Mumbai

•3h

Hi, Many thanks for your time and effort in answering the question. I want to buy an automatic car between Rs 11-12 lakh. The car should be comfortable for five adults. Running would be 70% in the city (Delhi), with 3-4 occasional intercity vacation trips annually, and my average monthly running is around 500 Kms. I am considering the Hyundai i20 Asta (o) ivtech, Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and Sonet HTX DCT. If you have any better suggestions, then please give them.

•14m

The Hyundai i20 Asta (O) IVT would be the recommendation here. Your priorities are comfort for five adults, predominantly city driving and a smooth automatic gearbox. The i20 delivers very well on all three counts. Its rear seat is among the roomiest in the premium hatchback segment, the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in Delhi's stop-start traffic, and the overall driving experience is relaxed and refined. It is also easier to drive and park than an SUV in crowded urban conditions.

The Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and HTX DCT offer a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and a higher seating position, but the rear seat isn't as accommodating for three adults, and the DCT transmission isn't as seamless in heavy traffic as Hyundai's IVT.

If you want an SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT and Mahindra 3XO AT are the alternatives worth considering. Both have wider cabins and are among the best five-seaters in this price bracket. Importantly, both use conventional automatic gearboxes that feel smoother and more natural in everyday city driving than the Sonet's DCT. The Brezza scores well on refinement, efficiency and ease of ownership, while the 3XO offers a more premium cabin and stronger performance.

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

This will be my first car, and my budget is around Rs. 11 lakh. I have two choices. My first preference is the Skoda Kylaq. However, some car buyers are claiming issues related to the clutch and occasional breakdowns. Should I consider the Hyundai i20 N Line or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx instead? Or should I stick with the Skoda Kylaq?

•1h

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. It fits your Rs. 11 lakh budget, has light controls, so it's easy to drive and it gets a smooth automatic gearbox option for city traffic. Since it's your first car, you'll also appreciate the simple ownership experience associated with Maruti, thanks to its big service network and sensible costs. For weekend runs, the 1.0 turbo variant feels lively enough while still giving good efficiency if you drive calmly.Skoda Kylaq is the nicer driver’s car when money is no object, but at your budget you will likely be in a base manual. Upkeep and parts can also cost more, which is not ideal for a first car. Hyundai i20 N Line is fun, but the price climbs quickly for the automatic and the firmer ride is less friendly on bad roads. If you want stress-free first ownership under Rs. 11 lakh, stick with the Fronx.

I am looking to buy a car for city commuting, and my daily running will be around 30-50km. I don't like the design of the new i20 unveiled globally. Will the same car be launched in India, or will it be different? Also, can you let me know if there is any news on when it will be launched in India?

•1d

Hyundai has globally unveiled the next-generation i20 with a completely new design, larger screens and a more tech-focused cabin. However, the company has not yet confirmed whether this model will make its way to India.Even if it does, it is unlikely to arrive before 2027. With buyers increasingly gravitating towards compact SUVs, premium hatchbacks are no longer the priority they once were, which could influence Hyundai's plans for the Indian market.For that reason, if your requirement is a car for city commuting today, it doesn't make much sense to postpone your purchase. The current Hyundai i20 iVT remains one of the best city automatics in its price bracket. The CVT gearbox is exceptionally smooth in traffic, the cabin feels premium, and the car is comfortable enough for occasional highway trips as well.

Hyundai i20

•5h

Which car is the better choice under Rs. 15 lakh: the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or the Hyundai Creta?

•1h

It depends on what you are looking for from the vehicle. If you want a larger car with a bigger boot, get the Hyundai Creta, which is in a segment above the Brezza. However, note that you will only get the low-spec EX and EX(O) variants with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and manual gearbox in your budget. While you can get a panoramic sunroof in the EX(O), the rest of the features are very basic. Meanwhile, in the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is available in fully loaded ZXi+ guise comfortably within your budget. You get far more features than the Creta in this budget, including auto climate control, a heads-up display, split-folding rear seats, LED headlamps, rear washer-wiper, keyless entry and go, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and more. What's more, you can get an automatic gearbox with the Brezza within your budget, which adds hugely to convenience. The cabin and boot space are also not too much less than the Creta, and the mileage will be much higher.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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•4d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•3d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

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•6d

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•4d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

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•3d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•2d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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