New or used sedan to replace my 8th-gen Honda Civic for under Rs 13L

The sedan will be our second car, complementing our 2012 Outlander.

BHPian Memphis recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Started with an ideal budget of Rs 7-8L, moved to 10L and now reluctantly busting open the piggy bank up to Rs 12-13L.

Looking for a (preferably pre-owned) sedan to replace our beloved 8th-gen Civic as I'm having to move to NCR where petrol cars face the axe at 15 years. This would be our second steed at home complementing our trusty 2012 Outlander.

Must haves:

1. Petrol AT (not AMT)
2. Utilization - 15-20 km per day in NCR with occasional highway jaunts
3. 4 or 5-star NCAP safety rating
4. Comfortable for tall folks with above-average build. I'm 6'2"
5. Should at least have above-average driving dynamics
6. Telescopic steering
7. Reasonably good reliability and generally hassle-free ownership

In my 2 month journey so far I've considered/driven the following cars

(Mandatory disclaimer: just my subjective views - no offence to anyone):

Ford Ecosport

Was sure this would fit the bill despite being a CSUV but after driving 2 different cars (both under 3 years old) this is a no-go. Primarily due to 1) Cramped rear 2) Weird behaviour of the TC at low speeds to accelerate without input 3) Awful low-speed ride quality. Eliminated.

Facelifted '23 5th-gen Honda City

I thought this would give me a sense of what a well-kept 5th-gen can offer. For the price, I was disappointed. While I haven't completely ruled it out, the City feels like a significant downgrade to the Civic. Grudgingly kept on the "maybe" list.

VW Virtus 1.0 TSI

I know this is a forum favourite but coming from a Civic the car was a shocker to me. Cheap feeling interiors, rattles from every part of a TD car run 5k, major turbo lag, average HVAC performance, poor rear seat comfort, and lack of basic features like seatbelt height adjustment, rear disc brakes etc were a big letdown. I also drove the Taigun 1.0 and 1.5 TSI and while they felt slightly better put together I really am not keen on a CSUV. Eliminated.

2019 Honda Civic ZX

The only one to put a smile on my face so far! Of course, there's tons of bias considering I own the 8th Gen and I understand its shortcomings with the CVT this is still a strong but last contender considering it's still at least 3-4L over an already over-stretched budget. Shortlisted.

Skoda Octavia DSG

I've purposely stayed away from this one as I'd hate to enjoy it far too much to overlook the potential ASS scares (my work simply doesn't provide me the time to enjoy this hobby as much anymore). Eliminated

Hyundai Elantra AT

Yet to try. Have read through the long-term ownership threads and it seems a possibility.

Toyota Altis CVT

We've had one in the family for many years and while it ticks most of my boxes, I dislike its lack of driving dynamics and dated-looking dash. Grudgingly kept on the "maybe" list.

Toyota Camry AT

Again well beyond budget. We have one in the family and I really admire this car. But not really a driver's car and getting one >8 years old means potential maintenance woes. Eliminated

Wild card entry: Nexon EV.

It'd been hard to get a TD of one but the asking price of sparingly used Nexons is just at the horizon of our budget. However, Tata's ASS and stories of QC issues with this don't inspire confidence. Goes on the "maybe" list.

Hats off if you're still reading this advice needed/rant post!

I've also gone back and forth with considering a CSUV but nothing out there appeals. The Korean twins with their safety ratings and poor driving dynamics are out. The Taigun came close but still didn't feel too car-like and then VW ASS woes plus that clattering 3-cylinder on the 1.0 TSI are a turn-off. I'm not big on the other Maruti/Mahindra offerings as personal experience with their safety, refinement and build quality has been lacklustre.

So, to conclude: Have I been living under a rock or has the quality vs price ratio of cars taken a massive hit in the last few years? Is this possibly the worst time in the modern era to buy a car? Do I just manage with Ola etc for the next 12-18 months hoping things will improve?

I'm dazed, confused and bruised. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The trouble is, the 8th-gen Civic was a 13-15 lakh car. After all these years & the obvious inflation, you are looking to replace it within the same budget. Simply put, in today's terms, you are trying to replace a 25-lakh car with a 13-lakh one, whether used or new. Luckily, you are moving to the Delhi-NCR region where the used car market is the best in terms of prices & wide choices.

• There will hence always be compromises. My suggestions:
• 5th-gen City, new or used. You keep your cars for long and this will serve you well. The ultimate all-rounder.
• Wait for next-gen Verna whose design is funky & launch is just around the corner.
• 10th-gen Honda Civic, pre-owned.
• Corolla Altis AT, pre-owned.
• Virtus / Slavia, new or used. They are amazing sedans but will come with the usual VW / Skoda headaches.
• If you are open to crossovers, then a pre-owned Creta / Seltos Petrol AT would be just perfect for you.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

I can understand where you are coming from. For all the action that has taken place in the Indian automotive sector, local manufacturing has not managed to offer cars like the Civic. While areas like drivetrains, safety and convenience features have seen huge improvements, the cars still feel cheap and built-to-cost. Someone who has owned a Civic for so many years can clearly see through the clever packaging and dressing up employed in locally manufactured cars. Even companies like VW/Skoda had to learn to follow "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". This is not a reflection of our manufacturing capabilities but more of consumer preferences that dictate the product portfolio.

If I am unwilling to compromise on build quality, I would buy a pre-owned car that has no local content. Camry Hybrid would be my first choice - it's a real VFM in the pre-owned market which is unusual for a Toyota. Civic, Tucson, Elantra, etc. would be other choices. VW/Skoda, while tempting, would not be easy on the pocket.

Here's what BHPian SoumenD had to say on the matter:

Hope you realize the Civic sold for ~25L(ZX CVT) 2-3 years ago when it was discontinued. If you’re going to compare with your 8th gen Civic, you need to start with a 25L budget at least for the new one. You have to account for the demon named Inflation.

Can’t expect a 13-18L car to match the finesse of your existing car. So the only options for you in the budget would be used cars like the 2019/20 Civic ZX CVT or Octavia and likes.

Here's what BHPian lawdgawd had to say on the matter:

Faced the same problem upgrading from last gen Civic.

Ended up with the new-gen City.

Is it a good car? Yes. Does it make me feel any loyalty? No.

As GTO said, the City was a 25 lakh car (considering inflation) even though I paid only 13 for it. But I am ten years older, and more cautious with spending, and so spending 25L on a new car sounds impossible. It's easier to take such decisions from the heart when you are younger!

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