Kia Syros Diesel HTK(EX) MT

The Tata Sierra is a very roomy and comfortable car and would suit your requirements of space and comfort well. However, within your budget, you would get the base version and the naturally aspirated 1.5 Litre engine. This variant is not very powerful, and the acceleration is very sluggish, something that would be a problem on your weekend trips. 

We would thus recommend you look at the Kia Syros; it is a smaller car on the outside, but you will find plenty of headroom as well as legroom inside. The engine delivers more than adequate performance, so weekend trips will be fine. Moreover, within your budget, you will get the top spec version. 

Therefore, you can enjoy all the features, including some unique ones like sliding, reclining and cooled rear seats. This will be handy for your wife if she is seated at the rear with your infant in a child seat. Moreover, Kia service centres are fairly well spread, and the quality of service is quite good.        

At the lower end of the price range, there's the Kia Syros. It's got a very spacious cabin and should accommodate you in reasonable comfort. It's got a refined diesel engine that delivers reasonable power and good fuel economy. 

At the upper end of the price range, you could look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It's got an airy cabin and a high roof, so it should fit your requirements. However, many of us did find that the driver's seat doesn't go down as low as we'd like, and this is something you are advised to check for yourself. In terms of engine performance, the XUV 7XO's 2.2-litre diesel unit is great, delivering ample power for highway drives.

If you are open to the MPV body style, the Kia Carens Clavis is also worth a look. It's got a relatively high roof, which should put you at ease. Its diesel engine is also pleasant, offering fair performance with good refinement.  

If you have parking constraints, it's better to stick to sub-4m models. Of the compact SUVs on your shortlist, the Hyundai Venue HX10 DCT makes a strong case for itself. If you can digest the price, which is at par with larger mid-sized SUVs. 

It's got fantastic tech, there's an upmarket feel to the interior, and the engine-gearbox is also good, some jerkiness from the DCT at low speeds notwithstanding. There's also ample space for four adults to sit in comfort. Ride comfort is also pleasant. 

The Kia Syros is unfortunately a victim of its high price, which has been lowered since launch. Many are not fans of the way it looks either. However, if the price and design are not deal breakers, the Syros is worth a serious look. It's the most spacious compact SUV with an airy feel to its cabin. 

The Syros also comes loaded with features and is very well finished inside. It shares its 1-litre turbo-petrol engine and DCT auto with the Venue and performance is good, but ride comfort is on the firm side.   

While there aren't too many compact cars with ADAS features, the new Hyundai Venue is one of them. It's a great all-rounder with improved ride comfort and rear-seat space, a high-tech infotainment system with excellent graphics, a wide array of engines and gearboxes, and loads of safety features, including the aforementioned ADAS. 

Another good option is the Kia Syros, which has all the features of the Venue, but even greater rear seat space (and ventilated rear seats). It costs a little bit more, and its look is not to all tastes, but it offers quite a bit more.