I am planning to buy a new car for my wife with a budget of Rs 11-13 lakh and an occasional daily run of 20-30km. I have already booked the Hyundai Venue HX5 DCT, but I have come across mixed reviews regarding its fuel efficiency and high-speed stability. I own a Virtus GT as my primary car. Another option I am considering is the MG Windsor EV, although it would require an additional Rs 3 lakh. Please suggest which one I should buy.

autocar.india

•17h

Pick the Hyundai Venue diesel automatic. With 85% highway and roughly 19,000 km a year, diesel will cut your fuel bills, and its strong mid-range makes cruising and overtaking easy. Also, between the two, the Venue is the fresher car and more up to date. The petrol automatics of both the Venue and Sonet are smooth in town, but with your kind of running, they will cost more to run. Your heavy highway use is also good for a diesel’s exhaust filter, so clogging is unlikely.One thing to bear in mind: the diesel costs more upfront and is a little noisier, and if you live in the NCR, it is limited to a 10-year registration. If none of that is a concern, the Venue diesel automatic fits your use best.

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•15h

Get the Maruti Suzuki Fronx petrol. It fits under Rs. 15 lakh easily, is very easy to drive in the city, and gives good real-world mileage, so your running costs stay low without the fuss of CNG or charging. Maruti’s huge service network also keeps ownership simple for many years. The flip side is it isn’t very exciting to drive, and the rear isn’t the widest, but as a first, no-drama car, it just works.If your daily drive is mostly city and you have a private parking spot with power, an EV will save the most per km. Look at the Tata Tiago EV for the cheapest entry, or the Tata Punch EV for a more solid small SUV feel. If you do long highway trips or 1,000+ km a month, diesel makes sense - the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV 3XO diesels are the pick. If you only want rock-bottom fuel costs and don’t mind slower performance, CNG works - Maruti Wagon R CNG for city or Ertiga if you need 7 seats.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•1d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO; it gives you the most fun performance in your budget while staying safe and comfy for city runs and the odd highway trip. Pick the 1.2 MPFi which feels eager and makes it easy to manage traffic and highway overtakes and is also more efficient than the direct injection 1.2 litre engine, do note it still will not be as efficient as something like the Hyundai Venue. Ride comfort is mature for broken roads, steering is light in town yet steady at speed, and the cabin now has the space you wanted. You also get a proper safety kit and a solid body, so it feels reassuring compared to your Datsun. Features are modern and the cabin looks sporty enough without going over the top.As an option consider the the Nissan Magnite, its turbo engine is peppy and it is a great value pick with good features and space, and is safe and has a comfortable ride too and will return a better mileage than the Mahindra car.

Nissan Magnite

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO