Hello team, I read your blogs regularly and value your reviews. Please guide me on which car I should buy from my shortlisted options. This will be my first car, and I enjoy driving. My requirements are a minimalist design (not too many gadgets), a manual transmission, good comfort and space, and a roomy boot. I’ve shortlisted the Volkswagen Virtus, Honda Amaze, and Hyundai Basalt. My budget is ₹12–14 lakh. Please advise.

Asked by: Jayant Parihar

Thank you for your support. We're happy to help!

Coming to your question, the Honda Amaze, while practical and comfy, does not have the driving thrill you would want.

The Volkswagen Virtus, while impressive, will not fit in your budget apart from the base variant, which isn't too impressive. The Citroen Basalt X will be a good pick out of this lot. It has a punchy turbo-petrol engine that is lovely to drive, the ride comfort is excellent, and it has a large boot as well.

Also, while it is feature-packed, it isn't unnecessarily complicated, and the functions are easy to use. The Basalt X would be our recommendation.

Citroen Basalt

Citroen Basalt

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Autocar India Team

Dec 05, 2025

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