I want to replace my 10-year-old Maruti Ignis with a small EV suitable for the small lanes of Mumbai. I would prefer the top-end variants, and the budget would be around 10-12 lakhs. Usage will largely be 20-30 kms within the city.

Autocar India

•5h

In terms of an elevated seating position and ease of getting in and out, the Tata Punch is the best fit within your budget. Its doors open wide, and the seats are comfortable and set high, so you step into it rather than down into it. The drawbacks are that the engine isn’t the most refined, and Tata’s service experience can be hit or miss in some areas.Alternatively, the Hyundai Exter automatic is a good choice too. The high, chair-like seats and wide-opening doors make getting in and out easy. The seating position isn’t quite as high as the Punch’s, so it is worth trying both to see which works best for you. On the plus side, the engine is very refined, the AMT is one of the smoother-shifting units in the segment, and Hyundai has a strong reputation for after-sales service.If you want something that is even easier to live with on a tight budget, look at the Maruti Wagon R AMT. The tall-boy design is excellent for seniors. Just know that while it is a great city car, it is not particularly well-suited to highway driving.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Honda Amaze automatic. Honda’s smoother automatic crawls and creeps cleanly in traffic, and the speed modulation will feel more natural, whereas the AMT can feel jerky at times.Your parents will be happier in the Amaze, too. The rear seat is wider with a longer cushion, and the backrest angle is friendlier, the big boot will also be handy for family trips.Over 10 years, Honda’s proven 1.2 petrol and simpler ownership have impressed. Service quality is more consistent, and routine upkeep tends to be lower, which matters when you plan to keep the car for a long time.Where the Punch might be better is with its smaller dimensions and slightly higher seating, which would be better for first-time drivers. But given the benefits the Amaze offers for your usage, we'd recommend it as you would soon get used to the slightly larger dimensions of the Honda.

Honda Amaze

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2d

There is no need to panic or cancel your booking because of the E85 announcement. The recently launched E85 fuel is meant only for flex-fuel vehicles specifically designed to run on up to 85 percent ethanol. The Tata Punch iCNG is not a flex-fuel vehicle, so it will continue to run on regular petrol, CNG and the currently mandated ethanol blends as specified by Tata. E85 is not something that will suddenly replace regular fuel at all pumps.In fact, even today, most new petrol cars sold in India, including the Punch, are engineered to handle the current E20 petrol that is available in the market. The move to E85 is a separate initiative and requires specially developed flex-fuel vehicles.The bigger picture is that you have chosen a Punch iCNG, which is already relatively future-proof from a fuel-cost perspective. CNG will remain widely available, and your running costs will be significantly lower than those of a comparable petrol vehicle.

Tata Punch