I’m a first-time car buyer with no driving experience. I need an automatic car with safety features, reliability. My budget is under ₹15 lakh. Expected drive about 60 km daily, split roughly 50% highway and 50% city. Please advise.

Autocar India

•6h

Mostly city office runs, about 1,000km a month, and a Rs. 8.5 lakh cap with Rs. 4 lakh for down payment and an EMI under Rs. 10,000. In this use case, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift VXi manual. It is easy to drive and park, handles bad roads and speed breakers well, and feels steady at city speeds. The petrol motor is smooth at low speeds with good drivability, and the light controls make traffic easy. Fuel efficiency is also excellent, as our real-world tests revealed 14kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway.Trade-offs: the rear seat is better for two adults than three, and quick highway overtakes need a shift to a lower gear.If you want an alternative with a taller seating position, consider the Tata Punch. It is just as easy to drive in traffic and rides well on bad roads, but fuel efficiency won’t be as good as the Swift’s.For a first car used mainly in the city, the Swift lines up best with your budget and comfort needs.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•7h

Short answer: there is no official plan to bring the CR-V back to India right now, CBU or otherwise. Honda has not announced a relaunch, and dealers aren’t taking bookings.About the ZR-V, Honda is importing a few units under the 2,500-car rule to gauge interest in out market, and it's set to be unveiled today. A CBU ZR-V would be niche and pricey due to taxes, likely in the Rs 40-50 lakh range.Honda’s current focus in India is on higher volume mass market models and its first EV that's set to arrive next year.

Honda ZR-V

Autocar India

•7h

We would suggest the Tata Punch EV. If your priority is the lowest possible budget while still getting a genuine 200 km plus real-world range, it is one of the easiest recommendations right now. The updated Punch EV now gets a larger battery pack option, and in real-world use, comfortably clears your 200 km requirement without needing to stretch into more expensive EVs.It also works well as an everyday city car thanks to its compact size, easy driving manners and the added practicality of SUV-like ground clearance. If your requirement is simply the most affordable EV that can reliably deliver that kind of range, the Punch EV is the cleanest fit.

Tata Punch EV