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Sudhir

9w

I am planning to buy my first car and have started driving classes. My budget is ₹10 lakh. I will mostly drive in the city and occasionally on the highway, and we are a family of four. I am confused between Venue, Nexon, 3XO, Sonet, and Syros. Please suggest which car to buy.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
9w

If you want to buy any of these SUVs, we suggest increasing your budget by ₹2-3 lakh. At a ₹10 lakh on-road budget, you will have to settle for the lower variants, which is a personal choice but does mean missing out on key features. 

Within a ₹10 lakh budget, a good option for you is the Hyundai Exter. It allows you to choose a fully loaded variant that comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, sunroof, cruise control, wireless phone charger, rearview camera, and other useful features. It gets a smooth and refined 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder engine that delivers power in a predictable and easy-to-manage manner. 

Since you are a new driver, opting for the AMT would be a sensible choice, as it adds to everyday driving comfort and convenience.

Amongst the cars you mentioned, you can consider the Tata Nexon or Kia Sonet

Hyundai Exter

Hyundai Exter

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RATHI MRINALINI

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I'm a new driver on the road. Been driving a Celerio (second-hand) for the last 2 years in Bangalore. Looking for an automatic petrol car within a budget of ₹9.5 lakh. My priority is safety and ease of adapting to the new car. I am thinking of a Punch. Looking for your suggestion.

Autocar India team

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Yes, the Tata Punch Adventure AMT is an excellent option, given your requirements. It's tall with a high seating position, which gives you a commanding view out - great for a new driver, yet it's compact enough not to be intimidating around town. It will also feel like a good upgrade from your old Celerio.Since safety is also a consideration for you, the Punch has been given a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and gets 6 airbags as standard, plus a good amount of standard safety equipment. If there's a potential drawback, it's that the Punch's 1.2 petrol engine and AMT gearbox aren't the smoothest combination, and as a new driver, the jerkiness at low speeds is something you will have to learn to drive around.Also consider the Hyundai Exter SX Smart AMT and the Nissan Magnite Kuro AMT as well, as both have smoother powertrains than the Punch.

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VISHNUDAS P

4d

I want to buy an automatic car mainly for city use with a budget of around ₹10 lakh. I shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Ignis, but I have heard rumours that its production might be stopped. Is there any update on this, and what are some good alternatives to the Ignis?

Autocar India team

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Verified
1d

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is still in production. It is worth noting that the Ignis is a bit long in the tooth now, and sales are very low, especially so by Maruti standards. Thus, there could be a possibility of it being discontinued or updated. In any case, being a Maruti model that has been on sale for a while now, you would still be able to get it serviced for a fairly long period of time.If you are, however, worried about this, you could consider the Hyundai Exter and Tata Punch, which are two cars that will offer similar benefits of being compact, high-riding and available with an automatic transmission.

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Anushank

1d

I am planning to sell my Mahindra XUV500 as it is nearing the end of its registration validity in Delhi NCR, and I want to buy a 5-seater SUV under ₹10 lakh. My preference is for a fuel-efficient car as my daily running is around 100 km, but it should also be spacious enough for five people. Since fuel efficiency is a priority, I am open to both CNG and diesel cars. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway, mostly within Delhi NCR. I have narrowed my choices to the Maruti Brezza CNG, Tata Nexon CNG, Kia Sonet Diesel, and Maruti Fronx CNG. Please help me evaluate which would be the better option. I am also open to any other better option if available.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
13h

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

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Posted on: 6 Jan 2026