I am planning to buy an Exter H8. I am new to driving, and this would be my first car. Any reviews or suggestions?

autocar.india

•1d

With a budget of Rs 8 lakh, a daily city commute of 20-40 km and only occasional highway runs, the Maruti Swift AMT is the most sensible recommendation. It is compact and easy to drive in traffic, has a reliable and efficient petrol engine, and Maruti's service network ensures low running costs and hassle-free ownership over the long term. The Swift is also comfortable enough for occasional highway trips and offers good fuel efficiency, which suits your usage pattern perfectly.If you want a slightly higher driving position and a more rugged look, the Hyundai Exter is a good alternative. It is also easy to drive in the city and offers a bit more ground clearance for bad roads.Overall, the Swift strikes the best balance between city usability, occasional highway comfort, reliability and low running costs within your budget.

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Swift

autocar.india

•2h

With a budget of Rs 25 lakh and a monthly running of just 350- 400 km, petrol is the clear recommendation. At this usage level, the cost savings from diesel simply will not materialise, and petrol engines are quieter, smoother and generally easier to live with in the long term. As for transmission, go for an automatic. Modern automatics are smooth, stress-free in traffic and make everyday driving far more comfortable, especially in city conditions.Now, on the car itself. At Rs 25 lakh, a strong recommendation would be the new Skoda Kushaq, which has just been refreshed. It gets a lot more features, like ventilated seats in the front, a panoramic sunroof, massage seats in the back, and a decent amount of room as well.However, it is also very nice to drive, and since your priorities are performance, it will definitely do the job perfectly for you. Driving between cities and on highways, it is extremely stable. It is light and convenient in the city, and it is planted on the highway. The 1.5-litre TSI engine is the one we recommend, which blends performance and refinement. In your budget, you can get the top-spec Monte Carlo trim that comes loaded with all the bells and whistles and still save a good amount of money. However, if you want an even bigger car with a lot more power and three rows of seating, then the Mahindra XUV700 in its AX7 guise is a good consideration. It comes with a more powerful engine, a lot more features, and a lot more space as well. If you don't mind a large car, then that is a good choice, but if you want to stick to the compact dimensions, then the Kushaq is a preferred option.

Skoda Kushaq