I live in Hyderabad and am planning to purchase a new car with a budget of ₹12 lakh, extendable up to ₹15 lakh on-road. My monthly usage is 800 km in the city, and once every quarter, more than 1,800 km on highways. I am 30 years old, 6'1", and heavily built. While travelling on highways, I need strong performance, as I am used to driving my friend’s Innova Crysta on highways. My priorities are safety, features and interiors, mileage, performance, comfort, and ease of driving. My 2021 Kia Sonet delivered 13–15 kmpl in Hyderabad city traffic and 18–20 kmpl on highways. I would prefer similar mileage in my new car without worrying about fuel efficiency. Can diesel be considered in 2026? I plan to test drive the exact suggested configurations, so specific recommendations would really help.

Autocar India

•4h

An EV could make a lot of sense for your usage, but only if you can install a home charger. Covering 115km a day, mostly on the highway, is easy for today’s EVs, and your heavy running will cut fuel and service costs significantly. You will also get much stronger cruising performance and overtaking ability than your S-Presso CNG, with no fuel station queues to worry about.The Tata Nexon EV 45kWh is the sensible pick for value and service network support, and it will comfortably manage two days of driving on a single charge. If you are on a tighter budget, then the Punch EV 40kWh is also a good choice.The honest catch: highway fast chargers can still be patchy on some routes, and the upfront purchase price is higher.If home charging is not possible, then buy a diesel and keep life simple on the highway. The Hyundai Venue diesel and Kia Sonet diesel are both good choices for your needs.

Tata Nexon EV

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•20h

With your low usage, most of which is in the city, an EV actually makes a lot of sense. With solar panels installed, your daily running costs will literally be zero, and we assume you'll be able to set up a home charger that makes use of this. With fuel prices the way they are at the moment, this will go a long way in offsetting the added upfront cost of an EV. Plus, there are the inherent benefits of an EV like refinement, smoothness and instantaneous response, which is great for traffic. While there are downsides to EVs, hidden maintenance problems aren't one of them. In fact, maintenance is much lower compared to an ICE vehicle, as there are fewer components to repair or replace, and the same goes for fluids and consumables. Things you will need to note: Range will always be on your mind and longer journeys will need planning, should you take them in your EV. In the long run, as the battery deteriorates, you may notice minor losses in power and range; and finally, when the battery reaches the end of its life, which is usually expected to be at least 10 years, the replacement cost is very high, and thus resale value of EVs tends to be quite low. Yes, there's uncertainty about petrol blending at the moment, but at the current standard of E20, all new cars are compatible and safe. The Kia Syros is an excellent car with loads of space and features, and good engines. So if you're getting a good deal and are happy with the car, consider going for it. An EV for the same money will not get you the same amount of space or features.

Kia Syros

Autocar India

•1d

Consider the Hyundai Venue DCT; its size makes it easy to drive in the city, Hyundai has a solid reputation for reliability and service, and efficiency is decent for the segment. It sits higher than the Amaze you tried, so getting in and out is easier, and the seats are comfortable for two adults. The narrow width means seating three abreast in the rear is a bit of a squeeze.Hyundai’s service reach and parts availability are big advantages for family use. Ride comfort is well judged for bad roads, and the cabin feels airy and easy to live with.One catch: the DCT can hesitate at times, but for normal city use, it will be fine. The Skoda Kylaq has a smoother torque-converter automatic, but the back seat isn’t as roomy as the Venue’s.If you want a more spacious cabin, the Kia Syros is an excellent alternative. It has the same turbo-petrol DCT combination as the Venue, but the cabin is significantly roomier. Kia also has an excellent reputation for after-sales service, so that shouldn’t be a concern.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Syros