I am planning to buy a compact SUV with a diesel automatic gearbox, and my budget is around ₹12-14 lakh on-road. I usually prefer buying the variant just above the base model for better value rather than going for the top variant. My shortlisted options are the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet. While my priority is value for money, my child insists that the car should have a sunroof. Which car would you recommend ?

Autocar India

•56m

Of the options you've listed, you should consider the Kia Seltos, given that it is the best all-rounder that fits your wide range of requirements. You can pick from one of three engines that suit your needs best. The turbo petrol has the strongest performance, the diesel has the best fuel efficiency, and the naturally aspirated petrol is the best compromise between the two. It's also the most spacious and comfortable of the three, and though it hasn't been awarded a safety rating yet, its new K3 platform is engineered for a high score, and it has all the necessary safety features. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that Honda will launch the Elevate Hybrid, as the company has stated it is moving straight to an EV, which should be here in 2027.

Kia New Seltos

Autocar India

•11m

We would recommend you look at the new upcoming Skoda Kushaq. It sits above the compact SUV segment but is still not too large and is among the smaller of the mid-size SUVs, thus it remains quite easy and manageable in the city. The Kushaq is well equipped with many standard safety features and has scored a 5-star crash rating in the GNCAP tests, thus it meets your priority of safety too. Since you are driving in the city and looking for fuel efficiency too, we would suggest the 1.0 litre engine, which will launch with an 8-speed torque convertor automatic transmission. Torque convertors are the smoothest type of automatic transmission around, which you will appreciate in the city stop-and-go traffic. Being an 8-speed (earlier was a 6-speed unit), mileage should also improve over the previous car. It returned a figure of 8.5kpl in the city, 12.4 kpl on the highway, in our standard test cycle. Stay tuned to our channel as we will be driving the car shortly.

Skoda Kushaq facelift

Autocar India

•16h

Since a large part of your driving will be on the Kochi-Bengaluru highway and you enjoyed the performance of your old Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi, choosing a car with strong performance and relaxed cruising ability will make your drives more enjoyable.Between the two, you will likely be happier with the Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI with the 7-speed DSG. It offers superior performance and refinement compared to the Kia Sonet diesel automatic, especially for highway usage. The Slavia’s turbo-petrol engine delivers effortless acceleration, and the DSG gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly, which makes overtaking and long-distance cruising feel easy.Another advantage is that the 1.5-litre engine features cylinder deactivation, which shuts down two cylinders under light loads such as steady cruising. This helps improve fuel efficiency when driving on the highway. The Slavia also feels more planted and stable at higher speeds, which will be noticeable on your frequent intercity drives.However, we would recommend waiting a little before making the purchase. The Slavia facelift is expected soon, and with it around the corner, it makes sense to see what updates and features the refreshed model brings before committing to the current version.

Skoda Slavia

Kia Sonet