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Delhi
RI

Ricky

•2w

Being a first-time buyer, I have a budget of around 10 lakh and am confused between the Hyundai Exter and the new Tata Punch. Can you recommend a good buy for mostly city rides with occasional (2-3 times a month) highway cruises? I am a new driver.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2w
The Hyundai Exter's 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine feels far smoother, more powerful and more refined than the Tata's three-cylinder unit. Moreover, the Exter's controls are lighter, and overall it feels like the more user-friendly car of the two, which, as a new driver, you are likely to appreciate.
The Tata Punch, on the other hand, has a more 'SUV-like' raised seating position, is easier to get in and out of, and its seats are broader too. Additionally, the Punch's audio system is far superior to the Exter's. Since your usage involves two-three long drives every month, we'd recommend the Punch for its excellent composure on the highway.
Tata Punch

Tata Punch

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai

Exter

from ₹6.28 Lakh

Tata Punch

Tata

Punch

from ₹6.22 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

RI

Ricky

•2w

Thank you

KE

Kevin

•2w

Try Kiger too, it's longer than both, more space , better boot and with turbo engine, it's a very powerful car.

RI

Ricky

•2w

Sure , thankyou

SO

Souvik

•1h

What about fronx ?

SO

Souvik

•1h

What about fronx?

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RM

RATHI MRINALINI

•2d

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

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Verified
•1d

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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VISHNUDAS P

•4d

I want to buy an automatic car mainly for city use with a budget of around ₹10 lakh. I shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Ignis, but I have heard rumours that its production might be stopped. Is there any update on this, and what are some good alternatives to the Ignis?

Autocar India team

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Verified
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The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is still in production. It is worth noting that the Ignis is a bit long in the tooth now, and sales are very low, especially so by Maruti standards. Thus, there could be a possibility of it being discontinued or updated. In any case, being a Maruti model that has been on sale for a while now, you would still be able to get it serviced for a fairly long period of time.If you are, however, worried about this, you could consider the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch, which are two cars that will offer similar benefits of being compact, high-riding and available with an automatic transmission.

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Vaibhav

•4d

Hello Sir, I am looking to purchase an SUV within a budget of ₹15 lakh (on-road). Initially, the Tata Sierra was one of my preferred options, but after watching your video, I became a bit uncertain about it. Since then, I have also started considering the base petrol variant of the Harrier. I do not drive a car on a daily basis. My average monthly travel is around 400 km, and my annual usage is approximately 6,000-7,000 km. My driving is usually less in the city and more on highways. I frequently travel through the ghat sections of Pune and the Konkan region with five passengers and a significant amount of luggage. Therefore, I am looking for a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and has relatively low maintenance costs. I would really appreciate your suggestion on which option would be the best choice for my requirements. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

The Tata Harrier Smart turbo-petrol MT (base) should be close to your Rs 15 lakh budget (on-road). It is a spacious 5-seater with a large boot, and its turbo-petrol has ample performance to effortlessly drive through the ghat sections with a full-load of passengers and luggage. Do keep in mind that the Harrier is a heavy car, and turbo-petrol engines are very sensitive to your driving style, so we'd advise you to keep your fuel efficiency expectations low.Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Seltos HTE(O) Turbo-petrol iMT. It is spacious, and performance is adequate, too. And being lighter, fuel efficiency is likely to be a bit better.

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Posted on: 23 Feb 2026