Autocar India
•10w

Currently, I am using a Volkswagen Polo. I now want to buy a new diesel car with a budget of under Rs. 15 lakh, but I am confused about which one to choose.

Verified
•9w

While there are a fair few options within your budget of diesel cars, we'll narrow the list down to models that can be had in mid-spec and above form. After all you don't want to pay Rs. 15 lakh and feel shortchanged on feel-good features. 

Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Kia Syros use the same 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine. The engine is pleasant and comes paired to a smooth 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. However, it's the 6-speed torque converter automatic version that we'd recommend you opt for. The gearbox is well in tune with the engine's characteristics, and what you get is a very polished drive experience. Of the three, the Hyundai Venue is the best all-rounder but is on the pricey side for what you get. The Kia Syros is easily the roomiest and feels most premium inside too. A firm ride does take away from the experience, though. The Sonet is the oldest of the lot but still holds its own in quality, tech and features. In fact, the Sonet that's in its run out phase (the next-gen Sonet comes in a few months) is available at very tempting prices without feeling like a last-gen model. 

If you like the robust build of your VW Polo, you might find a good replacement in the Mahindra XUV 3XO. There's a toughness to the package, and ride and handling are very well sorted. Go for the manual, though. The AMT is not great. 

 

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai Venue

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Hyundai Venue

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•9w

Are you looking to sell your polo ?

•9w

Please share details

•9w

yes

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•15h

We are first-time car buyers from Warangal, Telangana. Both my parents, who are above 50 years of age, will be driving the car regularly, and nobody in our family has owned a car before. Around 60% of our usage will be on highways. We plan to keep the car for a minimum of 6-8 years. We also expect decent mileage, although we understand that both are turbo-petrol cars, so we are not expecting very high fuel efficiency. Between the Kylaq's torque converter and the Venue's DCT, which one is genuinely easier and less stressful to drive for a 50 years+ first-time driver in daily city traffic? For Kylaq Signature Plus AT owners, how is the automatic transmission performing in real-world city driving? Are there any complaints after a few months of ownership? We do have a Skoda dealership in our city, but we would like to know how smooth the actual service experience has been for owners in similar Tier-2 cities. Given that we previously cancelled our Venue HX8 DCT booking due to concerns about ethanol blending, which was priced at Rs. 16.1 lakh on-road, does going back to the Venue HX6 make practical sense, or are we just going in circles? I'm personally interested in the Kylaq, but the car will mostly be used by my parents. If any issue occurs, I want the service centre to be able to resolve it easily without troubling them too much or having the car remain at the workshop for weeks.

Verified
•1h

In your case, the Hyundai Venue HX6 Turbo DCT is the better choice. While the Kylaq is the more enjoyable SUV to drive and its torque converter automatic is smoother than the Venue's DCT in slow moving traffic, your priorities are different. This will be your family's first car, both your parents (50+) will be driving it regularly, and you plan to keep it for 6-8 years. In that context, Hyundai's larger service network, more established ownership experience and easier support in a tier-2 city like Warangal give it the edge.The Kylaq's 6-speed torque converter is an excellent automatic and is likely to feel more natural than the Venue's DCT in bumper to bumper traffic. However, the Venue's DCT has matured over the years and is perfectly manageable with normal driving. On the highway, both cars perform well, but the Kylaq has the better ride and handling balance, making it the more rewarding car to drive.As for going back to the Venue after cancelling the HX8, it doesn't mean you're going in circles. The HX6 sits at a much better price point and represents stronger value for money than the HX8 did. Also, concerns around future ethanol blending shouldn't be the deciding factor today. E20 petrol will continue to remain the standard fuel for the foreseeable future, and manufacturers design their latest turbo petrol engines to run on it.

VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
•5d

Hello Autocar Team, I obtained my car driving licence over a year ago, but I have almost no real-world driving experience apart from the driving test. Since my father drives a Mahindra XUV300 Manual (he lives in another city), I was initially inclined to buy a Mahindra XUV 3XO AT (AX5/AX5L/REVX A). However, some advice I found online has encouraged me to consider buying a smaller, less powerful used car to drive for a year. After giving it some thought, I completely agree with the idea of starting with a smaller car, especially since I'll mostly be driving alone. After some research, I narrowed my options down to the Hyundai i20 AT (2021-2023 IVT) over the Toyota Glanza and Maruti Suzuki Baleno in Bengaluru. My plan is to use the car mainly for highway trips (I'm planning lots of temple visits across South, East, and West India) while also practising city driving over the next few months. As a motorcyclist, I've been riding a Triumph Scrambler 400 X for the past two years and occasionally go on highway rides. Although I'll be a new car driver, I don't want to feel that the car is underpowered after a short period of ownership. Along with the i20 (and the Glanza/Baleno), I've now also added the Hyundai Venue to my shortlist. P.S. I'm also planning to enrol in a 10-day doorstep driving instruction course. Could you please suggest which car would be the right choice for me? My key requirements are: Automatic transmission, beginner-friendly automatic gearbox, reasonably quiet cabin, good highway stability, and good or decent resale value after 12-15 months

Verified
•2d

The Hyundai i20 IVT is an excellent city car; however, its 1.2 petrol engine will not feel effortless for highway drives. The Hyundai Venue is a good alternative, and its turbo-petrol and dual-clutch automatic combination will feel well-suited for highway drives. Also, visibility is very good thanks to its high seating, and with light steering, it feels quite easy to drive.Given that you plan to take the car for highway drives frequently, we'd recommend you also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Turbo AT or Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo AT. Both are essentially the same car and are powered by a turbo-petrol engine and a smooth torque converter (automatic). Their turbo-petrol engine delivers strong performance, which will make the drive experience rather enjoyable. Also, these cars are quite stable for highway drives, are feature-rich, yet compact enough for the city. Between the Taisor and Fronx, pick the one you think looks better and the brand you're more comfortable with.

VehicleHyundai i20
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Taisor
•3d

Hi, I am planning to upgrade from my Volkswagen Polo 1.2 MPI to an automatic car. My monthly running is around 800 km, mostly in the city. My priorities are excellent NVH levels, comfortable ingress and egress for my elderly parents, and a plush ride quality. I am confused between the Hyundai Venue Turbo Automatic and the Skoda Kylaq Automatic. Should I buy one of these now, or would it be better to wait for upcoming models like the Maruti Suzuki Vision S, Hyundai Bayon, Renault Bridger, Kia Clavis, or the new Kia Sonet? Also, is there any other car that would suit my requirements better? I have also heard that DCT gearboxes are not ideal for heavy city traffic. Is that true?

Verified
•2d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. Your priorities are clear: low NVH, easy ingress/egress for elderly parents and good ride quality. The Kylaq delivers on all three. The cabin is well insulated, the ride is comfortable, and the ideal seat height makes getting in and out easy. The 6-speed torque converter automatic is also the right choice for your usage. It is smooth and well suited to city driving, unlike the DCT in the Venue, which can feel hesitant in stop-go traffic. The Venue turbo DCT is a good car, but the Kylaq is the more comfortable and easier-to-live-with option. As for waiting, the Vision S and Bridger are expected later next year; the Bayon will be bigger and more expensive, so none are likely to fundamentally change the equation for your requirements.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleMahindra Vision S
VehicleRenault Bridger
VehicleHyundai Bayon

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•5d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
•5d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
•3d

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

Verified
•2d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. It is a much larger car and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant and its features.

VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleKia Syros
•6d

I am looking for a spacious car for three people, with a naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox, and good mileage in both city and highway driving. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Honda Amaze. My budget is Rs 10-15 lakh. Please suggest.

Verified
•5d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is the better fit for your requirements. You want a naturally aspirated petrol engine, good mileage in both city and highway driving, and a spacious car for three people. The Brezza delivers on all those points. The 1.5-litre petrol engine of this Maruti Suzuki car is smooth and reliable, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to Indian driving conditions. It is also a more spacious car than the Honda Amaze, with a wider cabin and better rear seat comfort for three people. The higher seating position and SUV stance also make it easier to drive in the city and over bad roads.The Amaze is a good car, but it is a compact sedan and does not offer the same level of space or practicality. The Brezza is the more complete package for your needs.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleHonda Amaze

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Posted on: 27 May 2026