Upgrading from a Tucson on an 80L budget: Which luxury car to buy?

While my doctor has advised me to stay off the roads, this is not practical especially with increased work from office mandate.

BHPian pyrotek recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I currently drive a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. In recent years I have developed a bad hip (recovering from a core decompression surgery of the hip) and am also diagnosed with cervical spondylitis.

While my doctor has advised me to stay off the roads, this is not practical especially with increased work from office mandate. My focus has now shifted to getting the most comfortable car I can get for under 80 Lakhs. I am actually debating whether a sedan would be more appropriate than an SUV / crossover, so I am actually open to all body styles.

Usage will be about 1000 km per month with 70% use in city and remaining on highways.

I would appreciate recommendations from my fellow Team BHP-ians based on their ownership and drive experiences.

To summarise, my priorities are:

1. Excellent Ride comfort
2. Minimum body roll and vibrations
3. Back, Neck, and Under thigh support on front and rear seats
4. Ergonomic comfort for left elbow/arm to rest on the centre console when driving
5. Light controls (steering, pedals)

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

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Pyrotek.

What is wrong with your 2021 Tucson? Do you need a change?

IF YES:

• You should be open to being chauffeur-driven, if & when required for your comfort / recovery. And even if being chauffeur-driven, sit in the front passenger seat which is a lot more comfortable than the rear seat (seat adjustability, you can stretch out for legroom, ride quality).
• Rule out sedans. Crossovers & MPVs will be best for you.
• Innova Hycross is a great option if you want something great at half your budget. Drop the tyre PSI in the city and you will find the Ioniq 5 also to be very comfortable, with sorted ergonomics and an easy-to-drive nature.
• Among luxury cars, if you can stretch a little bit and are okay with the size, the Q7 is something else with its adaptive suspension. Massive discounts on the car, as is typical of Audi. If not okay with the size or price, test-drive the Lexus NX. In his review, Turbanator said the ride quality is "outstanding". Nothing touches a Lexus for refinement, reliability & durability.

Here's what BHPian Nishant345 had to say on the matter:

In my humble opinion, you would do great to increase your budget just a little bit higher and get a Q7. It’ll be supremely comfortable owing to it’s air suspension, and as it is has been on sale for a long time, it’ll be free of any potential bugs, and with the frequent mouthwatering deals Audi has, it can be a great value purchase too.

Alternatively you can buy a Hycross / Camry, or wait for the new Carnival as it’s just around the corner.

It goes without saying that you should drive all these cars, as opinions are subjective and you should make your own.

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

Drivetrain:EV and Hybrid+e-CVT offer smoothest motion without jerks. Avoid sporty dual clutch (VW group) and ZF8 (BMW) drivetrains.

Tires:Change to lowest possible wheel dia and fat profile tires. It will downgrade high speed handling but improve the ride comfort and NVH significantly.

Centre of gravity:Sedans offer minimal body roll and also offer better NVH - if entry/exit/seating posture are OK with you. Lower GC would be better for ride comfort.

Suspension: A very difficult aspect to judge. Japanese (Camry and Lexus) cars tend to come with comfort oriented suspension that works good at lower speeds. Air suspension would be great but it's available only in large and expensive models. Adaptive suspension needs to tested over a test drive to check how comfortable is the "comfort" setting on it.

Seats: Good amount of cushion, all around support and adjustment range. Front seats are better than rear ones in most cars.

Keeping all these in mind and assuming some compromises have to be made no matter what the budget is, I would recommend Camry Hybrid or Lexus ES with downsized wheels given your usage is mostly within city.

Here's what BHPian Akshay1234 had to say on the matter:

The only car which comes to mind is the S class. You can get a W222 facelift well under 80 lacs and save the rest for maintenance. The downsides are the image which the S class gives a person, which one may not want. And the other is that its not an suv, which means if roads are bad then one will have to drive very carefully, and with a lot more care. That being said the comfort will be unmatched, especially as per your requirements.

With regards to SUVs, again as many have suggested the Q7 is a good option. If you stretch a bit you can get a new one with the current discounts. Otherwise maybe a pre owned one. This too is reasonable comfortable and has a flat ride, and will be better than the S class over broken roads.

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