Skoda cars in India (7)

There is minimal choice in the sedan market today, and your best options are the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus, which have strong petrol engines, excellent ride and handling and a comfortable cabin. 

They are ideal for your mix of city and highway drives and come with a high level of safety, too. If you are a regular driver and don’t want extra performance, then the 1.0 versions paired to the 6-speed automatic will work well for you. 

Both the Slavia and Virtus are identical except for the design and a few feature differences across the variants. So the one to choose depends on your comfort with the dealer,  the design, your affinity with the brand and the best deals you get. 

We suggest you wait for the refreshed Skoda Kushaq, which will be launched next month. It comes with strong engines, a good balance of ride and handling, and is one of the most fun-to-drive SUVs for the money. It has solid build quality and is also high on safety. Y

ou could opt for the 1.5 TSI mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed DSG automatic, which will make weekend drives an absolute pleasure. 

Yes, the Tata Safari petrol is a good option to consider. The 170hp petrol engine is smooth and punchy, making it a lovely car to drive. 

However, if you have the budget to opt for the Skoda Kodiaq, then, quite frankly, the Safari petrol, other than a much more spacious third row, can’t match the Kodiaq, which is in a different class altogether. 

It is better engineered, has a quality feel and is superbly equipped. Also, for your driving, which is mainly on weekends and on highways, where there is less traffic, you can really enjoy the Kodiaq, which is a perfect car. The only compromise you will have to make is with the third row, which is best for kids.
 

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.