I have a monthly office commute of 1,500km. Currently, I travel to the office by bike, but due to safety reasons, I am planning to buy a car. My route involves 40% city traffic, 40% tarmac roads through villages, and 20% undeveloped, hilly, rocky roads. There will also be weekend city trips with a family of five and 5-7 long trips annually. Please suggest a car that will be suitable for these conditions. My budget is below Rs. 10 lakh. I prefer a manual transmission as I believe it returns better mileage.

autocar.india

•2h

The MG ZS EV is still worth buying today, especially at the heavily reduced prices being offered currently. Yes, MG is working on a replacement for both the Astor and ZS EV, but that car is not around the corner. The replacement is expected only around 2027 and will be based on an all-new modular platform with newer technology and powertrain options.For your use case, that shouldn't be a deal breaker. Your daily commute is only 50km, which the ZS EV can handle effortlessly. More importantly, the current discounts significantly improve the value proposition. The money you're saving today will likely offset a large part of the depreciation hit associated with buying a model that is approaching the end of its lifecycle.The ZS EV also remains a very competent EV. It has a proven powertrain, a comfortable ride, good performance and a feature-rich cabin.

MG ZS EV

MG Astor

autocar.india

•3h

Yes, you can pick the MG Hector petrol automatic, especially with your limited usage. It is very easy to drive, the automatic is smooth, and the cabin is wide and comfortable for family trips. For short, infrequent drives, petrol makes more sense than diesel and the Hector’s soft ride takes bad roads well.Be ready for two things. The petrol automatic Hector usually sits a bit above Rs. 20 lakh on-road in most cities, so keep a small buffer. And in city traffic, you will likely see around 8-11kpl, but it will be fine for your low running. Also remember it is a big SUV, so parking in tight spots can feel bulky.If you go ahead, the lower automatic variant is enough for your usage and budget; no need to pay extra for fancy tech you will barely use. MG’s service is decent in major cities, but resale is weaker than the usual best-sellers, so plan to keep it longer. Also if you can wait until the festive season, there's likely to be some news about a updated Hector and that would be worth the wait.

MG Hector

autocar.india

•4h

For your relatively high running and goal of reducing running costs, a diesel is probably your best pick. At 3,100 km a month, diesel will cut your per-km cost far more than petrol, and you can get a well equipped manual within Rs. 12 lakh within your shortlist. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel and Kia Sonet diesel are booth good options. Bear in mind, however, that you will have to take a few extra steps for diesel engine maintenance, such as occasional Adblue top-ups and high-speed runs to regenerate the DPF.The XUV 3XO has the stronger engine, more spacious cabin and comfier suspension, whereas the Kia Sonet offers better mileage, interior quality and refinement. Another good option is the Hyundai Venue diesel, which is the best all rounder, and offers a fair mix between the XUV 3XO and Sonet. However, it is more expensive, and you will have to stretch your budget slightly to get some features.The Brezza is a good option too, but there is no diesel, and while you can opt for CNG, you will experience a power deficit in the process. Downsides of CNG include long waits at the pump, and a CNG tank that compromises boot space. If you are fine with this, it's a good alternative, but bear in mind, there is a facelift of the Brezza coming out soon, so it might be worthwhile waiting for that.The Punch EV 40kWh would be the absolute cheapest to run, but will push the limits of your budget and only makes sense if you have home charging. All considered, the XUV 3XO or Sonet diesel are your best options.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai Venue