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

•48m

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.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.44 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.59 Lakh

Recommended questions for you

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

•3h

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.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Akash Verma

•2d

I am planning to buy an automatic car under ₹10 lakh. Currently, I own a 2012 Maruti Suzuki Swift petrol (ZXI) and a 2012 Honda Civic petrol. I am confused between the new Renault Duster and the Maruti Suzuki options in this segment. Could you suggest the most suitable car based on my requirements?

Autocar India

•1d

Unfortunately, the automatic variants of the Renault Duster and Maruti Suzuki Brezza/Victoris don't fall within your Rs 10 lakh budget. Since you're looking for an SUV-like automatic option, you could consider Maruti Fronx or Toyota Taisor 1.2 petrol-AMT. These are crossover-esque versions of the Maruti Baleno/Toyota Glanza hatchbacks, which are spacious, efficient and will be a good replacement for your Swift. If you're open to hatchbacks, the Hyundai i20 IVT is also a great option.

Renault Duster

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Toyota Glanza

Hyundai i20

Sourabh Nanaware

•2d

I am planning to buy a 7-seater car for my family.

Autocar India

•4h

Without knowing your budget and exact requirements, it would be hard to suggest a 7 seater for you. However, consider the Toyota Innova Hycross as it has a spacious cabin that can fit in 7 adults, a comfy ride quality and an efficient and strong hybrid powertrain. All of which make it one of the best 7 seaters for the family. If your budget is lower, consider the Kia Carens Clavis, which can also fit in your family comfortably, and it comes with all the bells and whistles. The Kia can even be had with a diesel engine option, unlike the Toyota, but there's no strong hybrid option.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis

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