Tata Punch

The new Maruti Wagon R will serve your needs best. It is more spacious, more grown up and will be comfier than your 2009 version. Its light controls, efficient engine and good visibility make it a very user-friendly car. 

Alternatively, you may consider a Tata Punch for its high seating, robustness, and ease of getting in and out. 

The Tata Punch would suit you nicely. The car is safe, and the wide-opening doors and high seating make it easy to get inside, and the seats are reasonably comfy too. 

The only issue is space at the rear is tight, but if this is not an issue for you, the Punch would suit you very well. Also, the car is very easy to drive in the city, and it has good stability out on the highways, too.   

Given your requirement for a car for road trips, we recommend looking at the more powerful options within your budget, rather than the more feature-packed ones.

The Maruti Suzuki Ignis is a good fit for your needs. It has a nice 1.2-litre engine, and Maruti's easy-to-access service network also counts for a lot when venturing out of city limits.

Citroen C3 is the best-to-drive car within your budget, but the service network is small.

Tata Tiago and Tata Punch are also options to consider. They feel tough, and this adds greatly to confidence on a road trip.

Since your usage is mainly in the city, with occasional highway and rural drives, a small SUV would suit you well. Your options include the Tata Punch, Hyundai Exter and Maruti Suzuki Fronx.

The Tata cars stand out for their tough build and well-balanced ride, and handling. This becomes especially noticeable on the highways. 

The Hyundai Exter, on the other hand, has lighter controls and a smoother AMT compared to the Punch. This makes it feel more at home in the city

The Maruti Fronx sits somewhere in the middle. It has the highest claimed fuel efficiency (22.89kpl for the 1.2 AMT). Plus, Maruti cars are typically the easiest to maintain and live with.

There are plenty of options available under Rs 10 lakh and in different body styles. Since you were considering a small SUV like the Tata Punch, you could also consider the Hyundai Exter, which also comes with an AMT automatic gearbox, a smooth 1.2-litre engine, plenty of features, and it should be easier to live with too. Read our full comparison review between the Tata Punch and Hyundai Exter to get a more in-depth understanding. 

If you prefer a sedan, go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, which comes with a 1.2-litre petrol engine paired with an AMT auto gearbox, a comfy cabin and plenty of features. As for hatchbacks, the Hyundai i20 makes a good option as it comes with a smoother CVT automatic compared to the AMTs in the others.

If you are not very confident behind the wheel, we would recommend you spend some time with a reputable driving school, as you would want to eliminate small accidents and scrapes as far as possible. As for your query of a manual or automatic, a manual would be better in terms of mastering skills and having flexibility in terms of driving different cars. However, if you do not feel confident, its ok to stick with automatics as there are plenty of choices available today at all price points. In terms of a choice of car, we would suggest you look at the Tata Punch is easy to drive with its compact dimensions and offers a slightly higher seating point, offering you a better vantage point. Tata's service is inconsistent around the country, and if your local dealer isn't known for good service, you could consider the Maruti Wagon R.