My running is very low, mostly in the city. Sometimes I do around 300 km trips (both sides). I am planning to buy a new car within ₹10 lakh. I am confused between three options: Punch, Exter, and Brezza. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•2d

With 80% city use and 20% highway, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI+ automatic is the better fit from your list. Its petrol engine with the regular automatic feels the smoothest in slow city traffic, so starts, stops and tight parking are stress-free. The ride is comfortable on bad roads, the steering is light, and the upright driving position gives clear views all around. It is also an easy car to live with day to day, with simple controls and wide service reach.Trade-offs to note: it is not as quick as the turbo-petrol options when you press hard, and the cabin does not feel as fancy as the top trims of the others.If you want a livelier drive and the most features, pick the Hyundai Venue HX10 DCT from your shortlist. It feels quicker and has a richer cabin, but the dual-clutch automatic can feel a bit hesitant in very slow, bumper-to-bumper traffic.Overall, for mostly city use, the Brezza ZXI+ automatic lines up best with what you described.

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•2h

This isn’t normal on a brand-new Punch Turbo; book an immediate inspection and avoid driving it till they check it.Visible white smoke from the bonnet with a burnt smell right after the first drive points to oil or coolant touching a hot exhaust or turbo, or a loose clamp. A slipping clutch can create a burnt smell, but it rarely causes visible smoke on a day-one car unless something is already wrong, so the half-clutch explanation sounds like deflection. There is one harmless case, thin coatings or a bit of fluid spilled during prep can burn off and give a faint smell or light wisps for the first few kilometres, but that should fade quickly and not produce sustained smoke.Park it, look for any fresh wet spots under the car, and check the coolant level once the engine is fully cold. Note where the smoke seemed to start, especially front right near the turbo and exhaust, and record a short clip if it happens again. Take it back to the dealer, ask for a job card, and have them check for leaks, loose hose clamps, or clutch issues under warranty. Do not accept “driving style” as the only answer on day one.

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•3d

Given your comfort with the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, we'd advise you against a conventional hatchback and recommend you look at a sub-compact SUV. The high seating is a boon and will put you at immediate ease in the car. Options that meet your requirements within a Rs 10 lakh budget include the Hyundai Exter, Tata Punch and Citroen C3. The Tata Punch offers more of what you need. It's got the widest cabin (though it's still not ideal as a 5 seater) and packs in all the features that you need, and then a whole lot more. The Citroen C3 makes a compelling case for itself with the best engines, well-sorted ride and handling and the cabin experience is also vastly improved with the recent feature update. However, it's not quite as roomy as the Punch, and Citroen's service network is also not as widespread as Tata or Hyundai's.The Hyundai Exter is an easy-going option that's also worth a look.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Citroen C3