Mumbai

•3d

I used to own a Tata Nexon AMT petrol for five years, but I had to sell it due to a serious manufacturing-related rusting issue and a poor service experience. I’m now looking to buy a new automatic petrol SUV with a budget of up to Rs 14 lakh. The car will mainly be used for weekend driving within the city, with perhaps one long trip every month. The annual running is expected to be only around 5,000- 6,000 km. A car that does not require much hassle in terms of servicing would be a major plus. Good power output and decent fuel efficiency are also important. What options can be considered?

•5m

Given your low annual running, weekend city use and a monthly highway trip, a petrol automatic is the right choice. Since you had a poor experience with Tata cars, we would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is a reliable, hassle-free SUV with a proven service network, which is exactly what you are looking for. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is far better than the AMT you had in the Tata Nexon. It is not the most powerful car in the segment, but it is dependable and easy to live with.

If you want something with a bit more power and a more engaging driving experience, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic is a good alternative. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth in the city. Skoda's service network is not as extensive as Maruti's, but it has improved significantly in recent years.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is also worth considering. It is one of the most powerful cars in the segment and offers a strong feature list, but the boot is on the smaller side.

Overall, the Brezza is the safest recommendation for your requirements. If you want more performance, the Kylaq is the better choice.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Nexon

from ₹8.55 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹9.00 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Brezza

from ₹8.55 Lakh

Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.77 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•1w

Hello everyone, I’m planning to buy my first car with a budget of around Rs. 15 lakh (on-road). I’ve shortlisted the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 AT and the newly launched Tata Nexon Camo DCA. The updated Nexon now comes with a factory-fitted 360° dashcam, which is a nice addition. I’m planning to buy an automatic, but a few colleagues who own cars have suggested that the Nexon DCA has had reliability concerns and recommended going with the torque converter automatic in the XUV 3XO instead. I’d love to hear opinions from owners and experts. Which one would you recommend for long-term ownership in terms of reliability, driving experience, maintenance, and overall value? Note: I’m from Bangalore and travel to my native place in Andhra Pradesh twice a year, which is roughly 600 km from Bangalore.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 AT. The 3XO is the better long-term ownership proposition. The 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven, robust gearbox that is well suited to both city driving and long highway runs. This Mahindra car also has a wider cabin and better rear seat comfort, which will make those 600km trips to Andhra far more comfortable for you and your family. The Tata Nexon Camo DCA is a good car, and the 360-degree dashcam is a nice feature, but the DCA dual-clutch automatic gearbox is slow shifting and is not as proven as Mahindra's Aisin-sourced torque converter unit. The 3XO also offers strong performance, good ride quality and a solid feature set at this price point. Overall, it is the more dependable and better-rounded choice. The one thing to keep in mind is that the boot is among the smallest in the segment, which could be an issue when travelling with four or five passengers and their luggage.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

•3d

I currently drive a 2014 Hyundai Grand i10 Asta AT, which has covered around 58,000km. I am looking to upgrade primarily because I need more boot space to accommodate my son’s folded wheelchair. The new car will be purchased through a corporate lease for four years. Around 90 percent of the driving will be in the city, with an average daily usage of about 50km. I need help with a few aspects of the purchase. First, is it worth paying a premium for an EV given my usage? Second, are ADAS and other technology features genuinely useful for this kind of usage, and should ADAS be considered a make-or-break feature? I would also appreciate a shortlist of cars that would suit these requirements.

•1h

Given your usage, the key requirement is a larger boot for your son's folded wheelchair, along with a comfortable and hassle-free city driving experience. With 90% city driving and around 50 km a day, an EV can make sense if you have reliable home charging, but the premium is only justified if you are committed to keeping the car for the full lease period and maximising the running cost savings. Otherwise, a petrol automatic car is the more straightforward choice.ADAS and tech features are nice to have, but they should not be the deciding factor. In city driving, features like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist are not as useful as they are on highways, and auto emergency braking tends to be too sensitive to pedestrian crowds; thus, it's only better out on the highway, not so in your case. Focus on a car with good visibility and a comfortable driving position instead. For your shortlist, the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Swivel seat could be an ideal option. The front passenger seat swivels out fully to enable people with mobility challenges very easy entry. The boot is also large enough to store a folded wheelchair. You will have to order this from select Maruti dealers, so check with a few in your area. Being a company approved and provided system, there is a warranty for the swivel seat as well as the entire car. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is another option. It offers a large, square boot that should also take a folded wheelchair and the ride is very comfortable, especially at low city speeds. If you are looking for a slightly larger car, the Kia Seltos IVT or the Hyundai Creta IVT are worth considering for their bigger boots and more premium feel, but make sure the step in height is comfortable for your son.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

•4d

I own a 2022 Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 GT MT and have driven around 56,000 km. Recently, I have been experiencing knee pain and possibly the early stages of arthritis. Considering the traffic in Gurugram, I am thinking of switching to an automatic transmission, but I am unsure whether the Taigun’s DSG gearbox would be a reliable option for long-term ownership. What would you suggest? I do not want to upgrade to a higher segment, but I also do not want to compromise on the level of performance I currently enjoy.

•2h

Given your knee pain and Gurugram traffic, moving to an automatic is the right decision. The Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG is a fantastic driver's car, but the DSG gearbox is not the most stress-free ownership proposition in the long term, especially in heavy stop-start traffic. If you want to stay in the same segment and not compromise on performance, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the 8-speed torque converter automatic is the best option. The 1.0 litre TSI engine will not be as peppy as your 1.5 litre Taigun, but for everyday traffic it is surprisingly good and lively enough driven at everyday speeds. You will not lose any performance in the city and the torque converter gearbox is far more robust, smoother and better suited to city traffic. It is also a genuinely enjoyable car to drive, so you are not giving up the driving experience you enjoy. If you want to save some money, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI with the same torque converter automatic is also worth considering. It is essentially the same mechanical package in a slightly smaller and more affordable body. The key point is that the torque converter automatic is the right solution for your knee and your city usage, and you do not have to compromise on performance to get it.

Skoda Kushaq

Skoda Kylaq

Volkswagen Taigun

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•5d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•4d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•1w

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•5d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

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