Hyundai i20 1.2 Petrol Magna MT

Autocar India

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Of your shortlisted cars, the Honda Amaze CVT feels like the best fit. It has a spacious interior, it's excellent on mileage and is compact and easy enough to drive around town. And instead of the VX model you have suggested, you can easily get the top-end ZX well within your budget. Did you mean the Hyundai i20 Sportz (O) IVT? The Grand i10 Nios uses an AMT, which is one of the gearboxes you have ruled out. The i20 is a great option, and in your budget you can even move up to the higher-spec Asta (O) IVT variant. It's nice to drive and has a premium interior, but is not as spacious, practical or fuel efficient as the Honda Amaze CVT.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT, while a more spacious and powerful option, is not available in your budget, and even the lower spec VXI AT will exceed it. The facelifted version is expected to launch soon, and you can expect prices to go up further. If you are willing to extend your budget, it might be worth checking out.Another option you can consider is, the Nissan Magnite Kuro 1.0 Turbo CVT. It's spacious, smooth, loaded with features and comes with a punchy turbo-petrol that is more powerful than the Amaze or i20, and has more torque than the Brezza. It is a great value-for-money option, but bear in mind, Nissan's service network is not as wide as the others'.

Honda Amaze

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Nissan Magnite

Autocar India

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The Hyundai i20 iVT Sportz is the best fit here. Its smooth automatic gearbox, refined cabin and proven ownership experience make it particularly well-suited to Bangalore's traffic while remaining comfortable on highway trips. It may not be the most powerful car in the segment, but it delivers the most polished overall experience.The Renault Kiger CVT would be the second choice. The CVT is smooth in city driving, the higher seating position is appreciated in urban conditions, and the turbo petrol engine feels more energetic than the naturally aspirated units in the Altroz and i20. While cabin quality and refinement are not quite at Hyundai levels, it offers good value and a more SUV-like experience.The Tata Altroz DCA takes third place. The gearbox is far superior to an AMT, and the car feels solid and planted on the road. However, the naturally aspirated petrol engine lacks the punch of the Kiger Turbo, and the overall ownership experience is not as polished as the Hyundai.

Hyundai i20

Renault Kiger

Tata Altroz

Autocar India

•4d

Pick the Hyundai Venue DCT. For mostly city use, it is simply the easiest to live with: compact dimensions for easy parking, a high seating position for better view in traffic, and enough ground clearance to glide over bad patches and tall speed breakers without worrying. Its turbo engine with the automatic feels quick enough to exploit gaps in traffic, and the steering is light, so long commutes will be less tiring. Do note, though, the Venue DCT's can feel a touch hesitant at low speeds, and the city mileage is just okay, as is the case with the others, because it's a small capacity turbo engine.The Hyundai i20 N Line DCT is more fun to drive, but its firmer suspension and lower stance make it less friendly on rough roads and speed bumps, and you're sitting lower, so you won't get as good a view out.The Skoda Kylaq AT has the smoothest gearbox for bumper-to-bumper and feels more at home on the highway, but it isn't as premium or spacious on the inside as the Venue.

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai i20

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•5d

Our first recommendation would be the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The automatic torque converter is smooth, the ride quality is excellent, and the car feels solid and substantial. It is also more powerful than most rivals in this price range and has enough ground clearance to tackle poor roads without constantly worrying about scraping the underside. At around Rs 10.9 lakh on-road, it is worth stretching for if your budget allows.The Hyundai i20 IVT would be our second choice. The IVT gearbox is one of the smoothest automatics you can buy at this price point. Refinement is excellent, and Hyundai's reliability and resale value are reassuring. The only drawback is that it does not feel as robust over bad roads as the Kylaq.The Tata Punch AMT would be our third choice. It has the ground clearance and a comfortable low-speed ride, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth or sophisticated as the automatics in the Skoda and Hyundai.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•4d

If you're planning to buy an i20 today, I would not wait specifically for the next-generation model unless you're willing to hold off for at least a year. Recent spy shots confirm Hyundai is developing an all new i20, with a redesigned interior, updated technology and the possibility of a hybrid powertrain in the future. However, the launch still appears some way off.The current i20 was facelifted in 2023 and remains one of the most premium hatchbacks in the segment, with a strong feature list, good refinement and a comfortable driving experience. Hyundai has continued updating the model and even revised variants and pricing this year, suggesting the current car still has some life left in the market.

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•5d

Based on the latest information available, the next generation Hyundai i20 is very likely to get an N Line version. Hyundai has not officially confirmed the details yet, but given that the current i20 is offered with an N Line variant and the brand continues to expand its N Line portfolio in India, it would be surprising if the next generation model did not follow the same path.As for timing, the next generation i20 is still under development and is expected to arrive around 2027 or possibly even 2028, rather than in the near future. So while an N Line version is highly likely, buyers may still have a fairly long wait before the all-new model reaches showrooms.

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•5d

Between the two, we would recommend the Skoda Kylaq Signature MT. The reason is simple. As a first car, the Kylaq feels like the more complete package. It offers a higher seating position, better ground clearance, more cabin space and a more comfortable ride, all of which will be appreciated when travelling with family and on long drives. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol also has plenty of performance and feels effortless on highways.The Hyundai i20 N Line N6 MT is the more fun car to drive. The steering is sharper, the handling is more engaging, and it feels sportier overall. If you are an enthusiast who enjoys driving for the sake of driving, the N Line has a lot of appeal. However, the stiffer suspension that makes it enjoyable on a twisty road also means it is not quite as comfortable as the Kylaq on rough Indian roads.From a long-term ownership perspective, the running costs between the two should be broadly similar. Hyundai may have a slight edge in terms of service network reach and resale value, but the Kylaq counters with better practicality and versatility.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•1w

Go for the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT automatic. Your running is low, and this is one of the few petrol non-AMT options that stays close to your Rs. 12 lakh budget, while being genuinely easy to drive every day. The CVT automatic is smooth in traffic, the steering is light, and the high ground clearance makes speed breakers and rough patches stress-free. It is sized right for the city yet fits four adults comfortably, and the boot is usable for weekend runs.Your 8-year-old, low-mileage Baleno should fetch a fair exchange, which keeps the upgrade cost sensible. Service costs on the Magnite are also friendly, so long-term ownership should be easy.Do note, the cabin plastics and refinement levels are not as nice as pricier rivals. If you prefer a hatchback instead of an SUV, the Hyundai i20 IVT is nicer inside and equally smooth.

Nissan Magnite

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

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Pick the Hyundai i20 Sportz IVT. Besides being Rs 1 lakh more affordable, the i20 feels like a more refined, smooth and polished car in comparison. The cabin feels a touch nicer with better quality of materials and fit-finish, and the rear seat is wider if you occasionally seat three.If you often do airport runs or road trips with family, the Amaze CVT VX could makes sense on account of its huge boot. But overall, the i20 IVT is the better pick.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

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The Hyundai i20 IVT is one of the best fits for Mumbai city driving. The IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, the cabin feels genuinely premium, reliability is strong, and it is comfortable enough for four adults while still being easy to park and manoeuvre in the city.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is a good choice too. The CVT is smooth, Honda’s reliability reputation is excellent, and the rear-seat comfort is better than the i20 if you regularly travel with four to five adults. It also feels more relaxed on occasional highway trips.If rear-seat space and overall width for five passengers matter more, then the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic is worth considering, even if it means choosing a lower variant. It feels more substantial, has a wider rear bench and is more comfortable for five adults than the i20 or Amaze. The downside is that it will not feel as feature rich as the i20 or Amaze, and fuel efficiency is not as strong either.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO