•3d

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•44m

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.

That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.

If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

•6m

What if I want to increase the monthly emi to 25k?

More questions on similar cars

Rahul Rajbhoj

•1w

My weekday driving is around 120 km in the city, with occasional highway trips of 20-50 km. My budget is ₹10-17 lakh. I do not like naturally aspirated engines and am worried about DPF-related issues if I go for a diesel, even though I liked the Seltos Diesel AT. The Kylaq and Duster felt a little cramped to me. My priorities are safety, good ergonomics, and a fun-to-drive experience. Please suggest a good car. I am 6 feet tall.

Autocar India

•1d

With a long city commute, some short highway runs, a Rs.10-17 lakh cap and a clear dislike for non‑turbo motors, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo petrol automatic suits you best. It gives you the strong low‑speed pull you want without any diesel DPF worries in stop‑go traffic. The front seats, steering reach and height make it easy for a 6‑foot driver to get comfy, and the cabin feels roomier than the Kylaq and Duster you found tight. It is also one of the nicer cars to drive in this price range, with direct steering and a calm, stable feel at speed, and it packs the safety features you’d expect.One thing to note: the DCT can hesitate a bit at slow speed. If that is an issue then consider the Sierra turbo petrol AT. It is also one of the roomiest in class so you should find it comfortable. Overall for your needs, the Seltos is a good fit.

Apurv

I own a 2017 Renault Kwid 800cc manual and am looking to upgrade mainly for comfort, space, and some more power. My budget is around Rs 15-17 lakh on-road in Hyderabad. My monthly running is around 300 km, mainly in city stop-and-go traffic. Please suggest whether I should extend my budget for a CVT (Elevate/Creta) or go for a torque-converter automatic (Kylaq/3XO).

Autocar India

•1d

For mostly city use within a 15-17 lakh on-road budget, where comfort, space and ease of driving matter most, the Honda Elevate automatic fits best. The automatic is very smooth at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels calm, and compared to your Kwid, the seat is higher, the cabin is wider, and the ride is more comfortable over bad roads. Power is not wild, but it is a big step up from your Kwid and feels relaxed in the city.A quick word on gearbox types for your use: for pure city traffic, the automatics in the Elevate and Creta feel smoother because there are no obvious gear changes. Torque‑converter automatics in the Kylaq and XUV 3XO are also smooth, but you will feel a few more gear changes at low speeds.The trade-offs with the Elevate are that the engine does not feel particularly quick when pushed hard, and the cabin does not feel as premium as the Creta’s.If you can stretch, the Hyundai Creta automatic adds a plusher cabin and a bit more space. If you want more punch for less money and can live with a smaller back seat, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is the value pick. Overall, for your city commute and budget, the Elevate automatic lines up best.

Girish

I have an i20 manual petrol car that is 9 years old. I drive around 50 km daily in traffic. Please suggest whether I should switch to an automatic and recommend a car within Rs 10-12 lakh.

Autocar India

•1d

A daily 50 km commute in heavy stop-and-go traffic is exactly the kind of usage where an automatic makes the biggest difference, so upgrading from your 9-year-old i20 manual to an automatic is a sensible move for better comfort and lower driving fatigue. In your Rs. 10-12 lakh budget, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT is the neatest fit. It is very easy to drive in traffic, the steering is light, the gearbox takes the hard work out of slow moves, and the ride is comfortable over broken roads. Coming from your older i20, it will feel quieter and more relaxed, and it’s also easy to park. Running costs and service reach are simple too, which matters when you drive every day.Two things to note: the AMT's shift can feel slow, and if you want a higher seat and extra ground clearance, you may want a taller car instead.If you prefer to stay with Hyundai, look at the i20 CVT as well. For a higher seating position within budget, the Tata Punch AMT is a good second choice. Overall, for your city commute, the Baleno AMT lines up best.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Tata Punch

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Popular discussions right now

Soumith Uppu

•4d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India

•3d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

AVINASH PARWANI

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India

•3d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

Kia Seltos

Manik Walia

•1w

I want to buy a sedan. My usage will be approximately 25% city driving and 75% highway driving. My priorities are a fun-to-drive experience, good handling, strong highway stability, rear-seat comfort, and solid build quality. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•22h

With 75% highway use and a Rs. 18-20 lakh cap, the Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 turbo petrol with the manual is the best fit. It feels quick when you press the throttle, so quick passes on the highway are easy, and it stays very steady at speed with a nice, weighty steering, which makes long drives calmer. The rear seat is wide with good legroom and a well-angled backrest, so two adults will be comfortable for hours. It also feels solid inside and out, and its crash test score is strong, which matches your build quality ask.A couple of things to note: at low speeds, the ride can feel a bit firm over sharp bumps, and Volkswagen’s service reach is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai in smaller towns, so check your nearest workshop.If you want the same driving feel but a slightly richer cabin vibe, look at the Skoda Slavia with the same 1.0 turbo. It shares the core strengths of highway stability and safety, and some find its seats a touch softer.For your brief, the Virtus 1.0 manual lines up best. However, do note that a facelift is expected later this year.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

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My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

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