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Sunil Kumar Rajapitamahuni

9w

Hi, I own a 2024 Tata Punch and it’s my first car. Although I am reasonably happy with it, it lacks punch and, being a small car, feels unsettling over bumps and bad roads. I am planning to upgrade to a more enthusiastic car with some heft. Is the Citroen Basalt X a good choice? Other models I’m considering are the Tata Nexon Turbo and Hyundai Venue Turbo.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
9w

Yes, the Citroen Basalt X will be better in both aspects that you desire. The turbo-charged engine is very peppy and is nice to drive, and the ride of the car is excellent, a typical Citroen hallmark. 

We would rule out the Tata Nexon turbo as the power delivery isn't very strong like other typical turbo engines. If you want to consider something other than the Citroen, test drive the turbo version of the Nissan Magnite

The 1.0-litre unit has a good mid-range punch and is something that you would enjoy.  

Citroen Basalt

Citroen Basalt

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Dr G A Rahi

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Hi, currently I have been driving a Honda Amaze diesel top model since 2019. Now I want to upgrade my car to an SUV. My daily running is 45 km and monthly up to 1300 km, with 20% in the city and 80% on the highway. Please suggest a fuel-efficient and safety-loaded SUV under an ₹11-12 lakh budget. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

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Verified
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Since you prefer diesels, the Tata Nexon would be a good choice for your needs. It gets a frugal 1.5-litre diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is rated 5 stars for crash test safety in BNCAP and has a confident ride on the highway. The braking performance is good too, and in your budget, you can get the Pure + S variant that gets you a decent kit like LED headlamps, sunroof, reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, etc.The Nexon returns an impressive 16.5kpl in the city and an even more impressive 19.4kpl on the highway. It is a well-rounded SUV for your needs and hence our top recommendation.

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RATHI MRINALINI

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I'm a new driver on the road. Been driving a Celerio (second-hand) for the last 2 years in Bangalore. Looking for an automatic petrol car within a budget of ₹9.5 lakh. My priority is safety and ease of adapting to the new car. I am thinking of a Punch. Looking for your suggestion.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
12h

Yes, the Tata Punch Adventure AMT is an excellent option, given your requirements. It's tall with a high seating position, which gives you a commanding view out - great for a new driver, yet it's compact enough not to be intimidating around town. It will also feel like a good upgrade from your old Celerio.Since safety is also a consideration for you, the Punch has been given a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and gets 6 airbags as standard, plus a good amount of standard safety equipment. If there's a potential drawback, it's that the Punch's 1.2 petrol engine and AMT gearbox aren't the smoothest combination, and as a new driver, the jerkiness at low speeds is something you will have to learn to drive around.Also consider the Hyundai Exter SX Smart AMT and the Nissan Magnite Kuro AMT as well, as both have smoother powertrains than the Punch.

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Posted on: 6 Jan 2026