Out in the market for the best Automatic car under 10 lakh (Ex-showroom) (*** Opinion ***)

Totally avoid AMT/AGS above 8 lakh budget and don't play into the hands of salesman and influencers who themselves would never buy an AMT.

Pick these with eyes closed

1) Hyundai i20 Sportz CVT AT (9.42 lakh)
2) Tata Altroz XZA - DCT AT (9.69 lakh)
3) Honda Amaze VX - CVT AT (9.86 lakh)
4) Nissan Magnite GEZA - CVT AT (9.84 lakh)
5) Mahindra XUV 3XO - MX2 Pro - TC AT (9.99 lakh)
6) Tata Tiago XT EV - Long Range (9.99 lakh)

Pros and Cons discussed below:


Hyundai i20 CVT

Positives:

✅ 6 Airbags, EBD, ABS, ESP, Hill Start Assist, TPMS, fog lamps, and TC.
✅ Good overall feel inside and out. You cannot cancel this car after checking it in person. Good glass area in the front seats. Does the job best in this price point with a proper automatic.
✅ Good convenience kit on offer with a sunroof, 8-inch screen, 6 speakers, and auto headlamps.
✅ Flat bench rear seat to accommodate 3 persons.
✅ Hyundai's unbeatable service and support network with excellent reach and a customer-friendly approach.

Negatives:

⚠️ 3 stars in Global NCAP (Old Protocol) in safety, best suited for city use.
⚠️ Naturally aspirated 1.2 four-cylinder engine is best suited for sober driving.
⚠️ Paint quality isn't as good in the long term as what the competition is providing, other than Maruti.
⚠️ In the under 10 lakh variant, you get halogen headlights, and some exciting kit like ventilated seats is missing.
⚠️ Ground clearance is best suited for city roads.

Simple Car Washing Tips for Car Lovers to keep your car shiny and swirl marks free like my 4 years old T-Roc.

(Long Thread and Product Links in the last post)





Important general tips

✅ Never use a dry cloth on your car no matter what! Let it be dirty but don’t lose patience.

✅ Prefer washing either before 8 am or after 5 pm so that shampoo doesn’t get dried up quickly. Prefer shade if possible.

✅ Once in 15-20 days wash is enough to keep your paint shiny. Keep your interiors clean with a vacuum cleaner though and you should clean your mats every week.

✅ Don’t spray water in the engine bay. There is no need to do that, twice in a year by the authorised service centre is ok.

✅ Keep a branded (3M, Meguiar’s) shampoo and 3-4 microfibre clothes in your car handy if you need to get your car washed from the roadside garage.

✅ Different clothes for shampoo, door frames, tyres & inner cladding, drying, and different for glass is a must ranging from 500-1100 gsm. (Softpun & ShineXPro). Replace them every year.

(Continued…)

4 semi-luxury 7-seaters in India

Skoda Kodiaq - 38.50 - 39.99 Lakh
Toyota Fortuner - 33.50 to 51.44 lakh
MG Gloster - 38.80 - 43.83 lakh
Jeep Meridian - 33.60 - 39.66 lakh

Analysis below that will help potential buyers understand these cars before doing any detailed analysis 👇





Skoda Kodiaq

Positives: Segment-best performance with 2.0 Turbo Petrol and 7-speed AT DSG, all-wheel drive, true 'value luxury' with precise build, high cabin quality, excellent insulation, comfortable seats, superior paint finish, 5+2 seating configuration, 9 airbags, auto park, 12 speakers, 4 disc brakes, multi-link dynamic suspension, and an array of other safety and convenience features. A near perfect primary car to own!

Negatives: Skoda's limited network, 3rd-row seats are best suited for kids, fuel efficiency in the city, lower resale value compared to the Fortuner, lacks road presence like the Fortuner/Gloster, longer wait times for parts as it is a CKD unit, and Skoda's reputation in after-sales service is not as strong as Maruti, Hyundai, Honda, and Toyota.