Mumbai

•6w

I'm a first-time car buyer looking for an automatic petrol car mainly for city use and occasional long trips. I want modern features like a 360 camera, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, etc. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh, but I can stretch it to Rs. 14 lakh if the car is worth it. I had shortlisted the Hyundai i20 Asta variant, but I heard there will be a facelift soon, and Hyundai may launch the Bayon as well. Is it a good time to buy the current i20, or should I wait for the facelift or even the Bayon? Are there any good alternatives like the Venue or Sonet? I am avoiding Maruti Suzuki because I feel the features offered and safety ratings are poor compared to the competition at the same price. Please advise.

•6w

You can go ahead and buy the Hyundai i20 Asta IVT now. There's no further facelift planned, and the Bayon-based crossover will be positioned much higher and closer to the Hyundai Creta in price. For mostly city use, the i20's smooth, automatic and light controls make traffic a breeze, and it fits your budget better than most compact SUVs would. You still get six airbags, a big screen, a sunroof and all the everyday comforts, and it’s fine for the odd highway run. However, the i20 doesn’t get a 360 camera, and Android Auto/CarPlay aren't wireless unless you buy a special adapter accessory.

If a 360 camera is a must and you want the SUV look, the Hyundai Venue SX(O) DCT or Kia Sonet GTX+ have it, but they’ll sit well past Rs 14 lakh on-road in most cities, and their dual-clutch automatics aren’t as smooth as the i20’s CVT in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Another alternative you could consider is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo Petrol V AT, which gets a punchy but efficient engine, a smooth automatic, and the features you want at around your Rs 14 lakh budget.

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More questions on similar cars

•12h

I'm planning to buy a new car with a budget of Rs. 8-10 lakh. I currently own a Hyundai Santro Xing and am looking to upgrade. I have shortlisted the Hyundai i20 Magna and the Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Turbo. We are a family of five, and my average monthly running is around 1,500 km. My priorities are comfort and good fuel efficiency. Which of these would you recommend, or is there a better option within my budget?

•9h

For a family of five with 1,500km a month, comfort and good mileage are key. The Hyundai i20 Magna is a good hatchback, but it won't feel like a big upgrade from your Santro Xing in terms of space. The Maruti Brezza LXI Turbo is the better choice here. It offers a more spacious cabin, a higher seating position and better comfort for five occupants. The turbo petrol engine should also be relatively efficient and well suited to your running. The Brezza is also a practical, reliable and comfortable SUV that will serve you well for years. Go for the Brezza LXI Turbo.

Hyundai i20

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•2d

I want to buy a hybrid car with a sunroof, and my budget is Rs. 8-10 lakh. Which would be the best option within this budget?

•1d

At Rs 8-10 lakh, there are no hybrid cars available in India. The only options in this price range are mild hybrids, which offer a small efficiency boost but do not provide the fuel savings or electric-only driving of a proper strong hybrid system. If you are specifically looking for a hybrid with a sunroof, you will need to increase your budget to around Rs 20 lakh or more, where cars like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid, Grand Vitara Hybrid and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid become available. These are proper strong hybrids and are among the most efficient cars in India today.If your budget is fixed at Rs 8-10 lakh, the best approach is to focus on a good mild hybrid car with a sunroof, such as the Maruti Suzuki Fronx or Brezza. If space is not the highest priority, get the Fronx, as it is better value for money, giving you more features for your money. The Brezza, however, has more interior space, more powerful engines and a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, so it could be the better choice.But then your other requirement - a sunroof - will not be met by either of these, as Maruti only offers this feature in higher variants. So if that is of the highest priority, check out a petrol car like the Hyundai i20, Tata Punch or Kia Sonet. Overall, our recommendation is to go for one of the mild-hybrid Maruti models and forego the sunroof. It's the better decision in the long run.

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Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

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Hello Autocar Team, I have been following Auto India since Hormazd was a part of it and Autocar since its inception. I really like your content, and with the advent of technology, you have reached the zenith of automotive journalism in India. Coming to my question, I took delivery of a 2018 Ford Freestyle 1.5 TDCi BS4 on 25th December 2018 and have been in love with the car ever since. Due to the nature of my job, I drive approximately 400 km a week (70% city and 30% highway), and with Ford's service network dwindling, I am a bit skeptical about retaining the vehicle for the long term. The car is currently covered under an extended warranty until 25th December 2026. Please suggest an alternative in case I decide to replace my vehicle. My budget is around Rs. 15 lakh. Should I consider a new car or a pre-owned one? I am fine with both manual and automatic transmissions.

•1d

If you want to go for car under 15 lakhs, we would recommend going new rather than pre-owned. You are already driving a well-maintained, enthusiast-friendly car, so the upgrade should be about peace of mind and a clear step forward in ownership experience. If you're open to the hatchback body style, we'd recommend the Hyundai i20 N Line DCT. It is a fun-to-drive characterful car. The turbo-petrol-DCT combination is smooth and performance feels more than adequate for daily use. The Fronx or Taisor Turbo AT are cross-hatchbacks with a similar character as your Freestyle.The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI is another excellent option. It is a genuinely engaging car to drive, with a punchy turbo petrol engine and a well-sorted chassis. It will not match the diesel for running costs, but it is a worthy successor to the Freestyle in terms of driving enjoyment.

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•6d

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

•6d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. This Tata car is much larger and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant of the Kia car and its features.

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•3d

I am confused between Taigun 1.5 Sport and Seltos Diesel X-Line top model. I have owned the Polo AT and Vento AT in the past, so my love for Volkswagen is making this decision difficult.

•3d

Go for the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI Sport. Coming from a Polo and Vento automatic, you already appreciate Volkswagen’s driving DNA, and the Taigun 1.5 TSI is a natural progression. The engine is punchy, the DSG gearbox is quick and engaging, and the overall driving experience is far more involving than the Seltos. The Taigun also feels more compact and agile in the city, while still being comfortable on the highway. The Volkswagen Taigun mileage is 19.54 kpl for the 1.0 TSI AT, 19.98 kpl for the 1.0 TSI MT, and 18.85 kpl for the 1.5 TSI DCT.The Kia Seltos diesel X-Line is a strong all-rounder with better space, a more premium cabin and a more relaxed long-distance character, but it does not offer the same level of driver engagement. The diesel engine is efficient and torquey, but it lacks the excitement of the 1.5 TSI. Given your history with Volkswagen cars, the Taigun will simply feel more familiar and more enjoyable to drive every day. The Taigun price starts at Rs 11.00 lakh (ex-showroom).

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•6d

I want to buy a seven-seater car for my family. It will be used by my uncle and me, and my budget is Rs. 25 lakh. I am looking for an automatic transmission, a panoramic sunroof, and good fuel efficiency.

•6d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic. It is the most sensible and well-rounded choice for your requirements. The Carens is a genuinely spacious seven-seater with a comfortable third row, which is important when the car will be shared between families. The diesel automatic is the right powertrain for strong fuel efficiency and effortless performance, especially on highways and with a full load. The Carens also comes well equipped with features like a panoramic sunroof, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The only real drawback is that the Carens does not have the same SUV-like road presence as some rivals, but as a practical family car it is hard to fault. If you want something with a more rugged SUV feel, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is worth considering, but mileage would be lower. The Carens is the better all-round family car.

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