Mumbai

•16w

I am looking to buy an automatic petrol car within a budget of ₹18 lakh. My requirements are: 5-star safety, comfort for family use, mostly city driving, and occasional trips outside the city. I have explored the Skoda Kushaq, Slavia, and Tata Nexon, but I do not want to go with Tata as I already own a Tiago. I am open to options from Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia, provided they meet my safety requirements. Please advise.

•16w

On a Rs 18 lakh budget, for your requirements, the Hyundai Verna HX6+ IVT automatic is a good pick because it meets your 5-star safety needs and feels the most relaxed in traffic. The IVT, a CVT by another name, is a type of automatic that does not shift in steps, so it feels very smooth at low speeds, which makes stop-and-go driving easy. The back seat is roomy, the ride is comfortable over rough patches, and Hyundai’s wide service network adds peace of mind on those occasional trips out of town. The latest Verna has a 5-star Global NCAP crash test rating in India, so you are not compromising on your main ask. You could stretch to the HX8 variant if you want more features and your budget is flexible.

Two things to keep in mind with the Verna: it sits lower than a taller car like the Skoda Kushaq, so you need a bit more care on big speed breakers, and the rear seat is set a little low, so elderly family members who prefer a higher seat may not love it. If you want a higher seating position and more ground clearance without giving up 5-star safety, go for the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol CVT, which recently got a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. Though you might sacrifice some features in this variant on your budget.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Verna

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.62 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

•16w

Go for honda elevate. Smoothest cvt in city driving and decent enough highway driving feel. Gets all adas features... Decent enough build quality, all safety features and most imp Good for rear seat space and comfort.

•16w

Hey Guys, how is the seating comfort with leatherate seats in Kia Seltos 2026. Please suggest.

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•4d

Hi Autocar India, I’m planning to buy a new car under Rs 16 lakh for my family of five. My monthly usage is around 500km, mostly on highways. I’m currently considering: Hyundai i20 N Line, Hyundai Verna 1.5 MPI, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Virtus, and Skoda Slavia. I personally prefer low-slung cars over SUVs. My priorities are long-term reliability, family comfort, highway stability, good safety, reasonable maintenance costs, and overall ownership experience. Which one would you recommend for my requirements, especially for long-term ownership? Also, which engine and variant would be the best choice within my Rs 16 lakh budget? Thanks! I’d love to hear your expert recommendation.

•1d

You can get the HX6+ variant of the Verna with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol-manual powertrain, which is pleasant to drive, stable on highways, and paired with a comfortable, soft suspension setup. Being a Hyundai car, it also has reasonable maintenance costs.The Hyundai Verna has also scored a perfect 5-star rating in the Global NCAP crash tests, so you can rest assured about safety. The Skoda Slavia is due for an update very soon, but in this budget you will have to settle for entry-level variants that don't offer much equipment. The Verna, on the other hand, will get you LED headlamps, front ventilated seats, a single-pane sunroof and others. All things considered, the Hyundai Verna is the best choice for your requirements.

Hyundai Verna

Skoda Slavia

•1w

Hi, I own a Kia Sonet, which I am extremely disappointed with. About 99% of my driving is in the city, and my budget for a new car is around Rs 15-16 lakh. My priorities are a sedan with a smooth and comfortable ride, particularly over city speed breakers and potholes, along with good mileage, relatively low and hassle-free maintenance, reasonable running costs, and good after-sales service. Unfortunately, I have found the Kia Sonet disappointing in all these areas. I am therefore looking for a decent sedan that better suits my requirements. I also believe sedans generally offer a smoother and more comfortable ride than many of the newer compact SUVs. Please correct me if I am wrong and suggest some suitable options within my budget.

•2d

Given your priorities, the Honda City is the clear recommendation. It is a proven sedan with a comfortable ride, excellent reliability and low maintenance costs. The suspension is well-tuned for city use, and it handles speed breakers and potholes with a level of composure that many compact SUVs struggle to match. Honda's service network is strong, and ownership experience is generally hassle-free. The petrol engine is smooth and efficient, making it a great fit for predominantly city driving.Your observation about sedans is largely correct. A well-engineered sedan like the City often delivers a smoother and more settled ride than many compact SUVs, especially over broken city roads.If you want a more premium feel and a slightly softer ride, the Hyundai Verna is also worth considering. It is a comfortable and refined sedan with good service support, but the Honda City remains the more proven long-term ownership proposition.The key is to avoid turbo petrol engines with DCT gearboxes, as they can be less suited to stop-start city traffic. The naturally aspirated petrol engines in the City and Verna are smooth, reliable and well suited to your usage.Overall, the Honda City is the most sensible and satisfying choice for your requirements.

Honda City

Hyundai Verna

•11h

Every time it rains even a little my basement parking floods partially and my Verna's been through it twice this month. Anyone face this problem? How do you guys protect your cars?

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•6d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

•1w

Hi, I have been using Honda City CVT for the past 10 years and now, I am looking for an SUV with similar comfort but with the latest technology. My monthly running is approximately between 700-800 km mostly within Delhi.

•6d

Given your usage of 700-800 km a month in Delhi and a 10-year ownership of a Honda City CVT, the Honda Elevate CVT is the most natural upgrade. It retains the same Honda ownership experience, offers a comfortable ride and the CVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Elevate also sits at a sensible price point and is backed by Honda’s strong reliability record, making it a stress-free long-term ownership proposition.If you want a more premium experience with a richer feature set, the Kia Seltos IVT is a good option. The IVT gearbox is smoother in traffic, the cabin feels more upmarket and the Seltos offers a wider range of modern features. However, it does come at a higher price point. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is worth considering if you enjoy driving, as it offers a more engaging experience and the torque convertor gearbox is also the smoothest around. The ride is a bit firmer and the ownership experience is not as straightforward as Honda or Kia, so make sure the dealer in your area is well reputed.

I want to buy a car for 40% city use and 60% long trips. I own a 2015 model of Celerio AGS. Should I buy Baleno AGS considering E20 fuel in the future.

•6d

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

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