I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹12-13 lakh. I am specifically looking for a diesel car. My usage will be approximately 60% city driving and 40% out-of-city travel. Could you please suggest a good diesel car within my budget?

Autocar India

•41m

Go for the Hyundai Venue HX5 diesel manual in your Rs 12-13 lakh budget, and with 60% city, 40% highway use, it is the most sensible fit right now. The diesel engine pulls well from low speeds, so it feels easy in traffic and steady on open roads. Clutch and shifter action are also light enough for city use, and an automatic is now available, though you will have to stretch to a little over Rs 14 lakh on-road. The Venue is also compact, so parking and tight lanes are easy, yet it rides high enough for bad roads and speed breakers.

One thing to be aware of: the Venue is fairly compact and can feel a little cramped for taller folks. If that is an issue, then consider the Kia Syros diesel instead.

On your test drive, try a few tight U-turns and slow-speed parking to see if it works for you in daily traffic. Also, try the back seat to see if the space is adequate.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.39 Lakh

Kia

Syros

from ₹10.17 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Prashant

•1d

Hello Team, I am planning to buy a small automatic car with a budget of ₹7–8 lakh. My usage will be primarily in the city, with occasional highway drives. I am looking for a car that is suitable for a 5-foot-tall driver, offers good front and rear visibility, has a small turning radius for easy maneuverability, decent ground clearance, and adequate power. Additionally, the car should be easy to drive for both male and female drivers, and safety is an important priority.

Autocar India

•1h

We would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.2 AMT for you. Its elevated seating and large windows give a great view out and will put you at immediate ease. The Wagon R is also easy to drive thanks to its light steering and small turning circle. The Wagon R with the larger 1.2-litre engine also has sufficient pep for the city, while the AMT auto brings in convenience. The AMT is smooth enough, but you will feel a lag and pause in shifts if you drive with enthusiasm.Do note, the Wagon R isn't the ideal highway vehicle. It doesn't feel quite as surefooted as a lower-riding vehicle would. As an alternative, you could consider the Tata Tiago AMT XT.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Tata Tiago

Cholan

•1d

I am planning to buy a new sedan with a budget of around ₹9 lakh. I am specifically looking for a car with a 5-star safety rating and an automatic gearbox. Could you please suggest the best options available within this budget?

Autocar India

•2h

Maruti Dzire VXI AMT is the one for you. It is a spacious and comfortable sedan which is powered by a very fuel-efficient petrol engine. You'll be happy to know that it has scored 5 stars in both Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP crash tests. In addition, the VXI AMT version packs safety features like ESP, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, among others. This is the best option within your Rs 9 lakh on-road budget.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Balakrishna

•2d

I am planning to buy an automatic SUV with a budget of around ₹16-18 lakh. My usage will be mostly in the city, with occasional highway driving.

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) IVT for primarily city use with some highway trips; it is the smoothest and easiest automatic in this budget right now. The CVT is jerk-free and seamless in stop-go traffic, and the light steering and good all-around make driving easy. For your occasional highway runs, it feels steady at usual cruising speeds, though overtakes do require a bit of planning.One thing to be aware of: it isn't the most spirited performer, tuned more for relaxed driving. If you want a bit more performance from an NA CVT powertrain, then the Honda Elevate is a good choice too.Overall, the Kia Seltos fits your brief best and will keep daily city driving stress-free while still being comfortable on the highway.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

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