I am planning to buy a new SUV that should be automatic petrol (not AMT). My monthly running is only about 200 km, and my budget is ₹12 lakh. Please suggest an automatic SUV that fits my requirements.

Autocar India

•15h

While there are quite a few options within your budget, the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Maruti Suzuki Brezza come closest to meeting your requirements. The Mahindra XUV 3XO offers comfortable seating at the back and does well to offer the safety of a rear centre headrest. The XUV 3XO's turbo-petrol engine also delivers class-best power, and you really experience the performance advantage out on highway drives. There's also a tough feel to the XUV 3XO backed by an absorbent suspension. You could stretch a bit and get the AX5 that packs in reasonable features for the money. However, a 360-degree camera is not part of the package. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a more level-headed choice. Power and performance are significantly down on the XUV 3XO. The Brezza is more about an easy-going drive experience. Ride comfort is a highlight, and the well-cushioned seats are very comfortable too. Like the XUV 3XO, the Brezza is among the few compact SUVs that are comfortable for five passengers. The Brezza will prove to be more fuel-efficient than the Mahindra, though. There's also the hassle-free ownership experience that you get with buying a Maruti. The ZXI is worth a look, but again, misses the 360-degree camera you need.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Autocar India

•16h

We are not sure of the exact timelines for the launch of the facelifted Maruti Suzuki Brezza. But looking at the spy pictures floating around, we can assume it should be towards the end of next year. What you can expect from the facelift are minor cosmetic changes and some feature enhancements, but no changes to the powertrain.The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is fairly refined as long as you don’t rev it too hard. Under hard acceleration, it can sound a bit loud, but in regular driving, it remains smooth and comfortable. You are right in choosing the Brezza for its automatic transmission - it uses a traditional torque converter, which is smoother than both AMTs and DCTs. And yes, DCTs can feel jerky in heavy traffic.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a bigger car but comes with the same engine and transmission options. Both the Victoris and Brezza are good in the city but can feel a bit lethargic on the highway. If you don’t need the extra space, the current Brezza is good enough. It’s a proven and reliable product for long-term ownership.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Autocar India

•11m

The Kia Carens Clavis turbo-petrol with the DCT gearbox is a well-rounded package. The strong engine lends the MPV ample performance even with a full load of passengers, and the DCT adds in convenience. The engine and gearbox add to the Carens Clavis' list of strengths that includes comfortable seating in all three rows, easy entry to the third row and a high-quality cabin. The Carens Clavis doesn't have a crash test rating but does well with lots of standard safety equipment, such as 6 airbags, electronic stability control, rear disc brakes, ISOFIX child seat mounts and more. Talking specifically of variants, the Clavis turbo-petrol with the DCT gearbox is not offered in HTX form but in HTX(O) form. It's very well-equipped with features such as 12.25-inch digital dials, a 12.25-inch touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera and more. At Rs 19.26 lakh (ex-showroom), the Kia Carens Clavis Turbo-DCT HTX(O) might seem pricey. But see all that it offers - comfy seating for 7, plenty of features and a strong engine - and you'll realise it's money well spent. It makes for a great pick.

Kia Carens Clavis

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