I am planning to buy a new car. My annual income is Rs 7 lakh, and my job is 15 km from home. Which car should I buy among SUVs?

Autocar India

•2h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Celerio AMT as your first car. It is the easiest and most stress-free automatic car to start with. The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R AMT is the second option if you want more space and height.As a beginner coming from a bike, the Celerio makes the most sense. It is compact, very easy to drive and has light controls, which builds confidence quickly in traffic. The AMT gearbox is simple to use and removes clutch stress completely. It is also extremely efficient, which keeps running costs low. Visibility is good, and its size is perfect for tight city driving and parking, where new drivers usually struggle.The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is the better choice if your height and comfort are a priority. At 180 cm, you will appreciate its tall-boy design. You sit more upright, get better headroom and easier ingress and egress. It also feels more spacious overall, especially for rear passengers. However, the Celerio looks more modern and is slightly easier to handle.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•20h

For a family of four, mostly short city trips with only rare highway runs and ₹10-12 lakh cap, I’d pick the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT. It suits easy city driving with the AMT, so stop-go traffic is much less tiring. The high seat and compact size make it simple to park, and you get a clear view of the road. It rides well over broken roads and tall speed breakers, which helps on daily runs. With your very low monthly use, petrol is the right choice, and this Tata car feels solid and safe, which adds peace of mind when you do head out of town.Know a couple of trade-offs: The AMT can feel a little jerky at very low speeds, especially when you lift off and come to a stop. Also, the engine is fine for the city but not very quick for fast highway passes. Since your highway use is rare, so this should not bother you.If you want a slightly more refined engine, the Hyundai Exter is a good bet, and its AMT is a bit smoother too. If you prefer a low, wider car with a smoother highway feel and a bigger boot for family luggage, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AMT is a strong alternative.Overall, for your city-first use and budget, the Punch Accomplished AMT lines up best.

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•35m

Your confusion is valid. The Tata Punch gives you the convenience of an AMT, but the Fronx is simply the more complete car in everyday use. It is more refined, more stable on highways and more comfortable for longer drives, which matters because you are doing regular outstation trips. It is also bigger, with better legroom and a longer wheelbase, so it feels more like an upgrade from your Wagon R.On efficiency, both are strong, but the Maruti Suzuki Fronx edges ahead on ARAI figures. It also offers better boot usability and overall practicality, which matters when you travel.Coming to the Punch, its biggest advantage is clear. The CNG plus AMT combination makes city driving very easy and removes clutch effort completely. It is also safer on paper, with a strong crash rating, which adds peace of mind. However, it is a smaller car, less spacious and not as comfortable. Compared to the Fronx, the engine is also less refined and not as punchy.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R