Mumbai

•4d

Hello Autocar Team, My wife is 51 and I am 55. We are planning to buy an automatic car for my wife, with an expected monthly running of under 500 km. We are both first-time drivers and will be graduating from riding a scooter. Please suggest an automatic car with the smoothest transmission (no jerks), high reliability, low ownership costs, and that can negotiate bumper-to-bumper traffic. A small turning radius is also important because the lane opposite our stilt parking is quite narrow, with cars often parked in front of the building. The car needs to be reversed and turned into the parking space, so easy manoeuvrability is essential. Our budget was initially under Rs 10 lakh, but it is flexible if there is a significantly better option. We are looking for a car that will last at least 15 years. My wife will be the primary driver.

•27s

If home charging can be arranged, the Tata Tiago EV is the strongest fit for these requirements. The electric powertrain delivers seamless, jerk-free acceleration, making it especially easy for first-time drivers. Its compact dimensions and tight turning circle also make it far easier to manoeuvre in narrow lanes and into tight parking spaces. With monthly running of less than 500km, running costs will be extremely low, and the Tiago EV remains one of the most sensible city cars on sale.

Another option worth considering is the MG Comet. While its unconventional two-door layout won't suit every family, it is exceptionally easy to drive in congested city traffic. For a car that will spend almost all of its time in the city, this MG car has plenty of merit.

If you cannot arrange for home charging, then we'll recommend the Hyundai i20 IVT. The engine is smooth, and the transmission is seamless, resulting in a jerk-free drive experience that's better than all other cars equipped with an automated manual transmission (AMT). Do keep in mind that the i20 is a relatively large car, so maneuvering it might not be as easy as the Tata Tiago EV or MG Comet.

Explore cars mentioned

Comet

from ₹7.98 Lakh

Tata

Tiago EV

from ₹7.31 Lakh

Hyundai

i20

from ₹6.93 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•4d

Hi Team, Please help me choose the right car. I am planning to buy a car with a budget of around Rs. 11-12.5 lakh (on-road price in Delhi NCR). I need an automatic car, and my monthly running will be approximately 600 km, mainly in city traffic, especially on the Delhi-Gurgaon peak traffic stretch. I prefer to keep my cars for a longer period and will be upgrading from a Hyundai i20 manual. Based on my requirements, please suggest the best option among the following: Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT - Rs. 11.9 lakh on-road Kia Sonet DCT HTK(O) - Rs. 11.2 lakh Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT - Rs. 9.6 lakh Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic - Rs. 11.2 lakh I am unable to decide which one would be the most suitable choice for my needs. Kindly suggest the best option.

•1d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic. It is the best fit for your usage and available under Rs. 12 lakh, which fits your budget. Your running is low, so petrol is the right choice, and the Kylaq’s 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven and reliable combination that works well in Delhi-Gurgaon traffic. This Skoda car is also one of the most fun-to-drive cars in this price range, with strong performance and good highway manners, which makes it a meaningful upgrade from your Hyundai i20. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXI AT is a solid alternative if you want a more relaxed ownership experience and Maruti’s service reach, but the Kylaq is the more engaging car to drive. The Kia Sonet DCT is not the right choice for your usage because the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy stop-and-go traffic. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT is the most affordable option, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth as the Kylaq’s torque converter, and the car itself does not feel like a meaningful upgrade from your i20.The Kylaq strikes the best balance between driving experience, reliability and value for money.

Hello Autocar Team, I obtained my car driving licence over a year ago, but I have almost no real-world driving experience apart from the driving test. Since my father drives a Mahindra XUV300 Manual (he lives in another city), I was initially inclined to buy a Mahindra XUV 3XO AT (AX5/AX5L/REVX A). However, some advice I found online has encouraged me to consider buying a smaller, less powerful used car to drive for a year. After giving it some thought, I completely agree with the idea of starting with a smaller car, especially since I'll mostly be driving alone. After some research, I narrowed my options down to the Hyundai i20 AT (2021-2023 IVT) over the Toyota Glanza and Maruti Suzuki Baleno in Bengaluru. My plan is to use the car mainly for highway trips (I'm planning lots of temple visits across South, East, and West India) while also practising city driving over the next few months. As a motorcyclist, I've been riding a Triumph Scrambler 400 X for the past two years and occasionally go on highway rides. Although I'll be a new car driver, I don't want to feel that the car is underpowered after a short period of ownership. Along with the i20 (and the Glanza/Baleno), I've now also added the Hyundai Venue to my shortlist. P.S. I'm also planning to enrol in a 10-day doorstep driving instruction course. Could you please suggest which car would be the right choice for me? My key requirements are: Automatic transmission, beginner-friendly automatic gearbox, reasonably quiet cabin, good highway stability, and good or decent resale value after 12-15 months

•1d

The Hyundai i20 IVT is an excellent city car; however, its 1.2 petrol engine will not feel effortless for highway drives. The Hyundai Venue is a good alternative, and its turbo-petrol and dual-clutch automatic combination will feel well-suited for highway drives. Also, visibility is very good thanks to its high seating, and with light steering, it feels quite easy to drive.Given that you plan to take the car for highway drives frequently, we'd recommend you also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Turbo AT or Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo AT. Both are essentially the same car and are powered by a turbo-petrol engine and a smooth torque converter (automatic). Their turbo-petrol engine delivers strong performance, which will make the drive experience rather enjoyable. Also, these cars are quite stable for highway drives, are feature-rich, yet compact enough for the city. Between the Taisor and Fronx, pick the one you think looks better and the brand you're more comfortable with.

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

•5d

Hi, this will be my first car and my budget is Rs. 10 lakhs for an automatic transmission. I am looking for a city car primarily with occasional long distance trips. Can you suggest a car that has smooth transmission within this budget and also has a decent after sale service but still it is not too expensive to maintain? I am okay with both hatchback and sub-4 meter SUV options if available.

•4d

For a first car under 10 lakh and a focus on city driving with occasional long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT is the most sensible recommendation. It is a well-rounded hatchback with a smooth AMT gearbox, excellent fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs. Maruti’s service network is the strongest in the country, which keeps ownership hassle-free and affordable. The Baleno also offers a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin and enough boot space for weekend getaways.A strong alternative is the Hyundai i20. It comes with a CVT which is totally seamless and much smoother than the Maruti's AMT. It is also comfortable, easy to drive and Hyundai has a strong reputation for reliability and aftersales service.The Baleno strikes the best balance between smoothness, practicality and long-term ownership costs.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

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•1w

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

•6d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

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•4d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

•4d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

Skoda Kushaq

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•2d

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

•1d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. It is a much larger car and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant and its features.

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