I’m planning to buy a petrol manual SUV with a budget of around ₹15 lakh (can stretch slightly if it’s really worth it). My usage: * Weekly driving: around 80-100 km * Occasional long highway trips (500 km to my hometown) * Planning more long rides in the future Currently, my budget suits the MG Astor, but I feel the engine may not be very punchy for highway overtakes. However, I’m getting a deal for the Volkswagen Taigun at around ₹16.5 lakh on-road for the Topline 2025 model. I don’t prefer the Tata Nexon (not a fan of the design), and the Kia Sonet felt a bit small for my comfort. My priorities: * Good highway stability and safety * Comfortable long-distance driving * Decent power for overtaking * Reasonable maintenance cost * Good rear seat comfort and boot space Given my usage, should I stretch my budget for the Taigun, or is the Astor sufficient? Are there any other petrol manual options around this budget that I should consider?

Autocar India

•21h

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid automatic. It is the only other bigger 3-row with space that will feel like a real step up from your Taigun. For a family of five, it is superb - wide, airy, comfy second row, and the hybrid makes city driving smooth and quiet while keeping running costs low. Toyota service, parts availability, and resale are about the best you can get at this price, and the cabin fit and panel consistency are better than those of the 7XO you sampled.The catch is the price and waiting period. The sweet-spot VX (O) and ZX trims push beyond Rs 30 lakh on road, and waiting periods can be long, so keep that in mind. Also, it will not feel as sharp to drive as your Taigun 1.5 TSI.If that's too far out of budget, two other options you can consider are the Hyundai Alcazar petrol or the Kia Carens Clavis EV. The Hyundai gets you the SUV body style, a punchy petrol-DCT combo, and comfy seating for 5 with the option of two smaller seats in the third row. The Clavis EV, meanwhile, may have a less desirable MPV shape, but it actually has more interior space and an equally well put-together cabin. Both Hyundai and Kia offer an excellent after-sales experience.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Volkswagen Taigun

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•23h

If you're referring to the Kia Syros EV, it may be worth waiting if you're not in a hurry. Given what we've already seen with the Syros ICE, the Syros EV is expected to offer significantly more cabin space and practicality than the Punch EV. In fact, the Syros is closer to the Nexon in terms of overall size and interior room, so the EV version is likely to appeal to buyers looking for a more spacious family car.The trade-off is that the Syros EV will almost certainly be more expensive than the Punch EV and is expected to be positioned closer to the Nexon EV in terms of battery size, range and pricing.For your usage of office commutes and occasional road trips around Bangalore, the Punch EV facelift is already a very well-rounded product. It is well priced, easy to drive in the city and offers enough range for most use cases.

Kia Syros

Tata Punch EV

Tata Nexon EV

Tata Nexon

Autocar India

•1d

For a first-time buyer in Bengaluru, the Skoda Kylaq feels like the more complete package. Its turbo-petrol engine and torque-converter automatic gearbox work very well together, offering smooth progress in city traffic while remaining enjoyable on highways. It also feels more mature to drive, with better ride and handling balance than the Kia Sonet.The Kia Sonet AT counters with a richer feature list, a more premium-looking cabin and Kia's strong service network. However, if you're considering the turbo-petrol DCT version, the Kylaq's torque-converter automatic is better suited to the stop-start traffic conditions that will make up the majority of your driving.The Sonet remains a strong choice if features are a top priority, but for a mix of city commuting and highway driving, the Kylaq delivers a better balance of driving comfort, performance and practicality.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet