I’m thinking of buying a Mercedes GLE. Considering the facelift has just been revealed, should I wait for the newer version? And by when is it expected to launch in India?

Autocar India

•59m

For mostly city use and a sub-Rs 10 lakh budget with CNG in mind, we suggest switching your booking to the Hyundai Exter CNG (the factory CNG variant). It fits your plan far better than a Venue 1.2 with an aftermarket CNG.The Hyundai Venue 1.2 is fine for calm city driving on petrol, but it will feel weak with a full load or the AC on. Adding a CNG kit will make it slower and could void most of the warranty. The Exter CNG comes ready from the factory, so the warranty stays, the tuning is safe, and in the city, it moves easily because the car is smaller and lighter. Fuel costs drop a lot without you having to worry about the kit.On the same Rs 10-lakh budget, you may even get a few more features in the Hyundai Exter. If you want a tougher look and a bit more cabin height, the Tata Punch i-CNG is a strong city alternative at this price. Overall, for your use, the Exter CNG is the safer, low-risk pick.

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai Venue

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•16h

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•17h

With about 500 km a month, a strong hybrid is usually not worth the extra price. In your case, pick a well-equipped petrol automatic instead; something like the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT or 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT, which come with the latest features.At this low monthly use, the fuel you save with a hybrid will take a very long time to cover the higher price. A modern petrol automatic is smooth enough in traffic and still uses a sensible amount of fuel for 500km a month. More importantly for you, the same money can get more features in the petrol version than in a hybrid at the same price, like a 360-degree camera, six airbags, a better sound system, and connected tech that some lower or mid hybrid trims may skip.Know the trade-off: a petrol will use more fuel in heavy traffic and is not as silent as a hybrid at low speed.

Kia Seltos