Need a new car for 85% city driving and 15% highway use. My requirements are: 1. Should be comfortable for 4 people (I’m 6’3” tall and my parents and sibling are all below 5’10”). 2. Looking for top-end manual variants only. 3. Should be able to handle slightly poor road conditions. 4. Good mileage is a bonus (anything above 12 km/l is appreciated). 5. Budget: ₹10.5 lakh (on-road). My considerations: Baleno, Glanza, Swift, Dzire, i20, Amaze, Kiger Turbo

Autocar India

•11h

The Mercedes-Benz GLC EV will only be launched in India in 2027, and its ICE counterpart is expected to follow after that - perhaps in late 2027. The ICE version is expected to resemble the new GLC EV on the outside and inside, featuring new details like the illuminated grille, 3-pointed star DRLs in the headlamps and tail-lamps, and the 39-inch Hyperscreen display on the dashboard. However, while the GLC EV is newly developed on a pure-electric skateboard platform, the ICE version is expected to be a heavy facelift of the current model, built on the same platform and using the same petrol and diesel engines. With all the updates, however, expect the price to go up, and while we can't say for sure as it's a long way off, it could go up to about Rs 95 lakh, on road, in some cities. If that is too much of a jump, and too much of a wait, the current GLC remains an excellent choice, with strong engines, great comfort and a well-appointed cabin. And if you're interested in an EV but don't want to wait until the GLC EV is launched, consider the BYD Sealion 7 or Tesla Model Y L.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

BYD Sealion 7

Tesla Model Y

Autocar India

•16m

The logical spiritual successor to the Volkswagen Polo for many owners has been the Skoda Kylaq, and we think it meets your needs as well. It retains that solidly built, fun-to-drive nature and also comes with a punchy 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol engine and has received a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating. In your Rs 13 lakh budget, you'll get a mid-spec Signature+ variant, which gets you all the essentials and not too many gimmick features.Another often-overlooked option is the Citroen Basalt X, which offers a similarly punchy engine, fun chassis and European solidity as the Skoda and Volkswagen, but is a size up and much more spacious. However, it also costs more, and in your budget, you'll get a lower variant with fewer features than the Kylaq.If you want to skip fuel-blend questions entirely and your driving is mostly city, look at the Tata Punch EV. It’s quiet, quick off the line, and fits the budget. Just remember, highway trips need a bit of charging planning.

Skoda Kylaq

Citroen Basalt

Tata Punch EV

Autocar India

•15h

Go EV for 1500 km a month if you can install a charger at home or work. Your running cost will drop sharply, and in daily city use, an EV is smoother and easier, with very little upkeep. Over a year, that mileage makes electricity bills far lower than buying petrol or diesel, so the higher price of an EV pays back faster.Skip EVs if you rely on public fast chargers. Those can make costs closer to petrol, and you will spend time waiting. In that case, buy petrol or, better still, a hybrid. It is simpler to live with in the city, cheaper to run than diesel, and you avoid diesel’s soot filter troubles on short trips.Pick diesel only if most of your 1500 km are long highway runs, or you drive a larger SUV that feels strained on petrol. Diesel still gives long range and quick refuelling on trips, but new diesels cost more to buy and can be fussy in stop-start traffic.