Sadly, there are no all-new Rs 25-30 lakh sedans lined up for launch this year. However, slightly lower down the price ladder, we will see the launch of updated versions of the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus over the year. 

There's way more choice for the same budget in SUVs with options spanning petrol, diesel, hybrid and EV powertrains as well as with two and three rows of seating, and 4x2 and 4x4.  

Unfortunately, there are very few sedan options available today, and between Rs 20 to 30 lakh, you would only find the Honda City Hybrid. The City will meet your requirements of good mileage and low maintenance cost, however this variant isn't really value for money at all. 

Thus, we would suggest you consider the Hyundai Verna instead. The car may not be as fuel-efficient as the Honda, but it is efficient enough. 

We put the 1.5 litre turbo petrol auto through our standard test cycle, and it returned 10.76kpl in the city and 16.05kpl on the highway. The Verna is also well equipped and offers good value, and will be reliable and low on maintenance costs. It also secured a 5-star rating in the GNCAP crash tests.  

For your kind of usage - low daily running but frequent long drives with family – an EV still needs you to plan around the charging network, and that can be a hit or miss. No doubt, public chargers have expanded quickly, yet many are not working, or have long queues, so relying on them during a tight holiday schedule can be stressful and can even disrupt a trip.
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We expect more long-range and family-oriented  EVs to enter the market in a year or so and a more dependable fast‑charging network to evolve. In the interim, hang onto your Hyundai Verna.
 

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
 

It is great to hear that you are still enjoying your 1999 Honda City. It was a game-changer in its time and remains a very enjoyable car to drive.

If you are looking for a new sedan, we would suggest waiting, as options like the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Volkswagen Virtus are due for updates. If you want to buy something right now that is great to drive and looks good too, the Volkswagen Virtus GT with the 1.5 litre TSI engine is worth considering.

The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus with their 1.5 TSI and dual-clutch automatic transmission combination are the nicest to drive in their segment. Both cars are identical in terms of their platform, build quality, space, comfort, and equipment list, the only differentiating factor being their styling. 

Pick the one that appeals to you more. The 1.5 TSI engine gets a cylinder deactivation function as well as an automatic engine stop-start function to curtail fuel consumption.

The Hyundai Verna 1.5, on the other hand, is quick, smooth, and in the real world, it is likely to be a touch more fuel efficient. Also, the top-spec Verna is also cheaper than its rivals, making it worthy of serious consideration. The only downside is that its dynamics don't feel as sporty as the VW or Skoda. But if you don't plan to attack winding roads often, you will be happy with what the Verna has to deliver.