I currently own a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. I am not a frequent user, and my driving is mostly on highways. My current car has covered around 88,000 km. I am looking for a good SUV within a budget of ₹10 lakh that offers comfortable rear legroom and adequate boot space. Additionally, would opting for a CNG variant be a good choice for my usage? Please suggest.

Autocar India

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At nearly the same price, the Tata Nexon Pure Plus does stand out for offering a stronger safety package along with more factory-fitted features, which makes it feel like the more complete car on paper. For a family buyer, this added safety is a big advantage, and you won’t need to rely on aftermarket accessories to fill gaps. It also feels more substantial on the road, which helps on occasional highway trips.However, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi has its own strengths that are very relevant to your usage. With your low running of around 300 km per month, the Brezza’s reputation for easy maintenance, lower service costs, and wider service network becomes a big advantage for long-term ownership. It is also very easy to drive and live with daily.So the decision comes down to what you value more. If safety and a more feature-rich package matter most, the Nexon is the better choice. But if your priority is hassle-free ownership, lower maintenance and peace of mind over the years, the Brezza makes a very strong case, especially given your low usage.

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•9h

Consider the Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre MT in the HX6 trim. It has recently received a full five-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and comes with six airbags, ABS with EBD, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. The naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol offers sufficient performance, along with good refinement and efficiency. The official claimed fuel efficiency is 18kpl, and you should get reasonably close to that on a steady highway cruise.Alternatively, if you are looking for a larger car, consider the Kia Seltos HTE with the 1.5-litre NA engine and manual combination, which also offers good efficiency for its size.On the test drive, check if the pick-up from the engine is satisfactory and whether the cabin feels comfortable for longer journeys.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•10h

Go for the Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre MT in HX6T trim. It has the naturally aspirated engine and low maintenance you are looking for, and is very well-equipped for its segment. Your 5,200 km/year running suits a simple NA engine; you avoid turbo complexity while still getting adequate performance for a 50:50 city/highway mix. For everyday use, the NA engine is silent and refined, with good throttle response. The new Venue’s cabin also looks and feels premium, and the space has improved compared to the previous generation.The one thing you give up is outright punch. Quick overtakes above 80kph may need a downshift, whereas small turbo engines feel stronger here. If you find pick-up lacking, then try the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol, which has a lot more power and will make highway journeys easier.On the test drive, check second-gear crawl over speed breakers, in-gear pick-up and highway cruising ability.

Hyundai Venue