My budget is ₹70-80 lakh and my preferences are luxury and performance. Which vehicle should I buy - the BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

Autocar India

•3h

As a first car, from your two shortlisted choices, we recommend the Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX A. While the larger Tata Sierra is certainly better on road presence, in every other aspect, the XUV is a better fit. Its more compact dimensions make it much easier to drive, which is a worthwhile consideration for your first car. It is very comfortable, including in the rear seat and being a 5-star Bharat NCAP rated car, safety is not an issue. It has a 131hp turbo-petrol engine that is the most powerful in any compact SUV. Overall, this Mahindra car has an excellent power-to-weight ratio and is fun to drive too. Moreover, its price is around Rs 3 lakh less than the Sierra Pure+. The Tata Sierra Pure+ comes with only the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine. While it's smooth enough, thanks to the heavy Sierra kerb weight, its power-to-weight ratio is nowhere as good as the XUV 3XO's. Also, the Pure+ variant of the Sierra, aside from being more expensive, won't be as well equipped as the 3XO RevX A. Overall, for your needs, the Mahindra is the better be

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•4h

Of the two, for your needs, you should definitely go for the Kia Seltos GTX (A) 1.5 iVT. The iVT is a smooth automatic, so it works well in traffic and at lower speeds. The Seltos is the smaller car here, so it is easier to park and thread through tight lanes, and its steering feels lighter at low speeds. Kia also has a wider service network across cities and towns, which helps if you plan to keep the car long-term or travel outside your home city.On safety, both SUVs pack the basics like multiple airbags and stability control, and higher variants can add driver assists. While the MG Hector hasn't been tested by any crash test rating agency, the Kia Seltos has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol is not as strong as the 1.5-litre turbo petrol in the Hector, but it is more than sufficient for city use and decent on the highway too. The Kia is also much lighter than the MG, which affects performance, too.The MG Hector, which is not at all a compact SUV, scores higher on space in the back seat and boot, and is the better chauffeur-driven SUV, with a softer ride quality. However, a big drawback is fuel economy, which is considerably lower than what you will get from the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol iVT.

Kia Seltos

MG Hector

Autocar India

•4h

You're right to lean towards the Hyundai Creta Electric. Range, efficiency, performance and features aside, you'll mainly appreciate it for its comfort and practicality. Being a Hyundai, it will feel like a natural upgrade from your i10, and you're already integrated into the brand's wide ecosystem. The Creta EV's suspension takes bad patches of road well, so daily commutes are less tiring. It's as spacious as a regular Creta, which means a big boot, a wide rear seat and ample in-cabin storage; it even has a small frunk under the bonnet. As for the EV powertrain, it scores high on refinement, smoothness and progressive power delivery. It's incredibly efficient too, and can easily deliver upwards of 7km/kWh in city traffic. Plus, regen modes are easily accessible via the paddle shifters, and performance feels strong enough. Your next best bet is the Mahindra BE 6, which offers up much more performance and a funky and high-tech interior. Moreover, it looks futuristic, whereas many find the Creta too ordinary-looking for an EV. The trade-off is space, practicality and ergonomics, where the Creta scores much higher than the BE6.Interestingly, though the BE6 has a much larger battery (79kWh) than the Creta Electric (51.4kWh), their overall real-world range is very similar, as the Creta is significantly more efficient in city traffic. You should be advised that using any EV over long distances requires some planning, given the current state of charging infrastructure today.

Hyundai Creta Electric

Mahindra BE 6

Autocar India

•5d

Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•3d

If you're comparing ride comfort, the Skoda Kylaq is easily the better pick, particularly variants with 16-inch wheels. Skoda has got its suspension tune spot on, its relatively softer setup makes it more suited to our road conditions. It rounds off speed breakers and rough patches better at slow speeds. Furthermore, the Kylaq feels stable at speeds and is surprisingly nimble and fun-to-drive around corners, too.In contrast, the Kushaq’s suspension feels a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps and small potholes do come through more in the cabin.

Skoda Kylaq

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•4d

With around 1,000 km a month, two young kids and a cap of ₹14 lakh on-road, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 is the one that fits your brief best. It rides comfortably over broken city roads and speed breakers, and the rear seat is more than spacious enough for your kids. Safety is a strong point too, with a solid feel, good driver aids for this price, and mounts to fix child seats in the back. It also fits your budget in a well-equipped trim, so you are not forced into a bare-bones version. A trade-off to note: The boot is not the biggest in this price range, so if you often carry a full-size stroller plus luggage, do a quick fit check. If you prefer a more contemporary looking cabin, the Tata Nexon Creative Plus is your alternative from your list. It offers a slightly roomier boot and a very nice interior, and is easy to drive in the city, but the petrol engine feels a bit less smooth at low speeds and Tata service quality can vary by city. The Skoda Kushaq facelift would be a good pick, but only if you can stretch your budget, as within ₹14 lakh you’ll only get the base manual model, and Skoda’s service reach is smaller. Overall, for your family use and budget, the XUV 3XO AX5 lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

Skoda Kushaq