Planning to buy a Sonet iMT. Is the iMT gearbox reliable for long-term use?

Autocar India

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Yes, some manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki and Volkswagen Group have moved away from diesel passenger cars in India. But that was largely a business decision driven by tightening emissions norms, development costs and their own product strategy, not because diesel is being banned nationally. India is clearly pushing cleaner mobility and stricter efficiency norms, but there is no announced nationwide policy to suddenly ban diesel car sales in the near future.What is true is that diesel may gradually become a smaller part of the passenger car market over time, especially in cities with stricter pollution rules. Delhi NCR already has separate age-based restrictions for older diesel vehicles, but that is a local policy, not a national template.As for resale, yes, diesel resale values could soften over the long term if policy becomes stricter, but it is highly unlikely to be a sudden overnight collapse across India. The bigger question is your usage. If you do high monthly running, regular highway trips and value effortless torque plus efficiency, the Kia Sonet diesel still makes a lot of sense and remains one of the strongest diesel compact SUVs available. If your usage is mostly city commuting with lower annual mileage, then the petrol makes more sense, not because diesel is “dying”, but because your ownership pattern may not justify it.Tesla's entering India does not materially change this equation for a Sonet buyer today. EV adoption will grow, but India’s transition will be gradual, not abrupt.

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

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With 80 km of mostly city driving and a clear move to a petrol automatic, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic best fits your needs. Its automatic is smooth and calm in traffic, so that it will feel like a big upgrade from your current AMT. The engine is easy-going and does not feel stressed on long commutes, and Maruti’s wide service network helps when you are piling on daily kilometres.A few trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest in this group, and the cabin is not as flashy as some rivals. But for daily ease, comfort over bad roads, and low-stress ownership, it nails the brief.Why not the others for your use: the Tata Nexon with AMT still has a slight jerk and slow shifts in stop-go, which can get tiring over 80 km a day. The Kia Sonet automatic is quick but can feel a bit fussy at very low speeds. The Hyundai Venue CRDi is diesel, so it does not match your petrol ask.If you want stronger pick-up and more features, look at the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic; it’s brisk and still smooth, though city mileage may be lower. Overall, pick the Brezza automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

Kia Sonet

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

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For light weekday use, occasional highway trips, and a slightly fun driving experience, the Volkswagen Virtus 1.0 turbo-petrol manual suits your requirements better. It feels quick without needing to rev hard, so gaps in traffic and hill climbs are easy. The steering is light in the city, yet the car stays steady on open roads, and the big boot makes weekend runs simple. The manual is also enjoyable to use if you like being involved while driving.About the Honda City’s tyre noise: it does let in more tyre and road noise than you might expect on rough or concrete roads, but it is rarely a deal-breaker. It also varies a lot with tyre brand and pressure. Switching to a quieter set of tyres later usually helps.Two trade-offs with the Virtus: the rear seat is not as wide as the Honda City’s, and it won’t be as fuel-efficient. A close alternative with a similar driving feel is the Skoda Slavia. If you love the City’s smooth engine and spacious cabin, then that is still the one to get. Just keep in mind that a facelift is expected soon, so either wait for that or negotiate a good discount on the current stock.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Slavia

Honda City