Autocar India
•8h

I am from Punjab and currently own a diesel car. Now I want to try either a CNG or an EV, as I belong to a small city. My monthly running is around 3,500 km, and my budget is around Rs. 15-20 lakh. However, I have range anxiety with EVs. Are EV charging stations available everywhere, including developing areas such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?

Verified
•22m

Considering your usage, CNG car would be a better fit. While an electric car will be cheaper to run, the charging network in rural areas is patchy, which will limit your usage. CNG is more readily available where you are and, on longer trips where you don't find a pump, you can still revert to petrol.

In your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a solid choice. It comes with a dual-tank setup, so the boot is only slightly smaller than the petrol version. Maruti has also done a good job of tuning the car to run on CNG and its service network is the largest in the country. The downside is that highway performance on CNG will feel a bit dull, requiring a downshift for an overtake.

Alternatively, you could continue with a diesel car, as you are already comfortable with that. Running costs will be higher than on CNG, but availability of diesel is not an issue and you avoid the queues at CNG stations. In your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is the best bet. The manual will be fine for your use, but an automatic is available if you wish. The Creta diesel offers a similar experience, but Hyundai has a wider service network than Kia.

Overall, the Victoris CNG makes the most sense for your needs but, if you want a bit more punch on the highway, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.39 Lakh

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.88 Lakh

Kia Seltos

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•5d

Hi, I live in Ahmedabad. My daily travel is around 85 km. I already own a Maruti Suzuki Baleno and a Hyundai Accent. My budget is Rs. 25-27 lakh. Kindly suggest a few good options.

Verified
•21h

With a daily commute of 85 km, your running is very high, so fuel efficiency and running costs become the most important factor. At the same time, you already own a Baleno and an Accent, so this car should feel like a meaningful upgrade in terms of comfort, space and overall ownership experience.The best option for your usage is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid. The hybrid system delivers excellent fuel efficiency in city and highway conditions, and the petrol engine ensures long-term reliability and low maintenance costs. The Victoris is also a very comfortable and spacious car, making it well-suited for long daily commutes. The hybrid system of the Maruti Suzuki car is particularly effective in stop-and-go traffic, where it can significantly reduce fuel consumption.If you are open to diesel, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is also a strong option. It is a larger and more powerful SUV with excellent highway performance and a comfortable ride.Overall, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit for your needs. It offers the right balance of fuel efficiency, comfort, reliability and ownership experience for a high-mileage daily commuter.

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•2d

I'm looking for a petrol manual car with an on-road budget of 17 lakh. Most of my driving will be on highways. My priorities are safety and fuel efficiency. I'd also like essential comfort features such as automatic climate control and automatic wipers. Which car would you recommend?

Verified
•1d

For your requirements, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris mild hybrid petrol manual is the most sensible recommendation. With a budget of Rs 17 lakh on-road, you are looking for a car that will be used predominantly on highways, and fuel efficiency and long-term reliability matter most. The Victoris mild hybrid petrol is one of the most fuel-efficient petrol cars in this segment, and the mild hybrid system gives you a tangible efficiency advantage on long highway runs. It is also a very comfortable car with a spacious cabin, good ride quality and all the basic comfort features you are looking for, including automatic climate control and automatic wipers. Safety is well addressed with a strong safety package, and it has also received a full 5-star crash test rating from Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP. The manual gearbox is smooth and easy to use, making it a stress-free car to drive over long distances. Overall, this Maruti Suzuki car strikes the best balance between efficiency, comfort, safety and long-term ownership peace of mind within your budget.

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•2d

Hi, my daily running is around 50 km, mostly in the city. Which is the best SUV for me within a budget of Rs. 20-25 lakh?

Verified
•2d

With a daily city running of around 50km, the ideal choice is a petrol automatic SUV with a smooth gearbox and low running costs. In the Rs. 20-25 lakh range, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is the most balanced option. The IVT gearbox is very smooth in stop-start traffic, it is easy to drive in the city thanks to the light controls, and Kia’s service network is strong. The Seltos also offers a comfortable cabin, good features and a premium feel.If you want something more driver-focused, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is a good alternative. This Skoda car is more engaging to drive and feels more solid on the highway, but the Seltos is the better all-rounder for city use. You can also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid if you want more fuel efficiency and even lower running costs, but it won't feel as premium as the Kia. The Seltos petrol IVT strikes the right balance between comfort, reliability and ease of ownership for your usage.

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•4d

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•4d

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

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•1d

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

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•6d

Is it worth waiting for the new BREZZA, or are there better alternatives for Mumbai city use and a few random trips outside, say 2 to 3 in a year, up to Pune, Panchgani, etc

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•5d

Go for the Brezza, but wait for the new model as it's just a few weeks away. The Brezza is easy to drive in traffic, rides well over broken roads and speed breakers, and the automatic is smooth and stress-free. The cabin is airy, the visibility is good, and Maruti service reach in the city makes ownership simple. For the odd Pune or Panchgani run, it feels stable enough if driven in a relaxed manner. A point to consider if you often go up the ghats with four people and luggage: the 1.5 petrol is smooth but not very strong, so overtakes need a little planning.If that bothers you, the Skoda Kylaq with the automatic is the better alternative. It feels quicker in the hills and in gaps, and the gearbox responds a bit faster, which helps both on the ghats and in stop-go Mumbai traffic. You will trade a slightly firmer ride and a lower city mileage for that extra shove.For mostly city use, though, buying the Brezza is the sensible call.

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Posted on: 16 Jul 2026