Maruti Suzuki Victoris ZXI (O) Strong Hybrid CVT

You have a wide choice of cars, but based on your requirements, we would suggest going for the new Kia Seltos.

Within the Seltos range, the 1.5 litre IVT automatic in the HTX variant fits within your budget and offers a very good mix of premium and essential features. It meets almost all your requirements. The 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine is refined, and the IVT gearbox is silky smooth, especially at low speeds, which makes it extremely easy to drive in stop go city traffic. It also has enough performance for weekend highway use and, while fuel efficiency is not phenomenal, it should consistently return better figures than the turbo petrol options you have shortlisted. The newer generation Seltos has also grown in size, interior space and overall cabin quality, which is now among the best in the segment. Ride quality has improved significantly too, and it feels comfortable both in the city and on the highway.

The Tata Nexon and the new Hyundai Venue are good options, but their turbo petrol engines paired with DCT gearboxes are not as smooth as the Seltos’ IVT. The Seltos is also a size larger, more comfortable and feels more premium overall. The same applies to the turbo petrol powered Skoda Kushaq, which again will not feel as smooth as the Seltos in daily use. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is another size up and, while its 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine is powerful and smooth, the larger size makes it less easy to drive in the city and fuel efficiency will be much lower. Within your budget, the AX3 variant just about fits, but it misses out on several features that the Seltos offers.

The Hyundai Creta is also a good option and uses the same engine and gearbox as the Seltos. However, it is expected to be replaced early next year and, compared to the Seltos, it is smaller, less spacious, offers fewer features and is similarly priced. Because it is nearing replacement, the current model will also age quicker. That said, if you are getting a strong deal on the Creta, it is still worth considering.

Another car you should look at is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid. It meets most of your requirements and will be even smoother to drive at low speeds, as it runs on electric power for a large part of city driving. Being a Maruti Suzuki, reliability and after sales support are strong points. It has also scored a 5 star BNCAP rating, and as a hybrid, fuel efficiency is exceptional. In fact, you can expect close to double the mileage of most of the cars you have shortlisted.

A few things to note, however: the Victoris is not as spacious as the Seltos, especially in the rear seat, and boot space is compromised due to the hybrid battery pack under the boot floor.

The Tata Sierra is a great product. It is one of the best in the segment for space and comfort, it is loaded with features, and it will be a solid upgrade from your current Maruti Suzuki Swift. However, when it comes to mileage, the Sierra is not the best across its engine and gearbox options.

So, considering your priorities of fuel efficiency and low service costs, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid. It delivers excellent mileage and you can expect over 20kmpl in both city and highway driving. Plus, since it is a Maruti Suzuki, after sales support and running costs will be very manageable, something you would already be familiar with as a Swift owner. It is also a 5 star BNCAP rated car, which adds extra peace of mind.

If you are willing to wait and want an option beyond Maruti Suzuki, the new Renault Duster is expected to get a strong hybrid around Diwali this year, and it could also fit your requirements well.

Since you're running over 2000 kms a month, you can consider buying a CNG car. We would have recommended a hybrid as well, but the most affordable hybrid, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder S, is around Rs 1.5 lakh over your maximum budget of Rs 15 lakh.

In CNG, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, either in the LXi or the VXi variant, depending on the features you are looking for. The Victoris is a well-engineered car, and the solution Maruti Suzuki has come up with for the CNG tank position under the boot floor makes the Victoris CNG very versatile. In terms of boot space, the compromise is minimal, which is important since you go on a long drive once a month with your family.