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•17w

I want to buy my first new car. My budget is under 10 lacs. So please suggest to me that Tata Punch, Tata Tiago, Suzuki Fronx and Hyundai Exter, which is best?

Verified
•16w

Go for the Hyundai Exter, because as a first car under Rs. 10 lakh, it is the easiest to live with and gives you the most useful kit in the budget. The high driving position and light controls of this Hyundai car make city driving and parking stress-free, and you can get a well-equipped trim with safety features without overshooting your budget. Hyundai’s wide service network also helps when you are new to ownership.

One honest catch is that the engine feels just okay on fast highways, so it is happier at city and ring road speeds than flat-out cruising.

If you deal with broken roads or rough rural patches often, the Tata Punch feels tougher and rides bad roads better, but its engine is noisier. And, the Tata Punch price starts from Rs. 6.19 and goes up to Rs. 12.16 (ex-showroom), which is a little above your budget. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is roomier and very easy to drive, but the good trims push the budget, and the base ones feel bare. The Tata Tiago is a smaller hatch and not as airy as the Exter.

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai Exter

•16w•

After sales service and insurance renewals after a small claim are super super costly for Tata, it might be the safest car but not the best value for money. Be very vigilant about it, go for Maruti for average and low maintenance cost. Go for Hyundai if you want features and low maintenance, it will not give you a great mileage

•16w•

I bought Maruti WagonR after multiple review and waiting for almost 1 year and this looks to be good choice for me. AMT tall boy and perfect for city driving. I also use on Highway, reason is engine and after service from maruti Suzuki. The big WagonR has smooth AGS and mileage is 20.. India safety depends on self driving.

•16w•

Ankh band karke tata punch cng automatic lelo..cng pe 30 plus mileage

•16w•

Bhai ankh band karke tata punch cng automatic lelo ..cng me mileage 30 plus deri h and safe h

•16w•

Hi Kulbhushan, Exter is the right call for a first city car. Light controls, parks easy, good kit for the money. If you're in a smaller town or deal with rough roads regularly, Punch is genuinely better there. Fronx is the roomiest of the four for rear passengers. Which city are you in? Variant availability can actually change the decision.

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•4d

I want to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, as most of my driving will be in the city, with tight parking spaces and short trips. I will occasionally take it on hill getaways. I like the Skoda Kylaq, but it misses out on a 360-degree camera and a proper digital instrument cluster. Its older user interface also feels familiar because I already own a Volkswagen Virtus. The Hyundai Venue does not feel special enough for its price, while the Mahindra XUV 3XO has awkward proportions and an uncomfortable rear seat, despite having the best suspension, engine and transmission combination. Should I wait for the new Kia Sonet or another launch expected by early next year? I also find DCTs less suited to city driving, although I realise no car can offer everything.

Verified
•2d

Since you didn't like the current crop of compact SUVs, consider the Maruti Fronx with the 1.0 turbo-petrol engine and 6-speed torque converter. It is compact, peppy and nice to drive. Its top variant has the 360-camera you're looking for, and since the turbo-petrol isn't the popular choice from the range, you could end up getting a good deal too. Alternatively, you could pick the Taisor too, which is a rebadged Fronx sold and serviced through Toyota's network.If you didn't find the Venue exciting, you could check out the Venue N Line that gets some sportier bits to give it a more special feel. However, mechanically it remains largely similar to the standard version.The new Kia Sonet is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry, as it is expected to bring a more modern feature set and a fresher interior. However, it will still use a DCT for the turbo petrol automatic, which you have already identified as a drawback for city driving.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleKia New Sonet
VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

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•6d

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

Verified
•5d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza

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Posted on: 22 Jun 2026