Hyundai cars in India (12)

Looking at your budget and your requirement for space - especially headroom - we would recommend you look at the Hyundai Exter. The car has plenty of head as well as legroom at the front and the rear, too. The rear in particular is very good with ample room to stretch your feet out below the front seats, and the rear seatbacks are a bit more reclined than normal, effectively creating even more headroom. 

The Exter is also an easy and comfy car to drive with a light steering that weighs up as you drive faster. With your Rs 11 lakh budget, you will also be able to purchase the top-end version and would thus enjoy all of the features on offer. 

From the options you've listed, we'd recommend you shortlist the Hyundai Venue and Skoda Kylaq, both of which are turbo-petrol sub-4-metre SUVs. On account of their turbo-petrol engines, these will feel a bit more effortless to drive on the highway compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Grand Vitara that are powered by a 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol engine. 

Additionally, both cars get LED headlamps, have good audio systems (the Venue has an edge with its branded Bose speakers), and both are generously equipped with similar safety kits. The Venue's turbo-petrol will be a touch more efficient, and its maintenance costs will be a bit lower than the Kylaq's as well. 

Also, its cabin is comparatively more spacious too. The Kylaq, on the other hand, has an excellent ride-handling balance, which gives you tremendous confidence while driving. We'd suggest you drive both of these, and pick the one that appeals to you more.

The Hyundai Verna and Kia Seltos share a smooth, refined 1.5-litre petrol engine and an IVT (automatic). So in terms of performance, smoothness and maintenance, they're likely to be very similar. 

For its sheer driving pleasure, pick the Verna (sedan) if you're usually self-driven. Being lower and having a lower centre of gravity, this one will feel better to drive than an SUV. Its boot is much larger, too, which you will appreciate during your weekend trips or airport runs. 

However, if you are going to be driving with five adults regularly, only then pick the Seltos, which has a more spacious cabin, especially at the rear. 

Beyond the kilometres driven, the value of any used car depends on many other factors like the actual mechanical and aesthetic condition, the specific variant and even the colour too. Thus, it's best to get your car evaluated at an organised used car business like Spinny and also at the new car dealership. 

As for your new car, since you are looking at a sub-4 meter model, we would recommend the new Hyundai Venue, as this would meet most of your requirements, which indicates you seem to be looking at more of an all-rounder, which is what the Hyundai Venue is. The new car delivers well on your requirements of space, features, safety and mileage.

At your budget, you would get a low-end variant, but you would still find some essential features like 6-airbags, ESP, a 10-inch touchscreen audio system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors. Beyond the car itself, the Hyundai service experience is also good and would thus meet another one of your requirements. 

Go for the Hyundai Exter. It's taller (than regular hatchbacks) seating height eases entry/exit, which your elderly parents will appreciate. The ride is also good, and it soaks up road bumps quite nicely; it's only when you hit sharp potholes that you will feel a thud inside. 

Being a Hyundai, you will have a good service experience and low maintenance requirements and costs. With your Rs. 12 lakh budget, you will also get the top spec model, and thus you will enjoy all the features that it has to offer. You can also consider the Tata Punch, which, in addition, is an easy step-in and out height has wide 90 degree opening doors that would further ease entry and exit for your parents. 

The seats are also a bit softer, and the ride is also more plush, adding to the comfort factor. However, your requirement of peace of mind ownership may not be met as the quality of Tata dealers is not uniform across the country. Thus, enquire about the specific dealer in your area before making a decision.   

The Hyundai i20 has a smoother, more refined four-cylinder petrol engine. Its steering, gearbox and clutch feel light and effortless to operate. Also, its fit-finish and interior quality are superior to the Tata. The i20 Sportz petrol MT variant should fall within your Rs 9 lakh (on-road) budget too.

For similar money, the Tata Altroz could get you a few more features. Additionally, it also feels a bit tougher, and its suspension feels more suited to tackle bad and broken roads. Still, the i20 feels like a more polished car, hence it gets our vote.

The Tata Punch is a good option, and as you have stated, it does indeed offer more headroom than the Tata Altroz. Since it appears that this is of priority to you, another option would be the Hyundai Exter. The tall stance liberates a lot of interior headroom, and like the Tata Punch, the Exter too has a compact overall footprint. The Exter would also fit well within your Rs 10 lakh budget, especially a mid-level variant, which you have said that you are open to and would prefer instead of a top model.