I am planning to buy a new 7-seater car for my big family. I have an overall budget of about 12-15 Lakhs. I am hesitant to buy the Ertiga as it doesn't feel premium. I want spacious, good mileage, good power, all basic-premium features. I will use the car for a very long period, but with minimal running, as I will use my Baleno too. I thought about Carens/Carens Clavis/XUV700. But I am not able to finalise. I can wait for a few months before the purchase if something better is about to launch in future.

Autocar India

•11h

Between your two options, neither is ideal if your priority is comfortably seating three people in the rear. The Hyundai Venue has a relatively narrow cabin, which makes it tight for three adults, while the Skoda Kushaq has a heavily contoured rear seat that is very comfortable for two, but not as accommodating for three.Between the two, the Kushaq is still the more comfortable car overall. It belongs to a segment above, so it offers more knee room and better overall comfort. Its torque converter automatic is also smoother and better suited to city driving compared to the Venue’s DCT, which can feel slightly jerky in slow traffic.If rear-seat comfort for three passengers is a key requirement, it is worth looking beyond your shortlist at the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It has a wider cabin than the Venue and the Kushaq, which makes it more accommodating for three passengers at the back. It also gets a smooth torque converter automatic paired with a strong turbo-petrol engine.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•16h

Go for the Mercedes‑Benz C‑Class C200 with ARTICO upholstery. In Indian heat and humidity, it resists cracking and dye transfer better than the A4’s or 3 Series’ leather options, making upkeep simpler.You specifically worry about leather ageing like your old A3, and ARTICO (a high‑grade synthetic) copes far better with 55°C+ cabin temperatures and 70-90% monsoon humidity than natural hides. It only needs a mild wipe every 2-3 months, rather than conditioning, so routine care takes about 10 minutes instead of a full detail. The grain and dye on darker ARTICO shades also hide creases and denim transfers better over 2-4 years of daily use. Do confirm the exact upholstery on your chosen C200 trim, as Mercedes often fits ARTICO on most Indian variants.The one thing you give up is the soft, natural leather feel and patina. ARTICO can feel a bit firmer and less breathable on longer drives compared with real leather. If you really want a genuine leather feel and are willing to condition it every 4-6 months, consider the BMW 3 Series 330Li M Sport with Vernasca leather instead.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

BMW 3 Series LWB

Autocar India

•17h

Go for the MG Comet. For pure city use and comfort, it is the smoothest and easiest small car in your shortlist right now. In stop-and-go traffic, the Comet feels calm because it is an electric automatic, so there are no gear shifts or vibrations, just a gentle push when you press the pedal. The steering is very light, the turning circle is tiny, and parking is stress-free. It is quiet inside, and charges at home overnight from a normal plug, which suits your low yearly use.The Maruti Suzuki Ignis automatic uses an AMT, which is an automatic that still shifts gears on its own. In slow traffic, it can give a slight jerk when starting and stopping, so it won’t feel as smooth as the Comet. It is easier for rear passengers, though, since it has four doors. However, most dealers do not have stocks as Maruti Suzuki has been winding up production of the car.As for the VinFast VF3, if you can wait, it could be a good alternative to the Comet as it has much larger wheels, which should help the ride quality over bad city roads.

MG Comet

Maruti Suzuki Ignis