I would like to know which car I can buy under 8 lakhs (on-road price) for driving in Kolkata.

Autocar India

•9h

The answer depends on whether this will be your only car or a second car in the family. If this will be your only car, the Tata Tiago EV is the better choice. It is a proper hatchback with enough space for a small family, a usable boot and the ability to handle occasional highway trips comfortably. Your daily 50km commute is well within its capabilities, and it offers greater flexibility if your usage changes in the future. The Tiago EV is also available with Battery as a Service (BaaS).If you already have another car at home for longer journeys, then the MG Comet EV is worth considering. Its compact size makes it ideal for city driving, it is extremely easy to park and manoeuvre, and it is also available with BaaS schemes that lower the initial purchase price.

Tata Tiago EV

MG Comet

Autocar India

•10h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•9h

Pick the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid. With four adults, a baby and a puppy, it is the one that effortlessly takes people, pram, diaper bag and a dog together, and still feels easy to drive in the city. Your 60 km daily run suits its strong hybrid well - expect real city mileage in the mid teens, so fuel costs drop sharply without any charging hassle, and long trips are a breeze.It also complements your Slavia 1.5 nicely. Keep the Slavia for the fun drives, let the HyCross do family duty with a quiet, smooth automatic and a big, usable boot. Fold the third row and you get a flat, huge space for a dog bed or crate plus luggage.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Slavia