"Hey, I'm stuck between the Maruti Baleno zeta or alpha, Tata Punch adventure, and Honda Amaze vx - all with automatics. I'm looking for good safety features, decent mileage, and low maintenance costs, with durability being a top priority. My current ride's a WagonR automatic. Any advice?" My monthly drive is 2500-3000km

autocar.india

•2h

If your driving is almost entirely in the city and you don't specifically need the higher seating position of an SUV, the Honda Amaze would be our recommendation. It is refined, comfortable, easy to drive and backed by Honda's excellent reputation for reliability and low maintenance. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is another excellent choice if fuel efficiency and widespread service support are your top priorities.If you prefer an SUV, we'd narrow it down to the Skoda Kylaq and the Mahindra XUV 3XO. The Kylaq is the more enjoyable car to drive, with excellent ride and handling, while the 3XO offers more features, a roomier cabin and strong safety credentials. Both are among the best compact SUVs in the segment.For a Rs 10 lakh budget, however, we'd lean towards the Honda Amaze or Maruti Suzuki Dzire, as you'll be able to buy a higher variant with more equipment rather than stretching for an entry-level SUV.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•21h

Yes, switch to an EV if you have a fixed parking spot where you can install a home charger - for a pure city, second car, the Tata Punch EV fits best. Stop-go traffic is where EVs save the most, and with low maintenance and cheap electricity, the math works out over a few years. If you cannot charge at home, skip the EV idea.As a city commuter, the Punch EV is easy. Light steering, smooth creep, strong regen that lets you use the brake less, and ground clearance for bad roads. In real use, the Medium Range handles a typical week of school runs and errands on a single charge; the Long Range provides more buffer if others in the family do longer loops. Tata’s EVs have held up well so far, and support is wide. For variants, pick the Medium Range if your daily running is short and you can top up at home; choose the Long Range only if you want to charge less often. The 7.2 kW home charger is nice to have, not a must-have.Also, look at the Tata Tiago EV for a lower price, and the MG Comet if you want something compact. If you stay petrol, the Hyundai i20 IVT or Amaze CVT automatics are the easiest city alternatives.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Tiago EV

MG Comet

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•1d

Good for city use, the Honda Amaze VX manual is easy to drive and park thanks to a light clutch and steering, a smooth-shifting gearbox, and its compact size. Ride comfort over broken roads is quite sorted and visibility is clear, so stop-go traffic feels less tiring.In real city traffic you can expect around 12-14 kpl. The official figure is 18.6 kpl, and on calmer suburban runs you should see about 15-17 kpl if you drive gently.One thing to keep in mind: the 1.2 petrol is not the most powerful especially with a full load, so quick gaps often need a downshift. It is happy at city speeds but feels a bit out of breath for fast highway overtakes. If most of your running is within town with the odd ring-road stretch, it fits well. If you plan heavy highway use with a full load, you might wish for more punch.

Honda Amaze