Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 CNG Delta

If you are buying a new car, the recently updated Tata Punch would be a good choice. With its taller height and wide opening doors, entry and exit are very easy. The elevated seating position also gives you a good view outside, and that, along with the car's compact size, makes it quite easy to drive.

If you are looking to buy a used car, you can check out a Maruti Baleno. The car sits lower than the Punch, but it's also easy to drive with light controls and look for pre-2022 cars with the CVT gearbox. It is much smoother than an AMT autobox, which the Punch and Baleno now come with. When buying a used car, purchase it from a reputable reseller like Spinny.     

Since you currently have a Maruti Suzuki Baleno, we would suggest you upgrade to something like the Honda Amaze or the Skoda Kylaq. Both cars come in under 4 meters in length and so are better suited to crowded city conditions.  

The Amaze's CVT automatic gearbox is smoother than many AMTs that come at this price point. Especially when driven at low, constantly changing speeds in the city and being a sedan. It will feel like an upgrade and offer you more boot space, too, should that be a requirement for you. 

If you don't like the idea of a sedan, you can opt for the Skoda Kylaq, which will offer you a higher seating point and better ground clearance. Also, the automatic gearbox on the Kylaq is a torque convertor, which is the smoothest autobox around.   

All three options on your shortlist are nice to drive in their own ways. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is very comfortable at city speeds with excellent bump absorption and a peppy engine. Tata's Altroz feels the toughest of the three cars and drives with a big car feel out on the highway. The Citroen C3 has a nice engine, and it also balances ride and comfort very well. 

However, for reliability and ease of service, the Baleno is your best bet. The Baleno is known to be a trouble-free car, and Maruti's vast network means you are never far from a service centre. Service costs are also competitive. 

The Toyota Glanza is essentially a rebadged version of the Baleno, but does cost more for similarly-specced variants. We'd recommend sticking to the Baleno. Within Rs 7 lakh, you'll get the Sigma variant, though we'd recommend upping your budget a bit (and bargaining hard with your dealer!) to get the higher-spec Delta trim. 

It packs in extras such as a powered mirror adjust as well as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that would add greatly to your experience.   

You should choose between the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the updated Tata Punch. The Baleno scores very well on low-speed ride comfort, and seat comfort is also very good. The Baleno's engine is peppier, and its AMT is also nicer in typical city driving. 

The Tata Punch AMT is a model of interest because of its elevated seating position. The high seating position makes it easy to get into and out of the car. The Punch feels tough, and ride comfort is good, particularly on bad patches of road. While both models get 6 airbags as standard, the Punch additionally boasts a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. 

 

Yes, if you are very unsure about your driving, then a used car would be better. 

You could look at a Maruti Celerio, which is a compact car and has very light controls. The view outside is also good, so getting familiar with driving will be easy in this car. 

However, if you think you will get confident pretty soon, then yes, a Maruti Baleno will be just fine, or we would suggest you look at the Fronx. It is essentially based on the Baleno, so you will get the same amount of interior space. 

Moreover, you will get the same powertrain but with a lifted body and better ground clearance, which will help you in case your drives to the hills involve some bad roads. 

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno or even its sister car, the Toyota Glanza, would be a good option to buy. The car is spacious with comfy seats, and it is fuel-efficient too, both the manual and the automatic version (AMT). 

In our standard test cycle, we got 13.80kpl and 17.50kpl in our city and highway cycles for the manual, whereas the automated manual transmission (AMT) achieved 11.86kpl and 17.21kpl.  

The Baleno sits below 4 meters in length and is compact enough for the city. However, if you would like something smaller, consider the Hyundai Exter. It won't be as efficient, in the manual we got 9kpl and 14kpl for city and highway runs, but this is still good. Also, you will also benefit from a slightly higher seating position and a lower price.    

The new Hyundai Venue is a good option to consider. It is an easy-to-drive SUV with good visibility, a light steering, and a buttery-smooth 5-speed manual gearbox and clutch. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is very refined and smooth, and has adequate performance for city use. 

You could also consider a Maruti Baleno or Toyota Glanza. These are very user-friendly hatchback options in that price range.