Mumbai

Prichard Elangbam

•1d

I currently drive a 2013 Maruti Alto 800 and am now looking for an upgrade. My daily commute from home to office is around 17 km. I am considering the Maruti WagonR, but I am also exploring compact SUVs. My current shortlist includes: Tata Punch Hyundai Venue Maruti Brezza Renault Kiger If any other good options suit my usage and budget, please do suggest them as well.

Autocar India

•15m

Pick the Hyundai Venue. For a 17 km city run, it gives you the upright SUV feel and visibility you want, yet stays small and easy to park, and it rides over speed breakers and broken roads far better than your Alto. It also feels like a solid upgrade inside and has a strong safety rating, while running costs stay reasonable.

Be clear on one thing, though: its 1.2-litre engine is fine in town but not very quick on highways. If you often do fast trips with family, the turbo petrol will be a better choice. If that exceeds your budget, then the Fronx turbo manual is a good alternative.

Renault Kiger is a good value, and the turbo is fun, though the cabin feels a bit budget and the brand’s network is thinner. The Wagon R remains the cheapest and simplest step up, but it won't feel like a significant enough step up from your Alto. The Tata Punch is a segment down from your other choices and won't feel as roomy on the inside.

Overall, the Venue is a good fit for your needs.

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Vihaan Kumar

•3d

Dear Auto Experts, I need a merciless, data-backed verdict to complete my garage. Around 3 months ago, I sold my Toyota Fortuner Legender 4x2 (which was just 2 years and 9 months old) because I grew highly frustrated with its hard steering and lack of modern tech features, specifically ADAS. To replace it, I purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L Diesel Automatic 4x2 a month ago. However, I only plan to drive it 2 days a week. Additionally, my wife purchased a Mahindra Thar Roxx MX1 Manual last year in November. I am now looking to finance another vehicle via an auto loan, with a budget of Rs. 18 Lakh to Rs. 28 Lakh. This new vehicle will be used for rough-and-tough regular city driving 3 to 4 days a week in heavy traffic. It will also serve as the primary vehicle for occasional long highway trips with my family. My Strict Requirements include: Status & Road Presence: This is non-negotiable. Even though it is my 3-to-4-day city vehicle, it must command road respect and serve as a status symbol, while offering the light steering and ADAS tech my Fortuner lacked. Fuel & Transmission: Diesel Automatic is preferred, but I am very open to considering Strong Hybrids (especially the upcoming generation of high-efficiency models). I can manage DPF requirements without issue if going with diesel. Ownership Cycle: I do not hold onto cars for long; my replacement cycle is strictly 3 to 4 years. End Goal: Exceptionally high resale value. I need a vehicle that second-hand dealers can easily flip to out-of-state buyers for a premium when I am ready to sell, clear the loan, and upgrade. Dealbreakers: Absolutely no to Toyota HyCross (my family finds it bulky, dated, and associated with the taxi segment). No Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder (I strictly avoid the Maruti-shared build quality). No grey or silver exterior colors. My Shortlist (That I can buy now): Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT: It solves the steering and ADAS issues perfectly and commands massive road respect. However, considering I just bought a Thar Roxx AX7L and my wife owns a Thar Roxx MX1, do you think that buying a third Mahindra vehicle for the family will be a logical and financially sound move? Kia Seltos GTX / X-Line Diesel AT (New 2026 K3 Platform): It offers the modern platform and tech that I need, but does a mid-size SUV command elite resale value and "status symbol" respect? (Note: I am highly hesitant about this option, as I have seen a lot of cons and complaints regarding it on YouTube ownership reviews). Hyundai Venue HX10 Diesel AT (2026): Fits easily at the bottom of the budget, but it likely lacks the sheer road presence, status factor, and highway dominance I need compared to larger SUVs. Or Should I Wait For Upcoming Hybrids/Updates (2026-2027): Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (Rumored to arrive in India in late 2026. Is it worth waiting for and potentially stretching my budget, or will it be overpriced?) Upcoming K3 Platform Hyundai Creta Strong Hybrid. Next-Gen Toyota Fortuner (ADAS / Mild Hybrid) or Toyota Land Cruiser FJ. Mahindra Vision S. Given my strict 3-4 year ownership cycle, the demand for top-tier resale value and road respect, the fact that I will be financing this purchase, and the specific dual-use case (rough regular city driving + occasional family highway cruiser), which exact car and variant should I finalize today? Or does waiting make actual financial sense for my cycle? Thank you for your definitive and merciless verdict. Vihaan Kumar

Autocar India

•1d

The XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT is the cleanest fit for your requirement today, and frankly, none of the other current options line up as well with the exact brief you have laid out.The fact that you already own two Mahindra cars is not necessarily a negative from a financial point of view either, because right now Mahindra SUVs have some of the strongest demand and resale momentum in the market. In fact, from a resale perspective over a 3 to 4 year ownership cycle, the 7XO is probably the safest bet in your shortlist. It also solves the exact frustrations you had with the Fortuner by offering much lighter controls, modern ADAS tech and a far more feature rich experience while still maintaining proper SUV presence.The new Seltos diesel AT is a very polished product and will likely feel more premium inside, but you have already identified the key issue yourself. It still feels like a size smaller in terms of sheer road presence and overall “status factor” compared to something like the 7XO.The Venue diesel AT should not even be in this discussion. It may be sensible, but it does not deliver the sense of occasion, size or highway authority you are clearly looking for.As for waiting, the upcoming Creta and Seltos strong hybrids expected next year will make sense from an efficiency perspective, but they will still fundamentally remain mid size SUVs. The RAV4 Hybrid is not even a confirmed India launch yet, and even if Toyota does bring it here, expect it to be priced aggressively high because it will almost certainly come in as a CKD or CBU initially. By the time it lands on road, it could sit far beyond the sweet spot you are targeting today.So the verdict is simple: buy the XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT now. It is the one that best balances presence, tech, ease of use and resale value over your intended ownership cycle.

Soumyadip khan

Hi, I am planning to buy a compact SUV in one or two months. I am a bit confused between two options: the new Venue HX5+ and the Sonet HTK Plus. Both have the same 1.2 NA engine. I am looking for long-term ownership with good mileage and stability. My running will be low. Can you suggest?

Autocar India

•1d

Low running, long-term keep, and you care about mileage and a steady feel at speed - in that brief, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus 1.2 manual fits you better. With the same 1.2 petrol engine, mileage will be much the same as the Venue's in daily use, but the Sonet feels a touch more stable on the highway. Its steering has a bit more weight, and the suspension feels firmer, so it holds a straight line well and gives you more confidence on flyovers and open roads. Cabin quality also feels a notch nicer, which matters when you plan to keep it for many years.Know the trade-offs. This 1.2 engine is fine in the city, but with four or five people and luggage, it will feel slow to overtake so you will plan your moves. The Sonet’s ride is a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps are felt more than in the Hyundai Venue. If you often travel with rear passengers, then the Sonet's back seat can feel cramped compared to the Venue, but it makes up for it with a larger boot. If most of your use is inside the city and you want a softer, easier drive, the Hyundai Venue 1.2 in a similar mid variant will suit you. Overall, for your needs, pick the Sonet HTK Plus.

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Rohit

•2w

Hi Autocar, I currently own a Santro and now want to upgrade to an SUV. My budget is around Rs 13 lakh. My monthly running is around 2,500 km, with about 1,500 km on expressways and the rest in the city. Kindly suggest which car I should buy.

Autocar India

•1d

With 2,500 km a month and most of it on the expressway, a diesel compact SUV fits you best for Rs 13 lakh. The Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Tata Nexon are models to consider.The new Hyundai Venue is a great all-rounder with a refined diesel engine, a fairly spacious cabin and an upmarket interior. However, the Venue is on the pricey side by segment standard, so you'll have to look at a mid-spec diesel-manual within your budget. If you can extend your budget, go for the diesel-automatic. The torque converter automatic transmission delivers a very premium drive experience.If rear space is not a high priority, the Kia Sonet is also a strong option. The model is due to be replaced in the coming months, so there's scope to haggle hard and get a great deal on the outgoing model. Despite being among the older models in the segment, it impresses with its high-quality interior, feature set and smooth diesel engine. Again, it's the diesel-automatic combo that we'd recommend you go for.The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel suits long highway runs because of its strong diesel engine and confidence-inspiring high-speed manners. It's also a roomy car and packs in plenty of feel-good features for the money.

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I am planning to buy the Honda City facelift that was launched yesterday. How does it compare with the Volkswagen Virtus? I am also assuming that the government will continue supporting E20 fuel even if E85 is introduced in the future. So, is it still safe to buy a petrol vehicle in Delhi/NCR?

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My newly purchased Grand Vitara base model mileage is only 11KPL. What is the actual KPL?

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