Delhi

•2d

I am a new rider and need an automatic car with 5-star safety rating under a maximum budget of Rs. 12 lakh (on-road). I require the car for driving mostly in city. I drive once or twice on highway and expressway in a month. I take one or two long trip in a year. My preference is safety, decent mileage, good service and cheap parts for family use. Please suggest.

•3m

For your needs, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire and Tata Punch are both good fits. Both cars have a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating and come with a comprehensive suite of safety features as standard.

The Dzire is the more fuel-efficient of the two, with its 1.2-litre Z-series engine delivering an average of just over 15kpl in our real-world testing. It also has the more refined powertrain, while Maruti has a strong reputation for after-sales service.

The Tata Punch offers a more SUV-like stance. You sit higher up, with a better view over the bonnet, which can help build confidence as a new driver. It also rides superbly for a small car, while the higher ground clearance is an advantage on bad roads. Service and parts costs are likely to be similar to those of the Maruti. However, Tata's after-sales service is known to be somewhat inconsistent, so we'd recommend checking your local dealer's reputation before committing.

Overall, both cars are good choices for a new driver. Test drive both to see which one suits your needs better.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Dzire

from ₹7.04 Lakh

Tata

Punch

from ₹6.24 Lakh

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•2w

I am looking to buy a car that will usually accommodate three people. I have shortlisted the Tata Punch CNG, Tata Nexon CNG and Tata Nexon diesel. My monthly running is around 400km in the city and 800km on the highway, and I live in Pune. Which of these three cars would you recommend, considering that I plan to keep it for more than 10 years? My priorities are low running and maintenance costs, along with long-term reliability. I would appreciate your suggestion based on these factors. Please restrict the comparison to these three options and do not include Maruti models.

•1d

The Tata Nexon diesel would be our recommendation, given your monthly running of around 1,200km, with 800km on the highway. Its 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 115hp and 260Nm, making it considerably better suited to highway cruising and overtaking than the CNG engines in the Tata Punch and Nexon. It will also deliver better fuel efficiency on long runs. The Nexon CNG is worth considering if minimising fuel costs is the overriding priority, but the diesel offers stronger performance and a more relaxed highway experience. The Punch CNG is the least suitable of the three for your usage, as it is smaller and its performance is more limited, particularly with passengers and luggage.For 10-year ownership, remember that the diesel will have higher periodic maintenance costs, including additional fuel filter and timing belt related expenses. CNG also brings its own filter maintenance and periodic cylinder testing requirements.

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•3d

My daily commute is around 120 km primarily on highway. I want to buy a car under Rs. 12-14 lakh. I don't have a charging facility at home but it is available in office. Which car should I buy?

•3d

Since your daily running is high and mostly on highways, a diesel will be a good option to consider. The Hyundai Venue HX5 diesel will be a good option for you, as it's got a refined and efficient 1.5-litre diesel engine, good highway manners and a premium and comfy cabin. You can even opt for a smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, but you may have to stretch your budget a little for that. The Venue HX5 also comes well equipped and being a Hyundai, it will be relatively stress free to maintain as well. However, if you want an EV, consider the Tata Punch Empowered+ S with the larger 40kWh battery. The Punch EV is one of the nicest compact electrics on sale today and is feature-rich as well.

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•2w

I’m planning to buy a car that can comfortably seat five people. Two of us are 6 ft tall, and the other three are well built. I’ll drive mostly in the city, in Mumbai and Goa, with occasional trips between the two. I’m open to buying the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, but I’ve heard it can’t fit five people along with their luggage. Could you suggest a car with a five-star safety rating, good fuel efficiency and low maintenance? Given the bad roads, good ground clearance is also important.

•3d

Given your requirements, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a sensible and reliable choice, but it does have limitations when it comes to accommodating five adults and their luggage comfortably, especially on longer trips between Mumbai and Goa. The rear seat is adequate for three, but with two 6ft passengers and three healthy adults, shoulder room will be tight, and the boot may struggle with all the luggage.A better fit would be the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It offers a more spacious cabin, better shoulder room and significantly better ground clearance, which will help on bad roads. The boot is also larger and more practical than the Dzire, making it easier to accommodate luggage for five.If you are open to stretching your budget slightly, consider a 7-seater like the Kia Carens. It will give you much more flexibility to fit 5 adults and their luggage on long trips.Overall, the Brezza is a worthwhile upgrade over the Dzire you were considering, but a Kia Carens will make for a much more comfortable vehicle for your needs.

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•6d

I am planning to buy a car with a factory-fitted CNG kit, an automatic transmission, and cruise control within a budget of Rs 15 lakh. Please suggest some options.

•6d

There are quite a few options that would meet your requirements, so its hard to pinpoint a specific model without knowing a bit more about your requirements and driving conditions. If you are looking for a city car then pick the Tata Punch, the compact dimensions are easy to manage in tight city traffic and the elevated driving position gives you a decent view outside. If however you want something bigger and with more space then the Maruti Suzuki Dzire would be a good option as you will have more rear space as well as a larger boot. Both cars will fit well within your budget. If you want a larger CNG car then you will have to settle for a manual and the a model like the Kia Carens Clavis or the Maruti Victoris.

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•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•4d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Dear Autocar India team, I am planning to purchase my first family car with a budget of Rs 11 lakh and have already booked the Kia Sonet HTK+ variant. However, concerns raised on social media about the performance of its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine have made me reconsider my decision. Since our monthly usage is relatively low and the car will primarily be used for occasional trips, would the Sonet HTK+ be a suitable choice for our requirements, or should I consider another model or an alternative powertrain within the Sonet range? I would appreciate your professional guidance in making the right decision. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

•4d

If your usage is primarily in the city, the 1.2-litre Kia Sonet will serve you just fine. It has a smooth, refined engine paired with a light clutch and gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Where it falls short is on the highway, where it may need a downshift to make an overtake.If you frequently travel on the highway with three or more passengers, you would be better off looking at a turbo-petrol version of the Sonet. Alternatively, consider something like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Hyundai Venue with a turbo-petrol engine. However, the trade-off for better performance from a turbo-petrol engine is lower fuel efficiency in the city.If you only plan on using the Sonet around town, stick with the naturally aspirated engine. But if highway performance is important, the turbo-petrol is a worthwhile upgrade.

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