The 1.5TSI versions of the Skoda Kushaq, Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Taigun and Volkswagen Virtus, will certainly bring a smile to your face with their performance as well as dynamic prowess.

All these feel similar from behind the wheel, so pick the body style you prefer -  sedan or SUV. Out of these, the Kushaq is likely to get updated in the coming weeks, so you may want to check that out before making your decision.

On the other hand, if you want a car that looks sporty, drives well, and has features like ADAS, you could also consider a Hyundai Creta N Line and Verna.

It's hard to recommend a car without knowing more about your requirements, like space, mileage, number of seats, etc. However, within your specific budget, no US options are available. From the European manufacturers, only the Skoda and Volkswagen cars are there.

We would recommend you look at the Skoda Kushaq or Volkswagen Taigun, which are essentially the same SUV. Also, if you would prefer a sedan, the Skoda Slavia and its sister car, the Volkswagen Virtus, are the options.

These sister models of Skoda and Volkswagen are essentially the same, sharing all their mechanical components and a lot of the exterior and interior bits too. Thus, choosing between them would come down to the level of dealer support in your area and your own preference in terms of the individual car's style.      

There is minimal choice in the sedan market today, and your best options are the Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus, which have strong petrol engines, excellent ride and handling and a comfortable cabin. 

They are ideal for your mix of city and highway drives and come with a high level of safety, too. If you are a regular driver and don’t want extra performance, then the 1.0 versions paired to the 6-speed automatic will work well for you. 

Both the Slavia and Virtus are identical except for the design and a few feature differences across the variants. So the one to choose depends on your comfort with the dealer,  the design, your affinity with the brand and the best deals you get. 

Stick to a sedan since you are used to one, and also, sedans are more fun to drive than SUVs. 

You could go for the Skoda Slavia 1.5 or Volkswagen Virtus GT, which comes with a strong 1.5 turbo-petrol mated to a quick-shifting 7-speed twin-clutch. 

Both these sedans have superb ride and handling, which makes them fun to drive. At the same time, these sedans are easy to drive too.
 

It is great to hear that you are still enjoying your 1999 Honda City. It was a game-changer in its time and remains a very enjoyable car to drive.

If you are looking for a new sedan, we would suggest waiting, as options like the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Skoda Slavia, and Volkswagen Virtus are due for updates. If you want to buy something right now that is great to drive and looks good too, the Volkswagen Virtus GT with the 1.5 litre TSI engine is worth considering.

The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus with their 1.5 TSI and dual-clutch automatic transmission combination are the nicest to drive in their segment. Both cars are identical in terms of their platform, build quality, space, comfort, and equipment list, the only differentiating factor being their styling. 

Pick the one that appeals to you more. The 1.5 TSI engine gets a cylinder deactivation function as well as an automatic engine stop-start function to curtail fuel consumption.

The Hyundai Verna 1.5, on the other hand, is quick, smooth, and in the real world, it is likely to be a touch more fuel efficient. Also, the top-spec Verna is also cheaper than its rivals, making it worthy of serious consideration. The only downside is that its dynamics don't feel as sporty as the VW or Skoda. But if you don't plan to attack winding roads often, you will be happy with what the Verna has to deliver.