Autocar India
16w

I want to buy an automatic car. My daily running is around 100 km, with 90% highway use and 10% city driving. I am confused between the Tata Punch CNG AMT and the Kia Sonet Diesel AT. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice for my usage.

Verified
16w

Given you drive 100 km a day and mostly on the highway, the Kia Sonet diesel automatic fits your use case better. The torquier diesel engine means it pulls effortlessly, so overtakes are easy, and it cruises calmly for long stretches. Kia Sonet mileage ranges from 18.6kpl to 24.1kpl, depending on the engine and transmission combination.

The Sonet is also a proper, smooth torque converter automatic compared to the Punch's AMT, so it'll be more seamless to drive with fewer jerks and less effort in slow traffic. On long runs, the bigger tank of the diesel cars gives a longer range, so you stop less for fuel.

The Tata Punch CNG with automatic suits city-heavy use and those who want the lowest fuel cost, but on the highway, it feels slower, and you need to plan every pass. CNG pumps on many highways are still fewer than diesel, the filling takes longer, and you have to contend with the queues usually seen at CNG pumps. 

Trade-offs with the Sonet: it costs more upfront, and the diesel is a bit louder than a petrol or CNG. Even so, for your high daily highway run, the Sonet diesel automatic lines up best.

Kia Sonet

Kia Sonet

15w

Hi, upon reading this I feel going for an electric as a better idea. As I also need to travel about 140kms a day. My friend is already doing that. He owns a tata curvv ev 55kwh battery one. Of course now even it's base variant offers the same battery. If your daily travelling is just 100kms you can even consider a tiago ev. Better is punch ev.. With punch long range you can cover 300kms with single charge. Per kilometre cost reduces significantly compared to cng as well. Per kilometre it can cost around 1.5-2rupees.which is best. Better don't opt for BaAs

16w

Hi. I’m planning to buy a car for my family of 4. Budjet is 11.5lakhs, confused between Tata Punch, Honda Amaze, kiger, Magnite, hyundai exter: I am very much confused

More posts on similar cars

2d

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of Rs 25 lakh. I currently drive a 2021 Kia Sonet DCT and am quite interested in the Thar Roxx. However, around 80% of my driving is in Hyderabad’s heavy traffic. Is the Thar Roxx a good choice for my usage, or are there other options worth considering?

Verified
1d

With 80 percent of your driving in Hyderabad's heavy traffic, the Mahindra Thar Roxx is not the most sensible upgrade from your Kia Sonet DCT. The Thar Roxx is a lifestyle SUV with a rugged, off-road-focused character, and while it is great fun on trails and highways, it is not the most comfortable or practical daily driver in dense city traffic. The ride is firm, the turning circle is large, and the overall driving experience can become tiring in stop-and-go conditions.Given your budget of Rs 25 lakh, a more practical upgrade would be something like the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta. Both offer a significant step up in space, comfort and refinement over the Sonet, and are far better suited to daily city driving while still being capable on highways. If you are looking for something with a bit more character, the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun are also worth considering, especially if you enjoy driving.If you are still drawn to the Thar Roxx for its lifestyle appeal, it is best approached as a second car rather than a primary daily driver. For your usage pattern, prioritising comfort, ease of driving and practicality will make you much happier over the long term.

VehicleKia Seltos
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VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
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Posted on: 17 May 2026