out-of-city travel. Could you please suggest a good diesel car within my budget?

Autocar India

•21h

Go for the Hyundai Venue HX5 diesel manual in your Rs 12-13 lakh budget, and with 60% city, 40% highway use, it is the most sensible fit right now. The diesel engine pulls well from low speeds, so it feels easy in traffic and steady on open roads. Clutch and shifter action are also light enough for city use, and an automatic is now available, though you will have to stretch to a little over Rs 14 lakh on-road. The Venue is also compact, so parking and tight lanes are easy, yet it rides high enough for bad roads and speed breakers.One thing to be aware of: the Venue is fairly compact and can feel a little cramped for taller folks. If that is an issue, then consider the Kia Syros diesel instead.On your test drive, try a few tight U-turns and slow-speed parking to see if it works for you in daily traffic. Also, try the back seat to see if the space is adequate.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

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