Pallavaram

Gokul Subramanian

•12w

I currently own two cars: a 2025 XUV700 and a 2012 Tata Vista. The Vista is now having AC issues and brake failures, so it’s time to replace it with a 5-seater. While searching for cars under ₹10 lakh, I found many petrol options, but both my dad and I are diesel engine lovers, so we decided to increase our budget to ₹12 lakh. In that range, we considered: Tata Nexon - high-end model (but we’ve had customer and service issues with Tata before) Mahindra XUV 3X0 - MX2 Pro variant or base variant Hyundai Venue - 1.5 MT diesel variant Kia Sonet - base diesel variant Finally, my dad and I had a dramatic idea to get a Mahindra Thar RWD. Is that okay for comfortable city use and short-range driving, or should I consider other diesel cars under ₹12 lakh? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•11w

Yes, you are correct, there are very few diesel options in the lower segment today. From your shortlist, we would recommend the Hyundai Venue. The diesel engine is refined and smooth, and is coupled to a torque convertor gearbox, which is the smoothest type of autobox to have, thus you will appreciate this in the city traffic. The powertrain also delivers a good balance of performance and efficiency.

As for the Mahindra Thar, we would not recommend this for you, as you are primarily looking for a comfortable city car, and the Thar ride is far too bumpy over bad city streets, and refinement levels will also not be as good as the Venue.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.55 Lakh

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More questions on similar cars

Omkar Kargutkar

•1w

I’m planning to buy my first car with a budget of around Rs. 10-12 lakh. My daily running will be mostly low, and I need a comfortable family car mainly for city use, along with occasional highway trips. My priorities are good safety, a large boot space, comfort, reliability, and easy maintenance. Right now, I am considering the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Skoda Kylaq. Which one would you recommend for my usage? Also, are there any better options in this budget, and which variant would be the best to go for?

Autocar India

•2h

Mostly city use with some highway runs and a Rs. 10-12 lakh cap, points to the Kia Sonet HTK+ petrol (manual) as the best fit. It is easy to drive in traffic, feels steady at highway speeds, and the boot is usefully large for airport bags or a weekend trip. Safety is well covered in the mid trims, and Kia’s wide service network keeps upkeep simple. For a first-time buyer with low daily running, its petrol engine is smooth and hassle-free, and the cabin feels comfortable and well put together.A couple of watch-outs: the rear seat is not the widest for three adults, and if you want the automatic, you will need to opt for the turbo petrol which will push you over budget. Ride comfort on sharp bumps is a touch firm. If that is a deal breaker, consider the Hyundai Venue petrol manual which has a slightly softer ride.From your list, the Tata Nexon (look at a mid petrol manual trim) is the pick if you want the strongest safety focus and tougher suspension for bad roads, but service consistency can vary. The Skoda Kylaq is a solid choice but upkeep can be higher.If you want the easiest long-term ownership, also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx in a mid petrol trim; it is simple to own, though not as premium inside as the Sonet.

Ganesh Natarajan

Hello team, I am planning to buy a compact SUV. Shortlisted vehicles are 3XO, Venue Automatic, Sonet, the new Punch, and Nexon. Please suggest. I am in the process of shortlisting the Venue Automatic.

Autocar India

•1d

The new Hyundai Venue is a genuinely well-rounded package. It is more spacious than before, the rear seat is now comfortable enough for two adults, the turbo petrol engine feels punchy, and overall, it is easy to live with. The only caveat is the DCT gearbox. It is smooth enough in normal use, but it is not as seamless in traffic as the 3XO’s torque converter automatic, which is where the Mahindra clearly has the advantage.The Mahindra XUV 3XO also has a wider and more spacious rear seat, making it a better five-seater if family use matters. The downside is boot space, which is among the smallest in the segment, so if luggage carrying matters, that is worth keeping in mind.The new Tata Punch is a solid improvement over the older car, but compared to the others here, it does not feel as premium, as powerful or as sophisticated, which is reflected in its lower price positioning. The Nexon is still a competent option, but against the fresher 3XO and Venue, it now feels a little dated.

soumyadeep ghosh

I have been using a Celerio for 10 years and now want to change the car. My budget is 10 - 11 lakh. I have been a driving enthusiast for a long time. Currently, my daily running is 120 km with 60% highway use. I also want the car to be comfortable for my parents, especially getting in and out and sitting too high and too low will cause problems for their knees. I have driven all the cars in the mini SUV category and shortlisted the Kylaq, 3xo, Venue and Brezza. Kindly share your opinion on these options, and also suggest if there are any other cars worth considering in this price range based on my requirements.

Autocar India

•1d

Purely from an enthusiast point of view, the Skoda Kylaq would be the pick here. It is the most engaging of the lot, the turbo petrol feels punchy, and it genuinely has that fun-to-drive character you are looking for. The problem is your running. At 120 km a day, fuel efficiency will start mattering very quickly, and the Kylaq’s real-world economy will begin to pinch.The Marutu Suzuki Brezza actually fits your overall requirement better. No, it is not the most thrilling engine here, but it is efficient, and the ride and handling balance is genuinely sorted. Also, the seating height is just right for older parents to get in and out comfortably without it being too low or too tall. It is also one of the easiest cars here to live with long-term.Given your running and the fact that 60 percent of it is highway, the diesel manual options in the Maruti XUV 3XO or Hyundai Venue are worth serious consideration too. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel in particular is the enthusiast’s diesel pick here because the engine is strong, punchy, and the chassis is genuinely enjoyable. The only trade-off is that it does feel a bit heavier in everyday use than the Brezza.

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

lakkhan

•4d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India

•3d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•6d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Udit

•5d

I currently drive a petrol Baleno that is about 8 years old. My monthly running has increased to around 2,500-3,000km. Should I install a CNG kit or look for a used BS6 diesel car? My maximum budget is Rs 6 lakh.

Autocar India

•5d

At your kind of running, moving away from petrol does make financial sense, but we would first look at how that 2,500 to 3,000 km a month is split between city and highway use.If a large chunk of it is on a highway, a well-maintained used BS6 diesel can make sense because the fuel savings will be meaningful, and the usage pattern suits modern diesel engines far better. If, however, this mileage is mostly city traffic, we would avoid a BS6 diesel because DPF-related issues can become a headache with repeated stop-and-go use.Installing an authorised aftermarket CNG kit on your Maruti Baleno is absolutely legal, provided it is a government-approved kit, fitted by an authorised installer and the RC and insurance are updated accordingly. Financially, this is the lower-risk route if your Baleno is otherwise mechanically healthy, because you will recover the conversion cost relatively quickly with your kind of running. The trade-off is some loss of boot space and a drop in performance.

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

View all Posts

Posted on: 4 Mar 2026

Need expert advice?

Ask the Autocar community and experts.

Still have questions?

Need expert advice?

Our brands

Still have questions?

Need expert advice?

How can we help?

What vehicle do you own?

Your details