I own a 2022 Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 Highline and am planning to buy a new car within a budget of ₹15-18 lakh. My priority is maximum space along with premium features. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•2d

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis DCT HTK+(O) 1.5 turbo-petrol for a chauffeur-driven family car with easy entry for parents and a little fun when you take the wheel. It fits your brief best at this budget.Your parents will find it easy to step in because the floor is low and the rear doors open wide, so they do not have to climb up or drop down. The rear seat is roomy and supportive, and the ride is comfortable at city speeds, which helps in tier-2 traffic. The automatic here is a DCT, which is an automatic that changes gears very quickly. On the highway, the turbo-petrol picks up speed easily, so overtaking feels stress-free and even exciting. Kia’s service reach in smaller towns is also quite good now, which matters for easy ownership.Two things to be aware of: in very slow bumper-to-bumper traffic, the DCT can feel a touch jerky and hesitant if you are gentle on the throttle, and the car is long, so tight parking needs some care. If you prefer two rows and an even softer ride, look at the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol IVT SX. It is very smooth in traffic and easy enough on ingress/egress, though not as exciting as the Clavis turbo.Take your parents along for the test drive and check step-in height and rear-seat comfort, then do a short highway run to feel how easily it gains speed.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•2d

Opt for the Toyota Innova Hycross GX (O ) petrol CVT for your Bangalore office runs and the odd long trip; it is smooth, very comfortable, and easy to live with over many years. In daily traffic, it feels calm and stress-free thanks to a smooth CVT automatic. The high seat and big glass area make it easy to see out, and on weekend trips, your family will enjoy the space and ride comfort. Toyota service in Bangalore is also strong, so upkeep is simple.One thing to be aware of: the Innova is a large car, so tight basement parking and narrow lanes will need some care, and this non-hybrid petrol will use more fuel in stop-go traffic than a small car. If most days you drive alone, park in tight places, and want lower daily fuel use, the Kia Carens Clavis petrol mid variant will suit you better because it is smaller and lighter to drive.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•2d

Pick the Kia Carens Clavis with the 1.5-litre NA petrol. For your low running, pure petrol is a better choice than CNG, and the Clavis will feel like a significant upgrade over your Ertiga. It keeps the easy, light feel you are used to, but the cabin feels nicer, the third row is a touch roomier, and with no CNG tank, you will have a usable boot. You also avoid queues at CNG pumps, and the money saved on fuel will be minimal with your limited usage.If you still prefer CNG, then the older Carens, which is still on sale in just one trim, can be equipped with a dealer-fit CNG kit. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a viable alternative, but expect significantly higher fuel bills with the petrol.One thing to be aware of with the Carens Clavis petrol is that with seven people and luggage on steep climbs, it will feel worked. If that matters, consider the Carens 1.5 turbo-petrol instead.During your test drive, carry your family, sit in the third row, and check the boot with a couple of suitcases to make a clear choice.

Kia Carens Clavis