Hello Autocar India, I am planning to buy a car for daily driving, 95% in the city, but I am confused between a small petrol automatic and the Tiago EV.

autocar.india

•1d

The Tata Tiago EV is a solid choice for your needs. Your 2,000 km a month will slash running costs if you charge at home, and the Tiago EV is a simple, normal 5‑door hatch that fits city life better than anything else electric at this price. It has proper rear seats and a usable boot for family errands, so it works well as a second car without feeling like a compromise. Resale should be decent too, since Tata EVs are in high demand.For daily 60-70 km, the Tiago EV 24kWh will handle a full day with AC on and still have a buffer. Overnight top‑ups on a regular 15A socket are easy, so you rarely need public charging.If you want a larger car and a bit more range, it is worth considering the Punch EV 30kWh.The only real catch with the Tiago EV is highway use. You’ll need to plan stops and keep speeds sensible to protect range, but you have your primary car for that.

Tata Tiago EV

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•10h

Pick the Honda Amaze CVT VX. It’s the smoothest in stop-go traffic, which is where you’ll spend most of your 25 km daily, and its easy, linear responses make a first car feel friendly from day one. It’s compact to park yet has a big boot for your weekend runs, and the ride is comfy enough to shrug off bad patches. For the rare 300 km highway trip, it cruises calmly, though you’ll need a firmer press for quick overtakes.The Kia Sonet DCT HTX(O) is the fun one and sits taller, but that twin-clutch setup can feel a little jerky in crawling traffic and tends to drink more fuel in the city. The Toyota Taisor AMT S gives you a higher seat and light controls, but the AMT’s shifts are slow and can get in jams, and the S trim feels bare for the money.Only honest catch with the Amaze: it isn’t tall like the SUVs, and it won’t feel as quick as the Sonet on the highway. For your usage mix and as a first car, the Honda still makes the most sense.

Honda Amaze

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•28m

Yes, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic is a smart upgrade for your kind of running and long trips. The 1.5 diesel with the smooth 6‑speed automatic cruises at low revs, is easy in traffic, and delivers good highway economy, so your yearly fuel bill stays reasonable after 20,000-25,000km. Space and comfort are a clear step up from your Ertiga, too. The second row is nicer for adults, the third row is usable for shorter stints, and the cabin is quieter over distance. The safety kit is solid with 6 airbags on all trims, and the ride is comfortable enough to keep you fresh after a full day’s drive.Pricing should sit around Rs 20-22 lakh on-road if you choose a mid or upper-mid trim. The top variant can go higher in some cities. Given your mileage, the diesel automatic also keeps clutch wear out of the picture and makes city usage easy. The only catch may be performance when fully loaded on steep ghats; it will do the job, but you may need to plan overtakes and use manual shifts.An alternative is the Hyundai Alcazar. It's in the more desirable SUV shape with better road presence, and as such, it will feel like more of an upgrade from your Ertiga. It uses the same smooth and efficient diesel AT powertrain as the Clavis, too. However, the third row is not as spacious, and you will definitely have to stretch your budget to get higher variants.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar