The most fun-to-drive SUVs in your budget are the 1.5-litre Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq twins, which are very engaging thanks to their brilliant dynamics and a powerful, punchy engine. Both are due for a facelift, and the upgraded Kushaq is just around the corner and scheduled to launch on January 20th 2026. The Volkswagen Taigun facelift will come a month later. Both these SUVs will see some significant enhancements to the air conditioning and interiors. Top-end variants will come with rear massage seats, a first in the segment. However, one weakness is the rear seat space, which is relatively narrow and best for four. Therefore, if this is a deal-breaker for you, you could consider the Tata Sierra. It is fantastically spacious, has superb ride and handling and an all-new 1.5 petrol engine, which is smooth, punchy and fairly efficient too. The Sierra is not as engaging to drive as the Kushaq and Taigun, as it is heavier and has a relaxed power delivery. We would rule out the MG Hector in your case as it is too big, it's not a very engaging car to drive, and as you said, it guzzles fuel.

The car that best suits your budget and requirements is actually the Kia Sonet. It has the biggest boot in this price bracket of compact SUVs, and the wide boot opening and good depth make it best for loading luggage. The 1.0 Turbo-petrol engine packs 120hp and is mated to a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, which provides good performance and is quite powerful. The HTX variant will easily fit your budget and comes with essential features. But if you can stretch your budget to the GTX variant, which is around Rs 16 lakh, you get useful features like ADAS and a 360-degree camera.

Since you have been happy with the Hondas in your family, why not consider the 5th-generation Honda City, currently on sale? It features a very flexible and strong 1.5-litre engine mated to a CVT automatic transmission, which is both jerk-free and smooth. Also, it will give you the same trouble-free experience you have enjoyed with your current Hondas.If you are looking for a change, you could consider the 1.0 AT variants of the Skoda Slavia or Volkswagen Virtus, both of which have a smooth torque converter auto transmission, which is much smoother than the AMTs you want to avoid.

The Citroen C3 X base model is a good first vehicle to own. Mechanically, C3X is a very sorted car, the 1.2litre turbocharged engine is solid and performs well. Its suspension is one of the best in the segment and will make your office journey enjoyable. You can go for it.