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Delhi
JD

Jdeep

22w

I'm seeking a car that suits my driving style, which can be a bit rough at times. My requirements include strong pickup and torque, and ample boot space. I drive approximately 30 km daily in the city and undertake highway drives of around 100 km twice a week. My budget is between ₹8 lakh and ₹15 lakh, and I'm open to both new and used options. Could you recommend suitable models?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
22w

If by rough driving you mean regularly encountering bad roads, you can consider the Citroen Aircross X - it has a brilliant suspension setup. However, choose it only if a Citroen service centre is available in your city. The Mahindra XUV3XO and Tata Nexon are also rugged compact SUVs with turbo petrol engines - the Mahindra offers a stronger engine, while the Nexon comes with a relatively bigger boot. Among used options, the Jeep Compass is worth considering. 

Citroen Aircross

Citroen Aircross

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SU

Suresh

4d

Hi Autocar Team, My monthly running is around 1,600-1,800 km, and about 85% of my driving is on highways. My priorities are safety, a refined engine, good mileage, and low maintenance costs. My budget is around ₹15 lakh. Currently, I drive a Hyundai i20 petrol manual, but now I want to switch to an automatic car. I have shortlisted the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 diesel Autoshift and the Kia Seltos lower variant. Considering my high highway usage and priorities like safety, refinement, mileage, and maintenance, which of these would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

While the Mahindra XUV 3XO has a strong and refined engine, the AMT gearbox is not the best performing units in terms of smoothness and response. Quick overtakes on the highway would require a lot more planning with an AMT, and over time, it can get frustrating. We would recommend checking out the Hyundai Venue as it gets a diesel engine mated to a 6-speed torque converter gearbox that is a lot better than AMT units. The Venue is also well equipped in its HX5 guise that falls within your budget. It is the newer car overall with a fresh and modern interior.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHyundai Venue
KR

Krishnav

2d

I have been looking for a secondary car, primarily to be driven in the city. A petrol automatic would be preferred. Mileage is not a very big criterion. Good engine performance, features and a hassle-free ownership experience are on the must-have list. We are looking for something compact and easy to maneuver in the city and park in tight spaces. Budget is around ₹15 lakh, plus or minus a lakh. A lack of dealerships in the city we reside in restricts us to only a few brands: Maruti Suzuki (Nexa too), Kia, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota and Tata. We test drove the Hyundai Venue (new gen), Kia Sonet and also looked at the Toyota Fronx and Nexon. Which car would you kindly suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2h

The Hyundai Venue is a good option to consider. It is compact, has a good feature list, and the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is punchy and fun to drive. The DCT automatic gearbox is also smooth and quick to respond. Being the newest entrant to the compact SUV segment, it gets a modern cabin that is well-equipped and gets all the features you would want.This Hyundai car also has decent space at the rear, and the ride comfort and sales and service experience is good, too. Overall, it is a well-rounded package that does everything the way you'd want it to. The HX 8 trim is one shy of the top-spec, but it will fit in your budget and offer a long equipment list.

VehicleHyundai Venue

Posted on: 9 Oct 2025