I am looking forward to buying a car, for which my budget is 12 lakhs. I do not drive, and my daily commute is around 90 kms, of which 70% within the city. I can stretch my budget till 14 lakhs if I get the value for my money in terms of rear seat comfort and mileage. I want to buy a petrol car with a manual transmission. What would be my choice of car if I want to avoid entry-level models?

Autocar India

•8h

With around 70 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is still very well suited to your requirements. In fact, your usage should normally be sufficient to keep the DPF healthy, provided the vehicle is regularly driven at sustained speeds. The fact that the DPF warning light is appearing after relatively short city runs suggests there could be an underlying issue that needs investigation rather than this being purely a usage-related problem.Before taking the significant financial hit of selling a 3.5-year-old vehicle, it would be worth getting the car thoroughly inspected by Hyundai and escalating the matter if necessary. A healthy diesel vehicle should not be causing repeated DPF concerns with your mix of highway and city driving.As for the alternatives, the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engines in the Creta and Seltos are smooth, refined and hassle-free, but they will feel less effortless on the highway and will not match the diesel's fuel efficiency. The Venue 1.2 petrol would be an even bigger step down in performance.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•9h

Go for the Hyundai Venue. It sits on the newer platform and has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It also has the better back seat among the two, which helps on long trips with family, and the cabin feels a touch more airy. For highway-heavy use you could consider the 1.5 diesel which is refined and gives good real world mileage. The Sonet has the firmer suspension between the two; it isn't as absorbent as the Venue over rough roads, but feels a bit more planted on the highway. If you’re fixed on petrol within Rs. 12 lakh, the Venue is solid pick.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1d

Consider the Kia Seltos HTK 1.5 petrol, manual. It suits your use because you already have the Tata Tiago EV for 100 km daily runs, so a simple petrol makes more sense than a costly diesel. The Kia Seltos is well-equipped on the lower trims and will feel like a significant upgrade over your Brezza, gives decent highway economy, and Kia service has a good reputation.For family drives, it’s roomy, the ride is comfy, the cabin feels airy, and you get a big, useful boot. On the odd office run, the manual is light and easy to use, but alternatively, the IVT will make city driving even more effortless.One thing to note is that with a full load and luggage, it feels just “enough” for quick overtakes.If you don't need something quite as big, the Hyundai Venue is a solid choice too.

Tata Tiago EV

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue