Autocar India
•7w

I want to buy an SUV-type CNG car in a budget of Rs 12-13 lakh. It would be ideal if I could get a CNG model with an automatic transmission. What are the good options for me?

Verified
•6w
If you want a CNG SUV with an automatic gearbox, the options are limited. In your budget of Rs 12-13 lakh, the Tata Punch CNG AMT is the best option. It is a well-rounded sub-compact SUV with a dual-tank CNG system, good ride comfort and the AMT you want. The drawback is that the powertrain isn't the most refined, and the AMT has a noticeable pause between shifts.
If you are open to a manual, then the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG is a better bet. Its engine is more refined; it is a larger car, so it feels roomier inside, and it has an underfloor CNG tank, so boot space is not affected.
Tata Punch

Tata Punch

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•1d

I am looking for a car with a budget below Rs 10 lakh. My usage will be mostly on highways, with a 500-600 km trip to my native place and back from Bangalore approximately once every two months. I don’t need the car much for daily city commuting, as my office is nearby. I have shortlisted the Maruti Swift, Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza, and Hyundai i20. Considering my usage, I would like to know which car would be the best overall, especially in terms of: Highway comfort and stability Low body roll Low driver/passenger fatigue on long journeys Comfortable suspension and seats Highway performance and overtaking ability Safety and build quality Fuel efficiency Ease of driving for a beginner If there are any other cars under Rs 10 lakh that you think would suit my requirements better, please suggest those as well. I would like to keep them in consideration.

Verified
•1d

For your usage pattern, the Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza would be the most sensible choices. Both cars are essentially the same underneath, so the decision comes down to dealership experience and after-sales support in your area. The Baleno/Glanza offer a more spacious cabin than the Maruti Suzuki Swift, making them better suited to long-distance highway runs, and now get the same 3-cylinder engine too - the Toyota Glanza facelift is soon to launch. The suspension is well-tuned for Indian roads, and the seats are comfortable enough for extended journeys, which will help reduce fatigue on your 500-600 km trips.The Hyundai i20 is also a strong contender, with a more premium interior and a slightly more planted feel at higher speeds. However, the Baleno/Glanza has a more spacious rear seat and better fuel efficiency, which makes it a more practical choice for your requirements. In terms of safety, all three cars offer similar levels of equipment, but this Hyundai Car feels slightly more solidly built.If you are open to considering other options, the Tata Altroz is worth a look. It has a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating, a solid build, and good highway stability. And if you stretch your budget slightly, you can get the diesel engine, which will be hugely beneficial on the highway in terms of performance and mileage, and is also better than the Altroz's own petrol engine.It's worth noting that all the hatchbacks you've shortlisted use naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engines, which, though adequate, might feel lacking out on the highway, where you will do most of your driving. Thus, we would also recommend checking out some turbo-petrol options that fall in your price range, such as the Nissan Magnite, Renault Kiger, Renault Triber, Hyundai i20 N-Line and Tata Punch, which all meet your needs well.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleToyota Glanza
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift
VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleTata Altroz
VehicleNissan Magnite
VehicleRenault Kiger
VehicleRenault Triber
VehicleTata Punch
•3d

My mom is looking for a car to replace our Ignis AMT. Although the main use is a daily commute of 15km in town, we need a car that provides good comfort for four people on trips of up to 250km. We looked at the Tata Punch and Nexon EV, but the general service issues with Tata are concerning. The budget is around Rs 16-17 lakh on-road. Is it worth waiting for the upcoming Bayon? Is the 1.5-litre + IVT combination known to be fuel-efficient in the city?

Verified
•2d

The Tata Punch and Tata Nexon EV are both good products, but your concern about service is valid. Tata’s service experience can still be inconsistent depending on the city and dealership, and for a family car that will be used on longer trips, that peace of mind matters. The Punch might be too cramped for four to use regularly, so the Nexon is the better bet here. Furthermore, an electric car only makes sense if you have home charging, and though your occasional 250km road trip is within the car's real-world range, a seamless road trip is highly dependent on the availability and reliability of public charging, which varies.The upcoming Hyundai Bayon is certainly worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be positioned between the Hyundai Venue and Hyundai Creta, and the 1.5 petrol with IVT is a proven and reliable combination. It is is both smooth and fuel-efficient in stop-go city traffic, and is the most popular - and frankly best - powertrain on offer in the ICE Creta. It should offer the best of both worlds - space closer to a Creta with price and running costs closer to a Venue. The only question mark is the price, as it remains to be seen if Hyundai can price the 1.5 IVT variant within your Rs 16-17 lakh OTR budget.

VehicleTata Punch
VehicleTata Nexon EV
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleHyundai Creta
•2d

Hi Autocar Team, I’m looking to replace my current Tata Punch Accomplished Dazzle Sunroof AMT. I’m not very happy with the AMT gearbox and specifically want to move to a smoother automatic for Hyderabad traffic. My hard on-road budget is Rs 15 lakh. The car will mainly be used by my wife and me, along with our kid, so I’m looking for something that offers good safety, comfort, an automatic transmission, and a sunroof. My biggest priority is long-term ownership and reliability. I plan to keep the car for at least 6-8 years, so it should be reasonably easy and affordable to maintain, with good parts availability and decent resale value. Could you please suggest which car and variant you would personally recommend within a Rs 15 lakh on-road budget in Hyderabad? I’m currently considering cars such as the Maruti Brezza, Kia Sonet, Škoda Kylaq, and other compact/mid-size SUVs, but I’m open to better options. If you had Rs 15 lakh as a hard maximum budget and were replacing a Punch AMT, which car would you shortlist and why?

Verified
•2d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi AT. It is the most sensible upgrade from the Tata Punch AMT and fits your priorities perfectly. The Brezza uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is significantly smoother and more refined than the AMT in the Punch, especially in stop-start Hyderabad traffic. It is also one of the most reliable and easy-to-maintain cars in the segment, with excellent parts availability and a strong service network, which is important for a 6-8 year ownership plan.The ZXi variant sits in the sweet spot of the range, offering good safety equipment, a comfortable cabin and the features you are looking for, including a sunroof, without stretching your budget. You could stretch for the ZXi+, which costs about Rs 2 lakh more, but that pushes it outside your Rs 15 lakh budget and we feel the additions aren't worth the extra outlay. This Maruti Suzuki car is also a genuinely comfortable 5-seater with a well-sorted ride and a proven ownership track record.The Skoda Kylaq is a good driver's car, but fuel efficiency can take a huge nosedive if you're not careful; the Kia Sonet is feature-rich, but cramped on space and with a firm ride. The Brezza is not the most exciting car in the segment, but it is the one you are most likely to be happy with after 6-8 years of ownership.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleTata Punch
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleKia Sonet

Popular discussions right now

•6d

Hi, I want to buy my last car as I am 66 years old. I have been driving a Honda City for the last 12 years without any major hiccup. The Honda City engine and its reliability is excellent although its ground clearance is an issue. I have looked at Elevate and given its ground clearance as an SUV, I am impressed although the issues on E20 and abrupt blending issues are surely technical issues. Windsor EV was a great test drive but all controls on screen could be a bottleneck for me at my age and am planning to move to an automatic. Please recommend as experts. My monthly running will not be more than 500 km. Should I also look at Seltos. I will appreciate a feedback from experts. I want a reliable, easy to drive car with low maintenance cost and good family value with. There won't be any great pick ups or many highway drives will not be there.

Verified
•5d

Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.

VehicleHonda City
VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleMG Windsor
VehicleKia Seltos

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Posted on: 14 Aug 2026