I am currently planning to upgrade my car and considering the BMW iX1. I’m a bit confused between choosing the petrol variant or the electric one. I would appreciate your guidance based on my usage pattern. Currently, I drive a Hyundai Verna petrol, which I’ve used for six years with a total running of around 50,000 km. I’m based in Pune and typically commute to the office twice a week. Occasionally, I go on long drives — about twice a year.

Autocar India

•47m

Given your requirements, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. It's a compact SUV that's powered by a refined 103hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine. It comes with a smooth, 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox and has a claimed mileage of 19.8kpl.Being a Maruti car, it will be reliable for you for 8-10 years, and it's backed up by the brand's widespread service network, which should give you added peace of mind. The Brezza also has a comfy and spacious cabin, and it comes well-equipped with features.As for safety, the Brezza has not been crash-tested yet, but it does come with 6 airbags, traction control and more. Maruti Brezza petrol-AT prices range from Rs 10.60 lakh to Rs 12.86 lakh (ex-showroom).

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•23h

Given your requirements, the Skoda Slavia would be a good option to consider. Within the Slavia range, we would recommend the 1.5-litre TSI engine with the DSG gearbox. This will give you the enthusiastic driving dynamics you want, which frankly, no mid-size SUV can offer. It also has fantastic handling manners and is extremely stable on the highways. The bootspace at 521 litres is massive, and it has a good ground clearance to clear most of our badly built roads.In the city, the Slavia also gets cylinder deactivation that helps save fuel, and it is light and breezy to manoeuvre. Also, the music system in the Slavia is one of the best stock systems out there. It is punchy, clear and feels properly high-end. If you're an audiophile, you will enjoy it compared to any other car or SUV south of Rs 30 lakh.

Skoda Slavia

Autocar India

•1d

Since you prefer diesels, the Tata Nexon would be a good choice for your needs. It gets a frugal 1.5-litre diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It is rated 5 stars for crash test safety in BNCAP and has a confident ride on the highway. The braking performance is good too, and in your budget, you can get the Pure + S variant that gets you a decent kit like LED headlamps, sunroof, reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, etc.The Nexon returns an impressive 16.5kpl in the city and an even more impressive 19.4kpl on the highway. It is a well-rounded SUV for your needs and hence our top recommendation.

Tata Nexon