I am confused between the Tata Nexon Creative DCA and the Kia Sonet HTX DCT. My daily commute is about 16 km, and I want a car that is easy to drive in heavy traffic, with a bi-monthly 800 km drive. Please advise which one I should choose.

Autocar India

•6w

Keeping in mind your 16km daily commute in heavy traffic and the occasional 800km highway run, we would recommend going for the Kia Sonet HTX DCT as it has the smoother gearbox of the two. It also feels more premium inside out, and except for rear space, which is just about enough, the Sonet does feel like a more rounded product than the Tata Nexon Creative DCA.

That said, if you are looking for more space, there are two other cars with the same engine and gearbox combo as the Sonet and those are the Kia Syros and the new Hyundai Venue. Both these cars are newer than the Sonet, which is due to be replaced in about a year with a brand new model. Both these cars are more spacious and have more features too.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

Hyundai

New Venue

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Recommended questions for you

Vishal Maniar

•3d

I am planning to buy a compact SUV with a diesel automatic gearbox, and my budget is around ₹12–14 lakh on-road. I generally prefer choosing the variant just above the base model, as it usually offers the best value for money rather than going for the top-spec variant. My shortlisted options are the Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, and Kia Sonet. While value for money is my main priority, my child is insisting that the car should also have a sunroof. Considering these requirements, which car would you recommend buying?

Autocar India

•2d

While the Tata Nexon has its strengths in a tough build and good suspension, its AMT gearbox is no match for the torque converter automatic. It comes paired with the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet's 1.5-litre diesel engine. The Hyundai and Kia's smooth diesel engines and slick auto gearboxes deliver a very polished driving experience, which you will love. Of the two, the Hyundai Venue is newer, offers more rear seat space and a few more frills like a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. You'd get a Venue diesel-auto HX5 in your budget, which is reasonably well equipped and also packs in a sunroof. We can't recommend it wholeheartedly, though, because it misses the safety of a rear wiper. If rear seat space isn't a deal breaker and you are comfortable with the idea of buying a car that will be replaced in the near future, the Sonet diesel-auto HTX is definitely worth a look. For not much money over the Venue HX5, it packs in a whole lot more equipment such as LED headlights, push button start, leatherette seats and front seat ventilation. Also, it has the safety of a rear wiper, rear disc brakes and front parking sensors.

Tarangkumar Patel

Hi, I currently own a Honda Amaze diesel 2014 model. Now, after using it for so long, I want to upgrade to a 7-seater. I shortlisted the Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Carens Clavis and have done test drives for both vehicles. My daily usage in the city is 25 km, and I occasionally do long family trips. Now I am super confused between both cars, as one has premiumness and the other has space. Please suggest the best vehicle for me. Is the turbo petrol good? Now I am super confused.

Autocar India

•52m

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Alcazar

Ajinkya Sonar

•21h

I am looking for a 7-seater manual car which is easy to maintain. My budget is around ₹15 lakh. My annual running is 80% on the highway and 20% in the city. I am confused between two options: Carens or Clavis. Please advise which one I should pick and whether to go for a petrol manual or a diesel manual.

Autocar India

•2h

With your budget of Rs 15 lakh, you can move past the Kia Carens and up to the Carens Clavis, which is essentially a facelift of the Carens, with more features and an additional engine option. The trickier choice is which engine to choose, between the 1.5-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel, both of which are available with a manual.The diesel is the more obvious choice, given that your usage is 80% on the highway, where the additional torque will be beneficial, not to mention the better mileage. However, in your budget, you'll only get it in the base HTE spec. If that's fine with you, then you should go ahead with that; otherwise, note that the Carens 1.5 petrol MT is available in the higher HTE (EX) trim, with more features.You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga, which comes in petrol and CNG guises, has lower maintenance costs, and is far more affordable than the Kia.

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Carens

View all Posts