I drive my car myself and average about 30 km of city driving per day. I am confused between choosing a petrol or a hybrid car (excluding EVs and diesel). Which automatic car should I consider within a ₹25 lakh budget? I am open to either a sedan or an SUV.

Asked by: Sudipta Ghosh

With your kind of usage, a petrol automatic makes more sense; the higher upfront cost of a hybrid will offset any fuel efficiency benefit. In this budget, we recommend you go with the tried and tested Hyundai Creta Turbo DCT. It gives a mileage of around 12kph in the city, and around 15kph on highways. It is spacious and comfortable, and the ride quality is good for Indian city conditions.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Creta

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Autocar India Team

Dec 23, 2025

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Asked by: prateek I have a budget of ₹7-8 lakh, and the Nissan Magnite CNG is one of my choices, but I am worried about its resale value. Can I switch to the Maruti Fronx CNG by increasing my budget to ₹9 lakh? However, I am concerned about safety there. Please suggest the best approach. The Nissan Magnite CNG is available with a 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is barely adequate to power this car. Furthermore, while running on CNG, performance will be lacklustre, and efficiency will also be low. And as you mentioned, resale value will be poor, hence it is best that you look at other options.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx gets all the basic safety features like ABS with EBD and ESP, which prevent an accident from happening in the first place. Additionally, there are 6 airbags to keep you protected in case of an impact. Do note that the Fronx's petrol engine is much smoother, and overall, it is much nicer to drive. However, if you want a proven, safe CNG car, go for the Tata Punch or Tata Altroz. While their powertrain isn't as smooth or as good as Maruti's, these are practical and spacious alternatives.

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Autocar India Team

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