autocar-logo
Mumbai
TU

Tuhin

•3d

Hi team, please suggest a car to purchase with the following factors. I'm a first-time buyer, with a budget of ₹10-12 lakh. Safety is my first priority. Petrol with AMT, 360-degree camera, 30% city and 70% highway usage, family car.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•8m
The Tata Nexon would suit you well. It has a host of safety features like 6 airbags and electronic stability program (ESP), and has earned a 5-star safety rating from both Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP for adult and child occupant protection in the crash testing protocol.
As safety is your first priority, the Nexon would do you well. Since you want a car with a 360-degree camera, opt for the Creative trim, which will come in around your budget. The Nexon also has a good and stable ride, which at higher speeds has good body control, so your highway drives would be safe and comfortable too.
Tata Nexon

Tata Nexon

Explore cars mentioned

Tata Nexon

Tata

Nexon

from ₹8.61 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Recommended questions for you

GA

Gaurav

•1d

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 team

Autocar India

Verified
•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.

VehicleTata Nexon
SH

Shivaji

•2w

I am planning to replace my current car and would appreciate your expert advice. I currently drive a Maruti Suzuki Ritz, and over the past 10 years, I have driven around 65,000 km, so my usage is relatively low. I mainly use the car occasionally on weekends and for highway trips, rather than daily commuting. My key reasons for upgrading are better safety and improved comfort. I live in Bengaluru, so city traffic and parking are also important factors. I am currently confused between two options: the Tata Nexon top-end variant with DCA (automatic), so my wife can drive it easily, and the Tata Sierra mid variant (likely Pure Plus manual) due to budget constraints. Could you please advise which would be the better choice for my needs?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Given your requirements, the Tata Nexon DCA is the better option. The Nexon's smaller size will make it easier to drive and park in the city. There's also the convenience of the DCA or dual-clutch automatic, which will really take away much stress from driving. Do note that while the Nexon is a good choice, it's not the best option in the segment. We would recommend you also check out petrol-automatic versions of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Skoda Kylaq that offer punchier performance, which you will appreciate on highway drives. You could check out our comprehensive comparison to find the model that will fit your needs best - https://youtu.be/eHhFbfwYADo

VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleHyundai New Venue
VehicleKia Sonet
VehicleKia Syros
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
DA

Dinesh Aruru

•3d

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 team

Autocar India

Verified
•37m

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.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis

View all Posts

Posted on: 20 Mar 2026