Tata cars in India (20)

Autocar India

•5m

There are a few cars that meet your criteria, like the Tata Punch iCNG, Tiago iCNG, Tigor iCNG and Nissan Magnite CNG. Among these, the Punch and Tiago are good choices with their dual-tank solution that lets you keep a large part of the boot. The Magnite CNG is a dealer-level fitment and does take up almost the entire boot.If it fits your budget, then the Punch iCNG is your best bet. It suits daily city use because the automatic takes the stress out of stop-and-go roads, and CNG keeps fuel costs in check. Since the CNG system is factory-fitted, you keep the full warranty and safety checks, which is safer than adding CNG later.A couple of trade-offs to know: an AMT can feel a bit slow between gear changes, so you may feel a small pause. On CNG, the car is not very quick, so fast highway overtakes need planning.As of today, most other CNG cars from Maruti and Hyundai are manual only. Overall, for your goal of CNG with an automatic, the Punch iCNG AMT is the simplest and most complete answer.

Tata Punch

Tata Tiago

Tata Tigor

Autocar India

•22h

As a first car, from your two shortlisted choices, we recommend the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX A. While the larger Tata Sierra is certainly better on road presence, in every other aspect, the XUV is a better fit. Its more compact dimensions make it much easier to drive, which is a worthwhile consideration for your first car. It is very comfortable, including in the rear seat and being a 5-star Bharat NCAP rated car, safety is not an issue. It has a 131hp turbo-petrol engine that is the most powerful in any compact SUV. Overall, this Mahindra car has an excellent power-to-weight ratio and is fun to drive too. Moreover, its price is around Rs 3 lakh less than the Sierra Pure+. The Tata Sierra Pure+ comes with only the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine. While it's smooth enough, thanks to the heavy Sierra kerb weight, its power-to-weight ratio is nowhere as good as the XUV 3XO's. Also, the Pure+ variant of the Sierra, aside from being more expensive, won't be as well equipped as the 3XO RevX A. Overall, for your needs, the Mahindra is the better be

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•5h

After almost a decade with your Hexa, a good idea is to replace it with a tough and powerful diesel SUV, and we'd recommend the Tata Harrier Adventure X Diesel AT. It gives you the relaxed, solid, long‑distance feel that you liked in your Hexa, but in a newer and easier‑to‑drive package.It works for you because the diesel has strong pull at low and mid speeds, so overtakes on two‑lane roads need less effort. The 6-speed automatic is the torque-converter type that uses a fluid coupling, which is known for smoothness and long life, and it does not get hot and fussy in traffic. Safety is strong too, with a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating and must‑have features like 6 airbags and stability control. Ride comfort is good, and though not quite as tough-feeling as your ladder-frame Hexa, this Tata car feels softer and more comfortable overall.If you want the option of a third row of seats, there's also the Tata Safari at a slightly higher price point, which has all the same strengths of the Harrier. There's also the XUV 7XO, which is a better all-rounder and more fun to drive, but it doesn't feel quite as solid and commanding from behind the wheel as the Harrier or Safari.

Tata Harrier

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1d

With 50-60 km every day, a 400 km trip every couple of months, and a mix of city, highway and ghat roads around Shirala, the Tata Sierra diesel in the top trim will suit you better than the turbo petrol. Your running is high, so the diesel will use less fuel day to day and, over a few years, the lower fuel bills usually make up for the higher buying price. On hilly roads, the diesel’s stronger pull at low speeds makes life easy - fewer gear changes, cleaner overtakes, and it feels more relaxed when the car is full of people or luggage.There are a couple of points to know. A modern diesel has a soot filter in the exhaust - called a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). It needs regular warm runs to keep itself clean. Your daily 50-60 km should be enough, but those highway runs would be ideal for this. If you do many short, cold-start drives for a week or two, you may see a warning asking for a steady drive to clear it. The advantage of Tata's diesel is that it doesn't require AdBlue, as it uses a Lean NOx trap rather than a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system to manage NOx, so that's one less thing you'll have to keep in mind.Pick the turbo petrol only if you value refinement above all else, and performance, which is much stronger than the diesel's. However, its fuel economy is nowhere near as good, and in our tests, we managed just 6.49kpl in the city and 13.7kpl on the highway.

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

With a Rs 9-12 lakh budget and comfort on rough roads as your main need, the Citroen C3 X Turbo is your best pick. Its well-tuned suspension handles bad patches, speed breakers and broken village roads better than any other car at this price. In daily city use, it takes bumps without tossing you around, so your passengers stay comfortable, and it feels steady at highway speeds, too. It is also easy to see out of and park, which helps if you drive in tight lanes or traffic. The 1.2-litre turbo-petrol is strong, and within your budget, you can even get the top-spec C3 X Shine turbo-petrol AT, which uses a smooth 6-speed torque converter gearbox that's great in town or on the highway.A couple of things to keep in mind: Citroen’s service network is smaller, so check dealer support in your city. And though it got an update recently, the list of features isn't quite as long as what rivals offer. If you are open to another choice with an even softer ride, consider the Tata Punch. Its suspension isn't quite as good as the Citroen's, but still very robust.

Citroen C3

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•1d

Opt for the Kia Syros petrol manual. It is the best fit for your needs. Your requirement is clear. Family of five, low usage and a preference for an SUV. In this case, space and comfort matter more than anything else, and the Syros stands out here. It is one of the most spacious cars in this segment, especially at the rear. The wide rear seat means three people can sit in good comfort, which is important for your family's use.It also has the advantage of a turbo petrol engine. Compared to the Kia Sonet HTK(O), which gets a naturally aspirated engine, the Syros feels more responsive and will not feel short on power, especially when the car is fully loaded with five people. The Sonet’s rear seat is also not as spacious, so it ends up being a compromise for rear passengers.The Tata Punch is a different kind of option. It is a smaller segment and does not feel as premium as the other two. While it offers good value and more features for the price, it cannot match the space, comfort, and overall feel of the Syros or Sonet.

Kia Syros

Kia Sonet

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•1h

Mostly city use with the odd highway run and Rs 10-12 lakh to spend points me to the Hyundai Exter HX10 AMT. The AMT here makes your daily drive easy, and in this top trim, you get one of the strongest safety feature sets in this price range.It fits your brief because its small size and high driving position make tight city roads and parking simple for you and your wife. It also rides over speed breakers and bad patches without scraping, which helps on daily commutes. For your safety focus, the Exter gets important items like electronic stability control and six airbags, so even though the official crash test score is not out yet, you still have strong protection features on board.Two trade-offs to know: like most AMTs, there can be a slight jerk when moving slowly or during gear changes in traffic. And on highways, overtaking will need some planning. If you would rather have more rear seat space and a calmer highway feel, the Maruti Baleno Alpha AMT is the other good pick in your list.If a 5-star rating is a priority, though, the facelifted Tata Punch is your best bet. Otherwise, for your usage and budget, the Exter AMT lines up best.

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2d

The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel suits your usage perfectly. With high monthly running and mostly highway driving, you need a car that is stable, comfortable and effortless to drive, and the 7XO delivers on all three. It has a strong engine, a comfortable ride and feels planted at highway speeds. Driver seat comfort is also very good, which matters given how much you drive. The third row is not the most spacious or practical, but for occasional short trips, it works well and meets your requirements.If you specifically want a 7-seater with a better third row, then the Tata Safari is worth considering. It offers a more comfortable and spacious rear section. However, on most other aspects, the XUV 7XO remains the better overall product.On the question of choosing a 5-seater instead, it is strongly recommended to go for a 7-seater. It is not safe to carry more than five people in a 5-seater, even occasionally, and a proper 7-seater gives you that flexibility without compromise.Now, coming to the sunroof, since it is a key requirement for your children. Both the XUV 7XO and the Safari offer a panoramic sunroof, and it genuinely enhances the cabin experience. That said, it is important to treat it as a feature to enhance ambience, not as something to be used while standing or sticking out. It may seem fun, but even at low speeds, it can be unsafe in case of sudden braking or an impact.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•4h

If you want to move up from 2012 Micra diesel and want good mileage, strong build and value, the Tata Nexon diesel Pure+ fits your brief well.Why it suits you: coming from a diesel Micra, you will like the easy pull at low speeds. The Nexon diesel feels relaxed in city traffic and on hills, so you change gears less and it never feels strained with family on board. It also feels solid on rough roads and at speed. Also, it has a 5-star safety rating.Two things to keep in mind. The Pure+ diesel will likely cross ₹11 lakh on-road, so if 10-11 lakh is a strict on-road cap, look at the Nexon Diesel Smart+ instead.If you can stretch your budget a little, go for the Nexon Diesel Pure Plus. If not, the Diesel Pure keeps the core strengths you want and stays closer to your number. Overall, for your needs, the Nexon diesel is the right fit.

Tata Nexon

Autocar India

•6h

With a family of six, a 50:50 mix of city and highway use, and some rural roads in the mix, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is a good choice. It rides well on rough roads, has good cabin space, and fits your budget well.The diesel has strong pull at low speeds, so it moves easily with a full load and makes safe passes on two-lane highways. The layout works for your family since the second row is roomy, and the third row is fine for your young kids.There are trade-offs as well. With all three rows up, the boot is small, so you will need to plan luggage. The third row is also more cramped than the Tata Safari, which is worth considering if you plan to seat adults there.If you regularly deal with very rough rural roads, then the ladder-frame Scorpio N is an alternative, but you will be compromising on-road dynamics, interior space, and features. Overall, for your use, the Mahindra car is a great choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Mahindra Scorpio N