I (a 39-year-old man) am planning to buy a new car for the first time. I don’t know how to drive yet. I work 12 hours a day and won’t need the car for commuting to the office. I will drive an average of 200km per month. Also, I may plan 400 km-long trips every 2-3 months after learning to drive. I want good mileage as well. My budget is Rs 15 lakh on-road, with approximately Rs 5 lakh as a down payment. Should I buy a diesel, petrol, CNG, or EV? Should I opt for a naturally aspirated engine or a turbo one? I plan to keep the car for around 8-10 years. I am looking for recommendations for May 2026. Should I buy a compact SUV, hatchback, or sedan?

autocar.india

•2d

Pick the Honda Amaze CVT VX. It’s the smoothest in stop-go traffic, which is where you’ll spend most of your 25 km daily, and its easy, linear responses make a first car feel friendly from day one. It’s compact to park yet has a big boot for your weekend runs, and the ride is comfy enough to shrug off bad patches. For the rare 300 km highway trip, it cruises calmly, though you’ll need a firmer press for quick overtakes.The Kia Sonet DCT HTX(O) is the fun one and sits taller, but that twin-clutch setup can feel a little jerky in crawling traffic and tends to drink more fuel in the city. The Toyota Taisor AMT S gives you a higher seat and light controls, but the AMT’s shifts are slow and can get in jams, and the S trim feels bare for the money.Only honest catch with the Amaze: it isn’t tall like the SUVs, and it won’t feel as quick as the Sonet on the highway. For your usage mix and as a first car, the Honda still makes the most sense.

Honda Amaze

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•3d

Buy the Honda Elevate, since you have back trouble, seat comfort would be a high priority, and in this regard, the Elevate does well. The seats set a benchmark for comfort and have a finely judged foam density, which is not too hard and not too soft, so they should provide your back with good support. Under-thigh support is also generous. However, we would recommend you sit in it and test drive it yourself to make sure it suits your body type. Within your budget, you would get the mid-range automatic version, and we would recommend you opt for an automatic as it would reduce your left leg strain in traffic, which would also help alleviate some of the back pain. Ride quality is also good; it is on the firmer side, but the long travel suspension with well-judged damping means it can soak up bumps and potholes well without jarring you too much. If you would like to stick to something small, you could consider the Tata Punch. The entry and exit height is just right, the ride is well-damped and comfortable, and the seats are well cushioned and supportive enough. The top-end version would also come in well under your budget, and you would enjoy some top-end features too.

Honda Elevate

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•3d

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol automatic, because it balances daily city ease with real highway stability and has a strong safety rating. For 70 km of mostly city use, its smooth IVT and light controls make it stress free, yet it does not feel floaty at speed. The latest Seltos has 5-star crash safety, six airbags on the right trim, and the braking and body control inspire confidence, which matters on highway runs. It also packs the useful stuff you will actually use every day - good cameras and sensors, a crisp screen, wireless charging, ventilated seats on higher trims - and Kia’s network and reliability record are solid now, so ownership is simple.Expect around 11-12 kpl in typical city traffic if you drive calmly, which is fair for the size. The ride is a touch firm at low speed, so sharp bumps are felt more than in a Creta, but it pays you back with better control when you go faster. Coming from a Baleno, the Seltos isn’t intimidating to park or thread through traffic, yet feels like a proper upgrade.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Baleno