I own a 2013 Hyundai i20 Sportz that has done only 17,000 km so far. Starting next year, my running will increase to about 1,000 km per month. Due to E20 fuel, the mileage has reduced to around 10 km/l. Should I buy an EV or an ICE car, or should I keep the current car? If I buy a new car, my budget is ₹10 lakh on-road.

Autocar India

•2d

Yes, the Tata Punch Adventure AMT is an excellent option, given your requirements. It's tall with a high seating position, which gives you a commanding view out - great for a new driver, yet it's compact enough not to be intimidating around town. It will also feel like a good upgrade from your old Celerio.Since safety is also a consideration for you, the Punch has been given a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and gets 6 airbags as standard, plus a good amount of standard safety equipment. If there's a potential drawback, it's that the Punch's 1.2 petrol engine and AMT gearbox aren't the smoothest combination, and as a new driver, the jerkiness at low speeds is something you will have to learn to drive around.Also consider the Hyundai Exter SX Smart AMT and the Nissan Magnite Kuro AMT as well, as both have smoother powertrains than the Punch.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Nissan Magnite

Autocar India

•2d

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is still in production. It is worth noting that the Ignis is a bit long in the tooth now, and sales are very low, especially so by Maruti standards. Thus, there could be a possibility of it being discontinued or updated. In any case, being a Maruti model that has been on sale for a while now, you would still be able to get it serviced for a fairly long period of time.If you are, however, worried about this, you could consider the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch, which are two cars that will offer similar benefits of being compact, high-riding and available with an automatic transmission.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2h

At this budget, your best bet is the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It's spacious, comfortable and loaded with features, and will feel like a worthy upgrade to your Renault Duster. Your daily usage isn't that much, but since a large chunk of it is on the highway, you'll appreciate the XUV 7XO's stability, ground clearance and good ride quality. And as safety is a priority, you'll be happy to know it comes with a long list of standard safety kit, and has been given a 5-star crash test rating by Bharat NCAP. Whether you choose the petrol or the diesel is really a matter of preference, given your limited usage, and both come with smooth automatic gearboxes to help make your commute a little less tiresome.

Mahindra XUV 7XO