I want to buy my first car and am looking for a CNG option, as my daily travel is around 50 km. My budget is between Rs. 10 lakh and 11 lakh. I am quite confused between the Tata Punch CNG, Hyundai Exter CNG, and Tata Nexon CNG (if I stretch my budget a bit), as I do not want to compromise on boot space. Kindly suggest the best car in this segment. I have also heard that the Maruti Suzuki Brezza may come with a dual-cylinder setup similar to the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. Should I wait for it as I am planning to purchase the car by August 2026.

autocar.india

•6h

Tata Punch is a great fit for your needs. For a new, shorter driver, it gives you a high, upright seat and a great all-round view, so you feel in control right away. It is also one of the safest small cars on sale with a strong crash score, which matters more on the highway than in slow city traffic.For your occasional long trips, the Punch rides comfortably over bad roads, and its ground clearance keeps you relaxed on broken patches or speed breakers. The 1.2 petrol is easy and unstressed at 80-100 kph, and you can expect around 18-20 kpl on the highway if you drive smoothly. Service costs are reasonable, and Tata has a wide reach now.Pick a mid variant with a height-adjustable driver seat. If you need an automatic, it fits the budget in lower trims.The only thing to know is that it is not very quick for fast overtakes with five on board, so plan passes and keep it in the right gear. For safety-first buyers on Rs. 10 lakh, it’s the right call.

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•10h

Buy a simple petrol automatic hatchback or compact sedan with a naturally aspirated engine. It suits your 200 km a month, occasional 400 km trips, and makes learning easy. Diesel won’t pay back for your usage and can hate short runs. CNG saves only with high km and is a pain on highway trips with long queues and a small boot. Budget electric cars under Rs. 15 lakh can work only if you have home charging and don’t mind planning stops on those 400 km runs.Stick to a naturally aspirated petrol. It’s smoother at low speeds, simpler for 8-10 year ownership, and real-world mileage is steadier than small turbos that tempt you to drive harder and are sensitive to driving style. Get the automatic to reduce stress; you’ll drive more often because it’s easy.Models that fit your plan and budget now and should still be around in 2027 (if that is what you mean): Maruti Suzuki Baleno or Toyota Glanza automatic for top mileage and easy city manners, Honda Amaze automatic if you want a comfy sedan with a big boot for trips, or Tata Punch automatic if you like a higher seat and extra ground clearance. You’ll give up a little mileage with an automatic, but the ease is worth it.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Glanza

Honda Amaze

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO, and get the petrol with the 6‑speed automatic. It gives you a roomy back seat, a strong crash rating, and a planted and secure highway ride that suits your 80 percent highway use. The turbo petrol engine is the strongest here, and it's the only one of your shortlist to get a smooth torque-converter automatic gearbox. The only real downside is that the boot is not as big as that of rivals, and fuel economy won't be as good either, but for your largely highway use, the difference won't be so bad.The Hyundai Venue HX5 is fine for four but tight for five on long trips, and while the Kia Syros HTK Plus feels the largest, rear width and thigh support are only average, and its ride quality is quite choppy. Tata Nexon diesel would be lovely on highways and is safe, but the diesel automatic is an AMT, which is nowhere near as smooth as the XUV's torque converter, or even the Hyundai/Kia's DCT.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

Tata Nexon