Dear Editor, I currently own a Ford Aspire Petrol (top-end but one variant) and am planning to upgrade to a more spacious car in around Rs. 20 lakh (ex-showroom). My daily city commute is between 10 to 20 km with an additional 50-60 km once a week. I also take occasional long drives of around 500-700 km. I travel with 3 passengers, but occassionally my parents join us. I have a dedicated parking slot with home charging setup capability. Coming from a Ford, I deeply value sharp handling, tight body control, and steering feedback. I am highly intrigued by the MG Windsor EV Pro through corporate car lease due to its incredible tax benefits, low running costs, and lounge-like rear seats for my parents. However, I am worried about its soft suspension and light steering that will feel too disconnected as compared to my Aspire. Does the MG Windsor EV Pro offer enough driving engagement, and are its drive modes sporty enough for a driving enthusiast? Please suggest some other option if I buy a car myself or choose a corporate car lease. Also, between turbo petrol or EV, which one will be fun-to-drive?

autocar.india

•2d

Honda City SV manual suits your 50 km daily run best. Its 1.5 petrol is the smoothest here and the clutch and steering are light, so long city commutes will feel easier. In real traffic you will usually see better economy than the other two, and the rear seat space and ride comfort are still the class benchmark for family use.Volkswagen Virtus 1.5 TSI is no longer available with a manual so your choices are either the 1.5 TSI DSG or the 1.0 TSI manual. They are the fun pick if you love strong mid‑range and highway performance. For daily stop‑go, though, the turbo’s appetite will make it a bit costlier to run.Hyundai Verna 1.5 manual is very smooth and well equipped, but the Honda City still remains the better car to drive and be driven in.

Honda City

Volkswagen Virtus

Hyundai Verna

autocar.india

•41m

The Skoda Kylaq 1.0 AT would be our recommendation. Since your father already enjoys driving the Slavia 1.0 MT, the Kylaq will feel instantly familiar. It retains the light steering, solid build quality and confidence-inspiring driving manners that have made him a fan of Skoda cars. The 6-speed torque-converter automatic is smooth, predictable and well suited to city driving, making it an ideal upgrade as he gets older. Its compact dimensions also make it much easier to manoeuvre on narrow two-lane roads.If you're open to an EV and have access to home charging, the Tata Punch EV is another excellent option. The combination of light steering, instant torque and a single-speed transmission makes it one of the easiest cars to drive in city traffic, and its compact size is well suited to your father's usage.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Slavia

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI, preferably the manual. Your usage is light, so the smaller turbo petrol keeps costs sensible, gives better city mileage, and still has enough pull for a full family on that monthly highway run. The Kushaq is comfortable over rough roads, and its 5-star safety adds peace of mind on long trips.For low to average maintenance, stick with the 1.0. Routine service once a year is typical, parts are now more reasonable than they used to be, and fuel costs stay in check if you drive smoothly. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic, the automatic is easy to live with, but it will cost more upfront and use a bit more fuel.One thing to be aware of: Skoda’s service network is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai, and costs won't be quite as affordable either. If you often drive fully loaded on highways or climb hills, the 1.5 TSI is stronger, but for 2-3 short trips a week and one family trip a month, the 1.0 fits better.

Skoda Kushaq