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

•4h

The Mahindra XEV 9S is, in many ways, is a clean and logical upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki Brezza diesel. For a family of five, the flexibility of three-row seating is genuinely useful, even if you don’t use the third row daily.As you rightly pointed out, the Pack Three variant of the Mahindra XEV 9S is very well equipped and, in fact, offers more features than the 9E Pack Three, like the co-passenger electric seat adjustment, rear ventilated seats and the added practicality of seven seats. Given that it’s also a couple of lakhs cheaper than the comparable Mahindra XEV 9e variant, from a pure value perspective, the 9S Pack Three does look more compelling.On the suspension, yes, the 9S is tuned on the softer side, but it's not a deal-breaker. You do feel a bit of vertical movement, especially at highway speeds over undulations, and that’s probably what you sensed during the test drive. However, in daily city use (which is the bulk of your 500), a softer setup at low speeds can actually work in your favour, better absorbing potholes and broken patches.Importantly, Mahindra has responded to feedback by introducing a ‘Custom’ drive mode, which lets you choose a sportier or stiffer suspension setting while keeping steering and power delivery in Comfort. That flexibility helps tailor the car to your preference.Since your usage is just around 500 km a month and mostly in the city, an electric car makes strong sense. Just ensure you have convenient home charging, that’s key to a stress-free EV ownership experience.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Autocar India

•5h

If you do not want to wait any longer, going ahead with the Maruti Suzuki Ignis Zeta AGS is a perfectly sensible decision for your usage. For mostly city driving with an occasional highway run once every few months, the Ignis fits the bill well. Its 1.2 litre four cylinder petrol engine is smoother and more responsive than the Punch’s motor, and the AMT calibration feels easy to live with in traffic. It has good space on the inside, has a comfortable ride quality and, being a Maruti Suzuki, offers a hassle-free ownership experience with low maintenance costs and wide service support.One important point to keep in mind with the Ignis is safety. When tested by Global NCAP in 2022, it scored a one-star rating, so this is something you should be fully aware of before making a final decision.If timely delivery, the Ignis Zeta AGS is a good buy. If safety rating and a more rugged feel are higher priorities and you are willing to wait, then sticking with the Tata Punch makes sense.

Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Tata Punch

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Autocar India

•6h

While the Kia Seltos diesel will prove to be more fuel efficient, it's not the ideal pick for a driving enthusiast. Power is decent for gentle driving and cruising, but it doesn't excite in any way.The Seltos Turbo-DCT is more powerful and more involving to drive. It feels strong, and you'll enjoy the engine's punch and DCT's quick shifts. Fuel economy will be less than that of the diesel, but still reasonable out on the highway.

Kia New Seltos

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