I currently own a Maruti Wagon R. Now I’m interested in buying a CNG or hybrid car under a ₹10 lakh budget. I generally commute within the city with an average monthly drive of 500 km. Kindly suggest the best car that suits my requirements.

Autocar India

•19h

Our first recommendation would be the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The automatic torque converter is smooth, the ride quality is excellent, and the car feels solid and substantial. It is also more powerful than most rivals in this price range and has enough ground clearance to tackle poor roads without constantly worrying about scraping the underside. At around Rs 10.9 lakh on-road, it is worth stretching for if your budget allows.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be our second choice. The IVT gearbox is one of the smoothest automatics you can buy at this price point. Refinement is excellent, and Hyundai's reliability and resale value are reassuring. The only drawback is that it does not feel as robust over bad roads as the Kylaq.The Tata Punch AMT would be our third choice. It has the ground clearance and a comfortable low-speed ride, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth or sophisticated as the automatics in the Skoda and Hyundai.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•15h

Get it checked soon, because visible smoke under the bonnet is not normal, even if it went away. In bumper-to-bumper traffic, riding the clutch can overheat it, which gives a strong acrid burning smell and can even cause brief white smoke from the gearbox housing area. The smell often lingers, so your half-clutch use fits the story. But have the workshop inspect the car and the clutch for overheating, also rule out a fluid drip onto a hot part, a bit of plastic stuck on the exhaust, or any wiring insulation getting cooked. Quickly check coolant and engine oil levels at home; if you see smoke again or any warning light, park up and call Tata RSA instead of driving.

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•6h

Since you want a CVT automatic, with a tested 5-star crash rating, and a price of under Rs. 12 lakh, your only option is the Honda Amaze. The Amaze comes with a smooth CVT gearbox mated to its peppy 1.2-litre petrol engine, it has a 5-star rating for adult occupant protection and 4-stars for child occupant protection from Bharat NCAP and the top-spec Amaze ZX CVT costs under Rs 12 lakh on-road. The sedan also has a comfy and spacious cabin and it comes well-equipped with features.

Honda Amaze