Tata Nexon CNG Smart + S MT

For your usage, which is mostly short daily city runs with occasional highway trips, the Tata Nexon Creative Petrol AMT does make a lot of sense. It offers the convenience of an automatic, a comfortable ride and a slightly higher driving position, which helps build confidence for a first-time driver. It also fits well within your ₹13 lakh budget, making it a sensible and practical choice for your needs.

However, you should be aware that the AMT gearbox can feel a bit jerky at low speeds in stop-go traffic, which is something you will experience in your daily 6-7 km runs.

The Skoda Kylaq is also worth a serious look. In fact, you can get the automatic in the Signature variant at a similar price to the Nexon Creative. While it misses out on a few features, nothing feels like a deal breaker, and it still comes with all the essentials. More importantly, its torque converter automatic is smoother and easier to drive in traffic. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is another strong option, especially for a first-time buyer, as it is very easy to drive, smooth in traffic and known for low running and maintenance costs.

So the choice comes down to priorities. If you want to stay strictly within budget and are okay with a slightly less smooth automatic, the Nexon is a good pick. If you want a smoother and more effortless driving experience at a similar price, the Kylaq Signature automatic is a very strong alternative, while the Brezza remains the most fuss-free option overall.

First, a small correction. The Mahindra XUV 3XO does not use an AMT gearbox. It comes with a proper torque converter automatic, which offers a much smoother and more refined driving experience compared to AMTs. This makes it easier to drive in city traffic and overall more comfortable for daily use.

Because of this, the XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic becomes the better choice between the two cars you shortlisted. The wider cabin also makes it more comfortable for a family of five and the ride quality is well suited for both city drives and occasional highway trips.

The Tata Nexon does offer a DCA/DCT automatic option with the turbo-petrol engine, but that variant is significantly more expensive and would go well beyond your ₹11–12 lakh budget. The Nexon AMT variants therefore do not match the smoothness of the torque converter automatic offered in the 3XO.

For your requirements of ease of driving, comfort and a better automatic gearbox, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic would be the better option over the Nexon in your budget.

The Hyundai Venue will feel like a big upgrade from your Hyundai Santro AMT. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCT gearbox offers strong performance and smooth shifts, which makes driving in the city effortless. It also gets features like a reverse camera, Android Auto connectivity and voice commands that you are specifically looking for. Overall, it will be a noticeable step up in terms of power, features, space and overall comfort.

Among the other cars you mentioned, the Kia Sonet is also a good option. However, the Venue is the newer car and is more spacious. Also, a replacement for the Sonet is expected next year, which means it may feel dated sooner. 

The Tata Nexon petrol is another option that offers good space and a comfortable ride, but the Venue feels more refined and easier to drive and is the newer car as well. 

As for the Kia Seltos, it is a good SUV, but it belongs to a higher segment and will stretch well beyond your ₹12-13 lakh budget in comparable variants.

With your daily running of around 50-60 km, your monthly usage will easily cross 1,500 km, so choosing a fuel with low running costs makes sense. In this case, CNG is generally a better fit than diesel, especially since most of your driving is in the city.

One of the better options to consider is the Tata Nexon CNG. Unlike most CNG cars, the Nexon uses a turbo-petrol engine, which means it still feels reasonably strong and comfortable even on the highway. The turbo engine produces good torque, which helps maintain performance despite running on CNG. This makes the Nexon CNG a good balance between low running costs for the city and decent highway performance for weekend drives.

Another practical option is the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG, particularly the LXi or VXi variants. The Brezza uses a 1.5-litre engine with factory-fitted CNG. It is known for being smooth and reliable while still offering good mileage and reasonable performance.