Hyundai cars in India (10)

All the models you have shortlisted have their highlights and weaknesses. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a well-rounded vehicle that excels in space and comfort. Maruti's service network is a huge plus in its own right. However, as you rightly identified, the Brezza is not exciting to drive. This Maruti Suzuki car's performance is fine in city driving conditions, and it will cruise comfortably on the highway. But the engine lacks punch in case that's important to you. 

If strong performance and good handling are requirements, the Skoda Kylaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO are the ones to be most interested in. Both models are good to drive, but fuel economy could be a concern in bumper-to-bumper city driving. 

We feel you will find a good balance in the Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo DCT. The engine is strong enough, and the gearshifts are also nice and quick. DCTs do tend to fumble at low speeds and aren't as smooth as torque converter autos. Although, it's not really an issue and surely not to the extent of avoiding the gearbox type altogether. 

Fuel economy should also be better than what you'd get with a torque converter.  The new Venue is also quite a wholesome package. The cabin is quite spacious, and the material quality is impressive. 

We would recommend the Hyundai Exter for several reasons. Firstly, it's the best AMT in its class and has less ‘head nod’ because the typical interruption of power between gearshifts is the least of all AMTs. The ride and handling are quite good, and the Exter feels quite planted for its size on the highway, whilst in the city it’s nice and manoeuvrable. Lastly, it has a well-equipped cabin that makes the most of the space.

The Honda Amaze is a compact sedan, the Honda Elevate is an SUV, and the Hyundai Verna is a mid-size sedan. So, they are quite different in terms of body style and their usage. 

The Honda Amaze suits buyers on a tighter budget, and since you’ve shortlisted the Elevate and Verna, we assume your budget is higher and around Rs 20 lakh.

The Hyundai Verna is a well-equipped sedan and works well for city driving. That said, we also suggest you look closely at Elevate. SUVs are generally more comfortable and confidence-inspiring on highways. 

The Honda Elevate 1.5-litre engine paired with the CVT gearbox feels smooth and responsive in everyday city use as well. It also offers a large boot, which is handy for weekend trips and vacation luggage
 

Firstly, we don’t think you should worry about diesel restrictions on new cars in Mumbai. The current diesel engines are quite clean, and if there is a ban in the future, it will only be the older diesels that will be taken off the road. 

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris hybrid would have been a good choice. But as you said and we have pointed out too in our tests, the boot space is compromised because of the hybrid batteries, and the rear seats are not very spacious. 

The other cars you have listed are all turbo-petrol petrol, so they won’t be economical and will burn a hole in your pocket if you drive 80km every day. Since you have shortlisted some compact SUVs, we suggest you look at the Hyundai Venue diesel. It has just been launched, so it's very fresh and will age well over a 10-year lifecycle, and the diesel engine is very efficient and keeps your running costs under control.