My budget for new car is 12-13 lakhs and I prefer smooth Automatic with daily 20 km running mostly in cities and occasionally Highway and Rural. Pls suggest value for money, low maintenance cost and fuel efficient car.

Asked by: Sureman Verma

Since your usage is mainly in the city, with occasional highway and rural drives, a small SUV would suit you well. Your options include the Tata Punch, Hyundai Exter and Maruti Suzuki Fronx.

The Tata cars stand out for their tough build and well-balanced ride, and handling. This becomes especially noticeable on the highways.

The Hyundai Exter, on the other hand, has lighter controls and a smoother AMT compared to the Punch. This makes it feel more at home in the city

The Maruti Fronx sits somewhere in the middle. It has the highest claimed fuel efficiency (22.89kpl for the 1.2 AMT). Plus, Maruti cars are typically the easiest to maintain and live with.

Tata Punch

Front Left Three Tata Punch

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Nov 17, 2025

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Autocar India Team

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