Which is the best car under 7.5 lakh? Nissan Magnite, Tata Altroz, or Maruti Baleno? Is the Nissan Magnite a good option to buy?

Autocar India

•33m

A daily 50 km commute in heavy stop-and-go traffic is exactly the kind of usage where an automatic makes the biggest difference, so upgrading from your 9-year-old i20 manual to an automatic is a sensible move for better comfort and lower driving fatigue. In your Rs. 10-12 lakh budget, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT is the neatest fit. It is very easy to drive in traffic, the steering is light, the gearbox takes the hard work out of slow moves, and the ride is comfortable over broken roads. Coming from your older i20, it will feel quieter and more relaxed, and it’s also easy to park. Running costs and service reach are simple too, which matters when you drive every day.Two things to note: the AMT's shift can feel slow, and if you want a higher seat and extra ground clearance, you may want a taller car instead.If you prefer to stay with Hyundai, look at the i20 CVT as well. For a higher seating position within budget, the Tata Punch AMT is a good second choice. Overall, for your city commute, the Baleno AMT lines up best.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•4h

Given your mostly city use, opt for the Kia Seltos over the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. For a base model, the Seltos HTE is rather well equipped and generally feels more premium than the Victoris LXI.The Seltos might be slightly more expensive, but it feels more modern and comes with more standard features than the Victoris. In terms of ease of use, the Seltos is just as friendly to drive, with light controls and good drivability from the engine. Maruti’s service reach in Punjab is generally wider than Kia’s, but if you have a Kia dealer and service centre nearby, the ownership experience should be comparable.The downside is that the Seltos may cross your Rs 12 lakh budget. If you can stretch a bit, though, the Seltos is a good choice for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•2h

With 90% highway use and an Rs. 18 lakh cap, the Tata Nexon Creative diesel is the best fit from your list. On long runs, it uses less fuel than the Hyundai Creta petrol, and the diesel pulls strongly in higher gears. So, overtaking is easy even with family and luggage. Coming from a Polo, you will like how steady it feels at speed and how it smooths out rough patches. Tata’s service costs are reasonable, and the diesel’s range means fewer fuel stops.Two things to note. Tata service quality can vary by city, so pick a well-rated workshop near you. Also, the Nexon’s cabin and boot are smaller than the Creta, which you may feel on big trips.If low maintenance and a larger, calmer cabin matter more than top mileage, the Hyundai Creta S(O) is the safer alternative. It will be smoother and easier to own, but it will use more fuel on the highway than the Nexon diesel and may sit close to your budget on-road.

Tata Nexon

Hyundai Creta