I am planning to buy an automatic car for me & my wife under Rs. 14 lakh as I am a first-time buyer as well as new driver. My usage will mostly be 80% city driving, with 20% occasional highway trips, and I expect to drive around 600km per month on average. My shortlist includes the Petrol turbo Hyundai Venue Nline N6 DCT, Skoda Kylaq Signature+ and Maruti Brezza ZXi AT.

autocar.india

•2d

With your current usage pattern of 30-40 km weekend drives and only occasional long trips, a diesel car is no longer the right choice. The DPF issues you have experienced are a direct result of this kind of low-mileage, short-trip usage, and moving to a petrol car is the right decision.The Hyundai Venue petrol is a natural replacement if you are otherwise happy with the car. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol is smooth, reliable and well suited to your usage, and the car itself is compact, easy to drive and well equipped. The Kia Sonet petrol which is essentially the same car underneath is also a good option and well suited to your usageThe key is to move away from diesel and towards a simple, naturally aspirated petrol engine that will be reliable and easy to live with given your current usage. The Venue petrol, Sonet petrol and the latest Brezza petrol are all excellent petrol cars.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•2d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige+ AT. Your usage of 700-750 km a month with a 40:60 highway-to-city split does not justify a diesel, especially given your concerns about DPF issues and the fact that your highway runs are only once or twice a month. The Kylaq’s 1.0 TSI turbo petrol paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven and reliable combination, and the car’s strong mid-range performance makes overtaking effortless, which you have already experienced on your test drive.Fuel efficiency is not the best and in our real world tests the Kylaq returned 8.7 kpl in the city and 13.6 on the highway when driven normally. Of course a diesel car is more efficient but for your running, the savings will not be very substantial over the life cycle of the car, especially when you factor in the lower purchase price of a petrol over a diesel. The Kylaq also offers a more engaging driving experience than the Venue, with better handling and a more planted feel on the highway.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•2d

For a family car under Rs 9-10 lakh with good mileage and low maintenance, wait for the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift, which seems like the best fit. It is a simple, reliable and practical SUV with a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine, low running costs and Maruti's widespread service network. The Brezza also offers a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride and easy-to-drive manners, making it well suited for family use. The manual gearbox is easy to use, and the update is likely to feel more modern and feature-rich.You could also consider a Hyundai Venue 1.2 petrol, and even though its engine is smaller and less powerful than the above-mentioned Maruti car, it feels adequate for city use and is likely to deliver decent mileage and low maintenance costs.

Hyundai Venue