Mumbai

Vengdesh

•5h

Hi, I used the Kia Sonet HTK until 2024, and now after two years, I want to upgrade to a compact SUV. I will mostly commute around 30 km per day, with a long trip once every three months. Should I go for an automatic or a manual transmission? I am not considering Tata or Mahindra, as I have used them in the past. My options are the Skoda Kylaq, Hyundai Venue, or Kia Sonet again. Alternatively, I am also considering a sedan like the Honda Amaze. Also, should I choose an automatic or a manual?

Autocar India

•16m

Pick the Hyundai Venue automatic - it will make your 30 km daily city drive far easier and still handle your once-in-3-months trips calmly. Two-pedal ease in traffic saves fatigue, it’s compact for tight parking, and Hyundai’s service reach is wider than most, so ownership is simple. It also gives you a change from your old Sonet without feeling alien.

If you loved your Sonet’s feel and features and don’t mind a repeat, the Sonet automatic is still a strong pick. Choose the Venue if you want a slightly more relaxed ride and a fresh cabin and more space.

Amaze works if you really want a sedan’s boot and lower price, but you’ll miss the higher seat and ground clearance that help on bad roads and speed breakers.

Go automatic for your usage. The manual is cheaper and can return a bit better kpl, but in stop-go traffic the automatic is worth the extra Rs. 1-1.5 lakh and a little fuel penalty.

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More questions on similar cars

Neerav Parmar

•2d

Hi. I have a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso CNG that I bought in August 2020. It has already covered 1,60,000km. My daily running is approximately 115km, with 85% on highways and 15% in mixed city traffic. I want to replace it before Diwali 2026. Please suggest a car for long-term ownership. Should I continue with CNG, or switch to an EV or diesel?

Autocar India

•5h

An EV could make a lot of sense for your usage, but only if you can install a home charger. Covering 115km a day, mostly on the highway, is easy for today’s EVs, and your heavy running will cut fuel and service costs significantly. You will also get much stronger cruising performance and overtaking ability than your S-Presso CNG, with no fuel station queues to worry about.The Tata Nexon EV 45kWh is the sensible pick for value and service network support, and it will comfortably manage two days of driving on a single charge. If you are on a tighter budget, then the Punch EV 40kWh is also a good choice.The honest catch: highway fast chargers can still be patchy on some routes, and the upfront purchase price is higher.If home charging is not possible, then buy a diesel and keep life simple on the highway. The Hyundai Venue diesel and Kia Sonet diesel are both good choices for your needs.

I want to buy a car between 13-14 lakhs, and my requirement is an automatic car for 60-70% city drive. I need good reliability as it’s gonna be used by the family too, and need a decent to good fuel economy car. But, I ain’t able to decide which car to go for, I need a suggestion (Except Tata, Mahindra and Maruti). Also tried Amaze 3g too, but the rear seats are not comfortable for the passengers.

Autocar India

•1d

Consider the Hyundai Venue DCT; its size makes it easy to drive in the city, Hyundai has a solid reputation for reliability and service, and efficiency is decent for the segment. It sits higher than the Amaze you tried, so getting in and out is easier, and the seats are comfortable for two adults. The narrow width means seating three abreast in the rear is a bit of a squeeze.Hyundai’s service reach and parts availability are big advantages for family use. Ride comfort is well judged for bad roads, and the cabin feels airy and easy to live with.One catch: the DCT can hesitate at times, but for normal city use, it will be fine. The Skoda Kylaq has a smoother torque-converter automatic, but the back seat isn’t as roomy as the Venue’s.If you want a more spacious cabin, the Kia Syros is an excellent alternative. It has the same turbo-petrol DCT combination as the Venue, but the cabin is significantly roomier. Kia also has an excellent reputation for after-sales service, so that shouldn’t be a concern.

Shyam S

I am planning to buy a car primarily for city use. I was considering the Hyundai Venue DCT and the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT, both petrol. However, I have now seen the XUV 3XO EV and am seriously considering it. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV for city use, as long as you have a fixed parking spot where you can install a home charger. In traffic, it is smoother and quieter than the petrol alternatives, costs far less per kilometre to run, and the range is easily enough for daily commutes with the AC on. One-pedal driving also makes stop-and-go traffic less tiring.The catch is charging. If you can’t install a home charger, then public charging will cost a lot more, and the savings will take much longer to add up. Also, if you often do long highway trips, an EV requires more planning, with stops revolving around charging stations. For pure city use, though, an electric car is much smoother and less tiring to drive than a petrol automatic.If charging feels like a hassle, then go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT over the Hyundai Venue DCT. The Mahindra’s automatic feels calmer at low speeds, and the car rides rough patches better, which matters in our cities. The Venue DCT is still nice to drive and compact to park, but in heavy traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant.So, if home charging is sorted and your usage is mostly in the city, pick the XUV 3XO EV. If not, pick the XUV 3XO AT.

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Popular discussions right now

Jayvir Deol

•3d

I want to buy an SUV, and my budget is around 20 lakh. I have seen the MG Hector, the Mahindra XUV and the Tharr Rox. Which car should I buy, and given the current scenarios on the govt policies, should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India

•3d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

Saransh Parnami

I am confused between the Nexon, XUV 3XO, and Venue as my first car. My running is expected to be 1,000-1,200 km per month. My priorities are: 1) Performance, 2) Mileage and ownership cost, 3) Features, and 4) Rear-seat and boot space. Please advise and suggest the best-value variant as well. I am inclined towards a manual.

Autocar India

•4d

Our first recommendation would be the new Venue Turbo Petrol Manual. It strikes the best balance for your priorities. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and enjoyable to drive, fuel efficiency is respectable, and Hyundai's ownership experience is generally hassle-free. The latest Hyundai Venue is also more spacious than before, particularly in the rear seat, and feels like a very well-rounded first car. For value, we would look at the SX Turbo Manual, which gets a good mix of features without stretching the budget too much.Our second choice would be the Mahindra XUV 3XO. If outright performance and rear seat space are your priorities, it is arguably the strongest car here. The turbo petrol engine is lively, the rear bench is among the widest in the segment, and it feels more substantial than the Venue. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not as strong, and the boot is one of the smallest in the class. The MX2 Pro or AX5 Manual would be the variants to consider, depending on your budget.The Tata Nexon would be our third choice. It remains a good all-round package with decent space, a strong feature list and good road presence. However, compared to the newer Venue and 3XO, it does not feel quite as polished, and neither the driving experience nor the ownership proposition is as compelling.

Abhishek Das

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India

•4d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

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