Hi Team, I am thinking of buying my first car. I am on a tight budget under 8 lakh (on-road price) and can stretch to 10 if it's value for money. I need good mileage and a CNG option if possible. Plus, I also want Boot space and good safety. I drive mostly city rides to the office and occasional trips in the mountains with family.

autocar.india

•2d

For your requirements, from your shortlist, the Renault Kiger is the most sensible choice. Your usage is predominantly city driving with occasional village visits and a few trips a year, which means you need a car that is compact and easy to drive in the city, but also robust enough to handle rough roads and occasional bad patches. As you plan to travel with your family too, space is also important, as well as boot volume for luggage. The Kiger strikes that balance very well. It offers a higher ground clearance than hatchbacks like the Wagon R, which makes it more confidence-inspiring on broken village roads, and its compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park in the city. It also offers more space than most of the other options in this price range. You also get a choice of naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engines, and given that you travel with family and do occasional long drives, we recommend the turbo petrol, which has some additional punch, yet can be fuel efficient when driven carefully.The Wagon R, Exter and Punch are a size down on the Kiger and thus won't be as suitable for your family, while the Nexon and Fronx will require you to settle for a low variant in your budget. The Renault Kiger is the best value for money you can get at this price, and alternatively, for a similar price, you can also look at its sister car - the Nissan Magnite.

Renault Kiger

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Nexon

Nissan Magnite

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

autocar.india

•2d

An electric car can make sense for your needs if you can charge at home. If yes, the Punch EV 30kWh makes sense for your needs, but you will need to stretch your budget closer to Rs 11 lakh. The Punch has better ground clearance than your current Tiago and takes on bad roads very well. The base Smart trim is very bare-bones, so opt for the Smart+ instead.If you must stick to your Rs 9 lakh budget, then the Tiago EV is the only other option. While it will lower your running costs, you will still need to deal with the low ground clearance. Apart from that, the updated Tiago EV's interior will feel like a step up from your 2023 model. The Pure+ trim has most of the basic features covered, and the 19kWh battery should give you sufficient driving range. Just beware, if your current Tiago scrapes its belly on the rough patch you encounter, so will the Tiago EV. If you can't charge at home, the Punch CNG AMT is your best bet, but you will need to stretch your budget to about Rs 10 lakh. It has a dual-tank setup, so you still have a usable boot, the AMT works reasonably well and will make life easier in traffic, and it has the ground clearance you need.Overall, the Tiago EV is a good fit for your needs if you can charge at home. If not, the Punch CNG AMT is worth stretching for.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Punch

Tata Tiago EV

autocar.india

•5h

For your usage, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the most sensible recommendation. Your annual running is low, so a petrol automatic makes the most financial sense, and the Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is one of the smoothest and most reliable gearboxes in this price range. It is well suited to city driving and will handle your occasional hill station trips without any fuss. This Maruti Suzuki car is also a genuinely comfortable 5-seater with a good ride quality, and Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs make it an easy car to own long term.If you want something a bit more premium feeling, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is worth considering. It is more feature-rich and feels more modern inside, but the Brezza is the more dependable choice for a first-time buyer. On automatic transmissions, torque converter automatics like those in the Brezza and 3XO are the best fit for your usage. They are smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving. CVTs are also smooth, but there aren't many offered in this price range, while dual-clutch automatics are better suited to performance-oriented driving and can be more expensive to maintain.Overall, the Brezza automatic is the car that will give you the least hassle and the most peace of mind over the next 5-10 years.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO