Upgraded from my old WagonR to a Virtus last month, and the difference in highway stability alone has made every long drive feel like a completely different experience.

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With just 100 km per month, fuel savings will be negligible, so a petrol car is the sensible choice. The bigger concern is your experience with the Punch and the desire for a genuinely reliable, well-built upgrade. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.5 petrol is the recommendation here. It is a genuinely well-engineered SUV with a proven engine and a strong ownership track record. The 1.5 petrol is the only one in the segment and is punchy enough for highway use, while still being fuel-efficient. The 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, making it a good fit for your usage, and it will also fit in your budget. The Brezza also offers a good balance of ride comfort and driving enjoyment, and it is a clear step up from the Punch in terms of overall quality and refinement.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•3h

Given your requirements, the best option is the Hyundai Alcazar petrol DCT. It's available as a six- or seven-seater, giving you the flexibility you need when your extended family joins you on your journeys, and its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is relatively fuel efficient for a car of its size. The dual-clutch automatic is smooth enough, though it can be a bit clunky at low speeds if not driven smoothly and carefully. Also worth noting is that even the base model petrol-AT Alcazar costs around Rs 21 lakh on road, and the Alcazar has not been tested by any NCAP authority.The next best option is not an SUV but arguably a more practical option - the Kia Carens Clavis. It uses the same engine and gearbox in a lighter package with more space on the inside. Other 7-seat SUV options with more space - like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio-N and MG Hector Plus are available, but are nowhere near as fuel-efficient and will be out of your budget as well. All things considered, the Hyundai Alcazar is your best option.

Hyundai Alcazar

Mahindra Scorpio N

MG Hector

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•1h

The Kia Seltos is a good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, it is not the easiest car to live with. The seat height adjustment is limited, and the bonnet is relatively high, which can make judging the front of the car difficult. The A-pillars are also quite thick, which can create blind spots at junctions. The Seltos is also a larger car than you really need for city commutes, which makes parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces more challenging.A better option would be the Kia Syros. It has a higher seating postion, lower bonnet line, better all-round visibility and a more compact footprint, which makes it much easier to drive and park in the city. The seat height adjustment is also more accommodating for shorter drivers. The Syros is also a very comfortable and reliable car with low running costs, which makes it a great long-term ownership proposition.

Kia Seltos

Kia Syros