I’m planning to buy my first car. I need a smooth automatic for ~80% city driving and good ground clearance for occasional village visits. My daily commute is 30 km through heavy traffic. I have a family of five and do occasional interstate and hilly trips, so comfortable seating and strong suspension are important. My budget is ₹10–12 lakh. Please suggest smooth automatic cars with must-have features and affordable service/maintenance.

That's quite a tall order, but a car that best suits your needs would be a compact SUV - combining space, compact dimensions and ground clearance. We would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT, which comes in around the top end of your budget. It is among the more spacious compact SUVs; its 1.5-litre petrol engine is efficient, yet powerful enough on the highway, its 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth, and service is easily available and affordable.