Tata Nexon

autocar.india

•6h

Given your high running of 3,000-4,000km a month on the highway, the priority should be a car that is comfortable, stable at speed and easy to live with over long distances. The Hyundai i20 IVT is a good hatchback, but at that kind of running, a compact SUV makes more sense because of the higher seating position, better ground clearance and generally more comfortable ride over broken patches. Between the Kia Sonet DCT and Tata Nexon AMT, the Sonet DCT is the better fit for your usage. The DCT is a proper automatic gearbox, which is smoother and quicker to respond than an AMT, especially on highways where quick gear changes matter during overtakes. The Sonet also feels more refined, more premium and better put together overall. The Nexon is a solid car, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth or as enjoyable on long highway runs. The only caveat with the Sonet DCT is that dual-clutch gearboxes can get a bit jerky in heavy stop-start traffic, but on highways, they are in their element. Overall, the Sonet DCT is the best fit for your usage and budget.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai i20

Tata Nexon

autocar.india

•4m

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•1d

The Honda Amaze CVT VX is a very sensible upgrade from the Nexon AMT. The CVT gearbox is far smoother than the AMT, which will make both city driving and hill climbs much more pleasant. The Amaze also offers excellent visibility, a comfortable driving position and a reliable ownership experience. However, it is a sedan, so you will lose the higher seating position and ground clearance of an SUV, which can be useful on highways and rough roads.Given your usage, a compact SUV with a proper automatic gearbox is a better fit. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is a strong recommendation here. It uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is much smoother than the Nexon AMT, and it offers excellent visibility, a comfortable driving position and low running costs. But it is on the pricier side.Overall, the Amaze CVT is a good alternative if you are happy to move to a sedan, but if budget permits, the Brezza is the more versatile choice.

Honda Amaze

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•1w

Given your low annual running of 5,000km and the fact that the car will be idle for long periods, a naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a torque converter automatic is the most sensible choice. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza fits this brief perfectly. It is a simple, reliable and low-maintenance package with a proven engine and gearbox combination that will serve you well over a long ownership period. The Sonet turbo petrol DCT is the more fun-to-drive option on the highway, but the DCT gearbox of this Kia car is not the ideal choice for predominantly city driving and long periods of idling. Kia Sonet mileage depends on the engine-gearbox combination. The 1.2-litre petrol MT gives up to 18.8kpl, the 1.0 turbo-petrol returns 18.7kpl (MT) and 19.2kpl (DCT), and the 1.5-litre diesel offers up to 24.1kpl with the manual and 18.6kpl with the automatic.As for your current Nexon, if the car is running fine now, there is no immediate need to change it. However, given that the engine of this Tata car has already been opened and you are experiencing a perceived loss of power and mileage, it is understandable to want to move on. On the ethanol front, there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage, and modern engines are engineered to handle E20 without issue. There is no need to wait for further clarity. The Brezza is the safer and more sensible long-term choice for your usage pattern.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon

autocar.india

•1w

With a monthly running of 1,500-2,000km and a 10+ year ownership horizon, diesel might sound like a good idea, but at your budget, there aren't many options. What you will get will only be base model cars with few creature comforts. In that respect, CNG is a better VFM option as you can get mid- to high-spec variants of cars. Plus, diesel requires the added maintenance of a DPF and the cost of AdBlue top-ups, as well as more maintenance costs over time. That said, there are also compromises of CNG ownership, such as lower power and torque, and the inconvenience of refuelling.The Maruti Brezza CNG ZXi would be the best choice, as it has an efficient yet powerful enough engine, a CNG tank located under the floor, and plenty of features within your budget. The Nexon CNG would be the next best bet, offering more power and similar underfloor CNG tanks, but it is not as efficient and is more expensive, spec-for-spec.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon