My dear Exter definitely not having 5 safety rating at 60kmph and surely not macho like Punch, but still it's a horse that is reliable, responsive, silent, and has sufficient power to pull. Cabin space is fit for a family of 4. Don't judge Exter just by its covers. Drive it and feel it.

Akshay Bhat•5 Jan 2026

4/5

i would strongly suggest take a test drive of exter AMT before finalizing. shifts are very smooth and noticeable improvement. for city roads and rough roads exter is a very good option. very practical suv for indian conditions and daily use

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Questions you may find useful

Tojo Joseph

•1w

I am looking for a manual petrol hatchback (preferably non-Maruti) within 10 lakhs on road price in Thrissur. Priorities (in order) are road visibility comparable to Wagon R, short turning radius, airbags for driver and front passenger, rear camera with sensors, central locking, tinted glass, decent infotainment unit, and reasonable seating for 3 abreast in the back seat. Also, how does the Citroen C3 measure for the above requirements and against the Punch & i10?

Autocar India

•3d

Given your comfort with the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, we'd advise you against a conventional hatchback and recommend you look at a sub-compact SUV. The high seating is a boon and will put you at immediate ease in the car. Options that meet your requirements within a Rs 10 lakh budget include the Hyundai Exter, Tata Punch and Citroen C3. The Tata Punch offers more of what you need. It's got the widest cabin (though it's still not ideal as a 5 seater) and packs in all the features that you need, and then a whole lot more. The Citroen C3 makes a compelling case for itself with the best engines, well-sorted ride and handling and the cabin experience is also vastly improved with the recent feature update. However, it's not quite as roomy as the Punch, and Citroen's service network is also not as widespread as Tata or Hyundai's.The Hyundai Exter is an easy-going option that's also worth a look.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Thio

I am planning to buy my first car with a budget of Rs. 15 lakh. It will mainly be used for city driving, along with occasional highway trips. I am looking for an SUV, but not from the Tata Punch or Hyundai Exter segment. My priorities are long-term reliability, low maintenance and service costs, good fuel efficiency, and overall value for money. Which car would you recommend?

Autocar India

•6d

Mostly city use, a Rs.15 lakh budget and a focus on low running costs, point straight to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It fits your brief for long-term reliability, low maintenance and service costs, and good fuel efficiency. It is a size up from the Tata Punch/Hyundai Exter segment, but is still manageable in the city while feeling stable on the highway.Why it fits: service and parts costs are among the lowest in the class, and Maruti’s service network is widespread, so upkeep stays simple for years. The petrol engine and torque convertor auto are smooth in traffic and remains efficient if driven with a light foot. Cabin space is good for five, the rear seat is comfortable, and the boot is useful for the occasional weekend trip.Trade-offs: the cabin does not feel particularly premium, and the engine lacks the punch of a turbo-petrol on the highway. It is also worth noting that a facelift for the Brezza is expected towards the end of the year, possibly with a turbo-petrol engine. Alternatively, consider the Hyundai Venue 1.0 DCT if you want a more modern cabin and stronger highway performance.Overall, for city-first use and long-term peace of mind, the Brezza is a good fit.

Ravi

I earn a take-home salary of Rs 80,000 and currently own a 2014 Alto 800. Which car should I upgrade to for better safety and modern features?

Autocar India

•1w

Instead of your take-home salary, it would be better to help us with the budget you are comfortable allocating for your new car purchase, because several factors affect your capacity to spend like age, responsibilities, existing liabilities, etc.Assuming you plan to sell your outgoing Alto 800 and use the sales proceeds as a down payment, with an EMI of around Rs 15,000, you could look at cars with an on-road price of Rs 8.50-9 lakh. For the money, you could consider a Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza, both of which will feel like a proper upgrade compared to your outgoing car. SUV alternatives are the Tata Punch and Hyundai Exter, and if you prefer a sedan, the Maruti Dzire is also a good buy.

My budget is under ₹10 lakh, and I am planning to buy a CNG car. My usage will be evenly split between city/village driving and highway travel, roughly 50:50. Could you please suggest the best options considering fuel efficiency, reliability, comfort, performance, maintenance costs, and suitability for mixed road conditions?

Autocar India

•1w

With a budget under Rs. 10 lakh and an even split between city, village roads, and highways, the Tata Punch CNG in a mid-variant is the stronger fit. It rides over rough village patches without scraping, feels steady at highway speeds for a small car, and the twin-cylinder CNG layout still leaves useful boot space for bags on longer trips.This suits your use because village roads need good ground clearance and a tough suspension, highway use needs a car that feels stable and confident, and CNG saves running costs while keeping day-to-day drivability easy in traffic.The trade-offs: it is not very quick in CNG, so fast overtakes need a bit of planning, and higher trims may stretch your budget in some cities, so stick to the lower-mid variant and add only the features you truly need.The Hyundai Exter CNG is an alternative, and it also gets a dual tank setup, but it won’t handle broken village roads as confidently as the Punch.Overall, for your mix of roads, the Punch CNG lines up best.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Nilesh Nagwekar

•2w

Currently, I have been using a Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG for more than 8 years. My monthly running is around 1,100-1,200 km. Since I am now finding the limited boot space restrictive, I am planning to upgrade to a bigger and more practical car. My driving pattern is approximately 60% highway and 40% city usage regularly.

Autocar India

•1w

Given your high level of driving, with mostly highway usage, good fuel economy must be a high priority. The best answer would be a diesel or a hybrid, but neither of those will fit in your budget of Rs 5-10 lakh. A good option worth considering might be a used diesel SUV like a Gen 1 Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza diesel or Gen 1 Hyundai Creta diesel. If well-maintained and in good condition, these would be good upgrades from your Celerio CNG, and you should be able to find examples in your budget.However, if you would like to stick to a new car, do not discount CNG entirely. There are plenty of new CNG models that use twin-cylinder setups to reduce the impact on boot space. Good options that fall in your budget are the Tata Punch i-CNG and the Hyundai Exter Hy-CNG Duo, both of which have reasonably sized boots, despite the use of CNG tanks.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

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