Maruti Suzuki Baleno vs Tata Nexon

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Pick the Hyundai i20 Asta IVT. For mostly Bangalore city use, it feels light and easy to drive and its clean, sporty look will still feel young in five years. It's very efficient too, though some others might be better. The automatic is the smoothest to drive and the most polished in traffic, but that trim will likely go past your car under Rs 10 lakh budget; settle for the Sportz (O) instead. A quick word on the rest. The Honda Amaze CVT is smooth, friendly and efficient, but as a compact sedan it might not deliver the style statement or road presence you want, and the Honda Amaze price starts at Rs 7.51 lakh (ex-showroom). The Baleno will be the most efficient; in real-world traffic you can expect around 11-13kpl if you are judicious with the throttle, and the cabin is airy and comfy for the daily grind. However, the AMT is not as smooth as the i20’s automatic. Tata Nexon AMT gives you SUV stance and presence, but the AMT is clunky in stop-go and city economy is weaker, so your 10-12kpl requirement is a stretch.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

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Go for the Tata Nexon diesel manual Creative – at 1,500 km a month, it will keep your running costs in check and feels stronger and calmer on longer drives than the petrol cars you’ve listed. The Nexon’s diesel pulls well from low speeds, so you don’t need to rev it hard, which makes highway work easy and safe overtakes simple. It rides comfortably on bad roads, the higher seat gives a clear view out, and Tata’s wide service reach helps if you drive across cities.One thing to be aware of: if most of your 1,500 km are short, slow city trips, a diesel is not ideal. Modern diesels have a soot filter that needs a 20-minute run at speeds above 50 kph at least once a week or two to stay healthy. If your driving is mainly in the city and short runs, pick the Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta AMT petrol instead. It is light to steer, very easy to drive, uses less fuel for a petrol, and is cheap to maintain. If you want a taller car with an automatic for city use, the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT is a good fit; the CVT is a smoother automatic than the AMT and takes the stress out of traffic. Do check Nissan service in your area first. The Nissan Magnite price starts at 5.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Tata Nexon

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The new Tata Punch is a solid choice in the Rs 8 lakh budget, and the Tata Punch price makes it a strong option at this price point. However, it is quite narrow, which means seating three in the back seat can be a bit tight. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is better in this regard, with a slightly wider and more comfortable rear seat, but do visit both showrooms and experience them yourself. Both cars are comparable in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Baleno’s four-cylinder engine is more refined than the Punch’s three-cylinder unit.Apart from the different body style and slightly raised suspension, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is essentially the same as the Baleno. Therefore, the main reason to upgrade to the Fronx is if you need the higher ground clearance or want the turbo-petrol engine, which is not available on the Baleno.Regarding the Tata Nexon, to get a reasonably well-equipped variant, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 10 lakh and opt for the Pure Plus petrol variant. For the additional money, you get an SUV body style, a roomier cabin with a better rear seat than the aforementioned options, and a turbo-petrol engine with much stronger performance. If it isn’t too much of a financial burden, it is worth stretching to get the Nexon. But if you want to stick to your budget, the Baleno remains a good choice.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Nexon