We are a family of 6 adults and 3 kids (12 years, 8 years and 6 years). We have been using second-hand cars for the past 8-9 years. First XUV500 W5 and then XUV500 W11 sunroof. We are now looking to buy a new car. A diesel automatic with good fuel economy is my primary requirement. It will mostly be driven on weekends. The maximum budget is ₹21 lakh. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•5m

Since you will need a usable third row, the Kia Carens Clavis is a good fit for you. It is spacious, practical and comfortable across all three rows. However, it can only seat seven, so if you must travel with all nine members of the family, you will need a second car.

The diesel automatic is available in the fully loaded HTK Plus trim and fits within your budget. The 116hp diesel is a tried-and-tested engine with superb cruising abilities. It is not particularly responsive or quick, but once it builds up speed on the highway, it can cruise all day comfortably without complaints. It may feel sluggish with a full load or while climbing steep inclines, but in regular driving, it works perfectly well.

It is fuel-efficient, too. During our first drive, we regularly saw a MID-indicated 15-16kpl on the highway. Before you decide, visit the showroom with family members in tow to ensure everyone is comfortable and that the performance meets your needs.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.27 Lakh

Recommended questions for you

Satish Nagaraj

•3d

Planning to buy an automatic hatchback under ₹11 lakh. Please advise which is the best in terms of ride, mileage, smoothness, etc.

Autocar India

•36m

There's actually quite a variety of automatic hatchbacks within your budget. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno and its twin, the Toyota Glanza, are well-rounded products. Good ride comfort and excellent fuel economy are highlights, and the AMT gearbox is good enough for average driving. However, gearshifts aren't the smoothest, and you'll feel this over a quick overtaking manoeuvre. If you are open to the Citroen brand, the C3 is a great option. Its 1.2-litre engine and torque converter auto gearbox combo is excellent, and ride comfort is also very good.You could also look at the Tata Altroz DCA in Creative S trim. The dual-clutch auto gearbox is very smooth and well-suited to city use. There's also a toughness to the package that gives great confidence at highway speeds.We are also fans of the smooth and polished Hyundai i20 CVT, but the Sportz(O) that fits your budget isn't an ideal choice as it misses out on the safety of a rear wiper. Finally, if you have the option to install an EV charger at home or office, the Tata Tiago EV is also an option to consider. Being all-electric, it's super smooth and very refined. However, it works best as a city car.

Gaurav

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a compact SUV in the budget of ₹8-12 lakh. My preferences are a fuel-efficient and safe car.

Autocar India

•1h

Pick the Tata Nexon as it directly matches your two priorities. Safety first: the Nexon is well-equipped with many safety features, and it has also secured a 5‑star crash safety rating in both the GNCAP and BNCAP tests. As for efficiency, if you drive a lot, about 1500km a month, you can opt for the diesel. If not, the 1.2 petrol will be fine and deliver decent mileage. The ARAI claimed figure is around 17 kpl, and with a light foot in the city, you can expect roughly 11-13 kpl.The Nexon also sits neatly within your budget, and you could get a fairly well-equipped version too. What's more is that the Nexon has been on sale for about a decade now and Tata Motors has made many functional as well as reliability improvements, and newer Nexon have been known to be quite reliable.

Tata Nexon

Vin

•1d

I want to buy a new car for my grandparents, which will mostly be driven by a driver (they will mostly use the backseat). They currently use a Honda City. The running is around 300km per month, only in the city. I would not want a car that is high, since it will be difficult for them to get in, but still a good car that I can use for my business meetings when I am in town (2-3 days a month). Do not want another Honda City, as it seems boring to me now. I don't need ADAS, it's not meant for Indian roads yet. Please suggest a good car in a similar budget to the Honda City (let's say around 20 lakh).

Autocar India

•1h

If you want something that is comfortable for your grandparents in the rear seat and also fun to drive when you take the wheel, we would suggest considering the Volkswagen Virtus.The Virtus sits at a comfortable height, not too low and not too tall, which makes it easy to get in and out of, especially for elderly passengers. The rear seats are well-contoured and supportive for two people, so your grandparents will be comfortable when they are being driven around. The ride quality is also comfortable, which suits city usage well.At the same time, this Volkswagen car is also very engaging to drive. If you can stretch your budget a bit, the 1.5-litre TSI engine is smoother, more powerful and great fun behind the wheel. The 1.0-litre engine is also good and has enough performance if you want to stay within budget.You can also look at the Skoda Slavia, which is essentially the same car with some cosmetic differences, in case you prefer Skoda.One thing to keep in mind is that both these cars are expected to get an update soon, which could mean good deals on the current models if you are not looking to wait.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

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