I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around 8 lakhs. I have shortlisted Nissan Magnite, Tata Punch, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno. My usage is around 70% city and 30% highway, and usually the car is used mostly on weekends. I currently own a Chevrolet Spark. I am leaning a little towards the Magnite because of the space it offers under the budget, but my father does not like any of the above. He is instead asking me to opt for a used car.

Anshuman Singh

•24w

You've correctly identified the Nissan Magnite as the most spacious of your three shortlisted options. Do note, the Nissan's naturally aspirated petrol engine delivers just adequate performance. This will not be an issue in town, but the lack of punch will be felt on highway drives.

Opting for a used option will give you more car for your money, but finding a good quality vehicle takes time. You could use established services to help in this regard. Within your budget of Rs 8 lakh, a well-kept Gen 4 Honda City could be an option worth considering.

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Latest questions in the community

Aadi

•1w

I am planning to buy a new car but am confused between the Tata Punch Pure Plus (2026), Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta, and Maruti Suzuki Fronx. My budget is around ₹8 lakh, but I can stretch it up to ₹9 lakh. My usage will include both city and highway driving, and at times, there will be three passengers seated in the rear. I am also considering increasing my budget further to buy a Tata Nexon, which has added to my confusion. Could you please help me choose the right option?

Autocar India

•1h

The new Tata Punch is a solid choice in the Rs 8 lakh budget; however, it is quite narrow, which means seating three in the back seat can be a bit tight. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is better in this regard, with a slightly wider and more comfortable rear seat, but do visit both showrooms and experience them yourself. Both cars are comparable in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Baleno’s four-cylinder engine is more refined than the Punch’s three-cylinder unit.Apart from the different body style and slightly raised suspension, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is essentially the same as the Baleno. Therefore, the main reason to upgrade to the Fronx is if you need the higher ground clearance or want the turbo-petrol engine, which is not available on the Baleno.Regarding the Tata Nexon, to get a reasonably well-equipped variant, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 10 lakh and opt for the Pure Plus petrol variant. For the additional money, you get an SUV body style, a roomier cabin with a better rear seat than the aforementioned options, and a turbo-petrol engine with much stronger performance. If it isn’t too much of a financial burden, it is worth stretching to get the Nexon. But if you want to stick to your budget, the Baleno remains a good choice.

PSR

I want to buy a petrol automatic SUV in the range of 17 to 18 lakh. I am considering the Grand Vitara Zeta AT, Victoris ZXI, and Creta S(O) IVT. My annual average usage is between 5000 and 6000km. Please suggest a good option among the three vehicles in terms of smooth journey, mileage, and maintenance cost.

Autocar India

•1h

The Hyundai Creta is the better all-rounder and offers more space, a stronger and smoother powertrain (1.5 P IVT) and marginally better comfort. However, given your priorities of mileage and maintenance costs, it's hard to beat Maruti Suzuki on these fronts.Whether you choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Victoris is a matter of preference (and which dealership is more accessible to you - Arena or Nexa), as they are essentially the same car underneath, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed AT gearbox. Despite using a torque converter automatic gearbox, which is not typically associated with good mileage, both Maruti SUVs offer exceptional fuel economy, and maintenance costs over the course of their lives will be among the lowest in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Nitin

•2d

For a chauffeur-driven family of 4, which is the more comfortable car under a ₹35 lakh budget: Innova HyCross, the Skoda Kodiaq 5-seater variant, or the Jeep Meridian 5-seater variant? Which one offers the best second-row legroom?

Autocar India

•3h

Of these three, your best bet is the Toyota Innova HyCross. Apart from being the most affordable of the three, its MPV shape allows for maximum interior space and flexibility, and it has the best second row. It's flexible, too, with seats that slide, fold and flip. This Toyota car also has the most comfortable suspension and will transport your family comfortably and relatively silently.The Skoda Kodiaq Lounge, sadly, is outside of your budget. Although it's more luxurious and equally refined, it's simply not as spacious as the Toyota.The Jeep Meridian has strong badge value and a luxurious interior, but it's not as spacious, comfortable or refined as the Innova Hycross. Both SUVs are high on road presence, but just can't match the packaging superiority of the Toyota MPV.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Skoda Kodiaq

Jeep Meridian

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