Neemuch

•5h

Hi Experts, I currently own a Tata Tiago petrol MT, which has covered around 34,500 km in the last 5.5 years. I am now planning to upgrade to an automatic SUV with a budget of under Rs. 17 lakh. Most of my trips are between Hyderabad and my hometown, around 450 km one way, and I occasionally travel with my family. Please suggest the best car for my requirements.

•4m

Given that your driving is moderate and your usage pattern is a mix of city driving and occasional highway trips, you should go for a comfortable, reliable automatic SUV that can handle highways well while remaining easy to live with in the city.

You should consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic. It offers a strong turbo petrol engine, a smooth automatic gearbox and a comfortable ride, making it well suited for both city driving and long highway runs. The cabin is spacious enough for family trips, and the car feels solid and confidence-inspiring at highway speeds. This Mahindra car also offers good value for money with a strong feature set within your Rs 17 lakh budget.

If you prefer a more premium feel and a slightly larger cabin, the Kia Seltos IVT is worth considering. The IVT (CVT) gearbox is smooth and well suited to city driving, and the Seltos offers a more premium interior experience. However, you will have to settle for a lower variant to stay within your budget.

Overall, the XUV 3XO automatic is the best fit for your usage and budget, offering a strong combination of performance, comfort and value for both city and highway driving.

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Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.77 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.54 Lakh

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•2d

Hi Experts, I’m Omkar, and I want to buy a new car. My usage will mainly involve occasional 1,000 km trips to my native place, along with some weekend picnics. Only around 5% of my annual driving will be in the city. My budget is Rs. 8-12 lakh, and my priorities are reliability, highway comfort, safety, and low service costs. Please suggest which would be the better choice for me among the Tata Nexon, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Maruti Suzuki Fronx, and Mahindra XUV 3XO.

•21h

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza Boosterjet. With your usage pattern of a 1,000 km native-place trip, occasional picnics and only 5% city use, the Brezza is the most sensible choice. It is a proven, reliable car with a strong service network and low maintenance costs, which is exactly what you need for long-term ownership. On the highway, it is comfortable and stable, and the turbo petrol engine gives good performance for overtakes. Since most of your driving is on the highway, you likely won't mind that the turbo only comes with a manual. Safety is well addressed, and Maruti’s widespread service network ensures peace of mind wherever you travel. The Nexon and 3XO are good highway cars too, but they can't quite match Maruti in terms of service reach and running costs. The Fronx is a solid option, but the Brezza feels like a larger car and better suited to your highway-focused usage.

I currently own a Tata Altroz Turbo Petrol Manual and am considering upgrading to a new car. My key requirements are budget up to Rs. 13 lakh on-road with automatic transmission. Good ground clearance is a high priority. My annual running is around 10,000 km with 70% highway and 30% city usage. I currently own Tata Altroz Turbo Petrol Manual. I’m looking for a meaningful upgrade from the Altroz, particularly in terms of highway comfort, automatic transmission, ride quality, ground clearance and overall ownership experience. Please suggest the best options within my budget and explain the key trade-offs between them.

•2d

With a Rs. 13 lakh on-road budget, automatic transmission, good ground clearance and 70% highway usage, the Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is the best fit. It offers a proper torque converter automatic, strong highway performance, good ground clearance and a comfortable ride, making it a meaningful upgrade over the Altroz Turbo Petrol. The wide cabin also makes it a comfortable five-seater for long journeys.The key trade-off is the boot space, which is one of the smallest in the segment. If luggage capacity is a priority, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the better alternative. It offers a reliable ownership experience, good ground clearance and a comfortable ride, but the engine is less powerful and the overall driving experience is not as engaging as the 3XO.Overall, the 3XO strikes the best balance between highway comfort, performance, ground clearance and value within your budget. If boot space is a deal-breaker, go for the Brezza instead.

Hello, I currently own a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to buy an SUV-type car. My annual running is around 8,000-10,000 km, mostly on highways. My budget is up to Rs 15 lakh, although I can increase it if there is a significantly better option available. I can also wait for a few months if more suitable options are expected. I would preferably like to buy from traditional Indian car manufacturers. Which SUV would you recommend?

•2d

With 8,000-10,000 km a year and mostly highway driving, a diesel SUV makes the most sense. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is the best fit here. It is a genuinely good highway car with strong performance, good stability and a comfortable ride. The diesel engine is fairly efficient and well suited to long-distance driving, and Mahindra’s service reach is strong. The 3XO is also one of the most spacious compact SUVs, with a wide rear seat that makes it a comfortable five-seater.If you are willing to stretch your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is worth considering. It is a larger SUV with a more premium cabin and better long-distance comfort. It is the better car overall, but it comes at a slightly higher price.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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Popular discussions right now

•2d

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•2d

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

•3d

I’m planning to buy my first car and would appreciate some suggestions. My budget is around Rs. 13-15 lakh ex-showroom, and I’m planning to register the car under the BH series. Safety is my top priority, so I strongly prefer a car with a 5-star safety rating, preferably from Global NCAP. An automatic transmission is a must. The car will mainly be used for weekend family trips and highway drives rather than daily commuting. Since it will be a family car, I’d prefer something that looks classy and elegant while offering good comfort. A premium-looking interior would be a plus, and features such as leather/leatherette upholstery and ventilated seats would be nice to have, but they aren't deal-breakers. At the same time, I don’t want a car that is purely comfort-oriented. I enjoy driving, so I’d like something with a good engine, enjoyable handling, and a fun-to-drive character. Good rear-seat comfort and reasonable luggage space for family trips would also be appreciated.

•1d

Based on your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the recommendation. It strikes the right balance between safety, driving enjoyment and family usability. The 1.0 TSI engine is strong, the handling is engaging, and the car feels solid and confidence-inspiring on the highway. The interior feels premium, and while it may not be the largest in its segment, overall comfort is quite good. If you prefer the look of the VW Taigun, it offers largely the same experience as the Kushaq. The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT is also a strong alternative, offering excellent driving dynamics and a larger cabin. Overall, though, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the car that best aligns with your requirements.

Hi Experts! I am a first-time car buyer and a new driver. I want to buy a sub-4-meter SUV. My daily usage will be between 25- 30 km. It is mostly for city driving in Delhi NCR. I intend to buy an automatic and like the Kylaq as an option. But my understanding is that it is expensive to maintain. Among other options that I am considering are the Venue and the 3XO. However, Venue has DCT, which I understand is not great for city driving. Could you give me some more guidance on maintenance of the Kylaq and, generally, if I have to choose among these 3, what should be the best option? To clarify, my budget is 12-15 lakhs. I have already looked at the Brezza as an option but did not like the feel of it. Sonet has been disregarded because there is a new Sonet coming next year. Thank you for your input!

•6d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic. This Skoda car is the best fit for your usage and budget. The Kylaq uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic. It is not a DCT, so you do not have to worry about overheating or jerkiness in city conditions. The 1.0 TSI engine is proven and has a good ownership track record. Skoda's maintenance costs are not significantly higher than Hyundai or Mahindra, especially with service packages available. The Kylaq is also one of the best driver's cars in the segment, with a solid, planted feel and good ride quality.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good choice but not ideal for your usage, as DCT gearboxes are not ideal for heavy city traffic. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a strong alternative. It is spacious, feature-rich and has a good torque converter automatic gearbox, but it does not feel as engaging to drive as the Kylaq. Since you have already ruled out the Brezza and Sonet, the Kylaq is the clear recommendation. It will give you the best ownership experience and driving enjoyment over the next 5-10 years.

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