I am looking for an automatic petrol sub-4m SUV. My primary usage includes a monthly trip from Noida to Ludhiana and two to three trips to my mid-hilly hometown in Himachal. My budget is around ₹13.5 lakh on-road. I have shortlisted the Kia Sonet HTX DCT because it offers good features like a sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, and rear headrests, and the ride quality is acceptable for my family of five. Should I also consider the Tata Nexon, Mahindra 3XO, or Hyundai Venue?

Asked by: Shivam Prasher

All three cars you have listed are more spacious than the Kia Sonet, especially at the rear, and since you travel with 5 occupants, you might want to look at those options instead.

Since you like what the Sonet offers, you might also like the new Hyundai Venue too. Another car you could shortlist is the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It feels tougher, has a stronger 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine and a smoother 6-speed automatic gearbox.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Answered by

Autocar India Team

Nov 20, 2025

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Asked by: rohit kothari I am confused between the XEV 9S and the XUV 7XO. My monthly running is around 1,500 km, and I have my own parking space. Please advise. The new Mahindra XEV 9S and upcoming XUV 7XO will be closely related in many ways, sharing their body panels, interior layout and features. However, the two will be very different under the skin, with the 9S coming built on Mahindra's new-age INGLO electric architecture.If the majority of your usage will be in the city and you have the option to install an EV charger in your parking, the Mahindra XEV 9S would make more sense. For starters, running costs will be significantly lower than the petrol/diesel XUV 7XO, and there's also the other advantages you get on an EV - near silent running and supremely smooth performance. What's more, with the benefits available on EVs, the final price will not be much more than a comparable Mahindra XUV 7XO.The 7XO promises to build on the XUV 700's strengths by adding more features like a three-screen layout. The petrol and diesel engines will be carried forward from the XUV 700, but that's no bad thing because they are powerful and refined. That said, consider the XUV 7XO only if you undertake long-distance journeys frequently, where the lack of reliable public EV chargers can play spoilsport.

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Asked by: SUKETU G PATEL I want to buy a car with a budget of Rs 16 to 17 lakh. My yearly running is around 6,000 to 7,000 km, but I am a driving enthusiast and enjoy driving. Please suggest a suitable car. Since you are an auto enthusiast and love to drive, we would recommend you look at a sedan car like the Skoda Slavia or the Volkswagen Virtus. They are both essentially the same car, built on the same platform or near identical in terms of drive feel.For your budget of 16-17 lakh, you will get the smaller 1.0 litre TSi engine, and you will notice turbo lag; however, past that, the performance is lively enough, and the engine is quite rev-happy.If you can stretch your budget a bit, opt for the larger 1.5-litre TSI engine. It delivers a very sprightly drive. Beyond the engine, both cars have a superb ride and handling balance.

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Asked by: Akshay Patil Hi team, my monthly driving is around 1,000 km. I want to buy a diesel car, and my budget is Rs 17 lakh. Please help me select the right vehicle. I am open to both manual and automatic options. There are quite a few diesel-manual options available within your budget. You could go for a smaller but more feature-equipped vehicle or a larger, more powerful but less-equipped vehicle. Of the smaller vehicles within your budget, the Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO should be on your shortlist. Among the larger vehicles, the Hyundai Creta and Mahindra XUV700 are worth a look. As for automatic gearbox options, the best pick would be the Kia Sonet diesel GTX+ AT. The refined 1.5-litre diesel engine and smooth 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission work really well together to deliver a premium driving experience. Hyundai also offers the same combo on the new Venue, though you'll need to up your budget to get a feature-equipped model.

Autocar India Team

Dec 17, 2025

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