Mumbai

•13w

Hi Autocar Team, I currently own a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel, which I plan to keep for highway trips, long-distance travel and as a backup vehicle. I am looking to buy a second car purely as a city EV for Chennai, with a budget of around Rs 15 lakh on-road, though I can stretch slightly if justified. My typical usage includes daily city driving, client meetings, airport runs and occasional family outings. I drive around 10,000km per year and usually keep my cars for 7-9 years or until they reach around 1 lakh kilometres. My priorities are: ride comfort and suspension, reliability over 7-9 years, battery warranty and long-term ownership confidence, service network and availability of parts, ease of driving and parking in city traffic, resale value after 7-9 years, and real-world range of at least 300km. I have already test-driven several EVs, including the Mahindra BE 6, Hyundai Creta EV, Kia Carens EV, MG ZS EV, Maruti e Vitara and VinFast VF 6. While I liked the Mahindra and VinFast products, I am now wondering whether a smaller and more affordable EV makes more sense since I already have the Ciaz for highway duties. Which EV would you recommend as the best secondary city car for long-term ownership in India today? Would you choose the Tata Punch EV, Nexon EV, Tiago EV, MG Windsor EV or another option altogether? Looking forward to your advice.

•12w

Pick the Tata Nexon EV 45kWh. For a Chennai city car, it rides over broken roads better than most, slips into tight parking spaces, and still delivers over 300km on a single charge. You already have the Ciaz for highway duties, so the Nexon EV’s size, light steering and good visibility make daily client visits and airport runs stress-free.

For long-term ownership, Tata’s EV footprint is the widest in India today, with parts and service support across most cities, and the 8-year/1.6 lakh km battery warranty aligns well with your 7-9 year ownership plan. The battery chemistry also handles heat well, which matters in Chennai. Running costs remain low, and strong demand should help resale values compared to many other EVs.

The Punch EV and Tiago EV are good options too, but they will fall well short of your requirement of 300km-plus on a single charge. The MG Windsor EV is worth considering if you want a more spacious cabin, though the real-world range of this MPV is not as strong as the Nexon EV’s.

One honest niggle: Tata’s service quality can be inconsistent, so make sure you choose a good dealer with a strong reputation.

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•1w

I currently own a 2021 Maruti Suzuki Ertiga petrol, which has covered around 85,000 km and delivers approximately 7-8 km/l in city driving. Due to rising fuel costs, I am considering switching to a CNG car. I plan to sell my Ertiga before buying the new car. Since my children are now in college, I no longer need a 7-seater. I am specifically looking for a CNG + AMT combination, as I am 48 years old and feel an automatic transmission would make frequent city driving less tiring. The cars I am considering are: Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT, Tata Altroz Creative S CNG AMT, Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi CNG, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta CNG The Tata Punch is currently my preferred choice. I also considered the Brezza, but its lack of a proper spare wheel concerns me, as I have experienced several tyre punctures in the past. My maximum budget is Rs. 14 lakh. I am also unsure whether an EV would suit me within this budget, as I do not want to deal with range anxiety at this stage. Based on your road tests, which car would you recommend? Is the Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT the best choice for my requirements, or should I consider another option?

•2d

Given your requirements, the Tata Punch Adventure S CNG AMT is a sensible choice. The Punch is a well-packaged city car with a rugged stance and a practical CNG installation. Its AMT gets you the convenience of an automatic, especially for city use. Sure, outright performance isn't very strong, and you will have to carefully plan fast overtakes on the highway. However, if you're a sedate driver and generally drive at speeds below 90kph, the Punch CNG AMT will serve your needs well.If you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is also an excellent option that'll easily fall into your budget. The electric car’sperformance will be stronger and more seamless. Your running costs will be lower than the CNG version, and it should easily give you a real-world range of 280- 300 km, which should be more than adequate for your daily commuting.

Tata Punch

Tata Punch EV

•6d

I am looking for an EV under Rs. 14 lakh that I plan to buy in 2027 (Q1). The car should have good range, basic features, and should be more spacious than Tata Punch but cheaper than the Windsor. Basically, I want an EV that is as spacious as Baleno/i20/Altroz. Are there any upcoming EVs in 2026 or early 2027 that might fit my budget?

•3d

Yes, since you are planning to buy an EV in 2027 (Q1), we will advice you to wait for upcoming Hyundai compact EV. This new compact electric SUV is based on Hyundai’s E-GMP (K) platform and is expected to arrive by the end of 2026. It will sit below the Creta Electric and directly target the Punch EV/Nexon EV space.For your requirement, this is particularly interesting because Hyundai is expected to offer two battery options, with the larger one potentially giving a claimed range around the 400km mark. The India-spec car is also expected to be well equipped, with Hyundai confirming Level 2 ADAS and OTA capability.The bigger question will be pricing. Hyundai has indicated that this will be its more affordable, locally produced EV, so there is a reasonable chance of it fitting around your Rs. 14 lakh ceiling, although the exact variant pricing is not yet known.Since you are buying only in Q1 2027, waiting makes complete sense. The Hyundai compact EV should offer a better combination of cabin space, range and features than the Punch EV, while potentially undercutting the Windsor. It is easily the most relevant upcoming EV for your requirements.

Hyundai Creta Electric

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.

•3d

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.

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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.

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•4d

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.

•4d

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 want to buy my second car, an SUV, within a 15 lakh to 17 lakh budget. I drive occasionally in hilly areas and on highways. Suggest a car in my budget?

•3d

Considering your budget and usage pattern, the Skoda Kushaq Signature 1.0 MT is the best fit. It is one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs in this price range, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-sorted chassis that gives you confidence on winding hill roads and highways. The Skoda Kushaq also offers good ride comfort, a solid build and a premium feel inside the cabin. You'll just have to be content with missing some features compared to the top-spec Kushaq Monte Carlo.If you want a more feature-rich and value-focused option, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7 Luxury petrol is also worth considering. It offers a roomy cabin, more features than the Kushaq Signature and a strong 1.2 turbo petrol engine as well. However, the Kushaq is a larger car and feels more enjoyable to drive.

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