Autocar India
•4w

I need to drive close to 100 km daily, which will be a mix of city and highway driving. My budget is within 5-7 L. This will be my first car. What fuel type and transmission should I go with? Which car would you suggest I pick to meet my requirements while having minimal maintenance?

Verified
•4w

If you have CNG pumps in your area, pick the Tata Tiago CNG. At your budget, you would get a low to mid trim manual version, which should do just fine for your mix of city and highway driving. If your city drive is a lot and with heavy traffic, consider upping your budget for the automatic version. As for the car, the Tiago makes for a very good first buy, its small dimensions are easy to manage, and the clutch and steering are both light and easy to use. The engine is not refined, but its performance is decent enough when driven at a relaxed and normal pace.

You can also consider the Maruti Celerio CNG; it too makes for a good first buy with easy controls and tight dimensions, but it loses boot space as it comes with a single large CNG tank and spare inside the boot, unlike the Tiago, which has the spare wheel and a dual tank setup below the boot floor. If it's a petrol only that you want, then the Celerio is the better option, as it has a more refined engine and will be more fuel efficient too.

Tata Tiago

Tata Tiago

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Tata Tiago

Tata

Tiago

from ₹5.43 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Maruti Suzuki

Celerio

from ₹5.43 Lakh

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•4w

Reliable service. A first timer will have lots of doubts. Maruti will handle customers better compared to Tata.

•4w

Nios i10 is my suggestion...!

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More questions on similar cars

•4d

I want to buy a car that offers low maintenance and high mileage. I am 6 feet tall and need a car for daily office use, with a running of around 50-60 km per day. My budget is around Rs. 7-9 lakh. Which car should I go for?

Verified
•1d

With a daily run of 50- 60 km, fuel efficiency and low running costs become very important. At the same time, your height of 6ft means you need a car with good headroom and a comfortable driving position. In your budget of Rs 7-9 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is the most sensible choice. This Maruti Suzuki car is one of the most fuel-efficient petrol cars in the segment, has a very low maintenance cost, and Maruti's service network is unmatched. More importantly, the tall-boy design gives excellent headroom and a comfortable upright seating position, which makes a big difference for taller drivers on daily commutes. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is also more than adequate for city use and occasional highway runs. If you are open to CNG cars, the Wagon R CNG is even more economical and makes strong financial sense given your daily running. The only drawback is that the boot space is limited in the CNG version. If you want a slightly more premium feel, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is a good alternative, but it only comes with a 1.0-litre engine, which, though efficient, isn't as punchy as the optional 1.2 in the Wagon R. Overall, the Wagon R remains the more practical choice for your specific requirements.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Wagon R
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•2d

I stay in Gurgaon and currently drive a Tata Punch AMT. I am now looking for a vehicle within a Rs. 5-6 lakh budget that offers good mileage and makes driving in Gurgaon traffic more comfortable. What would you recommend?

Verified
•2d

If you are looking for a car under Rs 5-6 lakh with good mileage and relief from Gurgaon traffic, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the best fit. It is compact, easy to manoeuvre in traffic and parking, and the AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily city use. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is fuel-efficient and reliable, and Maruti’s service network ensures low running costs and hassle-free ownership. The Celerio also offers decent cabin space for its size and a comfortable ride over broken city roads. If you want something more practical, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is also a good option, but the Celerio is the more modern and premium package.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Celerio
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Wagon R
•3d

I am planning to buy a car for my sister. She currently drives a 2016 Volkswagen Polo diesel manual. The budget is around Rs. 20-22 lakh. Her priorities are a premium-looking interior, a feature-rich cabin, low maintenance costs, and good performance. A diesel engine is strongly preferred. She was initially interested in the Hyundai Creta, but someone advised her to wait because the Creta is expected to receive a facelift in March 2027. Please suggest some good options.

Verified
•8h

Go for the Kia Seltos diesel automatic. It is the best fit for your sister's requirements. Coming from a Polo diesel, she will appreciate the strong diesel punch, and the Seltos diesel automatic delivers that same effortless surge while being far more refined and relaxed on the highway. The cabin is among the most premium in its segment, with a rich feature list and a high-quality interior. Kia cars also have a widespread service network, and the 1.5-litre diesel engine has a proven reliability record, so maintenance costs are unlikely to be a concern.If she prefers something that is more engaging to drive and wants to stay with Volkswagen cars, the Taigun 1.0 TSI with the new 8-speed automatic is also worth considering. While it does not have the same diesel-like punch, the turbo petrol engine is strong, and the new 8-speed Aisin automatic is smooth with an improvement in terms of efficiency. That said, the Seltos diesel automatic remains the more natural and well-rounded upgrade for someone moving from a Polo diesel.

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•5d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
•4d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

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•3d

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

Verified
•2d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. It is a much larger car and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant and its features.

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•5d

I am looking for a spacious car for three people, with a naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox, and good mileage in both city and highway driving. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Honda Amaze. My budget is Rs 10-15 lakh. Please suggest.

Verified
•4d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is the better fit for your requirements. You want a naturally aspirated petrol engine, good mileage in both city and highway driving, and a spacious car for three people. The Brezza delivers on all those points. The 1.5-litre petrol engine of this Maruti Suzuki car is smooth and reliable, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to Indian driving conditions. It is also a more spacious car than the Honda Amaze, with a wider cabin and better rear seat comfort for three people. The higher seating position and SUV stance also make it easier to drive in the city and over bad roads.The Amaze is a good car, but it is a compact sedan and does not offer the same level of space or practicality. The Brezza is the more complete package for your needs.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
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Posted on: 1 Jul 2026