I want to purchase a new car, and my budget is up to Rs 8 lakh. I am 70 years old. Please advise.

Autocar India

•21h

Go for the Honda Amaze sedan. For mostly city use, it is easy to drive and park, yet the 420 litre boot makes those 4-5 road trips far simpler than a hatchback. Coming from a Mobilio, you will also like the comfy ride and the familiar Honda smoothness. Pick the automatic, which will be friendly and easy to use in the city where you spend most of your time.One honest catch is power. It is fine in the city and steady at 90-100 km/h, but quick highway overtakes with a full load will need some planning.If you are set on a hatchback, the Maruti Baleno or Fronx are the most sensible city choices thanks to light controls, good space and very good mileage, and they are calmer on highways than most small hatches. If safety and rough-road stability matter more than mileage, the Tata Altroz is the sturdier hatch, though its petrol feels just okay.Overall, for your usage mix and past MPV ownership, the Amaze fits best.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•1d

This isn’t normal on a brand-new Punch Turbo; book an immediate inspection and avoid driving it till they check it.Visible white smoke from the bonnet with a burnt smell right after the first drive points to oil or coolant touching a hot exhaust or turbo, or a loose clamp. A slipping clutch can create a burnt smell, but it rarely causes visible smoke on a day-one car unless something is already wrong, so the half-clutch explanation sounds like deflection. There is one harmless case, thin coatings or a bit of fluid spilled during prep can burn off and give a faint smell or light wisps for the first few kilometres, but that should fade quickly and not produce sustained smoke.Park it, look for any fresh wet spots under the car, and check the coolant level once the engine is fully cold. Note where the smoke seemed to start, especially front right near the turbo and exhaust, and record a short clip if it happens again. Take it back to the dealer, ask for a job card, and have them check for leaks, loose hose clamps, or clutch issues under warranty. Do not accept “driving style” as the only answer on day one.

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•47m

Its hard to recommend a car without knowing a few of your specific requirements like rear seat space, who will drive, city of highway use etc. However as an all-rounder go for the Hyundai Creta EV. Under Rs. 26 lakh, it gives you the most balanced mix of real-world range, everyday comfort and space, lots of features and a wide service footprint. It fits city life well with its easy size and smooth drive, and still does weekend highway runs without stress. The larger 51kWh battery will give you a real world range just over 400kms and if your driving is not a lot each day, you could even opt for the lower battery size model which would give you a real world range of about 250 to 300kms.

Hyundai Creta Electric