I own a 2024 Tata Nexon MT (Creative+) and have done ~17,000 km in under a year. I’m switching my primary car to an automatic and prefer a smooth DCT/DCA or CVT (no jerky AMT). My budget is ₹15 lakh, stretchable to ₹17 lakh for the right car. Usage is a mix of city and highway. My top priorities are a silky transmission, good fuel efficiency, a 360° camera, and as many comfort/safety features as possible. My family members are around 5'8"–6'0" tall - which automatic models should I consider?

Autocar India

•4h

With 40 km a day and mostly highway, from your list, the Tata Nexon diesel fits best. It will use less fuel on long runs, feel more relaxed at 80-100 kph, and give easier overtakes with family and luggage. Your mix has enough highway, so the diesel’s exhaust filter should stay healthy. As a fuel type, CNG is cheap to run, but for 60% highway, it can feel slow, and needs more planning for refills. Better for mostly city use.Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol will be simpler to own and should be reliable, but on highways with a full load, it will use more fuel than the Nexon diesel. Also consider the Hyundai Venue diesel, which is available with a smooth 6-speed auto. Overall, from your choices, the Nexon diesel lines up best.

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•4h

Mostly city use with a sensitive lower back and an under Rs 20 lakh cap points to a taller, easy-to-drive automatic. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT HTX (A) fits this brief best. The seat height makes getting in and out simple without bending or climbing. So, the ride is soft at low speeds, thanks in part to this variant's smaller 17-inch wheels, so your back gets less shock from broken roads, and the automatic moves smoothly in traffic. You sit upright with a clear view out, the steering is light, and the 360 camera takes the stress out of parking. What's more, this should just about fit in your budget, and it gets you ADAS features as well. Kia’s wide service network helps with easy, reliable ownership over many years, too. The other good option is a Hyundai Creta, but getting these features will require you to move to a top-spec variant only, which is out of your budget. You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris 1.5 petrol AT, which offers even lower running costs but is not quite as comfortable as the Hyundai or Kia.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•13h

Given your mostly city use, opt for the Kia Seltos over the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. For a base model, the Seltos HTE is rather well equipped and generally feels more premium than the Victoris LXI.The Seltos might be slightly more expensive, but it feels more modern and comes with more standard features than the Victoris. In terms of ease of use, the Seltos is just as friendly to drive, with light controls and good drivability from the engine. Maruti’s service reach in Punjab is generally wider than Kia’s, but if you have a Kia dealer and service centre nearby, the ownership experience should be comparable.The downside is that the Seltos may cross your Rs 12 lakh budget. If you can stretch a bit, though, the Seltos is a good choice for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris