I have been researching the car market for over a year now, but every time I think I am ready to finalize a car, I get tempted to wait for a new launch. I want a manual car with comfortable seating and enough space to accommodate five adults. The car should be efficient yet provide a good driving experience. My usage is about 80-90% city driving and 10–20% highway, with a daily average running of 20-30 km. My shortlist has included Syros, Windsor, and Nexon, but the Amaze is also on my mind due to Honda’s reliability. Please suggest a car within my ₹12-14 lakh budget. I’m also open to other suggestions, including upcoming launches.

Autocar India

•6w

In a market, as ours, where there's a new launch every couple of months, your predicament is understandable! Given your requirements, we've narrowed the list of options down to the Kia Syros and Mahindra XUV 3XO. Both compact SUVs offer comfortable seating for five passengers, which is a priority for you.

The Kia Syros has a roomier interior and also offers more flexibility with its unique sliding rear seats. The clean layout of the dash and crisp screens also gives the interior a new-age vibe. It's got a nice turbo-petrol engine that delivers pleasant performance. A firm ride does take a bit away from the experience, though. You could get the Syros turbo manual HTX within your budget.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO is nicer to drive with a stronger turbo-petrol engine. Ride and handling are also well sorted. The XUV 3XO turbo-manual AX7 fits comfortably within your budget.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Syros

from ₹9.82 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Anushank

•17h

I am planning to sell my Mahindra XUV500 as it is nearing the end of its registration validity in Delhi NCR, and I want to buy a 5-seater SUV under ₹10 lakh. My preference is for a fuel-efficient car as my daily running is around 100 km, but it should also be spacious enough for five people. Since fuel efficiency is a priority, I am open to both CNG and diesel cars. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway, mostly within Delhi NCR. I have narrowed my choices to the Maruti Brezza CNG, Tata Nexon CNG, Kia Sonet Diesel, and Maruti Fronx CNG. Please help me evaluate which would be the better option. I am also open to any other better option if available.

Autocar India

•58m

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

Kunal

Hi, I currently drive a 2015 Honda Jazz diesel with 200,000km on the odometer . I have got the best in everything from the same. Most of my travel is in Pune city, where I clock around 100 km per day, and once a month, I travel 1000 km outstation. So in total, around 3000 km approximately in a month. My budget is ₹15 to ₹18 lakh, but I need a better 5-seater SUV and expect a strong balance of mileage, power and style. Kindly suggest, as I am a big fan of diesel cars.

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Syros HTX+ 1.5 diesel-AT is an excellent, versatile compact SUV that's spacious and feature-rich. It offers exceptional cabin space and gives you the flexibility to expand boot space to carry more cargo, should you need. The diesel-automatic combination is smooth, refined and efficient too. Yes, its styling might not be to everyone's taste, but if you like the way it looks, this is the one to go for.Other diesel-automatic options in that price bracket that you could consider are the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet, both of which share their diesel-automatic powertrain.The Mahindra XUV 3XO is also a good, spacious option, and while its engine is very powerful, its AMT gearbox isn't as smooth as the torque converters that rivals offer. Even the Tata Nexon gets a diesel-AMT option, although it isn't as refined as the others.

Suresh

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

•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.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

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