I want a comfortable, fuel-efficient car under 10 lakh for my wife for normal city driving and occasional long drives.

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno or even its sister car, the Toyota Glanza, would be a good option to buy. The car is spacious with comfy seats, and it is fuel-efficient too, both the manual and the automatic version (AMT). In our standard test cycle, we got 13.80kpl and 17.50kpl in our city and highway cycles for the manual, whereas the automated manual transmission (AMT) achieved 11.86kpl and 17.21kpl. The Baleno sits below 4 meters in length and is compact enough for the city. However, if you would like something smaller, consider the Hyundai Exter. It won't be as efficient, in the manual we got 9kpl and 14kpl for city and highway runs, but this is still good. Also, you will also benefit from a slightly higher seating position and a lower price.

If you are a new driver, choosing an automatic transmission will be comfortable and convenient for city driving. Since most of your usage is in urban conditions, you can choose either Maruti Suzuki Fronx Alpha AT or the Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT. Both are reliable and easy to maintain. Fronx makes more sense if you plan to move to a tier-2 or tier-3 city. Maruti Suzuki has the widest service network and easy availability of spare parts, which adds to long-term peace of mind.

All bikes you have shortlisted make for good beginner bikes with their unique strengths. The Yamaha XSR155 / MT-15 will be the lightest and easiest to manage machines with a sporty and engaging engine + chassis combination. They will also return excellent fuel economy. However, over long stretches of bad roads, the stiff suspension will cause some discomfort.The Honda CB350 H'ness and Royal Enfield Hunter 350 are laid-back roadsters with torquey, smooth 350cc engines. They will be more comfortable but will not have as good fuel economy or handling capabilities. It all boils down to the sort of experience you are after and the design you like the most, so a test ride of all four is in order.

Depending on what sort of bike you want, there are many different options to choose from. If you want a sporty commuter, then bikes like the TVS Apache RTR 160 / 200 4V, Bajaj Pulsar N160 / N250, Honda CB300F and the Suzuki Gixxer models will be good options to consider. If you want a neo-retro bike, then bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Bullet 350, Yamaha XSR155 and TVS Ronin will be the ones we recommend. If you want an ADV, then the Hero Xpulse 200 / 210 will be bikes that deserve your attention. Take a test ride of everything you shortlist before making a decision.