I want to buy a sub-4 meter compact SUV. My daily travel is 110km. Should I buy EV, CNG or diesel? Which car should I buy for a budget of ₹13 lakh?

Autocar India

•2m

For your 110km commute, an electric car only makes sense if you can charge it at home overnight. In your budget, the Tata Punch EV with the 40kWh battery pack is a good pick and should deliver a real-world range of over 250km. This means you will likely need to charge it every two days. With the optional 7.2kW wallbox charger, you should be able to charge from 10% to 100% in around six hours.

However, if home charging is not an option, then a diesel or CNG car makes more sense. Among the available options, the new Punch CNG and the Hyundai Venue diesel stand out. The top-of-the-line Punch CNG Accomplished + S with the AMT is within your budget and comes well equipped, along with a usable boot thanks to the twin CNG tanks.

If you prefer diesel power, then the HX5 variant of the Venue diesel is within your budget. While it is not as well-equipped as the Punch, it is the physically larger vehicle with a roomier interior, and the diesel engine offers much better performance. However, if you want an automatic, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 14 lakh.

Test drive all of these vehicles before making your final decision.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Tata

Punch

from ₹6.22 Lakh

Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.28 Lakh

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Raman

•1d

Hi, I’m planning to buy an SUV with a budget of around ₹15-16 lakh, and I would really appreciate your advice on which car would be the best choice for my requirements. Most of my driving will be in Delhi NCR, primarily commuting between Delhi, Noida, and Gurgaon for work. I enjoy driving and prefer a car that offers good performance and driving feel, but at the same time, my top priorities are features, comfort, safety and an overall premium experience. Currently, the cars I am considering are: Kia Seltos, Kia Sonet, Hyundai Creta, and Hyundai Venue. However, I’m also open to other SUVs if they provide better features, safety, driving experience and comfort within my budget. For example, cars in this segment often offer features like large infotainment screens, ADAS safety tech, sunroofs and premium interiors, depending on the variant. My key priorities (in order) are: maximum features and technology, comfort and premium cabin feel, safety, and good driving experience and performance. Could you please suggest which SUV would be the best option for my usage and budget, and which variant/engine option would make the most sense?

Autocar India

•4h

Since your number one priority is maximum features and technology, it's best for you to opt for a compact SUV, as you will only get a low to mid-spec variant of a midsize SUV within your budget, which will miss out on many of the features you're looking for.While both the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are good options, we would pick the Venue as it is the newer vehicle with more advanced tech. Built on a newer 'K1 enhanced' platform, it's got Hyundai's latest E&E architecture based around an advanced NVIDIA chipset, which allows for smoother graphics and faster operation on its new dual-screen interface. It's also got a more spacious cabin than the Sonet and a more comfortable ride quality.While the new Hyundai Venue hasn't yet received a safety rating from the likes of Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP, it is believed to be engineered for a high rating, and its platform sibling, the Kia Syros, scored 5 stars at Bharat NCAP.As for powertrain choice, we would recommend the 1.0 Turbo Petrol DCT. It offers strong performance and a good driving experience. Although the diesel is smoother, it's not as exciting, and costs roughly Rs 1.5 lakh more. Do note, however, if you want the fully loaded HX10 or N10 variant, you will have to increase your budget slightly.

M Goutham Krishna

My office is located 10km from my house, with mixed city and highway driving. I am planning to buy a car which is automatic and fuel-efficient. Budget around ₹10 lakh. Could you please suggest a car that will be relevant for up to 15 years?

Autocar India

•1d

We would suggest you go for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AMT. The Fronx has a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre engine mated to an AMT gearbox that is well-tuned and smooth enough for daily driving. It is also fairly spacious, offers a large boot and a comfortable ride, which makes it an ideal companion for everyday city commutes and occasional highway drives.If you want something smaller and easier to manoeuvre, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT. It is a more compact car, which makes it even easier to drive and park in the city. However, the new Swift now comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, which feels a bit less powerful compared to the Fronx’s four-cylinder engine. Because of this, the AMT gearbox also works better with the Fronx engine than it does with the Swift.Within your budget, you can also consider the Hyundai i20 IVT/CVT in the Magna variant. The CVT gearbox is very smooth, which elevates the overall driving experience and makes the car extremely easy to drive in traffic. The interiors of the i20 also feel quite premium. The only downside is that you will have to trade a bit of fuel efficiency for that smoothness, which is something to keep in mind since efficiency is an important factor for you.

Dipesh

Please suggest an automatic SUV within a budget of ₹20 lakh. My primary usage will be daily commuting in Mumbai, with a weekend drive of around 200 km once a month. I would prefer features like a 360-degree camera and good safety features, with ADAS being optional. My wife will also be driving the car, so it should be easy and comfortable to drive in city traffic.

Autocar India

•1d

In your budget, the Hyundai Venue and the Kia Syros are good options. Both come with the 1.0-litre engine and DCT gearbox, which should be a good fit for your usage. The engine offers good performance, and the DCT is generally quite smooth, with only occasional hesitation.In terms of safety, both come very well equipped, with six airbags as standard, and a 360-degree camera and ADAS available on the top variants. The Syros has also scored five stars in the Bharat NCAP crash tests, and while the Venue is yet to be officially tested, it is based on the same platform as the Syros.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

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