You can go with the Hyundai Exter AMT, it is a well-equipped car, drives well and has the smoothest AMTs in the segment. The 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, refined and linearly delivers its power. For a first-time car owner, Hyundai's vast network of service centres and relatively pocket-friendly after-sales service will add to your ownership experience.

Given your monthly running, yes you could opt for an EV as you would save on running costs. However there are three important things to consider. Personal charging: You should have the option to charge at home or at your place of work. This is the most basic requirement as living fully on public charging is very challenging, given the paucity of free and operational chargers as well as the time required to charge. The length of your journey; since you said most of you running in on highways, this is very important. Highway chargers are present but often can be occupied or even not operational, thus if your journeys are upwards of 300 kms, you will need to stop for charge with most EVs. The route elevation; besides distance the elevation of the route is important as you can lose a lot of range with steep and long ghats. Thus if your highway running is below 300 kms per trip with very few to nil ghat sections, you can safety opt for an EV, else you would be better off with a strong hybrid or even a diesel.

It's hard to recommend a car without knowing more about your requirements, like space, mileage, number of seats, etc. However, within your specific budget, no US options are available. From the European manufacturers, only the Skoda and Volkswagen cars are there.We would recommend you look at the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun, which are essentially the same SUV. Also, if you would prefer a sedan, the Skoda Slavia and its sister car, the Volkswagen Virtus, are the options.These sister models of Skoda and Volkswagen are essentially the same, sharing all their mechanical components and a lot of the exterior and interior bits too. Thus, choosing between them would come down to the level of dealer support in your area and your own preference in terms of the individual car's style.

The Honda Amaze is a strong option, thanks to its polished and premium CVT automatic, which makes it very easy and pleasant to drive. Although the Amaze is a newer model, it uses the same tried-and-tested engine and gearbox that Honda has offered for years, and this setup has proven to be dependable and reliable.The ride quality is good as well, though this is where the Maruti Suzuki Dzire has a slight edge. The Dzire feels more pliant over bad roads, whereas sharper bumps are felt a bit more inside the Amaze’s cabin, especially by rear seat passengers. That said, it is not a deal breaker.We would recommend taking a proper, long test drive with your family before making the final decision.