I am planning to buy the Tata Punch facelift automatic CNG variant, but I am very confused between the available variants. My key requirements are cruise control and a 360-degree camera in the automatic CNG version. Could you please advise which variant I should choose?

autocar.india

•1d

For your requirements, from your shortlist, the Renault Kiger is the most sensible choice. Your usage is predominantly city driving with occasional village visits and a few trips a year, which means you need a car that is compact and easy to drive in the city, but also robust enough to handle rough roads and occasional bad patches. As you plan to travel with your family too, space is also important, as well as boot volume for luggage. The Kiger strikes that balance very well. It offers a higher ground clearance than hatchbacks like the Wagon R, which makes it more confidence-inspiring on broken village roads, and its compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park in the city. It also offers more space than most of the other options in this price range. You also get a choice of naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engines, and given that you travel with family and do occasional long drives, we recommend the turbo petrol, which has some additional punch, yet can be fuel efficient when driven carefully.The Wagon R, Exter and Punch are a size down on the Kiger and thus won't be as suitable for your family, while the Nexon and Fronx will require you to settle for a low variant in your budget. The Renault Kiger is the best value for money you can get at this price, and alternatively, for a similar price, you can also look at its sister car - the Nissan Magnite.

Renault Kiger

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Nexon

Nissan Magnite

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

autocar.india

•1d

An electric car can make sense for your needs if you can charge at home. If yes, the Punch EV 30kWh makes sense for your needs, but you will need to stretch your budget closer to Rs 11 lakh. The Punch has better ground clearance than your current Tiago and takes on bad roads very well. The base Smart trim is very bare-bones, so opt for the Smart+ instead.If you must stick to your Rs 9 lakh budget, then the Tiago EV is the only other option. While it will lower your running costs, you will still need to deal with the low ground clearance. Apart from that, the updated Tiago EV's interior will feel like a step up from your 2023 model. The Pure+ trim has most of the basic features covered, and the 19kWh battery should give you sufficient driving range. Just beware, if your current Tiago scrapes its belly on the rough patch you encounter, so will the Tiago EV. If you can't charge at home, the Punch CNG AMT is your best bet, but you will need to stretch your budget to about Rs 10 lakh. It has a dual-tank setup, so you still have a usable boot, the AMT works reasonably well and will make life easier in traffic, and it has the ground clearance you need.Overall, the Tiago EV is a good fit for your needs if you can charge at home. If not, the Punch CNG AMT is worth stretching for.

Tata Punch EV

Tata Punch

Tata Tiago EV

autocar.india

•8h

With just 100km a month, an electric car is unlikely to make financial sense for you. The fuel savings are too small to offset the higher purchase price, and you will not be using the car enough to justify the investment in a battery-powered vehicle. At this usage level, a simple, reliable petrol car is the better choice. Something like a Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 or a Celerio will be far more affordable to buy, cheap to maintain and perfectly suited to your low running. But if you are set on an EV, the Tata Tiago EV is your best option, but be aware that at your usage, the cost savings will be negligible. The smarter decision is to go petrol and keep your ownership costs low.

Tata Tiago EV

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Maruti Suzuki Celerio