Hi, I have a family of four and need a car for daily office commuting, along with around four outstation trips a month. My budget is ₹17 lakh. What would you suggest?

Autocar India

•1h

Given your 60% city and 40% highway usage, with a budget of Rs 20-25 lakh, the Kia Seltos petrol CVT automatic suits your requirements very well. It is easy to drive in town, the 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine is refined, the CVT automatic is smooth in traffic, and feels steady on the highway. More importantly for you, it is packed with technology and convenience features. You get twin screens, a clear 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats and ADAS features, and Kia also has a strong service network in most cities.Two things to note: it won't have the performance of the turbo petrol, and the back seat is not as wide as the Tata Harrier or 7XO if you often seat three adults. If you want a more powerful and a bigger car, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic, although the variant with the features you want may stretch beyond your budget. Overall, the Seltos lines up best for your needs and features focus.

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•15h

Considering your needs, go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT. This Skoda car comes with a punchy 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine and when paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic, it will make for an easy-going and convenient SUV to drive in the city, which is where you'll do majority of your running. The Kylaq is also compact, so parking in tight spots and darting in and out of gaps in traffic will be easy. On the highway at high speeds, it stays composed and comfy and the suspension handles bad patches well. It also stands out for its ride and handling balance and is very enjoyable to drive around some twisty roads. Do note though, the rear seat is best reserved for just two adults and Skoda's service network isn't as widespread as some rivals.

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•16h

The Tata Nexon iCNG Smart will fall within your Rs 10 lakh on-road budget. The turbo-petrol engine gets you the added zing for highway drives, while a sixth gear certainly boosts efficiency on the open road. Furthermore, with a twin-cylinder tank setup, boot space is respectable, and the car feels confident and stable on the highway. Being the base variant, it misses a few features; however, fundamentally, it is an excellent option. Alternatively, you could also consider a Tata Punch iCNG, although its engine lacks punch, and performance could feel a bit inadequate on the highway.

Tata Nexon

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•6d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

Autocar India

•6d

Both perform very well for your requirements, but overall, the Skoda Kylaq is the better choice. The Citroen C3 X has a slightly comfier ride quality, its AC performance is very strong, and its 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is quite punchy. However, the Kylaq's 1.0 TSI engine is more powerful, and the 6-speed automatic gearbox has been tuned for even greater responses. As such, it will feel more eager on ghats and highways. It too has excellent suspension and absorbs bumps and broken roads well. Moreover, the Kylaq sits in a segment above and hence offers more space in the back seat and the boot, which will be useful for your passengers and luggage. Moreover, the build quality is stronger, the interior feels more upmarket, and though it may be more expensive, there are more features on offer than in the Citroen. Hence, we recommend that you go with the Skoda.

Skoda Kylaq

Citroen C3