[₹itzylove]

Hello Team-BHP Community,

Wishing you all a Happy New Year! I'm Suresh from Coimbatore, and after almost four years, my wife and I are on the lookout for replacements for our current vehicles.

Currently, my wife drives a Hyundai Grand i10 Sportz 1.2 MT 2014, purchased brand new and now clocked 45K.



I, on the other hand, drive a 2016 Skoda Superb II facelift Elegance Zeal edition 2.0d. I acquired the Superb as a pre-owned treasure in 2020, with 50K on the odometer. It has now gracefully crossed the 115K mark.





The Grand i10 mainly tackles city driving, handling about 95% of the workload, while the Superb is used mostly on the highways.

With a change in my job, I'm gearing up for a daily 120-kilometer commute, and this means both my wife and I will be relying on our cars every day. The shift also prompts us to reevaluate our current vehicle setup. While my wife might find it challenging to handle the manual transmission of the Grand i10, my trusty Superb, though well-maintained, is displaying signs of its age with occasional niggles that demand attention.

Up until now, it's been relatively easy to manage these minor issues, but the new job demands a more reliable and hassle-free solution. I anticipate a lack of time to attend to these nuances, and the cars need to be in top shape for our daily commute. Considering these factors, we've decided it's the perfect time to bid farewell to both our loyal companions and explore new options.


Our current requirements are as follows:

Automatic Hatchback (Budget: 10-12 Lakh max):

We're in search of a trouble-free and easily maneuverable automatic hatchback, primarily for city use. It may not see much highway action, and we're looking for something within the 10-12 Lakh budget range.
If we still have Honda Jazz CVT or VW Polo GT TSI on sale with no hesitation I would have asked my wife to pick one. Unfortunately we do not have both these gems in the lineup anymore.

My wife has shown interest on Toyota Glanza, she'd seen one recently in Red color and she's in love wth the car ever since. We'd visited the showroom recently but unfortunately AMT variant wasn't available for test drive during this time, hence scheduled it for the next weekend. Since it's going to be only driven inside the city, I am ok with even AMT. The top variant is around 12 lakh OTR.
Should we check any other cars as well?

SUV or Sedan (Budget: 20-30 Lakh, +/- 10%):

This is going to be my daily drive and would be used as our family car on highways as well.

To be honest our Superb spoilt us with excellent ride quality and we find it difficult to travel in any other car these days. Recently test drove a VW Tiguan and my wife found the ride too stiff and said a No to it straight-away.
However considering all the facts I had listed above, it's time to find a replacement for our Superb. Again considering the budget in mind an Octavia would have been the perfect choice, unfortunately not in sale anymore.

Now here are my requirements:

Transmission: Strictly looking for an automatic, open to DCT, AT, or a decent CVT.
Safety: Safety is our top priority - Minimum of 6 airbags.
Ride Quality: Decent ride quality is crucial as I am going to self-drive it for 120 kms every day and it'd be our highway cruiser as well.
Space: We need enough room for four passengers and a decent boot space for practicality.
Reliability: Given the daily use, reliability and being niggle-free are non-negotiable factors.
Fuel Economy: With an increase in monthly mileage (around 3000 kms), I am now considering fuel economy.
Looks: We appreciate the elegance of our current Superb and are looking for a car with decent looks.

We greatly value your experiences and insights, and we're eager to hear your recommendations as we navigate through the choices in the market.

Looking forward to your valuable input. Cheers!

[Shreyas Aterkar]

Hey hi,

For city driving - are you open to considering an EV? Punch EV that is being launched could be a great city car.

For highways - your Superb is only 8 years old, if it is not showing signs of major trouble then you may want to continue for some more time. You have a diesel engine so that takes car of long distance fuel consumption as well. If you want to replace for sure and are considering a new car then it may not give you the driving pleasure that Superb would. That said, considering reliability is your main criteria - you could consider the new Elevate or if you want to look at a sedan then the City.

[Shreyans_Jain]

For now, invest in a good EV on priority. Massive difference in running costs, and the EV driving experience is anyway class apart. You can consider everything from Nexon EV LR to ZS EV to Atto 3, depending on your what catches your fancy. This should be your ride, and the car will basically pay for itself considering the high daily running. You will enjoy driving all these cars even when coming from Superb. Vehicles like Atto 3 have more than enough range to even take you touring without any issue.

For the missus, you can pick any hatchback or sub 4m crossover from the sea of options. Baleno is a contender, as are the Exter and Altroz. Let her pick what she is most comfortable with.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by ₹itzylove

Should we check any other cars as well?

Suggest to check out the following posts as they seem related, link (The B2-segment Hatchbacks Comparison Thread!).

As for your car/SUV its very difficult to find a replacement for the Superb if the current replacements from Skoda/VW aren't preferred and in the 20-30 lakh bracket.
EVs as suggested are a good option to explore but if you're not comfortable then I can only suggest a TD of the XUV700 or the Tucson.

[₹itzylove]

Honda City is definitely a contender, but not sure if I need to go for a Hybrid as I feel the price premium is too high. Can anyone give me an idea on the real world Fuel Efficiency difference between the regular and hybrid variants of Honda City?

We may consider an EV option for my Wifey but not for me as it'd be our highway cruiser as well. Atleast once a month we drive to my home town to visit my parents which is 450kms away and I prefer driving it at a stretch.

[Shreyas Aterkar]

Originally Posted by ₹itzylove

Honda City is definitely a contender, but not sure if I need to go for a Hybrid as I feel the price premium is too high. Can anyone give me an idea on the real world Fuel Efficiency difference between the regular and hybrid variants of Honda City?.

Hybrid should give a higher fuel efficiency but the difference would be significant in the city than on the highway and you mentioned that this car is mainly for highways. Moreover, the boot space in the hybrid is a compromise and you mentioned boot space as an important criteria too. So would suggest you have a good look at both the petrol and hybrid versions, test drive both and then take a decision.

[Livnletcarsliv]

Well, you should definitely consider the upcoming Punch EV for your wife. It is built on a skateboard platform, and so it will be even better than the Nexon EV. So you city and medium highway runs will be taken care of.

Regarding the replacement for your Superb, it is impossible to find one below 50L. Instead you should look for a car that meets your requirements mentioned (instead of looking for a replacement for Superb).
Now here are your options - XUV700 Diesel AT, Hycross Hybrid, Seltos/upcoming Creta 1.5 Diesel AT, Tucson Diesel (little over budget), Alcazar Diesel AT, Hector Plus/Hector Diesel, etc.
Do take extensive TD's of all the above and then decide.

[₹itzylove]

Originally Posted by Shreyas Aterkar

Hybrid should give a higher fuel efficiency but the difference would be significant in the city than on the highway and you mentioned that this car is mainly for highways. Moreover, the boot space in the hybrid is a compromise and you mentioned boot space as an important criteria too. So would suggest you have a good look at both the petrol and hybrid versions, test drive both and then take a decision.

Agree with your suggestion, thanks for your input. Out of nowhere my wife brought up Kodiaq (which is my dream car) topic today, which means the finance ministry is ready to extend the budget. I am sure I would end up driving the car for 2 lakh kms in 5 years, not really sure if I should invest 50 lakh for a daily commute. I am confused now to say the least!

Originally Posted by Livnletcarsliv

Regarding the replacement for your Superb, it is impossible to find one below 50L. Instead you should look for a car that meets your requirements mentioned (instead of looking for a replacement for Superb).
Now here are your options - XUV700 Diesel AT, Hycross Hybrid, Seltos/upcoming Creta 1.5 Diesel AT, Tucson Diesel (little over budget), Alcazar Diesel AT, Hector Plus/Hector Diesel, etc.
Do take extensive TD's of all the above and then decide.

I completely agree with you, it's impossible to find a replacement for Superb under 30 lakh. I was never a fan of Creta / Seltos. Ofcourse Tucson is over my budget, if I have to consider Tucson I might as well pick Kodiaq spending a little more. I am surprised no one suggested the New Harrier until now.

[CArspeed]

I suggest cars that are shorter in length and narrower for city drives as it is easier to drive thru narrow lanes and tight parking lots. It’s Tata Tiago.ev for city drives. If you are wary of electric cars and Tata then go for grand i10 AT.

For long drives, go for Tucson as this will be closest one that can replace the Superb that too with a stretch in your budget. It’s closest based on your requirements of ride quality, reliability, safety and space.

[SilverSmoke]

Originally Posted by ₹itzylove

Wife brought up Kodiaq (which is my dream car) topic today, which means the finance ministry is ready to extend the budget. I am sure I would end up driving the car for 2 lakh kms in 5 years, not really sure if I should invest 50 lakh for a daily commute.

We have four cars in our garage - Santro, Ertiga, Grand i10 & Kodiaq 2.0 TSI & I only prefer to drive Kodiaq - whether in city or on highways. It's so pleasurable to drive. Also, you also get that plush ride with DCC in comfort mode. But yeah, my running is about 18K KMs a year.

[Livnletcarsliv]

Originally Posted by ₹itzylove

I completely agree with you, it's impossible to find a replacement for Superb under 30 lakh. I was never a fan of Creta / Seltos. Ofcourse Tucson is over my budget, if I have to consider Tucson I might as well pick Kodiaq spending a little more. I am surprised no one suggested the New Harrier until now.

It is not at all surprising that no one recommended the new Harrier because of the brand and the car itself. The new Harrier is loaded to the brim with electronics, gimmicks. The new EPS (which is a major change from old one) still has a lot of calibration issues. Please note that I am an ex-Harrier owner. So it will take at least 1 year for the product to be slightly sorted. Remember even today, the old Harrier/Safari comes with enough issues to take away the peace of mind.

Regarding Tucson vs Kodiaq, your usage is too high for a petrol SUV of any size. Note that my recommendation is Tucson diesel (not the petrol one). If you are considering a Kodiaq, you might as well consider the Fortuner which meets all your requirements. In fact, I would recommend you to go with Hycross instead of a Fortuner which is much better car to drive and more comfortable as well and use the money saved for the small car - Punch EV.

[McQueen]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

For the missus, you can pick any hatchback or sub 4m crossover from the sea of options. Baleno is a contender, as are the Exter and Altroz. Let her pick what she is most comfortable with.

Hi, since you suggested the Baleno to OP, can you please have a look at this and leave an answer for me?

Thank you.

[lamborghini]

Are you open to pre-owned cars?

For the city: I would consider the MG Comet, Tiago EV as options as well + also look at crossovers for the better visibility and engine options on offer.
Maybe a stretch for the Brezza?

For the Superb replacement: The mind would point to something like the Innova Hybrid given your requirements but the heart will never be happy! Coming to Tucson vs Kodiaq - the Kodiaq is petrol, if you're open to petrols - the petrol Tucson is around your price range. But first would be to check out the XUV700 - I haven't driven it, but if the reviews are to be believed it would tick all your boxes; followed by Tucson; followed by the Kodiaq.
I'd also re-test drive the Tiguan with tyres at 33-34PSI and see if there is a difference. While it is stiff in the city, I find the ride quite livable and with the discounts on offer could be within reach.

Lastly are you open to pre-owned cars? May be able to get a good Tiguan / Kodiaq / A4 TDi; or a Fortuner; or even a low run new Superb TSi / Octavia.
Similarly lots of 2017 320D/2019 X1.20D, etc.

[kmrjt1]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

For the city: I would consider the MG Comet, Tiago EV as options as well + also look at crossovers for the better visibility and engine options on offer.
Maybe a stretch for the Brezza?

I don't think MG Comet would be a reliable option honestly. Agree with all the other points.

[₹itzylove]

Originally Posted by CArspeed

For long drives, go for Tucson as this will be closest one that can replace the Superb that too with a stretch in your budget. It’s closest based on your requirements of ride quality, reliability, safety and space.

Thanks for the input, I have scheduled a Test drive of Tucson. Checked the car at the showroom yesterday, my initial impression is NO. But a test drive may change my impression.

Originally Posted by Livnletcarsliv

It is not at all surprising that no one recommended the new Harrier because of the brand and the car itself. The new Harrier is loaded to the brim with electronics, gimmicks. The new EPS (which is a major change from old one) still has a lot of calibration issues. Please note that I am an ex-Harrier owner. So it will take at least 1 year for the product to be slightly sorted. Remember even today, the old Harrier/Safari comes with enough issues to take away the peace of mind.

Regarding Tucson vs Kodiaq, your usage is too high for a petrol SUV of any size. Note that my recommendation is Tucson diesel (not the petrol one). If you are considering a Kodiaq, you might as well consider the Fortuner which meets all your requirements. In fact, I would recommend you to go with Hycross instead of a Fortuner which is much better car to drive and more comfortable as well and use the money saved for the small car - Punch EV.

I checked the Harrier yesterday at the showroom. AT test drive vehicle was not available yesterday, they've agreed to bring it to my place for a Test Drive this weekend. I find the interior too busy, even though the materials used are of good quality, somehow I didn't get the premium feel inside. It's out of contention now.

Originally Posted by lamborghini

Are you open to pre-owned cars?

For the city: I would consider the MG Comet, Tiago EV as options as well + also look at crossovers for the better visibility and engine options on offer.
Maybe a stretch for the Brezza?

For the Superb replacement: The mind would point to something like the Innova Hybrid given your requirements but the heart will never be happy! Coming to Tucson vs Kodiaq - the Kodiaq is petrol, if you're open to petrols - the petrol Tucson is around your price range. But first would be to check out the XUV700 - I haven't driven it, but if the reviews are to be believed it would tick all your boxes; followed by Tucson; followed by the Kodiaq.
I'd also re-test drive the Tiguan with tyres at 33-34PSI and see if there is a difference. While it is stiff in the city, I find the ride quite livable and with the discounts on offer could be within reach.

Lastly are you open to pre-owned cars? May be able to get a good Tiguan / Kodiaq / A4 TDi; or a Fortuner; or even a low run new Superb TSi / Octavia.
Similarly lots of 2017 320D/2019 X1.20D, etc.

It's a big NO for Comet from my wife. I would have picked Hycross if it's going to be Chauffer driven, I cannot imagine myself driving a Hycross for work ! You are right am just worried about the FE (considering the usage) part when it comes to Kodiaq, otherwise we like everything about the car. Sure I shall soon check XUV700, the waiting period right now is only 30 days for Diesel AT, I just checked with the showroom. And even VW team is ready to give me a test drive at the highway, decided to do it before I conclude.