I want to buy a new automatic car within an on-road budget of ₹12–14 lakh. My monthly running is around 200 km in heavy city traffic, with only a couple of highway trips each year. I prefer a car with good interiors, reliable service support, and features like a 360° camera. Which models should I consider?

Autocar India

•14w

The Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT and Tata Altroz 1.2 petrol DCT, both get excellent, smooth automatic transmissions, as well as a 360-degree camera.

Between the two, the Tata car gets our vote for its spaciousness, value, and overall robust build. The Toyota Taisor Turbo AT and Maruti Fronx Turbo AT with the 360-degree camera will be relatively pricier.

However, these brands have a better reputation for service and maintenance.

Explore cars mentioned

Nissan

Magnite

from ₹6.64 Lakh

Tata

Altroz

from ₹7.44 Lakh

Toyota

Urban Cruiser Taisor

from ₹8.53 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹8.07 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Varun

•2w

Amaze CVT, Tata Altroz DCA, Tata Punch EV, and Citroën C3 Turbo Automatic. I am 5.4 ft tall and currently have a family of four members, which will become five after marriage. I work from home, so my usage will mainly be city driving, with one vacation trip every month. From my perspective, the Honda Amaze CVT feels reliable with a good engine and ADAS, but the CVT rubber-band effect and engine noise during hard acceleration concern me. The Altroz DCA offers strong safety and premium interiors, but the engine feels underpowered, the bonnet is not visible, and the thick A-pillar creates blind spots. The Citroën C3 Turbo Automatic has a strong engine and good performance, but the interiors are basic and rear legroom feels slightly cramped. The Punch EV feels smooth and well-rounded overall, but the higher cost and charging concerns are drawbacks. In terms of visibility, I can clearly see the bonnet in the Amaze and C3, but not at all in the Altroz. The Altroz feels more spacious, the C3 has the most powerful engine, and the Punch EV offers the best smoothness. My main concern is whether the bonnet visibility issue gets resolved with regular driving experience, or if I should prefer a car with clear bonnet visibility from the beginning. Based on my usage and concerns, which car would be the best choice for me?

Autocar India

•1d

If you're open to an electric, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option. As you've rightly pointed out, its elevated seated position results in good frontal visibility. If you opt for a variant with seat height adjustment, you can crank up the seat further to get a clearer view of the bonnet. Performance is strong, and being an EV, it is much smoother and more refined than all the ICE vehicles you've listed above. Also, ground clearance is ample, and it confidently glides over bad roads.An ICE option we'd recommend you check out is the Nissan Magnite 1.0 Turbo-petrol-CVT. The powertrain is smooth, and the seating is high. If you have a Nissan touchpoint around you, this is worthy of consideration.

Tata Punch EV

Nissan Magnite

Jatin Upadhyay

•1w

First time buying a car, budget is a maximum of ₹8.5 lakh. I have shortlisted a few: Nissan Magnite, Fronx, Baleno, Glanza, Skoda Kylaq, and Kia Sonet. Please tell me which one I should buy. I recently learned how to drive, so I’m looking for a manual with good features. Mileage isn’t an issue.

Autocar India

•2d

The best option within your budget is the Nissan Magnite, which represents near-unbeatable value for money at this price point. While the Maruti Baleno and Toyota Glanza are good options too, for the price, the Magnite will offer more space, more features and the all-important SUV-like road presence. The Skoda Kylaq and Kia Sonet are, sadly, out of your budget of Rs 8.5 lakh.The Magnite's 72hp, 1.0-litre petrol engine and 5-speed manual gearbox make for an easy driving experience, and though mileage isn’t a huge concern for you, it is fuel-efficient as well. It’s also known to be relatively low on maintenance, which adds to its appeal as a great first car.

Nissan Magnite

Gurcharan Gandhi

•1d

I have been driving a Ford EcoSport Trend+ since 2018 and have done over 1,00,000 km on it. I am fully satisfied with its performance. Now I want to buy a mid-size petrol SUV. I am a driving enthusiast and prefer a car with good driving dynamics, strong road grip, and handling. My budget is up to ₹15 lakh. Which car would you suggest is best for me?

Autocar India

•6h

Since you are a driving enthusiast and are looking for a mid-size SUV with good driving dynamics, we would recommend the new Skoda Kushaq. Skoda recently unveiled the facelift and will also be announcing prices this month. The Kushaq is one of the more driver-focused mid-size SUVs with very good handling manners. It will feature two engines as before, a 1.0-litre TSI and a 1.5-litre TSI. If the bigger engine is out of budget, the 1.0-litre is also quite peppy and fun to drive, with good grip and cornering. Another SUV worth waiting for would be the Renault Duster, which is launching on the 17th of this month. It gets a powerful turbo-petrol engine, and Renault has developed a good chunk of it at MMRT (Madras Motor Race Track) in Chennai and assures us that the handling would be exciting. If you aren't in a hurry, we advise you to wait till we get our hands on the Duster and even the updated Kushaq for a definitive verdict.

Skoda Kushaq facelift

Renault Duster

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