Hello Autocar, I am an avid follower of your team, especially the senior editors. I need your guidance in choosing a new car. I have shortlisted a few options, but am confused about which one to finalise. I live in Delhi, and about 70% of my travel is within Delhi NCR and Gurgaon, often during heavy traffic. Parking spaces are tight due to the population density. I am looking for a car that is highly safe, fuel-efficient, and comes with automatic AT or DCT. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•16m

We would recommend sticking to the Maruti family and upgrading to the new Swift. The Swift, in its ZXI AMT guise, will fit in your budget and deliver your requirements. It is compact, which makes it easy to handle, and has enough power at 82hp for the city and the highway from the 1.2-litre engine.In terms of efficiency, the AMT version returns 12.7kpl in the city and 19.7kpl on the highway. The AMT is one of the nicer versions in the segment and makes light work of city driving. The ride comfort is good too, and the Swift is tuned for bumpy Indian roads. The ZXI will also get you a good kit like 15-inch alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and rear AC vents.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Autocar India

•57m

With your usage pattern, the diesel version of the Mahindra XUV 7XO actually makes sense. Once you are back from deployment, your monthly running of around 2,000-3,000 km is more than sufficient to justify a diesel, both from an efficiency and performance point of view.Leaving a modern diesel car unused for 4-5 months is generally not a problem as long as it is stored properly. Before leaving, it is advisable to keep the fuel tank almost full and disconnect the battery or have someone start the car occasionally if possible. The main thing to watch out for is the battery, which can drain if the car sits unused for long periods.When you return and start using the car again, make sure the car gets a longer highway drive early on. This helps the diesel particulate filter regenerate properly and keeps the engine running smoothly.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1h

The Mahindra XUV 3XO REVX A 1.2 Petrol GDI with the manual gearbox would be a good option to consider. It gets a 1.2-litre 131hp turbo-petrol engine that is the most powerful in the segment. It is a light and brisk 6-speed manual gearbox that is easy to use in the city. It is spacious on the inside with comfy, broad seats up front and a good amount of room at the rear. Bootspace isn't the best at 364 litres, but if you're primarily going to drive in the city, this shouldn't be a big problem. The performance is very good, the ride comfort is excellent, and you get a good amount of kit as well. A panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps, keyless entry with push button start, dual-zone climate control and more.

Mahindra XUV 3XO