Is Mahindra launching the XUV300 diesel automatic in 2025? I am not referring to the 3XO but the older XUV300 design. Please help, would it be a good change after the S-Cross diesel 1.3?

The best option is the newly launched Mahindra XEV 9S, which is superbly priced and fits your budget well. You can go for the 70kWh battery option, which is a good sweet spot between a very aggressive price of Rs 25 lakh (ex-showroom) and a decent range.The reason why the XEV 9S trumps other cars is because of the spacious back seat, which slides back and forth and reclines, making it the most comfortable car at this price. The ride is also very plush, though there is a bit of up-and-down body movement because Mahindra has tuned the suspension on the softer side. We don’t see any better option coming in the next 4-6 months, and feel this is the best replacement for your Ciaz.

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.