I’ve been driving a Datsun Redi-GO for two years and now plan to buy a compact SUV, preferably automatic. I will commute about 50 km daily. I’ve shortlisted the Tata Punch, Citroën C3X and Skoda Kylaq. My budget is around 11 lakh. Which is the best option for me?

autocar.india

•1d

Since you already have a Hyundai i10, we would recommend moving up to another Hyundai, so that you continue in the same service network. You can even try and ask your dealership for a loyalty bonus or exchange offer at the time of purchase. While the Grand i10 Nios comes across as the VFM choice, in that you can get a fully loaded Asta AMT variant well within your Rs. 10 lakh budget. If that's okay with you, it should still feel like a sufficient upgrade from your older i10, with considerably more space. However, a real update would be the Exter, which though based on the Grand i10 Nios, is newer, more spacious and crucially gets you a bit more ground clearance as a buffer against poor roads. Ingress and egress are easy in the Nios but easier still in the Exter, and it recently got an update which has kept things relatively fresh. The downside is you won't get a fully loaded AMT variant in your budget, but you don't miss out on too much. Another alternative is the Tata Punch, which feels a bit more solid, but its powertrain is nowhere as smooth as the Hyundai's 1.2-litre petrol and AMT combination.

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

autocar.india

•6h

Pick the Hyundai Creta Electric. For 70% city use, its performance and throttle modulation are just perfect for a relaxed city drive. Its power delivery is smooth and quick, with light, accurate steering, so darting through gaps feels easy and safe rather than startling. Hyundai’s EV tuning is very polished, with useful regen levels, so you can ease into a near one‑pedal flow in traffic. That makes daily driving calmer but still satisfying. The cabin is quiet, and the seats are supportive, which matters after a long weekday commute. The ride is also good, and it rounds off speed breakers and potholes nicely so you and your passengers won’t get tossed about. On the highway, too, you will find the ride nicely tied down, whereas the Mahindra can get a bit floaty on long undulations.The only bit is that the drive experience is more dialled down and not sporty, which is what you will get with the Mahindra. So this is non-negotiable, go with the XEV 9S. For city comfort and a relaxed driving pleasure, the Creta Electric is the better bet.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra XEV 9S

autocar.india

•8h

Go for the Kia Seltos petrol automatic for your use. With 30 km a day in the city, it is much easier to drive and park, the gearbox is smooth in traffic, and real-world fuel costs will be lower than those of the big diesel SUV. Your pattern of short, stop-go runs also isn’t ideal for modern diesels with a DPF; one highway trip a month may not always clear it. The Seltos also costs less to buy and feels nicer to live with every day.The Mahindra Scorpio N diesel automatic only makes sense if you truly need its strengths - extra seats and space, rough-road ability, and that tall, commanding feel on long trips. In town, it is heavy, thirstier, and can feel bulky over speed breakers and while parking. So, unless you regularly carry six or drive on broken roads, the Seltos fits your routine better. The trade-off is you won’t get the Scorpio N’s bad-road toughness.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Scorpio N