M Goutham Krishna

•6w

My office is located 10km from my house, with mixed city and highway driving. I am planning to buy a car which is automatic and fuel-efficient. Budget around ₹10 lakh. Could you please suggest a car that will be relevant for up to 15 years?

Autocar India

•6w

We would suggest you go for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AMT. The Fronx has a fuel-efficient 1.2-litre engine mated to an AMT gearbox that is well-tuned and smooth enough for daily driving. It is also fairly spacious, offers a large boot and a comfortable ride, which makes it an ideal companion for everyday city commutes and occasional highway drives.

If you want something smaller and easier to manoeuvre, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT. It is a more compact car, which makes it even easier to drive and park in the city. However, the new Swift now comes with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine, which feels a bit less powerful compared to the Fronx’s four-cylinder engine. Because of this, the AMT gearbox also works better with the Fronx engine than it does with the Swift.

Within your budget, you can also consider the Hyundai i20 IVT/CVT in the Magna variant. The CVT gearbox is very smooth, which elevates the overall driving experience and makes the car extremely easy to drive in traffic. The interiors of the i20 also feel quite premium. The only downside is that you will have to trade a bit of fuel efficiency for that smoothness, which is something to keep in mind since efficiency is an important factor for you.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.79 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.44 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Sanjay Sharma

•5w

Honda Amaze V, CVT or VX, CVT should be considered. Four cylinder iVTec engine. Mileage may be slightly lower than Maruti (should not impact as your usage is quite low) but CVT is always better than AMT.....

Vikram

•6w

You should go for Fronx delta + AMT. I sm using it on Mumbai. Easily 16-18 mileage in stop and go traffic. And on highway can go upto 22-23 id properly driven. Looks good. Has high ground clearance. All LED lights. And hassle free service by Nexa. They literally pickup and drop car from ur home

Akshay Bhat

•6w

I would suggest to get a test drive of the Exter AMT as well. Its way more smoother and shifts better than Fronx. i20 CVT/iVT will be the best if you travel on smooth roads - else prefer an SUV like Exter always.

More questions on similar cars

Thomas Zachariah

•2d

I am a senior citizen, 69 years old, and 6'2" tall. My annual usage is around 6,000-7,000 km, mostly consisting of short trips with occasional long drives. I am currently using a Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT, but I am planning to replace it due to some issues. I am looking for an automatic car within a budget of ₹12-14 lakh (on-road), with a focus on driving comfort, good mileage, and safety. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, and Mahindra XUV 3XO.

Autocar India

•1d

Given your usage, the Maruti Brezza ZXi AT fits your brief best within Rs 12-14 lakh on-road. Pick it because the cabin is roomy and the seat is set high, so getting in and out is easy, and there is good headroom for your height. Its 6-speed automatic is the smooth, torque converter type (not an AMT or DCT). Coming from your Nissan Magnite’s CVT, this will feel natural and calm in stop-and-go traffic and on slopes. Ride comfort is good over broken roads, and its simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine allows a vehicle of its size to be unstressed, fuel efficient and sufficiently powerful. Do note: The Brezza automatic is tuned for easy driving, not fast pick-up, so it feels relaxed rather than quick, and it hasn't been crash tested by any NCAP agency, though it has all the requisite safety features. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is also a decent option, though it's not quite as spacious as the Brezza, and in your budget, you'll have to settle for a mid-spec automatic model. Most of all, though, it is nowhere near as fuel-efficient. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx, while also good, won't feel like as much of an upgrade from your Magnite as the others, especially in terms of size and space. Overall, for comfort, smooth driving and sensible running costs in your budget, the Brezza ZXi AT is still your best bet.

I have been using a Kia Sonet iMT for the past 5 years, but it has recently started giving gear shift and locking issues. I am now planning to buy a new automatic car within a budget of ₹15-16 lakh. A key requirement is front ventilated seats, as I have an open parking space, and the car tends to heat up significantly. My usage is primarily city driving, around 1,000-1,200 km per month.

Autocar India

•20h

The Skoda Kylaq is one of the few cars in your budget that offers ventilated seats along with a proper torque converter automatic, which is smoother and more reliable for city driving compared to AMTs or DCTs. That directly addresses your daily usage of 1000-1200 km in the city, where ease of driving and comfort matter the most.What also works strongly in its favour is the overall driving experience. The Kylaq has a punchy turbo petrol engine, good ride quality and feels more stable than most compact SUVs. So even when you step out for occasional highway drives, you feel confident and composed. The cabin is well built and feels premium enough for long-term ownership.Now, looking at alternatives. Cars like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon also offer ventilated seats in this price range. However, all three cars are offered with DCT gearboxes in petrol automatics, which can feel jerky in slow traffic over time. In comparison, the Kylaq’s automatic is simply easier and more relaxed to live with.

John Abraham

I want to exchange my old 2016 Maruti Brezza diesel for a better SUV within a 15 lakh budget. I am 64 years old, and my driving is a mix of city and highway. Fuel efficiency is important. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

City and highway use with low running costs within a Rs 15 lakh cap points us to the Hyundai Venue diesel HX5 automatic. Coming from your 2016 Brezza diesel, you will like the strong pull from low speeds, and the automatic will make life a lot easier in traffic. The steering is light, the seat is high, and the view out is clear, which helps on busy roads. Hyundai’s service reach is on par with what you are used to with Maruti, so ownership should be simple.One thing to keep in mind is that the back seat is fine for two adults, but fitting three across is tight. If you need more space, consider the Kia Syros diesel HTK+, which is easily the roomiest among the compact SUVs.Overall, for your mix of city and highway use and a focus on fuel efficiency, the Venue diesel fits your brief best. Also, with new diesels, try to do a good highway run every few weeks to help keep the exhaust filter clear.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

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