Maruti Suzuki Celerio 1.0 Petrol ZXi+

For your requirement of an automatic car under Rs 7 lakh for city driving, we would suggest going for the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXI AMT.

It is a proven product and well-suited for daily city use. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is refined for a 3-cylinder unit and feels responsive, with enough torque for typical city conditions. The AMT gearbox is well-calibrated and smooth, which makes it easy to drive in stop-go traffic.

The Celerio is also compact and easy to park, which is important for city usage. At the same time, the cabin is surprisingly spacious and can comfortably seat four adults.

If you want something with even more space, you can also consider the Maruti Wagon R VXI AMT, which just about fits within your budget.

Unfortunately, given your tight budget of Rs 6 lakh, you don't have too many options. Choose between the Maruti Alto and the Maruti S-Presso, both of which come with the same 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed AMT automatic gearbox. Both are also fairly similar in terms of fuel efficiency, with the Alto returning a claimed 24.90kpl while the S-presso is said to do a marginally higher 25.3kpl. 

Maruti Alto AT prices range between Rs 5.53 lakh to Rs 6.07 lakh (on-road Delhi), while S-presso automatic prices range between Rs 5.31 lakh and Rs 5.85 lakh (on-road Delhi). 

Alternatively, dealers will be offering discounts on models like the Maruti Celerio and Renault Kwid, so you could even consider those. 

We would recommend you look at the Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Refinement from the 1.0 litre engine is much better than you would expect from a three-cylinder engine, and minimal vibrations filter into the cabin. 

The overall performance is smooth and easy for normal everyday driving, and at low city speeds, it even feels a bit eager, and it is thus quite enjoyable to drive. In terms of safety, the car is well equipped with safety features like 6 airbags, anti-locking brakes (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). 

It also scored a three-star crash safety rating in the GNCAP test. You can get cars with a better crash rating, like the Tata Tiago, for instance, but you will not find the engine as smooth. 

We would recommend you to consider the Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXI AGS, which should fall within your budget. It is a tall hatchback, with good visibility all around, a light steering, and its petrol-automatic combination is smooth and efficient. Being a Maruti, it is likely to deliver a fuss-free ownership experience.

If you can increase your budget slightly, you could consider the Maruti Wagon R, which will be even easier to enter and exit the vehicle. Being a very popular model, its resale value will be stronger than the Celerio too.

The Tata Punch is a good option for you. The car is small and, for new drivers, will be easy to manage. It also scores well on the safety front - which is one of your priorities - with a 5-star BNCAP crash rating. 

However, since you are also looking for fuel efficiency, low maintenance and want to keep the car for more than 10 years, we think the Maruti Suzuki Celerio would be a good option. While it may not match the crash safety score of the Punch, it still managed a 3-star GNCAP rating, which is good given that you will not be using the car mainly on highways. 

Moreover, it would better meet your requirements of fuel efficiency and low maintenance, something the Maruti Suzuki brand has consistently delivered on. Also, it is a car that is easy to drive and is quite spacious inside.