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Delhi
AS

Ashwin

9w

Hello, I am looking to buy a new or used automatic petrol car for my retired parents. They are based in Namakkal, and their usage is mainly weekend highway drives to temples and relatives’ homes, along with some city traffic (around 60% highway usage). Ride comfort, suspension quality, and easy ingress & egress are the top priorities. Both of them are 6ft. The budget is around ₹10 lakhs. Please let me know if you can assist with suitable recommendations. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6w
Among the new cars that are worth looking at, there's the recently launched Tata Punch AMT facelift, Hyundai Exter AMT, Nissan Magnite AMT and Renault Kiger AMT. Each of the models offers an elevated seating position, making ingress and egress easier for your parents.
Of the four, the Nissan and Renault feel better suited to highway use thanks to their larger footprint. Power and performance aren't great, however, and shifts on the AMT gearbox aren't slick either.
If you are open to buying used, we'd suggest you look for a 2022 or newer gen 2 Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT. It's got a smooth automatic transmission, and ride comfort is very good too. Further, the high seating and comfy seats are elements your parents will appreciate.  
Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Latest questions people are discussing

AA

Aadi

1w

I am planning to buy a new car but am confused between the Tata Punch Pure Plus (2026), Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta, and Maruti Suzuki Fronx. My budget is around ₹8 lakh, but I can stretch it up to ₹9 lakh. My usage will include both city and highway driving, and at times, there will be three passengers seated in the rear. I am also considering increasing my budget further to buy a Tata Nexon, which has added to my confusion. Could you please help me choose the right option?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1h

The new Tata Punch is a solid choice in the Rs 8 lakh budget; however, it is quite narrow, which means seating three in the back seat can be a bit tight. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is better in this regard, with a slightly wider and more comfortable rear seat, but do visit both showrooms and experience them yourself. Both cars are comparable in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Baleno’s four-cylinder engine is more refined than the Punch’s three-cylinder unit.Apart from the different body style and slightly raised suspension, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is essentially the same as the Baleno. Therefore, the main reason to upgrade to the Fronx is if you need the higher ground clearance or want the turbo-petrol engine, which is not available on the Baleno.Regarding the Tata Nexon, to get a reasonably well-equipped variant, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 10 lakh and opt for the Pure Plus petrol variant. For the additional money, you get an SUV body style, a roomier cabin with a better rear seat than the aforementioned options, and a turbo-petrol engine with much stronger performance. If it isn’t too much of a financial burden, it is worth stretching to get the Nexon. But if you want to stick to your budget, the Baleno remains a good choice.

VehicleTata Punch
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleTata Nexon
SM

SM

1d

I am looking for a compact car under ₹6 lakh. I am open to buying either a new car or a second-hand one, but my main condition is that the car should not have very low or very high seating, as there is a knee problem in the family. Please suggest which car would be a good option to buy within this budget.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

For your needs, either the Tata Punch or the Maruti Suzuki Ignis would be a good option. The Tata Punch sits at a comfortable height, and its doors open up to almost 90 degrees, which makes ingress and egress easier. The seating position is also not too tall, so it should feel comfortable even for someone with knee issues.If you want something that feels more spacious, especially in the rear seat, then the Ignis ticks all the boxes as well. Its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine is smoother, more responsive and nicer to drive too.To buy these cars brand new, even the base variants will be slightly above ₹6 lakh on-road. If you are okay with stretching the budget a little, you can go ahead with a new car. Also, you can consider used versions of higher variants within your budget.

VehicleTata Punch
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Ignis
AN

Ankit

1d

Hi, first of all, thanks to Autocar for always replying to each query. I am looking for an automatic car. It should have a peppy engine and be fun to drive with proper safety. I will be driving my car mostly in the city and occasionally on the highway on weekends. I prefer petrol. I already own a Kia Sonet iMT. Kindly suggest any other car apart from the Kia.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4h

The Mahindra XUV 3XO will meet your requirements of a car with a peppy engine and good safety. The petrol automatic comes paired with a torque convertor gearbox, which is the smoothest autobox around, and since your driving is mostly in the city, you will really appreciate this.We would recommend the 1.2-litre MPFi turbo engine, which would offer you more than enough pep and a slightly better mileage than the direct injection unit, though bear in mind that on the whole, mileage will still be lower than something like the Brezza, as Mahindra tunes all its engines for a peppy feel.If mileage isn't a priority and you simply want a very peppy and lively drive feel, opt for the direct injection unit. The 3XO will also meet your requirements for safety as it comes well-equipped with 6 airbags and ESP as standard, and has secured a 5-star rating in the BNCAP crash tests.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza

Posted on: 1 Feb 2026