Latest questions answered by experts

Autocar India

•59m

Since the NVH level of your current Honda Amaze is something you are not happy with, we would not recommend the new Amaze, as NVH levels are more or less the same. Wind, road and engine noise do filter through into the cabin at medium and high speeds. Thus, opt for the Hyundai i20 Asta CVT instead, as you would find it a bit quieter. The CVT (Hyundai’s IVT) is also smooth enough when driven at typical city speeds, and in slow city traffic, the i20’s IVT creeps smoothly and keeps revs down, which reduces the “drone” you likely hear. The one thing you give up is luggage space: the i20 has 311 litres versus the Amaze’s 420 litres, but if the boot is not something you use often, this should not be a large concern.

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

•1h

Go for the Hyundai Exter. It's taller (than regular hatchbacks) seating height eases entry/exit, which your elderly parents will appreciate. The ride is also good, and it soaks up road bumps quite nicely; it's only when you hit sharp potholes that you will feel a thud inside. Being a Hyundai, you will have a good service experience and low maintenance requirements and costs. With your Rs. 12 lakh budget, you will also get the top spec model, and thus you will enjoy all the features that it has to offer. You can also consider the Tata Punch, which, in addition, is an easy step-in and out height has wide 90 degree opening doors that would further ease entry and exit for your parents. The seats are also a bit softer, and the ride is also more plush, adding to the comfort factor. However, your requirement of peace of mind ownership may not be met as the quality of Tata dealers is not uniform across the country. Thus, enquire about the specific dealer in your area before making a decision.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•2h

It's hard to recommend a car without knowing more of your specific needs, rear seat space, importance of headroom, mileage, driving pattern, etc. However, since you state daily use, we assume you mean mostly city driving, thus we would recommend the Skoda Kylaq. The auto gearbox is a torque convertor unit, which is the smoothest type of autobox to have. In city conditions, its smooth and seamless shifting is something you would really appreciate. At around your budget of Rs 12 lakh, you would also get the Signature trim, which comes fairly well equipped with features like a height adjustable drivers seat. A sunroof and a touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•3h

The Tata Punch is a good option, and as you have stated, it does indeed offer more headroom than the Tata Altroz. Since it appears that this is of priority to you, another option would be the Hyundai Exter. The tall stance liberates a lot of interior headroom, and like the Tata Punch, the Exter too has a compact overall footprint. The Exter would also fit well within your Rs 10 lakh budget, especially a mid-level variant, which you have said that you are open to and would prefer instead of a top model.

Tata Punch

Tata Altroz

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•3h

If you're after a sedan alone, go for the Volkswagen Virtus. With the comfort of a sedan and ground clearance of 179mm, you get the best of both worlds here. Moreover, it has a 521-litre boot, so transporting all your stuff should not be an issue either. They've tuned the Virtus's suspension very well, so while it retains Volkswagen's typically sharp handling, it's incredibly comfortable as well. It remains flat and composed over a variety of surfaces, more so as speeds rise. Sadly, no sedan in this segment offers diesel anymore, but VW's TSI turbo petrols can be fuel-efficient if driven carefully. If you'd prefer an SUV, check out the Kia Seltos, which is spacious too and has a supple ride quality. Plus, it's got sufficient ground clearance, while not being so high off the ground as to make ingress and egress difficult for your elderly parents.

Volkswagen Virtus