I am looking for a fully automatic petrol car with a budget of up to ₹16 lakh. My usage will be around 80% city and 20% highway. The primary driver is 6’1”, and the car needs to be suitable for a family (2 adults and 2 kids). Could you please recommend the best options?

Autocar India

•4w

Given how tall the driver is, the obvious answer would be to skip past the compact segment and into the midsize sedan and SUV segment. However, at a budget of Rs 16 lakh, you would only get an entry-level version of most midsize cars.

There are, however, two exceptions - the Citroen Aircross X and Basalt X. Both these crossovers will be available in fully loaded turbo-petrol automatic guises at just over Rs 16 lakh on road.

With the latest X update, it now offers a good selection of features and upmarket interiors. The space and comfort on offer are superb, as is the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and 6-speed AT combination.

However, Citroen's service network is limited, so if you want an alternative, check out the Kia Syros. Though compact, it offers a lot of space, even for tall drivers.

Explore cars mentioned

Citroen

Aircross

from ₹9.62 Lakh

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.24 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Varun sharma

•2w

I want to buy a 7-seater, and my choices are the Kia Carens Clavis and the Citroen Aircross X. Petrol is the only option I can choose due to NCR restrictions. The Citroen has a torque converter automatic and good ride quality, but I am concerned about its service network and long-term trust. The Citroen also offers better mileage than the Carens. My budget is around ₹17 lakh. Please suggest which one to choose. Usage will be mostly city driving, with hill trips once every quarter. Thanks.

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Carens Clavis has a plusher cabin and a stronger 160hp 1.5 turbo petrol engine, which gives it better acceleration for quick overtakes in the hills and on the highway. The overall cabin is also more spacious than that of the Citroën Aircross X.Where the Citroen scores in sheer comfort, thanks to its brilliant suspension and very well-cushioned seats. The Aircross’ 110hp 1.2 turbo petrol engine is also quite capable, and for city driving, its 6-speed torque converter is smoother than the Carens’ DCT.Overall, the Citroen Aircross X is the better bet. It makes a great everyday car, has superb suspension for bad roads, offers adequate power for hill driving, and is significantly cheaper than the Carens, which starts at around ₹19 lakh for the DCT variants and is over your budget.

Kia Carens Clavis

Citroen Aircross

Hari

•7w

I’ve been using a 125 cc Bajaj Discover 125 ST since 2012. However, its braking and narrow tyres make me nervous when riding on the highway. In 2018, I bought an Apache RTR 200 4V. Though I liked its crisp performance and strong brakes, it felt too heavy for me. A couple of near accidents made me sell it the next year, and since then I’ve been using only the Discover 125 ST. Now I want to upgrade to another 125 cc bike with better braking, slightly wider tyres, similar kerb weight, and a kick starter.

Autocar India

•6h

If you want wider tyres in the 125cc sporty commuter space, you'll have to go for one of the sporty-looking, feature-loaded options like the TVS Raider, Hero Xtreme 125R and Honda CB125 Hornet. All have at least single-channel ABS on the higher variants and tyres that are grippy enough to handle all sorts of road conditions you might encounter, both of which should help you stop in a controlled manner. You've mentioned that having a kick starter is a priority for you, and of the bikes listed above, only the Hero has it as standard. However, these bikes are thoroughly modern, and their electric starters will work in just about every situation you find yourself in. So we'd advise you not to restrict yourself and potentially miss out on a high-quality product because of an antiquated notion like that.

TVS Raider

Hero MotoCorp Xtreme 125R

Honda CB125 Hornet

Vikrant

•7w

I am looking to upgrade to a bike after riding an Activa for almost 10 years, which served my daily commute of about 15 km on most days. I want a motorcycle that offers good comfort, decent mileage, and is suitable for occasional long rides with a partner. I am 5 ft 6 in tall and weigh 75 kg. I am interested in bikes like Royal Enfield and Bajaj Avenger, but I’m unsure if these will be compatible with my physique in the long run. Please advise.

Autocar India

•6h

Since you have mentioned you are looking for retro-styled, easygoing motorcycles with occasional two-up riding, here are your options. First and foremost, you should take a look at the Royal Enfield Hunter 350. With its low seat height and fairly manageable size, the Hunter will prove welcoming for a smaller person like yourself and will have decent comfort with two people onboard. For similar reasons, you should also consider the TVS Ronin. It is also a much lighter machine than the Hunter, which will give you confidence when riding the bike, especially with a pillion. If you want something with an even lower seat height, then bikes like the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 and Goan Classic 350 are what you should be looking at. They have good suspension, but owing to their feet-forward riding position, a lot of the jolt gets transferred to your back over bad stretches of road. A test ride should help you decide which is the correct bike for you.

Royal Enfield Hunter 350

Royal Enfield Meteor 350

Royal Enfield Goan Classic 350

TVS Ronin