I am planning to upgrade from the Grand i10 to a more fuel-efficient and comfortable car. I am confused between the Maruti Fronx and the Tata Punch EV. My budget is below Rs 10 lakh. Usage is mainly in the city, with occasional long drives of around 500 km one way.

autocar.india

•2d

Try looking for the iRA.ev smartphone app on Google Play Store or Apple App Store, which handles connected-car stuff, while Arcade.ev on the car screen is for entertainment. For shows and music in your Punch EV, you need Arcade.ev working on the 10.25-inch screen.Here’s the quick fix. On the car screen, open Settings, then Wi-Fi, hook it to your phone’s hotspot, return to the home screen and open Arcade.ev. Sign in if it asks, then install the streaming or music apps you want. Video will only play when the car is in Park with the handbrake on, so do not expect video on the move. If the Arcade.ev tile is missing or says not available, run a software update from Settings and retry. If it still does not show, ask the Tata service centre to enable the Arcade.ev pack on your VIN. Some cars leave the factory needing that push.If you only need audio while driving, wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is the simpler route.

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•1d

With 29,000 km on your Maruti Suzuki Fronx in just over a year, you are clearly a high-usage driver, and your 60% highway usage is the key factor here. The 1.2 petrol is a reliable and efficient engine, but it is not particularly exciting on the highway, and that is likely why you are feeling bored with this Maruti Suzuki car. The bigger question is whether it is worth upgrading now. Financially, the car is still relatively new, and you will take a depreciation hit if you sell it this early. However, given your usage pattern, it may actually make sense to upgrade sooner rather than later. A diesel SUV like the Mahindra XUV 3XO or the Tata Nexon would be a much better fit for your driving style, offering stronger performance on the highway and better fuel efficiency at higher speeds. Alternatively, if you want to stick with petrol, something like the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI would offer a much more engaging driving experience without sacrificing too much on efficiency.Ultimately, the decision comes down to how much the current car is bothering you. If you are genuinely unhappy with the performance and fuel efficiency, it is better to upgrade now rather than wait another year or two and continue to be dissatisfied with the car. If you can live with it for another year or two, you will get more value out of the car before upgrading.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•1d

Pick the Maruti Fronx CNG Delta. It fits your Rs. 10 lakh budget better than Brezza CNG, and you will save a lot on fuel costs given your high running. It is light and easy to drive in city traffic, yet still has good ground clearance for broken patches, and Maruti’s service network makes maintaining it easy.For your once-a-month 200 km highway trip, the Fronx CNG cruises calmly if you keep a steady pace, and the cabin is comfortable enough for family use. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is roomier and feels tougher, but the LXi CNG typically crosses Rs. 10 lakh on-road.Do note, though, the performance with CNG is not great, and the boot is small. You'll also have to plan trips around CNG refills and contend with CNG station queues. If you want to avoid all that, go for the Baleno 1.2 petrol manual instead. It stays within budget and still returns good real-world mileage.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Baleno