The Skoda Kylaq meets all your requirements of fun to drive and safety. It’s fairly reliable, too, but doesn’t have the reputation for reliability like a Japanese brand. The sales and service are considerably improve and Skoda has worked to bring down spare parts and service costs as well. 

The air conditioning is an issue with Skodas, but the company has fixed it in the new Kushaq, and we expect to see these improvements in the Kylaq too. The Aircross is a lovely car to drive, but its dealer and service network needs to improve. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a great all-rounder and the best equipped, but it's not as much fun to drive as the Kylaq. 

You can look at either the Skoda Kylaq or the recently launched Hyundai Venue. Both cars have scored a full 5 stars in BNCAP, so your safety requirement is well covered.

Within your budget, you can get the top Prestige+ variant of the Kylaq. While it misses features like a 360° camera, it comes well loaded with a premium kit. It includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a single-pane sunroof, powered front seats and more.

Between the two, the Kylaq is the nicer car to drive; it offers confident handling, a comfortable ride and a spacious cabin that’s supportive for four adults. The boot is also generous.

The Venue, on the other hand, is more spacious overall and benefits from Hyundai’s wider sales and service network. It adds peace of mind to ownership.

If driving feel and feature content matter most, the Kylaq Prestige+ is a strong choice. If you prioritise overall space and a broader dealer-service network, the Venue makes more sense.

We would recommend the Skoda Kylaq as it meets nearly all of your requirements. The drive experience is top-notch with a stiff chassis and suspension setup. It makes this car feel nimble and engaging to drive, and despite its 189mm ground clearance, body roll is well controlled. Also, the grip levels are very good. 

The Kylaq is also very safe, both in terms of active safety with a secure drive and a good crash rating score, earning a 5-star rating in the BNCAP tests. The Kylaq also comes with a turbocharged engine, and though it's not very peppy, performance levels are more than adequate. At your budget, you will also get a variant with alloy wheels and a sunroof.    

Since you would specifically want to avoid an AMT, we would recommend the Skoda Kylaq. The newly launched Classic+ variant and higher Signature trim will be within your budget.

The automatic version comes with a torque convetor gearbox which is the smoothest autobox around. The 1.0-litre engine also delivers well enough on fuel efficiency and performance. 

The Kylaq's ride and handling balance is good, however it does feel jittery over low-speed bumps and ruts. If this is a deal breaker, we would suggest you look at the Maruti Brezza. It also has a torque convertor automatic, which delivers decent mileage and has a very nice low-speed ride. But, it will be slightly above your Rs 12 lakh budget.         

Unfortunately, none of the turbo petrol options you listed will be very efficient. Given your limited running, this should not be a concern.

We would recommend choosing between the Skoda Kylaq and the Mahindra XUV 3XO. Both are engaging to drive, offer strong turbo petrol engines, smooth 6-speed torque converter automatics, and a comfortable ride.

The key difference is space. The Mahindra is the better five-seater thanks to its wider body, while the Skoda offers a larger and more practical boot.

The Tata Nexon remains one of the highest-selling cars in the segment, but it is also among the oldest and is due for an update.

The Skoda Kylaq would be a good option within your budget. The car is stable on highways, and the 1.0-litre engine delivers adequate performance. Also, the automatic gearbox is a torque convertor unit, which is the smoothest type to have. 

Moreover, the Kylaq's driving manners are more fun, and very much driver-focused in the same character as your Ford Ecosport. So, this is something that you would enjoy too.