Hello Experts, I’m looking for an automatic car up to ₹12 lakh for a newly licensed driver. 80% of the driving will be in the city. Will an electric car make sense? There is a charging facility available. Long drives will be 350 km, one way. Please suggest a petrol automatic, or electric. Brand is not an issue.

Autocar India

•6m

Since your usage is 80% city driving and you have access to charging, an EV like the Tata Punch EV 40 kWh does make a lot of sense. Electric cars are very easy to drive, especially for a new driver. There are no gear shifts, power delivery is smooth and instant, and driving in traffic is extremely stress-free.

Although we haven’t tested it yet, we expect the Punch EV facelift to deliver over 300 km per charge, which is more than enough for your daily usage. Charging at home or office will easily cover your routine driving, and running costs will be significantly lower than a petrol car. For your occasional 350 km highway trip, you will need to stop once for a quick charge, so some planning will be required.

If you prefer to avoid the hassle of charging, you can also consider the Skoda Kylaq automatic. It comes with a smooth torque converter transmission, is easy to drive in the city, and will be more convenient for your longer highway trips.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.28 Lakh

Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.92 Lakh

Recommended questions for you

Shankar

•3d

Hi, what is the best EV car for daily city rides of more than 80km?

Autocar India

•1d

The recently facelifted Tata Punch EV is a great choice for a city car. With the larger 40kWh battery pack, Tata claims a real-world range of about 335-355km according to its C75 rating, figures which, the carmaker says, 75% of customers can expect based on analysis of historical driving data from its existing EV users.We are yet to verify these claims, but our road test of the previous 35kWh long-range Punch EV yielded a combined range of 229km, which we expect this facelift to improve upon significantly.

Tata Punch EV

Vaibhav Agrawal

•3d

Hi, I am a first-time buyer but not a new driver. I am looking for an automatic car which costs around ₹13 lakh on-road, either petrol, diesel or hybrid. The majority of my driving on weekdays will be around 10km per day, but on weekends it can go up to 40-50km. I live in Bangalore, hence I have to drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Which cars can I look for? I have shortlisted the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ and the Kia Sonet diesel.

Autocar India

•1d

With your limited running and mostly city usage, it does not really make sense to go for a diesel or hybrid. So, between your shortlisted options, we would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ automatic instead of the Sonet diesel.The Skoda Kylaq is compact and easy to drive in traffic, which is important for Bangalore conditions. It also comes with a smooth torque converter automatic gearbox, which is well-suited for bumper-to-bumper driving.On top of that, the turbo petrol engine is punchy and fun to drive, so even on weekend highway runs, you will enjoy the performance. It also offers good handling, stability and a comfortable ride, making it a well rounded package.The Kia Sonet diesel is still a good option if your running was higher, but in your case, it does not justify going for a diesel.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Shruti

•1d

Which of the following is the best option, considering mainly city driving, daily 30km, once-a-month highway drives, and a family of four: Skoda Kylaq, Venue, Citroen Basalt, Maruti Jimny, and Kia Sonet.

Autocar India

•3h

For your usage of mainly city driving (30km daily) with occasional highway trips and a family of four, we would suggest going for the Skoda Kylaq.The Kylaq offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin for four adults, and the torque converter automatic is smooth, which makes it very easy to drive in city traffic. It is also compact enough, so parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces won’t be an issue. On highways, too, it feels stable and enjoyable to drive.The Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue are good options for the city as well, but both use a DCT automatic, which is not as smooth at low speeds as a torque converter, especially in stop-and-go traffic.The Citroen Basalt is actually great value for money and offers excellent cabin space, making it very comfortable for a family. However, it is a larger car, so it won’t be as easy to park and manoeuvre in the city. If you prioritise space and comfort over ease of driving, it is definitely worth considering.The Maruti Suzuki Jimny is not suitable for your needs. It is primarily an off-roader, has heavier steering, and is not as easy to drive in the city. The ride is also bouncy, and overall, practicality is limited for family use.

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