For a small family with a maximum budget of ₹15 lakh in Mumbai, and with mostly city driving (~400 km/month) plus two long trips (~1,600 km each) per year, I’m inclined toward the Kyaq Signature Plus (or a better variant you might suggest), but I’m concerned about reported AC issues. I’m also considering the Aircross X Turbo if I can get it within budget. Should I also test-drive the 3XO RevvX variant? I believe the mileage is similar across these three cars. My priorities are fun to drive, safety, reliability, and peace of mind. What would be your recommendation, and are there any other suitable options I should consider?

Autocar India

•6w

The Skoda Kylaq meets all your requirements of fun to drive and safety. It’s fairly reliable, too, but doesn’t have the reputation for reliability like a Japanese brand. The sales and service are considerably improve and Skoda has worked to bring down spare parts and service costs as well.

The air conditioning is an issue with Skodas, but the company has fixed it in the new Kushaq, and we expect to see these improvements in the Kylaq too. The Aircross is a lovely car to drive, but its dealer and service network needs to improve. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a great all-rounder and the best equipped, but it's not as much fun to drive as the Kylaq.

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Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.62 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Umang Jaiswal

•2d

Within a budget of around ₹12 lakh (could extend some), I want to buy a petrol manual car which is fun to drive, reliable and will not be so heavy on my pocket for fueling and maintenance. My monthly usage is around 400km, mostly city and occasional road trips. Which car will you suggest?

Autocar India

•1d

You can consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx or the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor in their top turbo petrol manual variants. The engine, despite being turbocharged, has hardly any turbo lag and offers good punch. It also comes with a light clutch and a slick gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in the city. Even on an open road or around a ghat section, both these cars are surprisingly fun to drive, and over bad roads, the suspension delivers a comfortable ride as well. For a turbo petrol engine, efficiency is also quite impressive. Overall, there is actually not much to fault here.If you want something that feels a bit more premium, you can look at the Skoda Kylaq, the Signature+ MT variant. The Kylaq is a fun car to drive, but the clutch is heavier, and you will feel more turbo lag. It will also not be as efficient as the Fronx turbo petrol, and the peace of mind ownership experience may not be as strong.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Skoda Kylaq

Amay

•1d

I am planning to buy a new petrol car with a manual gearbox. My budget is around ₹13 lakh. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway. Could you please suggest SUV options within this budget?

Autocar India

•8h

The Mahindra XUV 3XO REVX A 1.2 Petrol GDI with the manual gearbox would be a good option to consider. It gets a 1.2-litre 131hp turbo-petrol engine that is the most powerful in the segment. It is a light and brisk 6-speed manual gearbox that is easy to use in the city. It is spacious on the inside with comfy, broad seats up front and a good amount of room at the rear. Bootspace isn't the best at 364 litres, but if you're primarily going to drive in the city, this shouldn't be a big problem. The performance is very good, the ride comfort is excellent, and you get a good amount of kit as well. A panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps, keyless entry with push button start, dual-zone climate control and more.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Srujan

•5d

I really like the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI AT, but I am unable to finalize my decision because of the rear seat space and a few other compromises. My other options within a ₹14 lakh budget are the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX and the Nissan Magnite CVT. Considering these choices, which would be the best option overall? Also, what should I prioritise more in this segment - space and practicality or driving performance?

Autocar India

•1d

It's a shame that the Skoda Kylaq's rear seat space is not quite up to the best in the segment, because otherwise it is a superb compact SUV that scores highly on most other counts. Of the other options, the Nissan Magnite, while capable and a great value for money, feels like a sub-segment lower in terms of quality, space and performance. The Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX should be your best bet because it offers both - performance and rear-seat space. In fact, it has one of the most spacious cabins in the segment, although the boot is a bit smaller than others. The RevX offers a good feature set as well, along with a few unique styling embellishments, and overall, we feel this is the one you should pick.

Nissan Magnite

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

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