Which automatic car should I buy under Rs 12 lakh on-road?

Autocar India

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You should go for the Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT for your next car. It costs just over Rs 10 lakh on-road, but it comes with a refined 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a seamless CVT automatic gearbox, which is what you're looking for. The Hyundai also has the nicest interior of the lot, a comfy ride and even though it hasn't been crash tested yet, it does come with 6 airbags, traction control and more safety features. Being a Hyundai, the i20 will also be reliable and stress-free to maintain. Alternatively, if safety is your top priority, go for the Tata Altroz DCA as it has received a 5-star crash safety rating from both Bharat and Global NCAP. Do note, the Altroz DCA won't be as smooth to drive as the i20 IVT, and as you mentioned, it only comes with a non-turbo, three-cylinder engine.

Hyundai i20

Tata Altroz

Autocar India

•1h

For a daily 100 km run in Delhi with a Rs. 20-25 lakh budget, the Hyundai Creta Electric Excellence LR is the right fit. It has enough real-world range to cover a few days of running for you and still leave a healthy buffer. In our testing, it delivered a real-world range of around 432 km. Its size also makes it easy to park and weave through city traffic, the cabin feels premium and feature-rich, and the ride quality is comfortable as well. The Creta Electric was also updated recently, bringing improvements in both range and charging speeds.Downsides to note: while performance is smooth and seamless, it does not feel as powerful on the highway as some larger and more expensive electric cars. Also, it doesn't have the wow factor generally associated with new-age EVs. Alternatively, if you want something flashier, consider the Mahindra BE 6.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

•39m

For a daily 100 km run in Delhi traffic and heat, the Tata Nexon EV 45kWh suits your usage best among these three options. It has enough real range to finish the day with plenty left, so jams won’t stress you. It can also be conveniently charged overnight on a home wall box, and Tata’s service and public charger presence is good in NCR.It also feels easy to drive in tight streets, rides bumps well, and is more affordable than the BYD. Two things to note: highway trips still need a bit of planning for fast chargers. If you'd like a bit more range, then consider the Tata Curvv EV, which now only comes in the 55kWh variant.If you want more cabin space, stronger highway performance, and fewer charging stops through the week, then the BYD Atto 3 is the upgrade option, though it comes at a significantly higher price.Overall, for your 100 km daily city use, the Nexon EV 45kWh lines up best.

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Curvv EV

BYD Atto 3

Autocar India

•1d

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.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

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If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City