Autocar India
RS

Raj Sharma

•7w

I want to buy a car for my wife. She travels to her office daily and is looking for an automatic to navigate traffic. She does not like Renault or Nissan. What would be the ideal car given that the budget is less than ₹10 lakh?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•7w
Go for the Honda Amaze V CVT, which is a superb compact automatic car at this budget. For a daily office run, the CVT’s seamless, gearless feel reduces fatigue in heavy traffic far better than an automated manual or AMT, which a lot of other cars at this price use. The compact sub‑4‑metre size makes it easy to place in tight city spots, yet the 5‑seat cabin is comfortable for occasional family rides. The proven 1.2‑litre petrol is refined and efficient, and Honda’s scheduled service at 10,000 km or 1 year will keep the car running smoothly. Plus, it has a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, which gives you a little extra peace of mind.
The one thing you give up is the higher driving position and extra ground clearance of a compact SUV, but it makes up for that with more fun driving dynamics. If you can stretch the budget a small bit, the higher VX variant offers more features, like a wireless charger and keyless entry and go, in case she is interested.
Honda Amaze

Honda Amaze

Explore cars mentioned

Honda Amaze

Honda

Amaze

from ₹8.53 Lakh

New car launches to explore

View all

More questions on similar cars

CD

Chinmay Deo

•1w

I am planning to buy a sedan under 20L in the Mumbai region. It's going to be used mostly for city roads and sometimes on highways. I prefer an automatic transmission. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5m

Mostly city use in Mumbai, with the odd highway run and a Rs. 20 lakh cap points to the Honda City automatic as the best fit. The CVT automatic is very smooth, which makes stop-start traffic easy, and the light steering and clear view out help in tight lanes and parking. It rides comfortably over broken patches and speed bumps common in Mumbai, yet feels steady on the highway. Cabin space is generous, so family rides stay relaxed.Two things to note: the NA engine won't have the punch of a turbo petrol, and you still need to slow for very tall speed breakers when the car is full.If you want an alternative with a stronger punch for highway use, the Skoda Slavia 1.0-litre automatic is the lively pick and still easy to drive in town. Overall, for your mix, the Honda City automatic lines up best.

VehicleHonda City
TT

Tata tiagio

•3d

Hi autocar, we are looking at 7 seaters, our budget is 24L, we are fine with Mt or automatic as long as it's a torque converter. Our usage is mostly on the highway, and we want effortless and efficient highway runs We also want to avoid Tata Motors due to their service. We want cruise control, Android Auto, multi-drive modes, parking camera. It should be FWD We don't want a sunroof

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5m

The Kia Carens Diesel Automatic (1.5 AT) in HTK Plus trim is the best fit for your needs. It is front‑wheel drive, the diesel with the proper automatic feels relaxed at 90-110 kph, and overtaking won't stress the engine. It also uses less fuel on long runs than most petrols. You get cruise control, Android Auto, a parking camera, and drive modes, so your feature list is covered without paying for a sunroof.A thing to note. While the Carens Clavis' flexible seating makes the third row usable for adults, luggage space with all seats up is limited. However, that's an issue you'll face with most three-row vehicles.Alternatively, the Mahindra XUV 7XO in petrol-AT and diesel-AT are options. The 7XO isn't as comfortable for third row passengers, but performance is far superior to the Carens, in case that is higher on your list of priorities. The AX3 trim is within your budget and gives all the features you desire.

VehicleKia Carens
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
BH

Bharath

•1d

I’m from Chennai. I currently own two manual petrol cars - an S-Cross Zeta (Feb 2022) that has run 40,000 km, and a Grand i10 Nios Asta (Dec 2016) that has run around 30,000 km. I’m considering whether it makes sense to sell/exchange both cars and move to a single automatic car. My usage is around 1,200 km per month, with 90% city driving and 10% highway use. Would this be a sensible move? If yes, which automatic car would you recommend in the ₹15-17 lakh budget range? Or would you recommend an EV?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

With 1,200 km a month in Chennai and mostly city traffic, moving to one automatic is sensible if your family’s schedules work with a single car. In that use, the Tata Nexon EV Medium Range is the stronger fit in your Rs. 15-17 lakh window. It is very smooth in stop-and-go traffic, there is no clutch heat or strain, and the instant response makes gaps easy. Your monthly running suits an EV well, and if you can install a home charger, you start each day with a full “tank” and very low running costs. As your only car, the Nexon EV has enough space for a small family, rides comfortably over broken patches, and feels easy to place in tight lanes and parking. If you can stretch your budget, the Hyundai Creta EV would make for a much better EV with a better driving experience and a larger and more comfortable car. Two watch-outs: you need a fixed parking spot with charging, and longer highway trips will need some planning around chargers.If you would rather stay with petrol, pick the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara automatic in a mid trim. It keeps life easy in traffic, sits a bit higher for a better view, and you already know Maruti service from your S-Cross, and if you can stretch for the hybrid, it will keep your fuel costs in check. Overall, for city-heavy use, the Nexon EV makes the most sense.

VehicleTata Nexon EV
VehicleHyundai Creta Electric
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

SU

Soumith Uppu

•4d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleTata Punch
VehicleHyundai Exter
AP

AVINASH PARWANI

•4d

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

VehicleKia Seltos
MW

Manik Walia

•1w

I want to buy a sedan. My usage will be approximately 25% city driving and 75% highway driving. My priorities are a fun-to-drive experience, good handling, strong highway stability, rear-seat comfort, and solid build quality. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•16h

With 75% highway use and a Rs. 18-20 lakh cap, the Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 turbo petrol with the manual is the best fit. It feels quick when you press the throttle, so quick passes on the highway are easy, and it stays very steady at speed with a nice, weighty steering, which makes long drives calmer. The rear seat is wide with good legroom and a well-angled backrest, so two adults will be comfortable for hours. It also feels solid inside and out, and its crash test score is strong, which matches your build quality ask.A couple of things to note: at low speeds, the ride can feel a bit firm over sharp bumps, and Volkswagen’s service reach is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai in smaller towns, so check your nearest workshop.If you want the same driving feel but a slightly richer cabin vibe, look at the Skoda Slavia with the same 1.0 turbo. It shares the core strengths of highway stability and safety, and some find its seats a touch softer.For your brief, the Virtus 1.0 manual lines up best. However, do note that a facelift is expected later this year.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleSkoda Slavia

View all Posts

Posted on: 27 Mar 2026