I am planning to buy a car within a budget of ₹8 lakh. My preferred choice is the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios CNG. Could you please suggest some better alternative options, considering CNG variants?

Autocar India

•5h

Go for the new Tata Punch Pure MT. At your Rs 8 lakh on-road budget, it offers a good balance of safety, ride comfort and SUV-like road presence.Since you have prioritised safety and comfort, the Punch’s five-star Bharat NCAP rating is reassuring, and comfort levels are good too. The suspension is well sorted, delivering good ride quality and stable handling. The cabin is also spacious for a car in this class, and the seats are well cushioned with good thigh support, though the rear seat can feel a little narrow for three passengers. It also has the SUV-like road presence you are looking for, and the 187mm ground clearance is useful.The one trade-off is highway performance; the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated engine needs downshifts for quick overtakes above 80kph, so you will need to plan overtakes more carefully. If you prioritise a smoother engine and a wider rear seat for family trips over an SUV stance, consider the Maruti Baleno instead.On the test drive, check for engine refinement and cabin noise at speed, ride comfort over rough roads, and acceleration.

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•6h

Check out the Jeep Meridian, which is one of the last few remaining ICE SUVs in the Rs 30-45 lakh price range. The good news is that it delivers what your friend is looking for, the Jeep badge carries a premium positioning, and that's reflected in its upmarket and high-quality interior. The fit and finish are very good, and within your budget, you can get the fully loaded Overland variant, which is loaded with features.You could also get a 4x4 version at this price, which, apart from being true to Jeep's heritage, has some genuine off-road capability, should they ever need it. The latest versions offer a sliding second row, which allows you to liberate more room in the third row when needed, a sore point earlier on. The only downsides are that the 2.0-litre diesel engine is not particularly fuel-efficient or refined, and resale value isn't quite as good as some other brands.

Jeep Meridian

Autocar India

•8h

Consider going for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 L diesel-AT AWD. The SUV offers a great blend of space, strong performance, AWD capability, a comfy and feature-rich cabin and safety.The 7XO's 2.2-litre diesel engine is refined and punchy, while the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth, making the SUV feel at home in the city and on the highway. This Mahindra car also comes with the flexibility of a third row of seats and is loaded with modern features.As for safety, the Mahindra XUV 7XO comes equipped with Level 2 ADAS features, and although it hasn't been crash-tested yet, the pre-facelift XUV 700 received a full 5-star rating from Global NCAP. Furthermore, Mahindra's service network is also widespread across the nation, which should give you peace of mind.

Mahindra XUV 7XO