Delhi

•12w

Hi Autocar team! I’m a first-time driver looking for a small car for my little family. My budget is under Rs 8 lakh. I’ve currently shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Hyundai Exter, and Hyundai Grand i10 Nios. Which of these would be the best choice for me, or is there another car you would suggest?

•12w

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios would be the best choice for your requirements. As a first-time driver, you'll appreciate its smooth four cylinder petrol engine, light steering, excellent visibility and easy driving manners. It also feels more refined than the Celerio and offers a more premium cabin, making it a car you'll be happy to live with for many years.

If your budget stretches closer to Rs 8 lakh, the Hyundai Exter is worth considering. It gives you SUV styling, higher ground clearance and a higher seating position, which many first-time drivers find more confidence inspiring. It is also better suited if you regularly encounter bad roads or large speed breakers.

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio remains an excellent option if fuel efficiency is your biggest priority. It is inexpensive to own and extremely frugal, but it doesn't feel as premium or as comfortable as the Hyundai pair.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Grand i10 Nios

from ₹6.08 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Celerio

from ₹5.10 Lakh

Hyundai

Exter

from ₹6.31 Lakh

•11w•

go for tiago ev as there is a chance gov will jump to e30

•11w•

Go for Hyundai Grand i10 nios. I am also having the same and loving it even the mileage part.

•12w•

Confused between the brezza turbo petro vs Zeta Baleno petrol ...use case scenario navimumbai to BKC 5 day commute and family Sunday rides?

•12w•

Creta owner · 19,800 km

@jerry.1

Must go for Maruti Brezza Turbo Petrol. Its higher seating position, more comfortable ride, and better ability to handle varied road conditions make it the more practical all-round choice.

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•2d

We are planning to buy a Hyundai Exter HX8, but we are confused about whether we should buy a petrol automatic or a CNG manual, as our daily running is about 38 to 42 km. And my wife also wants to drive, but she is not confident with a manual car. Also, for the daily commute, we mostly use our scooty, and we mostly use our car in the rainy season and on special occasions.

•1d

Your average daily running of 40km and a monthly running of 1200km isn't much to justify the premium you would pay for a Hyundai Exter CNG over the petrol-manual version. On the other hand, the AMT gets you the convenience of an automatic without compromising fuel efficiency significantly (compared to the manual version), so it is certainly worth paying for; even more so, since your wife isn't comfortable driving a manual. If you're open to other options and absolutely want CNG along with the convenience of an automatic, consider the Tata Punch CNG AMT or the Maruti Baleno CNG AMT.

Hi Autocar team, I’m looking to buy a Kia Syros EV. At present, I have a six-year-old Honda WR-V diesel. Is the Syros EV a good choice? I’ve test-driven it and am satisfied with its performance and legroom. I’d also appreciate your suggestions on which variant to choose.

•6h

The Kia Syros EV makes sense as an upgrade from your Honda WR-V diesel, especially since you have already driven it and are happy with its performance and legroom. For the variant, we would look at the HTX, which gets useful comfort and practicality features such as sliding and reclining rear seats, a rear centre armrest and a 60:40 split rear seat. It is available with both the 42kWh and larger 51.4kWh battery, so you can choose based on your range requirements and budget.The HTK+ is worth considering if you want to keep costs down, but it misses out on the sliding rear seat and some of the other comfort features. The HTX+ adds ventilated front seats, a powered driver’s seat and a premium audio system, but costs more. The top X-Line adds ADAS and other cosmetic features that may not be essential for everyone.

Kia Syros EV

•1w

I’m confused between the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXI+ AMT and Honda Amaze VX CVT for my first family car. Both have an on-road price of around Rs. 11 lakh. But, the Dzire offers more features, including a 360° camera, sunroof, and TPMS, while the Amaze has a CVT transmission and a good reputation for reliability. Which one would you recommend for a first family car?

•16h

For a first family car, we would lean towards the Honda Amaze VX CVT. Its CVT is noticeably smoother than the Dzire’s AMT, especially in stop start traffic, and the more relaxed transmission makes it easier to live with. The Amaze also has a larger 416 litre boot, which is useful for family trips.The Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi+ AMT counters with more features, including a 360 degree camera, sunroof and TPMS, along with better fuel efficiency. However, its AMT has noticeable pauses between gear shifts, whereas the Amaze’s CVT feels more seamless.

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

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•1w

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•6d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•6d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•5d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•3d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•3d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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