Delhi

Suraj Kannan

•5w

We presently own a 2014 Honda City Diesel as our secondary car and an Innova Crysta Diesel as our primary vehicle. Our usage is approximately 60% city and 40% highway. We are considering purchasing a new secondary car; however, upgrade options for sedan enthusiasts are quite limited. Kindly suggest suitable new car options within a budget of ₹20 lakhs.

Autocar India

•4w

You're right, the choice of sedans available in the market today has dwindled considerably in recent years, and the midsize sedan segment is being propped up by just four candidates. The good news is that all four of them are expected to be updated in 2026, which should breathe some life into them in the form of updated looks and more features, and whichever car you choose, we recommend waiting until the updated version is launched.

If you're a fan of the Honda City's no-nonsense approach, you'll like the new one, which will feel like a step up from your 2014 model, especially in terms of space and features. However, its single-engine option is limiting, and it is not as fun to drive as before.

The Hyundai Verna is far more versatile and gets an even longer list of features, but it too errs on the safe and unexciting side, even with its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Your best bets are the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus, which, with the facelifts, will get a much-needed features upgrade.

They are excellent to drive, yet spacious and comfortable, and a particular highlight is their punchy TSI turbo petrol engines. Choosing between them is a matter of preference, as they are the same car underneath, but either of these is what you should choose.

Explore cars mentioned

Honda

City

from ₹13.90 Lakh

Hyundai

Verna

from ₹12.79 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.23 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.30 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Nano

•2d

I am looking for an upgrade. Does it make sense to buy the 3XO, coming from a Honda City? Please suggest. (Also open to other options)

Autocar India

•1d

If an upgrade necessarily means a larger car for you, the Mahindra 3XO won't be the right move after a Honda City. You'd be best served by midsized SUVs, which measure between 4.3 and 4.5m. Of the current crop of mid-sized SUVs, the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta and Tata Sierra are the best-rounded. The new-gen Renault Duster that launches on March 17 also has promise.If vehicle size isn't a dealbreaker, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a good pick. It's got powerful petrol engines, feels solid, and ride and handling are also impressive. The interior is also spacious for what is a compact SUV, and higher-spec versions pack in loads of equipment too. In fact, a fully-loaded 3XO is better equipped than a fully-loaded City.Within the compact SUV segment, you could also consider the Hyundai Venue, which is a well-rounded package.

Vigneshwar S

I am planning to buy a new car under ₹7 lakh. I am looking for a car with smooth engine performance and enhanced safety features.

Autocar India

•1h

We would recommend you look at the Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Refinement from the 1.0 litre engine is much better than you would expect from a three-cylinder engine, and minimal vibrations filter into the cabin. The overall performance is smooth and easy for normal everyday driving, and at low city speeds, it even feels a bit eager, and it is thus quite enjoyable to drive. In terms of safety, the car is well equipped with safety features like 6 airbags, anti-locking brakes (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). It also scored a three-star crash safety rating in the GNCAP test. You can get cars with a better crash rating, like the Tata Tiago, for instance, but you will not find the engine as smooth.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Tata Tiago

RATHI MRINALINI

•1d

I'm a new driver on the road. Been driving a Celerio (second-hand) for the last 2 years in Bangalore. Looking for an automatic petrol car within a budget of ₹9.5 lakh. My priority is safety and ease of adapting to the new car. I am thinking of a Punch. Looking for your suggestion.

Autocar India

•2h

Yes, the Tata Punch Adventure AMT is an excellent option, given your requirements. It's tall with a high seating position, which gives you a commanding view out - great for a new driver, yet it's compact enough not to be intimidating around town. It will also feel like a good upgrade from your old Celerio.Since safety is also a consideration for you, the Punch has been given a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating and gets 6 airbags as standard, plus a good amount of standard safety equipment. If there's a potential drawback, it's that the Punch's 1.2 petrol engine and AMT gearbox aren't the smoothest combination, and as a new driver, the jerkiness at low speeds is something you will have to learn to drive around.Also consider the Hyundai Exter SX Smart AMT and the Nissan Magnite Kuro AMT as well, as both have smoother powertrains than the Punch.

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Nissan Magnite

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