Which new car for me in the 35-50L price range

This will be my last fossil fuel driven ride and I plan to keep it until EVs become mainstream.

BHPian SR-71 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I was avoiding this what car thread long enough, as most of my queries were being addressed by existing posts or PMs to fellow team members and some team-bhp mods. That is until GTO schooled me in putting this up citing that will help many more people. Before I bore everyone with details I would like to thank a few forum members who have helped with lot of responses over PM. Special thanks to mods Manson and Vid6639, members gungax, itwasntme and pridered who have helped me with responses and suggestions that have been useful.

My past rides

Indica, Vento, Jetta, Veto, Verna

Reason for this purchase

Umm, do I need one . I have no compelling reason other than buy one with a powerful engine. This will be my last fossil fuel driven ride and I plan to keep it until EVs become mainstream. I have never held a car beyond 5 years in my life but this is something I intend to keep for longer for reasons mentioned in the previous line.

Budget

Set out with a hard cap of 50L back in December. But 2 prices hikes across brands have pushed a lot of car out of this bracket within a span of 4 months. I willing to go out of this by a small margin only if the ride is totally worth it in all aspects. Please do note that just because I have this cap, it doesn't mean I am fine exhausting every penny from the bucket just because I can. It needs to be worth the price. I am more than happy spending lesser for a car that is equally competent.

My asks from a car (listed in order of preference)

• Safety features, it should be a EURO NCAP 5 star rated no compromises here

• Should be lovely to drive with adequate power (explosive power will be welcome)

• Should have sorted road manners, I hate those vertical movements on undulating roads and expansion joints

• I should not feel tired at the end of a 10 hour drive

• Automatic with cruise control

• Nice cabin insulation

• Good air conditioning

• Dual zone CC - The wife and I have diametrically opposite views of what the ambient temperature should be, in her words, I am a polar bear

• Powered driver seats

• Comfortable rear seats (for family, I am never going there)

• Auto dimming rear view mirrors. Years of night driving has taught its real value

• Headlamps with good throw. My drives include a lot of night time thrown in though its much lesser than before (getting old)

• Pleasing cabin with good aesthetics. I hate gaudy or rough fit and finish. Except for my first ride, every other ride has ticked this aspect.

• Should return the value I pay for it. I don't want to pay through the nose just because it has snob value attached to it

Nice to have but that wont be a deal breaker if I miss it

• Sunroof

• 3 zone CC

• Auto park assist (doubt I will ever use it though)

• Ventilated seats (will miss it but not a deal breaker)

• ADAS

What I do not care for

• Badge/Snob value

• Bhaigiri value

I prefer a Sedan, always owned a Sedan in India but wondering if its worth shifting to an proper BOF SUV. People say you are less tired after driving for hours together in an SUV. I do frequent 10+ hour drives. I have driven sedans and crossovers stateside for multiple 10 hour stretches but I find little difference in the tiredness aspect. In India all my 10+ hour drives have been in an Sedan. The only time I hate the sedan is when its raining cats and dogs and I am stuck in those long queues in toll and have these fat boy SUVs intimidating me on both sides. Here is list of rides I have test driven so far and my opinion about it. Here is a list of rides I have test driven.

Prices are OTR Bangalore without accounting for any discounts.

Skoda Octavia L&K [OTR: 36.70L]

Pros:

• Excellent fit and finish
• Fantastic power
• Good cabin insulation
• That USB C port for dashcam in the mirror :-)
• Latest generation

Cons:

• Worried about the infamous DSG failure and ill-famed Skoda service
• Ground clearance, specially in Bangalore cause we have monster vehicle breakers and waters logging during monsoon.
• I felt the ride to be a bit soft
• I would have preferred a shift lever instead of that knob

VW Tiguan [OTR: 40.38L]

Pros:

• Simple and elegant
• Neither hate it nor love it

Cons:

• Could not find that perfect seating position
• Average audio
• Worried about future of VW in India
• Missing equipment list for that pricing

Skoda Superb L&K [OTR: 44.84L]

Pros:

• Excellent fit and finish
• Fantastic power
• Excellent cabin insulation
• Scratches that limo itch

Cons:

• Current generation to be replaced in 12 to 18 months
• Worried about the infamous DSG failure and ill-famed Skoda service

Toyota Fortuner [OTR: 45.31L]

Pros:

• Big burly but is easily drivable
• Don't have to worry about road conditions much
• Toyota's reliability

Cons:

• OKish fit and finish. As much as the Legender looks cool from the outside, its interiors look gaudy IMHO
• Lack of even basic equipment like auto dimming rear view mirror (non-legender variant)
• Average audio
• Bounces about in undulating roads, something that I hate
• My brother finds the back seat irritating as his hid keeps scraping with the roof. He is 6'1"
• Steering was a bit hard in parking conditions, it felt like a lorry !

Skoda Kodiaq L&K [OTR: 46.87L]

All that applies to Superb applies here and it was a top contender in my bucket

I hate the 1 year waiting period though. I am not that patient. If I put in money, I need the ride in a few weeks, if not I better wait without any anticipation.

Audi A4 Premium+ / Tech Edition [OTR: 57.37L / 61.15L]

Pros:

• Fantastic fit and finish
• Sorted ride but I feel it was nose heavy, like pushing a cart of bricks in certain scenarios.
• Getting a good deal (probably gone by the time this post goes up)
• Scratches that luxury sedan ownership itch at a price point cheaper than its competitors
• Excellent ground clearance compared to all its cousins from VAG family and the BMW 330i

Cons:

• Mentally I feel I am being short-changed in terms of power and features for the money I pay. For example the P+ variant doesn't even come with virtual cockpit that the Octavia gets.
• For 7 additional L's (post the discount in P+ & no discounts in the Superb) I don't get anything substantial compared to the Superb. The Superb has better boot space, better audio and better equipment list.
• Worried about the future of Audi in India
• Same engine/gearbox in Octavia/Superb/Tiguan/Kodiaq (This is why I think Octavia is VFM in my list)

BMW 330i Sport [OTR: 57.97L / MSport is 65.53L]

Pros:

• There is only one point that makes me love this. Every time I test drove it, I had fun
• BMW has been my aspirational brand since I was young, but over years the value of this has reduced. In other words I wont let this be the primary decision maker

Cons:

• I never test drove this with any of my family members in the back but I hear it can be difficult for them
• Not as opulent as its peers
• 330i Sport has now become the Yeti. If it was available, I would have had my ownership thread up instead of this what car thread :-)
• The M-Sport seems way to expensive for that additional kit which adds no mechanical value or even interior aesthetics.
• The LWB goes out of my moral approval in what I believe I should pay for a car
• Not much options in terms of color (interior and exterior). I would like choices if I am going to pay 60 big ones

Cars test driven but ruled out

Citroen C5 : The rear seat was uncomfortable for just about everyone in the family. Its a deal breaker for me.

Toyota Camry : Would have considered it if it was priced in the same ballpark as Superb. At its current price point, I get the A4!

Volvo XC40 : The rear seat is the only deal breaker here. If it had a better rear seat, I would have booked this. While it is not as quick as the VAG cousins, the safety features more than make up for this and is rated quiet high by CarAndDriver.

Jeep Compass : I keep reading about the average fit and finish. I really hate squeaks and rattles.

Cars I wanted to TD but haven't gotten an opportunity

S60 : There is simply no car in stock except for probably 1 in red that might come in this week. I don't like red. Any new deliveries will be no earlier than August.

Tucson : The new Tucson seems like the yeti, we keep hearing about it in whispers but there is no firm information about it.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.