Hyundai cars in India (13)

autocar.india

•8h

Given your usage pattern of 40% city and 60% long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Baleno AGS is actually a sensible upgrade from your 2015 Celerio AGS. The Baleno offers a more comfortable cabin, better highway stability and a more refined driving experience, which will make those long trips far more enjoyable. The AGS gearbox is also well suited to your occasional city use, keeping things simple and efficient.On the E20 front, there is no reason to worry. The Baleno is E20 compliant, and modern engines are engineered to handle this blend without any long-term reliability concerns. Maruti has also stated that their E20 engines are built for a material tolerance of slightly more than E20, so on the material front the car should be good for something like E22 for example. The main impact of a higher blend would be a reduction in fuel efficiency.The only thing to consider is whether you want to stick with AGS or move to a more conventional automatic. If you are happy with how AGS behaves, the Baleno is a solid choice. If you want a smoother and more premium automatic experience, you could look at something like the Hyundai i20 IVT or the Honda Amaze CVT instead. Both offer a more refined automatic gearbox, which can make a difference on long highway drives.Overall, the Baleno AGS is a good fit for your usage and there is no E20-related reason to avoid it. The decision really comes down to whether you are happy with AGS or want to move to a more conventional automatic.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•12h

Go for the Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo DCT. As a first-time buyer who has just learned driving, you want something that is easy to handle, not too big and still offers good ground clearance for Hyderabad roads. The Hyundai Venue fits that brief perfectly.It is compact enough to be easy to park and manoeuvre, while still offering a comfortable seating position for a 6-foot-tall driver and enough space for a family of four with two toddlers. The automatic gearbox in this Hyundai car is smooth, easy to use in city traffic, and low running costs make it a very sensible first car. The Skoda Kylaq automatic is also worth considering.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq

autocar.india

•1d

If you are looking for a small hatchback with a proper automatic transmission and want to avoid AMTs, the Hyundai i20 CVT is the most straightforward recommendation. It uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is smooth, refined and well suited to city driving. The car is a step up from your i10, while still being compact and easy to drive. Being a Hyundai, it also offers a familiar ownership experience.The Honda Amaze CVT is another strong option. This Honda car has a footprint similar to the i20's, but in a sedan body style. The key is to focus on cars with a CVT or a torque-converter automatic. Avoid AMTs and dual-clutch automatics if smoothness is your priority.

Hyundai i20

Honda Amaze

autocar.india

•1d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

autocar.india

•1d

Given your usage pattern of 5,000 km a year with 80% highway driving, 15% hill driving and a preference for a sub-4m SUV with a higher seating position, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the best fit. The turbo petrol engine offers strong mid-range performance, which is particularly useful on highways and during hill climbs, while the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable. The Kylaq also offers a higher seating position than your Grand i10, giving you a better view of the road ahead, and it is one of the more engaging cars to drive in this segment, which aligns with your requirement for driving pleasure. It is also available within your budget of Rs 12-13 lakh. The only drawback is that the rear seat is not the most spacious in the segment, but for your usage as a 5-seater with 4 as the exception, it should be adequate. If you want a more premium cabin and slightly better rear seat space, the Hyundai Venue is a good alternative, but the Kylaq remains the better driver's car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue