Autocar India
•24w

Which is the best automatic petrol SUV to buy today with a reasonably good average (15 km/l or more) under ₹15 lakhs?

Verified
•23w

There are not many petrol automatic cars, at any price point, that would do upwards of 15kpl these days. Turbocharged cars, especially, require extremely careful driving to achieve high fuel efficiency numbers, and the automatic gearbox reduces these chances, as the gear shifts are not in your control. If fuel efficiency is your ultimate concern, we would recommend a good naturally aspirated petrol engine, in a small, relatively light car. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2 petrol AMT is a good option, but its automated manual gearbox is not very smooth, and its engine is not very powerful. As a trade-off, you could also try the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol AT, which has more power and a smoother torque converter automatic. But will deliver slightly lower - but still very good - fuel economy.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

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Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.92 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

from ₹8.55 Lakh

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•23w

Thank you for your views. It will help me.

•23w

Ok. Thanks

•23w

Surprisingly, nobody is interested in a safe vehicle. Seems like crash ratings don't matter.

•23w

How about performance of Nissan Magnite MT non turbo planning to buy this car please suggest

•23w

Consider the Exter AMT, its way smoother. 15kmpl in bumper to bumper city traffic is impossible in any car. Highways, you can easily get 20kmpl+.

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

My daily running is 70km. Currently, I own a 2017 Wagon R CNG, which has been driven 170,000km. Although it is in good condition, I still want to upgrade. My budget is around Rs 7-9 lakh on-road in Chandigarh. Please suggest some good cars in this budget as per my usage.

Verified
•21h

We'd recommend the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta CNG. After covering 1.7 lakh km in your 2017 Wagon R CNG, the Baleno will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort, refinement, ride quality and highway stability, while retaining the low running costs and reliability you've come to appreciate. The proven 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the factory-fitted CNG kit makes it an ideal companion for your daily 70km commute. The Delta variant of this Maruti Suzuki car also strikes an excellent balance between price and features, making it the value-for-money pick in the range.If you'd prefer the higher seating position and SUV styling, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Sigma CNG is a strong alternative. It uses the same dependable 1.2-litre four-cylinder CNG powertrain but offers better ground clearance and a more rugged design. Although it's the base variant, it comes equipped with all the essential features and remains excellent value for money.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
•1w

I own a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AT that has covered only 56,000km, and I'm now looking to upgrade. I would like my next car to be under 4 metres in length, or at most 4.2 metres. My priorities are safety, comfort, and decent mileage, with nothing below 10 kmpl, as I live in a city with narrow roads. Should I get the new Baleno Zeta AT be the right choice, or are there better alternatives? The car will mostly be used for city driving, with occasional highway trips, around thrice a year.

Verified
•2d

Given your priorities of safety, comfort, decent mileage and city-friendly dimensions, the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AMT is a sensible upgrade from your current car. It remains easy to drive, efficient and well-suited to narrow city roads, while adding more modern features and improved refinement. However, one important difference is that your current car uses a smooth CVT auto gearbox, whereas the new Baleno comes with an AMT. While the AMT is more fuel-efficient, it is not as seamless or refined in everyday driving.If your budget is between Rs 10-15 lakh, there are several alternatives worth considering. You could opt for the higher-spec Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha AMT for additional features. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx is another strong option. It is based on the Baleno but offers higher ground clearance and a rugged crossover design. It is also available with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, although mileage is lower than the 1.2-litre AMT.Another option is the Nissan Magnite. It is compact enough for city driving, has a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating, and has a spacious, comfortable cabin. Both the 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol and the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engines are reasonably fuel-efficient and are available with auto gearbox options. Overall, this Nissan car may actually be the strongest all-round choice based on your requirements.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleNissan Magnite
•1d

Hello Auto Car Team, I am planning to buy my first car and would appreciate your guidance. My primary usage will be monthly trips to my hometown, covering around 800 km per trip, once or twice a month. Most of the time, the car will be used by two occupants. My budget is around Rs. 10 lakh, although I can stretch it by another Rs. 1 lakh if the additional value is justified. The cars currently on my shortlist are Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi, Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro, Honda Amaze VX and Tata Punch Adventure Turbo. My key priorities include good fuel efficiency, safety, comfort for long-distance travel as well as low maintenance and reliability as this will be my first car. Given my requirements and budget, which of these cars would you recommend? Also, if there are any better alternatives that I should consider, please let me know. Thank you for your help.

Verified
•12h

Given your usage pattern of regular 800 km highway trips with two occupants, your priorities of fuel efficiency, safety, comfort and low maintenance, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi is the most sensible choice from your shortlist. Since a lot of your driving is going to be on the highway, opt for the turbo petrol manual. It has much better overtaking performance than the naturally aspirated version and with a tall sixth gear, fuel efficiency will be good too. It is also a proven, reliable and low-maintenance car with a comfortable ride, good highway stability and a strong service network, which is exactly what you want in a first car that will see long-distance use. The downside is that the turbo doesn't come with an automatic option.The Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro is the more modern and feature-rich option, however the Brezza still has the edge in terms of long-term reliability. The Honda Amaze VX is a good sedan with a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability, but given your highway usage and the occasional rough patches you may encounter, the higher ground clearance and more robust nature of the Brezza make it the better fit. The Tata Punch is a good value proposition, but it is a smaller car and not as well roomy as the Brezza.Overall the Brezza VXi remains the most balanced and dependable choice for your requirements.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHonda Amaze
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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I am looking to upgrade from my Hyundai Creta to a 7-seater SUV. My annual running is only around 6,000 km, and my budget is up to Rs. 25 lakh. Is the Hyundai Alcazar a good option for my usage? I have also considered the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari, but I am concerned about their relatively low fuel efficiency. Which 7-seater SUV would you recommend?

Verified
•4d

With a yearly running of just 6,000km, petrol is the sensible choice, and the Hyundai Alcazar is a good option. It is a comfortable, easy-to-drive family SUV with a hassle-free ownership experience, and the 1.5 turbo petrol engine paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is powerful enough and relatively efficient too. Plus, since you're coming from a Creta, you'll be familiar with the Hyundai network and could even ask for a loyalty discount. However, the Alcazar’s third row is not as spacious as some larger cars in the segment, so if you genuinely need a proper 7-seater, it may not be the ideal solution. What's more, if your Creta is the 2020 or newer model, you'll find the Alcazar perhaps a little too familiar on the inside.The Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari and MG Hector Plus are good options that offer more space. However, as you have noted, they're not fuel efficient at all, and moreover, in your budget, you will only get a low to mid-spec variant, whereas you will get a fully-loaded Alcazar. Another option to consider, though not an SUV, is the Kia Carens Clavis. Its MPV shape is more space-efficient, and you actually get more passenger and luggage room than the Alcazar, with the same efficient engines, for around the same price.

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•5d

Hi, I am a teacher and a first-time female driver with a budget of Rs. 11.5 lakh. I am looking for an automatic car that I plan to keep for the next 15 years, but I am confused about whether to buy a petrol AMT, CNG AMT, or an EV due to the uncertainty surrounding ethanol blending. My daily commute is 46 km, of which 22 km is on the highway, 18 km is on normal roads, and 6 km is on bumpy village roads in poor condition. Please recommend the most suitable fuel type that will keep my overall cost of ownership low.

Verified
•5d

We'd recommend a petrol automatic. With a daily running of around 46km and an ownership period of 15 years, it offers the best balance of low ownership costs, reliability and ease of use for a first-time driver.We wouldn't let E20 fuel influence your decision. Modern E20-compliant petrol cars are designed to run on it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. It isn't a reason to avoid buying a petrol car today. A CNG automatic will certainly reduce your fuel bills, but the higher purchase price, reduced boot space and limited automatic options make CNG car less attractive unless fuel savings are your overriding priority. An electric car will have the lowest running costs, but at your budget, you'll have to compromise on size or features, and recovering the higher upfront cost will take time.Given your budget and usage, we'd look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift automatic which will launch soon if you can stretch slightly, or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AGS if you want to stay within budget. Both are easy to drive, have good ground clearance for the 6km of rough village roads and come backed by Maruti Suzuki's extensive service network. If you prefer a smoother automatic, the Hyundai Exter SX AMT is also worth considering.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleHyundai Exter
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
•3d

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.

Verified
•2d

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.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleHonda Amaze

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Posted on: 13 Feb 2026