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

•4h

This isn’t normal on a brand-new Punch Turbo; book an immediate inspection and avoid driving it till they check it.Visible white smoke from the bonnet with a burnt smell right after the first drive points to oil or coolant touching a hot exhaust or turbo, or a loose clamp. A slipping clutch can create a burnt smell, but it rarely causes visible smoke on a day-one car unless something is already wrong, so the half-clutch explanation sounds like deflection. There is one harmless case, thin coatings or a bit of fluid spilled during prep can burn off and give a faint smell or light wisps for the first few kilometres, but that should fade quickly and not produce sustained smoke.Park it, look for any fresh wet spots under the car, and check the coolant level once the engine is fully cold. Note where the smoke seemed to start, especially front right near the turbo and exhaust, and record a short clip if it happens again. Take it back to the dealer, ask for a job card, and have them check for leaks, loose hose clamps, or clutch issues under warranty. Do not accept “driving style” as the only answer on day one.

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2h

Push back politely and tie full payment to a supervised PDI before registration; most dealers agree when money is on the line. With an EV, you want to catch battery, charging and software issues early, and once it is registered, a swap becomes far harder. Ask for the VIN and Form 22 by email and propose a 30-minute supervised inspection with your inspector at their yard, with their staff present, no photos of other cars, and you signing an indemnity. If they won’t allow yard entry, ask for the same PDI in their workshop or delivery bay before invoicing and registration. Put this in writing on the booking email: PDI by customer or professional, before invoicing, with the right to reject allocation if defects are found. Make the PDI EV-specific: check odometer is low, no warning lights, charge port door and latch, both charging cables present, wallbox details noted, AC charging demoed for a few minutes, app pairing works, software version recorded, panel gaps and paint closely inspected. If the sales rep still says no, escalate to the dealer principal and the carmaker’s customer care with your written request. Be ready to switch dealers. The only real downside is it can delay delivery a bit.

Autocar India

•3h

Get the Skoda Slavia 1.0 automatic. Its 6-speed auto is the smoothest in this price band, it has the best front seat space and headroom for tall drivers, and it’s genuinely nice to drive without feeling tired in the city.At 6'1", you will sit comfortably with a relaxed knee angle and good visibility, and the steering and pedal position suit long legs. The engine is quiet in traffic, but has enough pull for quick overtakes on the highway. Ride is absorbent, so bad patches will not beat you up, and the boot is huge for weekend trips. Expect roughly 12-14kpl in mixed use.The only catch is the lower automatic trims are simpler inside and you may have to stretch slightly on-road beyond Rs. 15 lakh depending on your city. If you can, go one trim up for better kit. Also in just about two to three months, Skoda will release an updated version so if you can wait, we would recommend you do so.

Skoda Slavia