I need a car to drive only on weekends for 30 to 40 km. Please suggest EV or petrol automatic options.

autocar.india

•21h

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

•23h

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the best fit. It is a simple, dependable car with good ground clearance and a comfortable driving position. It is easy to get in and out of, handles bad roads well and is backed by Maruti’s strong service network and low maintenance costs. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and reliable. The Brezza is also a sensible upgrade from the Baleno, offering a more commanding driving position without being difficult to drive in the city. You can keep this Maruti Suzuki car for many years with minimal fuss. However, you might have to stretch your budget a little past Rs 10 lakh to get more features and an automatic gearbox.If you want something even more compact and easy to park, plus with more features for the price, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is also worth considering, but the Brezza feels more substantial and comfortable for long-term ownership. There is a facelifted version coming out very soon, but the changes are expected to be minor, so if you can haggle with your dealer for a good price on the outgoing model, you should try to get a discount.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

autocar.india

•2d

With 500 km of monthly running and mostly weekend driving, the Hyundai Venue HX5+ is a solid SUV choice. The 1.2-litre engine is very refined and fairly responsive for city use. On the highway, it will cruise comfortably, but it can feel a bit breathless when pushed. If you usually carry only one or two passengers, this shouldn't be an issue. However, if you frequently travel with a full load, you may feel the need for more performance. This is where the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a better bet. For a similar price, you get a turbo-petrol manual, which offers better performance when required. The cabin is also wider, making it more comfortable for three passengers at the rear; however, it doesn't feel as modern inside as the Venue.Consider the Honda Amaze if you want the convenience of an automatic transmission, but otherwise, the Venue is the better choice.

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Honda Amaze