Autocar India
•26w

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.

Verified
•24w
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.
Skoda Slavia

Skoda Slavia

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More questions on similar cars

•4d

Dear Autocar Team, I drive around 45,000 km annually across highways and city roads. I previously owned a pre-owned Toyota Glanza Petrol (October 2020 to April 2024), which covered 90,000 km, and I currently drive a Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG (April 2024-present), which has now clocked 96,000 km. While the running costs are low, driving a manual car daily has become physically tiring. Additionally, frequent CNG queues and the limited boot space are major inconveniences. Around 85% of my driving is on highways. My questions are: Is 1.5 lakh km the right financial milestone to sell my Brezza CNG before major maintenance or overhaul costs start increasing? I am looking for an automatic strong hybrid car that can comfortably run up to 1.5 lakh km with low maintenance, fatigue-free driving, and a dedicated spare wheel (stepney). Between the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid, Hyryder CNG, and Honda City e:HEV, which would be the better choice for my requirements? Looking forward to your guidance.

Verified
•3h

With 45,000 km a year and 85% highway driving, your priorities are clear: low running costs, fatigue-free driving and long-term reliability. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG has served you well, but the manual gearbox and CNG queues are taking their toll. 1.5 lakh km is a sensible point to consider selling it before major overhaul costs start to creep in.Between the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid and the Honda City e:HEV, the decision comes down to your usage. The Hyryder Hybrid is the better fit. It offers a more relaxed driving experience with a higher seating position, better ground clearance and a smoother ride over long distances. The hybrid system in this Toyota car is well suited to your highway-heavy usage, delivering strong efficiency without the compromises of CNG. The Honda City e:HEV is a very efficient sedan, but this Honda car is lower to the ground, which may be a deal-breaker if you frequently travel on bad roads.Overall, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is the best balance of efficiency, comfort, and long-term reliability for your driving pattern.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleHonda City
•4d

Hello, I currently drive a 2015 Honda City Petrol Manual (Stage 1 Tune) and am planning to upgrade to the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 GT DSG. My daily commute is around 40-50 km, and I also do monthly highway drives of 400-500 km. Being a sedan enthusiast and with very limited options in the Rs. 20-25 lakh price range, would the Virtus 1.5 GT DSG be a good choice for my requirements? Thank you.

Verified
•2d

Yes, the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 GT DSG is a very good upgrade from your 2015 Honda City petrol manual, especially given your usage pattern and preferences. Your daily commute of 40- 50 km combined with regular highway runs of 400- 500 km a month makes the Virtus 1.5 GT a strong fit. The 1.5 TSI engine is genuinely punchy, and the DSG gearbox delivers quick, crisp shifts, making both city driving and highway overtakes effortless. The Virtus also has a well-sorted chassis, a comfortable ride and a spacious cabin, which will make your daily commute and long drives more enjoyable.You could also consider the updated Skoda Slavia that's likely to be launched in a few weeks, or wait for the updated Virtus that'll launch towards the end of the year. These cars will have an upgraded air-con unit (like the Skoda Kushaq and VW Taigun) that you will surely appreciate.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleHonda City
VehicleSkoda Slavia
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
•4d

Hello Autocar, I am planning to buy the Volkswagen Virtus by the end of this month or within the next month. Should I wait for the upcoming Virtus facelift? I am considering the Virtus 1.0 GT Line Manual variant. Should I buy the current model, or would it be better to wait for the updated Virtus? I have heard that the facelift will feature a major update to the A/C compressor and other electronic components to improve overall reliability. How true is this, and would it be worth waiting?

Verified
•2d

If you are planning to buy the Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 GT Line Manual, it is worth waiting for the upcoming Virtus facelift. The current Virtus is already a strong product, but the facelift is expected to bring meaningful updates, particularly improvements to the air conditioning system, which is likely to enhance the overall ownership experience.If you are not in an urgent hurry, waiting a few weeks for the updated version makes sense. If you need the car immediately, the current Virtus is still a solid choice, which will possibly be available at a discounted price, but given the timing, waiting is the more sensible option.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

Verified
•5d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
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•1w

Which car should I buy for a maximum monthly usage of 500 km? It will be used mostly by a 60-year-old person and his wife.

Verified
•6d

Given your requirements, the focus should be on ease of use, comfort and long-term reliability rather than performance. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible choice here. It is easy to drive, has a comfortable ride, a spacious cabin and it is easy to get in and out of. It is also extremely reliable and inexpensive to maintain, which is important for long-term ownership. The petrol engine is smooth and efficient, and with your low low monthly running, there is no need to consider diesel, hybrid or EV options. If you prefer a slightly higher seating position for better visibility, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is a good alternative, offering the same reliability and ease of ownership in a more SUV-like package. Both cars are easy to manoeuvre in the city, comfortable on occasional highway runs and backed by Maruti’s extensive service network, making them ideal for your usage.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
•3d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
•3d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris

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Posted on: 13 Feb 2026