I want to buy a new car, preferably a sub-4m SUV. My budget is ₹10-12 lakh. My preferences are safety, mileage, and low maintenance cost. My driving is mostly in the city, with a monthly long drive of around 300 km. We are a family of five with a one-year-old baby.

Autocar India

•1d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•1d

With an 8 km daily city run and one 250 km-plus highway trip a month, go automatic to keep life easy in traffic and still be relaxed on the highway. From your list, the Skoda Kylaq petrol automatic fits you best. It is smooth to drive in stop-start traffic, has strong pull for quick overtakes on your monthly trip, and its compact size makes parking and narrow lanes less stressful.The Kylaq’s ride is comfortable on rough patches, and it feels steady at highway speeds. You also get a good spread of safety and convenience features even in mid trims, which helps on long runs.Trade-offs to note: the cabin can feel a little cramped for rear-seat passengers. If that is a concern, then look at the Mahindra XUV 3XO instead. The Taisor/Fronx turbo-petrols are solid choices too, with better fuel efficiency than the Kylaq, but they will feel a little older on the inside.Overall, for your pattern, the Kylaq petrol automatic is a good choice.

Skoda Kylaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•6h

An electric vehicle will be extremely cost effective, given your 200km daily running. And if you can manage with home charging, your running costs will be lower than ₹2 per km, which will be a significant saving compared to a petrol, diesel or even hybrid. You could narrow down your search to the Vinfast VF6 which has a 59.6kWh battery and a claimed range of 480km; Tata Curvv EV which has a 55kWh battery and a claimed range of 502km; and a base Hyundai Creta Electric with a 42kWh battery and which has a claimed range of 420km. Out of these, the Vinfast VF6 has the most premium interior, most powerful motor, and the longest warranty coverage. The Curvv EV is the best equipped, while the Creta Electric, even though it has the smallest battery, its real-world range will be more than sufficient for your daily use with overnight slow charging. We'd strongly recommend you drive all these three cars and pick the one that appeals to you the most.

Vinfast VF6

Tata Curvv EV

Hyundai Creta Electric

Autocar India

•6d

You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•6d

For your usage, a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT or IVT is the best fit. These setups are smoother, easier to drive in traffic and more predictable, which matters far more in city conditions than outright performance. So yes, in your case, NA engines are better suited than turbo petrol.The Hyundai Verna IVT stands out as the most well-rounded option for city driving. The engine is smooth, the IVT gearbox is very intuitive in stop-and-go traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless. It feels refined and easy to live with daily.The Honda City Hybrid is worth considering if your running is high. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, strong performance and is very easy to drive in the city thanks to its hybrid system. However, it comes with a higher upfront cost, and the battery placement results in a higher boot floor, which slightly affects practicality.Compared to the Verna, the standard Honda City CVT is also an option, but the engine feels a bit noisier, and the gearbox is not as intuitive as the Verna’s IVT in everyday use.

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Autocar India

•5d

With your income and priorities, you should focus on low cost, high fuel efficiency and ease of driving. The Alto K10 fits this perfectly. It is one of the most affordable cars in India, delivers excellent mileage and is extremely easy to drive in the city, which is ideal for your parents. It is also inexpensive to maintain and backed by Maruti’s wide service network, which keeps ownership stress very low. Over time, this matters more than anything else.If you want more space and a slightly more premium feel, then the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the next step. It offers better cabin space, a more comfortable ride and still maintains strong fuel efficiency and low running costs. It feels like a more complete car, especially if your parents value comfort.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Maruti Suzuki Celerio