Mumbai

•23w

I want to buy a new car. It should be a small car, with a monthly running of up to 150km, mostly for city driving. I earlier owned a Maruti 800, but since my height is 6ft 2in, it was uncomfortable to sit and drive, so I sold it long ago. Budget is not a constraint. Please suggest a good value-for-money option.

•23w

It will be better if you go for an SUV; even small SUVs will give you better headroom. In the small car segment, you can look at the Tata Punch, which has wide-opening doors, making ingress and egress easier, good headroom, and an adjustable headrest can also add to your comfort.

This Tata car also gets a spacious cabin, lots of features, a 5-star safety rating, and is widely popular, so you get better resale value, too.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Punch

from ₹6.68 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•22h

I am 73 years old. With our children living abroad, I am looking to buy an automatic car that both my spouse and I can drive comfortably. I have shortlisted the Hyundai Exter, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. Ease of driving in traffic and parking are important factors for us. My budget is around Rs. 10 lakh. Our current vehicle is a Hyundai i10. Considering our requirements, which of these would be the best choice? Thank you.

•4h

Since you already have a Hyundai i10, we would recommend moving up to another Hyundai, so that you continue in the same service network. You can even try and ask your dealership for a loyalty bonus or exchange offer at the time of purchase. While the Grand i10 Nios comes across as the VFM choice, in that you can get a fully loaded Asta AMT variant well within your Rs. 10 lakh budget. If that's okay with you, it should still feel like a sufficient upgrade from your older i10, with considerably more space. However, a real update would be the Exter, which though based on the Grand i10 Nios, is newer, more spacious and crucially gets you a bit more ground clearance as a buffer against poor roads. Ingress and egress are easy in the Nios but easier still in the Exter, and it recently got an update which has kept things relatively fresh. The downside is you won't get a fully loaded AMT variant in your budget, but you don't miss out on too much. Another alternative is the Tata Punch, which feels a bit more solid, but its powertrain is nowhere as smooth as the Hyundai's 1.2-litre petrol and AMT combination.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

•2d

I'm considering buying a Triumph Scrambler 400 X. However, the government's fuel-blending policies have made me reconsider my decision. Can we assume that E20 fuel will continue to be available over the next few years? Also, if higher ethanol blending levels, such as E30, are mandated in the future, would that have any significant impact on the motorcycle?

•1h

For the short to mid-term, E20 will be the current baseline blend of petrol available on a nationwide scale. Speaking strictly about material compatibility, E20 machines should be able to handle up to E30 fuel with the fuel tank, rubber seals, gaskets and hoses all ready to support the higher blend. What will need recalibration is the ECU to handle the higher ethanol content in the fuel, which is something that will have to come from the manufacturer.

•3d

I am looking to buy an SUV under Rs 25 lakh with good comfort, a powerful engine, plenty of features and strong road presence. I do not like the look of the Mahindra XUV 7XO or Scorpio N. I am currently leaning towards the Thar Roxx. Are there any better options? I am open to EVs as well.

•5h

The Thar Roxx is a good choice if you are prioritising road presence. It has strong engines, good performance and is well equipped. It is also reasonably comfortable for a ladder-frame SUV. However, it cannot match the XUV 7XO in terms of passenger comfort and ride quality.Alternatively, you could consider the Tata Safari or the Harrier if you do not need seven seats. They ride well on bad roads, have comfortable cabins, and offer the broad-shouldered stance you are after. The 2.0-litre diesel has strong torque for quick highway overtakes and hill driving, and the automatic makes traffic easy to deal with.The Thar Roxx looks great and is brilliant off-road, but in daily use, the ride is busier, the rear seat is tighter, and the boot is smaller.If you want a petrol SUV with a more tech-heavy feel, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol automatic is also a solid choice within your budget, but it will not have the same road presence as the Harrier or the Roxx.

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•4d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

•1w

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•5d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

Tata Altroz

Honda Amaze

•4d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•3d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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Posted on: 8 Jan 2026