I am looking to buy my first car. I am currently looking at the Kia Sonet Diesel Automatic 1.5, which comes at ₹16.25 lakh and the Skoda Slavia Sportline Auto at ₹17 lakh. My main usage would be travelling between Kochi and Bangalore and occasional city drives in and around both cities. I had a Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi earlier, which I loved and would prefer something with a similar driving punch. Which would be an apt choice?

Autocar India

•6w

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.

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Slavia

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More questions on similar cars

Chintan

•1d

I am confused between the Kia Seltos and the Skoda Slavia. My monthly running is under 1,000 km, with a usage split of 60% city and 40% highway. The car should comfortably accommodate five passengers and offer a practical boot space. My budget is under ₹16 lakh (on-road). Please suggest which option would be better, along with the most value-for-money and practical variant. Also, let me know if there are any other cars I should consider within this budget.

Autocar India

•1d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTK (O) MT fits your brief best. In daily traffic, the Seltos will be easy to drive thanks to its smooth, naturally aspirated petrol engine and light gearshift and clutch, and the higher seat makes getting in and out easy. It also rides over bad roads and tall speed breakers without worry, which matters on mixed city-highway use. Space is good for four and fine for five for shorter trips, and the boot will take a family’s weekend bags.The HTK (O) MT is a good value for money as it offers quite a few features for the price. Just bear in mind that, on the highway, the engine will require a bit more effort to make easy overtakes. If your trips are often with four adults and lots of luggage, and you value a bigger boot and stronger pull on the highway, look at the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Sportline MT. Its small turbo engine gives more punch. But it is a lower car, so entry is not as easy, and you have to be a bit more careful on rough roads. Compared to the Seltos' naturally aspirated 1.5, you'll also experience some turbo lag at city speeds, and at your budget, you won't get as many features. Overall, for your mix of city and highway and firm budget, the Seltos HTK is the most practical pick.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Slavia

Sachin Bhosle

•3d

Hi Autocar Team, I am looking for a powerful sedan for a daily commute of around 80 km, with most of the driving on highways, along with a 600 km long drive on most weekends. I am looking for a car with solid build quality, no sunroof, and one that feels planted at high speeds. It should also offer strong safety, including ADAS features. Additionally, I would prefer a sedan with good steering feel and engaging driving dynamics.

Autocar India

•1d

With 80 km a day, mostly on highways and a 600 km run most months, you need a safe, steady sedan that feels good at speed and does not force a sunroof. In that brief, the Honda City V CVT with Honda Sensing fits best because it gives you ADAS without a sunroof and stays calm and secure on fast roads.The City’s steering is light in town but feels natural and sure as speed builds, and the car remains composed over rough patches. The cabin is well-made, and you get core safety features like six airbags and stability control.Do note: the City is not the most powerful in this price band, so if you want very quick bursts for overtakes, you will need to press the engine harder, and the CVT can sound loud when you do.If you want stronger power and a more connected feel and can give up ADAS or the no-sunroof requirement, look at the Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 TSI DSG or Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. They feel very strong on the highway, and their steering has more weight, but they miss ADAS, and top versions will add a sunroof. Overall, for your highway-heavy use, ADAS and no-sunroof requirement, the City V CVT lines up best.

I have been using a Kia Sonet iMT for the past 5 years, but it has recently started giving gear shift and locking issues. I am now planning to buy a new automatic car within a budget of ₹15-16 lakh. A key requirement is front ventilated seats, as I have an open parking space, and the car tends to heat up significantly. My usage is primarily city driving, around 1,000-1,200 km per month.

Autocar India

•8h

The Skoda Kylaq is one of the few cars in your budget that offers ventilated seats along with a proper torque converter automatic, which is smoother and more reliable for city driving compared to AMTs or DCTs. That directly addresses your daily usage of 1000-1200 km in the city, where ease of driving and comfort matter the most.What also works strongly in its favour is the overall driving experience. The Kylaq has a punchy turbo petrol engine, good ride quality and feels more stable than most compact SUVs. So even when you step out for occasional highway drives, you feel confident and composed. The cabin is well built and feels premium enough for long-term ownership.Now, looking at alternatives. Cars like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Tata Nexon also offer ventilated seats in this price range. However, all three cars are offered with DCT gearboxes in petrol automatics, which can feel jerky in slow traffic over time. In comparison, the Kylaq’s automatic is simply easier and more relaxed to live with.

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