Hello sir, my name is Dr. Ashish Lashkari, and despite being in the healthcare industry, my passion for automobiles is no less than my profession. I currently drive a Jeep Compass Petrol Automatic, which I purchased in 2018 and have driven around 85,000 km since then. Now, I want to upgrade to something better, and my options are a used Mercedes, a BMW, or the new Mahindra XEV 9e. My usage is around 25% city driving and 75% highway driving with family. Petrol is no longer my preferred choice, as the poor fuel efficiency of the Jeep has been quite frustrating. Please suggest what would be the best option for me. Thank you so much in advance.

Autocar India

•32m

Between the two Tata cars that you've shortlisted, go for the Sierra. Considering you will be using the SUV in the city, it's relatively more compact and easier to drive, with lighter controls, yet doesn't give up too much in terms of space. It also has more features than the Harrier, including a three-screen setup on the dashboard in top trims. Both cars have 5-star crash test ratings from Bharat NCAP, since safety is a concern for you. The Sierra also has an edge on comfort, with the softer, more compliant suspension setup, while the Harrier feels firm, comparatively.However, being large and heavy SUVs, neither is particularly good on fuel economy, especially if you drive mostly in the city. Tata's new 1.5-litre petrol engine feels smooth and powerful in both SUVs, but in our real-world tests, returned poor figures in the Sierra. The diesel might be the better choice if fuel economy is a criterion, though beware of the additional maintenance required, such as DPF regeneration.With mostly metro-city use at 25-30 km a day and rare highway runs, a strong-hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris might make more sense. It uses far less fuel in stop-go traffic, it is very quiet and smooth at low speeds, and it is easier to park than bigger SUVs. Coming from a Honda City, you will like how calm and smooth it feels, and the ride is comfortable over broken roads. Moreover, it too has received a 5-star crash test rating from Bharat NCAP. The trade-off is space, which isn't as much as you'll find in the Harrier or Sierra, and performance, which compared to the turbo-petrol engine, isn't as strong. For your usage though, we would recommend the Victoris strong hybrid.

Tata Harrier

Tata Sierra

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Autocar India

•1h

At your budget, there aren't many hybrid options. You could consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or its sister model the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder. The top variants of all these cars would come at ₹20 lakh (on road) mark. There's really not much difference between the Grand Vitara and Hyryder, so pick the one that you prefer in terms of style or on which one you are getting a better deal. If you want a few more features, opt for the Victoris as you would get features like a larger touchscreen and instrument panel, a branded audio system and level-2 ADAS. However, do bear in mind that rear headroom is a bit tighter in the Victoris. Technically, it shares its platform and powertrain with the other two hybrids, so it is also powered by the 1.5 litre 3 cylinder petrol hybrid unit.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•1h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature. For your usage, it is simply the most sensible long term choice as your running is quite limited, so a petrol makes far more sense than a diesel today, especially with mostly city driving in Delhi. The Kylaq gives you a more premium and involving driving experience than the Tata Punch CNG AMT, with a smoother petrol engine, better highway manners and a cabin that feels more solid and mature overall. It will also feel more comfortable and refined on longer trips, while still being compact enough for daily city use.The Punch CNG AMT is definitely the cheaper to run option and it is rugged enough for bad roads, but compared to the Kylaq, it does not feel as polished, as engaging to drive or as premium inside. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel, meanwhile, is not the right fit for your usage because modern BS6 diesels and your kind of low city running can lead to DPF related issues over time, especially without regular long highway runs.

Skoda Kylaq

Tata Punch

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•6d

You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•6d

For your usage, a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT or IVT is the best fit. These setups are smoother, easier to drive in traffic and more predictable, which matters far more in city conditions than outright performance. So yes, in your case, NA engines are better suited than turbo petrol.The Hyundai Verna IVT stands out as the most well-rounded option for city driving. The engine is smooth, the IVT gearbox is very intuitive in stop-and-go traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless. It feels refined and easy to live with daily.The Honda City Hybrid is worth considering if your running is high. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, strong performance and is very easy to drive in the city thanks to its hybrid system. However, it comes with a higher upfront cost, and the battery placement results in a higher boot floor, which slightly affects practicality.Compared to the Verna, the standard Honda City CVT is also an option, but the engine feels a bit noisier, and the gearbox is not as intuitive as the Verna’s IVT in everyday use.

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Autocar India

•1d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx