I currently own a 2012 Hyundai i10 Era and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My budget is ₹15-17 lakh (on-road). My annual driving is around 3,000 km, mostly in the city with occasional long drives. My priorities are low maintenance, good mileage, and better rear seat and boot space. I am more inclined towards an automatic transmission and would also prefer ADAS Level 2 features. At the moment, I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX10 and the Honda Elevate ZX. I am not considering Tata or Mahindra models. Could you share your opinion on choosing automatic versus manual transmission for city driving in a place like Ahmedabad? Also, how useful are ADAS features in city traffic? Please suggest any alternative models based on your experience.

Autocar India

•1d

The Hyundai Venue will feel like a big upgrade from your Hyundai Santro AMT. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCT gearbox offers strong performance and smooth shifts, which makes driving in the city effortless. It also gets features like a reverse camera, Android Auto connectivity and voice commands that you are specifically looking for. Overall, it will be a noticeable step up in terms of power, features, space and overall comfort.Among the other cars you mentioned, the Kia Sonet is also a good option. However, the Venue is the newer car and is more spacious. Also, a replacement for the Sonet is expected next year, which means it may feel dated sooner. The Tata Nexon petrol is another option that offers good space and a comfortable ride, but the Venue feels more refined and easier to drive and is the newer car as well. As for the Kia Seltos, it is a good SUV, but it belongs to a higher segment and will stretch well beyond your ₹12-13 lakh budget in comparable variants.

Hyundai Venue

Kia New Seltos

Tata Nexon

Autocar India

•1h

It's hard to guide you to the perfect fit without knowing more about your requirements and your budget. However, assuming it's a sedan that you are keen on, the ideal upgrade from a 2018 Skoda Superb would be a BMW 3 Series LWB. The long wheelbase opens up lots of legroom at the back, which is something you'd be used to from the Superb. The 3 Series LWB also delivers on ride comfort and is also very nice to drive. The 330Li petrol is particularly impressive. Further up the price ladder, there's the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The interior is not just spacious but very well appointed, and feels properly luxurious. Refinement is fantastic too, and there are loads of features and tech packed into the model as well.

BMW 3 Series LWB

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Autocar India

•2h

We understand your love for your Skoda Yeti. It's a superbly engineered car which is very well suited to Indian conditions. Your car with over 1,30,000km on the odometer would likely be the most used Yeti in India! While care and periodic maintenance will keep the Yeti running, issues are bound to crop up every now and then. Hence, there is a case for a new vehicle. The best bet in your budget is the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel-AT in fully loaded AX7 T form. It's got a strong diesel engine, smooth gearbox, and, as someone used to a Yeti, you'll appreciate the ride and handling balance too. The XUV 7XO is also packed with lots of tech and features, which really make it feel like a good value even at its price.Alternatively, you could consider the Jeep Compass, which, like your Yeti, comes across as a solidly engineered product. It has been around for quite some time now, but there's a toughness that shines through, and ride and handling are also really good. The 9-speed gearbox dulls some of the engine's performance, though. The Compass is also not very large for its price - something that also worked against the Yeti.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Jeep Compass