Which tallboy diesel car without a DPF should I buy? I am 74 inches tall.

autocar.india

•8h

Buy a simple petrol automatic hatchback or compact sedan with a naturally aspirated engine. It suits your 200 km a month, occasional 400 km trips, and makes learning easy. Diesel won’t pay back for your usage and can hate short runs. CNG saves only with high km and is a pain on highway trips with long queues and a small boot. Budget electric cars under Rs. 15 lakh can work only if you have home charging and don’t mind planning stops on those 400 km runs.Stick to a naturally aspirated petrol. It’s smoother at low speeds, simpler for 8-10 year ownership, and real-world mileage is steadier than small turbos that tempt you to drive harder and are sensitive to driving style. Get the automatic to reduce stress; you’ll drive more often because it’s easy.Models that fit your plan and budget now and should still be around in 2027 (if that is what you mean): Maruti Suzuki Baleno or Toyota Glanza automatic for top mileage and easy city manners, Honda Amaze automatic if you want a comfy sedan with a big boot for trips, or Tata Punch automatic if you like a higher seat and extra ground clearance. You’ll give up a little mileage with an automatic, but the ease is worth it.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Glanza

Honda Amaze

Tata Punch

autocar.india

•3h

Go for the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT. Within your budget, it offers the smoothest city drive, easy steering, and good ground clearance over speed breakers, and the motor has enough pull for relaxed outstation runs. It also feels like a proper small SUV, so you sit higher, and the boot is useful for weekend bags. Pick a mid variant, and you should stay close to Rs 11 lakh on-road in many cities.Do note that the cabin plastics feel basic, and Nissan’s service network is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai. You could also consider a premium hatchback within this budget, such as the Hyundai i20 1.2 petrol IVT. It's lighter and nimbler in traffic, with a smooth automatic, but its 1.2-litre petrol engine isn't as punchy for high-speed usage, on your occasional outstation trips.

Nissan Magnite

Hyundai i20

autocar.india

•5h

Tata Punch is a great fit for your needs. For a new, shorter driver, it gives you a high, upright seat and a great all-round view, so you feel in control right away. It is also one of the safest small cars on sale with a strong crash score, which matters more on the highway than in slow city traffic.For your occasional long trips, the Punch rides comfortably over bad roads, and its ground clearance keeps you relaxed on broken patches or speed breakers. The 1.2 petrol is easy and unstressed at 80-100 kph, and you can expect around 18-20 kpl on the highway if you drive smoothly. Service costs are reasonable, and Tata has a wide reach now.Pick a mid variant with a height-adjustable driver seat. If you need an automatic, it fits the budget in lower trims.The only thing to know is that it is not very quick for fast overtakes with five on board, so plan passes and keep it in the right gear. For safety-first buyers on Rs. 10 lakh, it’s the right call.

Tata Punch