Sadly, there is absolutely nothing in the Rs. 30-40 lakh range that can replace your Skoda Octavia and give you a similar driving pleasure. In fact, there are no sedans at all in that price range, and neither are there any SUVs with the character and feel of the Octavia you are looking for. 

The Octavia RS is your best option, but on-road prices around Rs 60 lakh are way beyond our budget. The Skoda Kodiaq in the region of Rs. 50 lakh is less of a stretch, and though it's an SUV, it has Skoda’s DNA of good ride and handling. 

If you simply cannot stretch your budget, you can downgrade to the Skoda Slavia 1.5 with the 7-speed DSG. It’s a very entertaining car to drive fast, and being a sedan comes closest to your Octy in terms of character.

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.  

The 1.5TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Taigun and Volkswagen Virtus, will certainly bring a smile to your face with their performance as well as dynamic prowess.

All these feel similar from behind the wheel, so pick the body style you prefer -  sedan or SUV. Out of these, the Kushaq is likely to get updated in the coming weeks, so you may want to check that out before making your decision.

On the other hand, if you want a car that looks sporty, drives well, and has features like ADAS, you could also consider a Hyundai Creta N Line and Verna.

It's hard to recommend a car without knowing more about your requirements, like space, mileage, number of seats, etc. However, within your specific budget, no US options are available. From the European manufacturers, only the Skoda and Volkswagen cars are there.

We would recommend you look at the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun, which are essentially the same SUV. Also, if you would prefer a sedan, the Skoda Slavia and its sister car, the Volkswagen Virtus, are the options.

These sister models of Skoda and Volkswagen are essentially the same, sharing all their mechanical components and a lot of the exterior and interior bits too. Thus, choosing between them would come down to the level of dealer support in your area and your own preference in terms of the individual car's style.      

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. 

Stick to a sedan since you are used to one, and also, sedans are more fun to drive than SUVs. 

You could go for the Skoda Slavia 1.5 or Volkswagen Virtus GT, which comes with a strong 1.5 turbo-petrol mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed twin-clutch. 

Both these sedans have superb ride and handling, which makes them fun to drive. At the same time, these sedans are easy to drive too.