I am using a 2007 Honda City ZX VTEC, which is still running well. I am planning to buy a new car, and I drive enthusiastically. I like the used Skoda Octavia and am looking for a used car under ₹12 to 13 lakh, but I am worried about high spare part costs and DSG gearbox issues. The Honda Civic looks good, but its 0 to 100 feels slow with CVT. Other options I am considering are the Slavia 1.5 GT or the latest-generation Honda City. My usage is around 10,000km per year. An SUV is also acceptable if it drives well. Which option is better?

We would rule out a used Skoda Octavia because, for your budget, you are likely to get only a third-gen 2016-2018 model, depending on the condition and the kilometres clocked. Octavias are expensive to maintain and can be expensive too, so you could end up with a white elephant paying lots of workshop bills.As you said, the Honda Civic is slow, but also with a CVT, it's not a great driver’s car, though the engine is smooth and free-revving.Your best bet is to go for a new Skoda Slavia 1.5 with the DSG transmission, which is a fantastic driver’s car and, in fact, will match an old generation Octavia for thrills. SUVs don’t offer the same driving pleasure as a sedan, and since you are an enthusiast, it's best you stick to a sedan.

If 70% of your driving is on the highway, it's best to stay away from an electric car, as the public charging infrastructure in India is still hit or miss, and that can be stressful on a highway drive. Since in your Xcent you averaged just 10,000km a year, you can stick to petrol.We suggest you go for the Hyundai Creta 1.5 CVT, which is a popular and proven SUV offering decent highway performance and a smooth drive in the city thanks to a top-notch CVT auto transmission. Also, being an Xcent owner, you are familiar with the Hyundai brand, which is a plus.

The Citroen Aircross X is a comfortable car which will not tire you after a 60km highway drive every day. The ride quality is exceptional, and the punchy 1.2 turbo petrol makes overtaking quite easy. We assume you will be opting for the automatic variant, which is quite smooth and responsive.Our only concern is the Citroen’s dealer network, which is quite poor, so you will have to be careful of this. See how responsive and proactive your dealer is. If the dealer doesn’t get back to you in a timely way and needs constant follow ups to close the deal, walk away. A dealer who is not bothered to sell you a car will be less inclined to service it.

The Mahindra XUV700 is a good option to consider. It is spacious, has a large boot, and is available with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel engine.The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and while it is not as punchy as the diesel, it is quite tractable and will be more than adequate for your needs. The diesel engine, on the other hand, is quite punchy and will be better suited for highway drives.Both engines are available with a choice of a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The automatic is quite smooth and responsive, and it will make your daily commute quite hassle-free.The XUV700 is also quite feature-loaded, and it is available with a sunroof, so you can opt for that variant. The only downside of this Mahindra car is that it is not as fuel-efficient as its rivals, and you can expect a mileage of around 8-10kmpl in the city and 12-14kmpl on the highway.Do wait until next month, though, as a new version called the XUV 7XO will be launching.