I have shortlisted the Honda Amaze VX CVT, as I am looking for a sub-4m car that is good to drive, senior-friendly, and suitable for occasional long drives. My monthly running will be around 500 km. Is this a good choice for my needs?

Autocar India

•8h

We would suggest the Honda Amaze VX CVT as the sweet spot, not the ZX, unless you are comfortable spending nearly Rs 1 lakh extra for a few cosmetic additions and the Level 1 ADAS package. The Amaze’s real strengths are its smooth CVT, Honda’s long-term reliability, comfortable ride and easy ownership experience, and you get all of that in the VX without needing to stretch to the top trim.On the ADAS front, the Amaze uses a camera based Level 1 Honda Sensing system. That means the adaptive cruise control cannot be switched into a conventional non-adaptive cruise mode. It will work at night, but because it relies on a camera, its effectiveness depends heavily on visibility, clear lane markings and overall road conditions. In fog, heavy rain, glare or on poorly marked roads, performance can reduce. So we would see it as a useful convenience feature rather than a compelling enough reason on its own to choose the ZX.

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

•2d

Based on your priorities, the Hyundai i20 IVT would be our first recommendation. The IVT automatic is one of the smoothest gearboxes in this price range and is exactly the kind of transmission you should be looking at if you want a completely jerk-free city driving experience. The i20 also feels genuinely premium inside, with good cabin quality, solid feature content and in your budget, you can stretch to a well-equipped Asta variant with features like the Bose audio system and a nicely finished interior. Hyundai’s reliability and ownership experience also make it an easy long-term recommendation.If by build quality you specifically mean a stronger crash test safety proposition, then the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth serious consideration. Its CVT is equally smooth, Honda’s long-term reliability is excellent, and it feels like a sensible 10-year ownership choice. It may not feel as premium inside as the i20, but from a pure, dependable ownership perspective, it is a very strong alternative.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

Autocar India

•5h

With a Rs. 12 lakh cap, mostly city use and the odd highway trip, comfort first, the Hyundai Venue fits your brief best. It is easy to drive and park, and tackles bumps well, taking the sting out of daily commutes. Cabin insulation is good for this price, which helps on longer runs too.Your budget means you have to choose between features and power. The base 1.2-litre petrol engine is fine for city duties but feels underwhelming out on the highway. The 1.0-litre turbo-powered Venue is punchier and nicer to drive but also pricier. The DCT auto gearbox on the Venue Turbo drives the price further up, and is just out of your budget. If you are not bothered by high-end features, you could get the Skoda Kylaq AT in a low trim. It's a great compact SUV to drive, and you'll value its solid build on long highway runs.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq