I earn Rs 70,000 in hand and live in a village. My office is 15 km away. What would be an appropriate budget for a car, as I am completely new to this? My priority is low maintenance, and it should be a family car. As I am a government field officer, there will be regular travel.

Autocar India

•17h

Given your comfort with the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, we'd advise you against a conventional hatchback and recommend you look at a sub-compact SUV. The high seating is a boon and will put you at immediate ease in the car. Options that meet your requirements within a Rs 10 lakh budget include the Hyundai Exter, Tata Punch and Citroen C3. The Tata Punch offers more of what you need. It's got the widest cabin (though it's still not ideal as a 5 seater) and packs in all the features that you need, and then a whole lot more. The Citroen C3 makes a compelling case for itself with the best engines, well-sorted ride and handling and the cabin experience is also vastly improved with the recent feature update. However, it's not quite as roomy as the Punch, and Citroen's service network is also not as widespread as Tata or Hyundai's.The Hyundai Exter is an easy-going option that's also worth a look.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Citroen C3

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Hyundai Venue. For a 17 km city run, it gives you the upright SUV feel and visibility you want, yet stays small and easy to park, and it rides over speed breakers and broken roads far better than your Alto. It also feels like a solid upgrade inside and has a strong safety rating, while running costs stay reasonable.Be clear on one thing, though: its 1.2-litre engine is fine in town but not very quick on highways. If you often do fast trips with family, the turbo petrol will be a better choice. If that exceeds your budget, then the Fronx turbo manual is a good alternative. Renault Kiger is a good value, and the turbo is fun, though the cabin feels a bit budget and the brand’s network is thinner. The Wagon R remains the cheapest and simplest step up, but it won't feel like a significant enough step up from your Alto. The Tata Punch is a segment down from your other choices and won't feel as roomy on the inside.Overall, the Venue is a good fit for your needs.

Hyundai Venue

Renault Kiger

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•10h

With 60% city and 40% rougher rural runs, a petrol manual under Rs 10 lakh that covers space, comfort, AC and running costs best is the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2 manual in a mid variant. It rides higher than a regular small car, so bad roads and speed breakers are easy. The back seat is wide enough for three for most trips, the AC is strong, the boot is decent for a family of four, and you get Maruti’s big service network and easy mileage. It is light and easy to drive in traffic, yet steady at highway speeds.The trade-offs: the engine is smooth but not very exciting when fully loaded, and the audio system in lower trims is just okay.If you can stretch by Rs 1-2 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual fits your brief even better with a roomier back seat, tougher ride for rural roads, and strong AC.In the used market, you should be able to find a 5-6 year old Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol manual combo from a trusted source like Spinny. Overall, the Fronx meets your needs without big compromises; the Brezza is the nicer step-up if you stretch.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza