I am looking to buy a car for Rs. 11 lakh. Please suggest the best options in the automatic category. Monthly running would be around 500km in the city, with a few occasional outstation trips.

autocar.india

•2d

You could consider the Nissan Magnite Turbo-CVT. Coming from a Tiago auto, this will feel much smoother in traffic, more powerful on the highway, and one of the mid variants should fit within your Rs. 12 lakh on-road budget. It is compact, and it gives you the extra ground clearance you wanted from an SUV. If there is a Nissan touchpoint nearby, it is worth checking out.Alternatively, if you are open to an electric car and you can arrange for home charging, consider a Tata Punch EV. It is an excellent, well-rounded car.

Nissan Magnite

Tata Punch EV

autocar.india

•3d

You can go ahead and buy the Hyundai i20 Asta IVT now. There's no further facelift planned, and the Bayon-based crossover will be positioned much higher and closer to the Hyundai Creta in price. For mostly city use, the i20's smooth, automatic and light controls make traffic a breeze, and it fits your budget better than most compact SUVs would. You still get six airbags, a big screen, a sunroof and all the everyday comforts, and it’s fine for the odd highway run. However, the i20 doesn’t get a 360 camera, and Android Auto/CarPlay aren't wireless unless you buy a special adapter accessory.If a 360 camera is a must and you want the SUV look, the Hyundai Venue SX(O) DCT or Kia Sonet GTX+ have it, but they’ll sit well past Rs 14 lakh on-road in most cities, and their dual-clutch automatics aren’t as smooth as the i20’s CVT in bumper-to-bumper traffic.Another alternative you could consider is the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo Petrol V AT, which gets a punchy but efficient engine, a smooth automatic, and the features you want at around your Rs 14 lakh budget.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

autocar.india

•2h

Tata Punch is a great fit for your needs. For a new, shorter driver, it gives you a high, upright seat and a great all-round view, so you feel in control right away. It is also one of the safest small cars on sale with a strong crash score, which matters more on the highway than in slow city traffic.For your occasional long trips, the Punch rides comfortably over bad roads, and its ground clearance keeps you relaxed on broken patches or speed breakers. The 1.2 petrol is easy and unstressed at 80-100 kph, and you can expect around 18-20 kpl on the highway if you drive smoothly. Service costs are reasonable, and Tata has a wide reach now.Pick a mid variant with a height-adjustable driver seat. If you need an automatic, it fits the budget in lower trims.The only thing to know is that it is not very quick for fast overtakes with five on board, so plan passes and keep it in the right gear. For safety-first buyers on Rs. 10 lakh, it’s the right call.

Tata Punch