Hi, I currently own two cars - a 10-year-old Honda City VDi and a Maruti Ertiga VDi. Now, I want to buy a small car for daily commuting in Kolkata traffic. I’m looking for something reliable, easy to drive, and fuel-efficient. Which model(s) would you recommend and why?

•42w

Since your intended usage will be in Kolkata traffic, we don't recommend a diesel engine, like you have in your other two cars. Depending on your budget, you could consider a petrol car or even an EV. Among petrol cars, you could get a Maruti Swift under Rs 10 lakh, which is easygoing and efficient. And if you're after an EV, consider the MG Comet EV if you don't need a lot of space - its compact footprint makes it ideal for traffic. An EV will always have lower running costs and a smoother drive than a petrol car, which is helpful in traffic.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Swift

from ₹6.63 Lakh

Comet

from ₹8.15 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•5h

I am planning to buy a hatchback. We currently own a Swift ZDi AMT and an Ertiga ZXi AT. The Swift has done around 1,30,000 km, while the Ertiga has only 12,000 km on the odometer. I am based in Bangalore. I mainly use the Ertiga for my daily commute to work, which involves a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic and finding It difficult to drive Ertiga. I drive around 1,200-1,500 km per month, mostly for my daily office commute (around 20 km) and highway driving on weekends. I am considering trading in the Swift and upgrading to a new Swift ZXi+ AMT. My main priorities are hassle-free ownership and decent mileage. Before I finalise the Swift, are there any other hatchbacks that I should consider?

•3h

Given your priorities of hassle-free ownership, decent mileage and a comfortable city driving experience, the new Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi+ AMT is a sensible choice. The Swift is reliable, easy to drive in traffic and offers good fuel efficiency, which aligns well with your daily commute and weekend highway runs.However, since you already own an Ertiga, it is worth considering the recently-updated Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT as well. The Baleno offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot, more features and a more premium feel, making it a better all-rounder for both city and highway use. It is also easy to drive and delivers the same reliability and efficiency.If you are open to looking beyond Maruti, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another strong contender. It offers a comfortable ride, a well-built cabin and a smoother CVT automatic gearbox, making it well-suited to Bangalore's traffic conditions.Overall, the Swift remains a solid choice, but the Baleno AMT is worth serious consideration given its additional space and comfort.

Strong hybrids like the Hyryder seem to be quietly winning over buyers who were on the fence about full EVs. Do you think hybrids end up being the longer-term default in India?

•19h

Hello, I am planning to buy a sub-4 meter SUV. My budget is Rs. 10-11 lakh and my weekly running is 100-150 km. Please suggest me a budget friendly car.

•1h

With a weekly running of 100-150 km, your annual usage is relatively low, so a petrol engine makes the most sense. In your budget of Rs 10-11 lakh, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the strongest recommendation. It is one of the most spacious sub-4 metre SUVs, has a wide cabin that makes it a comfortable five-seater, and offers a strong turbo petrol engine that is both enjoyable to drive and efficient enough for your usage. It is also one of the safest cars in the segment.If you are looking for something more budget-friendly, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a very good alternative. It is reliable, easy to maintain and has Maruti's extensive service network, which keeps ownership costs low. It is also comfortable and well-suited to city driving. Between the two, the 3XO offers better space and a more modern package, while the Brezza is the safer long-term ownership bet.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•2d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•1d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

Kia Seltos

Tata Nexon

•5d

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•5d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•4d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

View all Posts

New car launches to explore