Shamli 17

•18w

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.

•18w

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 Volkswagen car, 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.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹8.84 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.19 Lakh

Kia

Syros

from ₹9.31 Lakh

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•17w•

Are you looking to sell your polo ?

•17w•

Please share details

•17w•

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•2d

I’m a first-time car buyer in Bangalore, and I’m currently learning how to drive. Should I buy a manual car to learn how to drive a manual and then switch to an automatic for my next car, or should I get an automatic right away? I’m considering the manual Kia Syros and the automatic Hyundai Venue.

•6h

For a first-time buyer learning to drive in Bangalore, buying a manual just to learn the gearbox and then switch to an automatic later offers little benefit. Learning the basics of steering, braking, positioning, judging gaps, and handling traffic is already a substantial task. An automatic lets you concentrate on those skills without adding clutch and gear changes, which is particularly useful in Bangalore traffic.Between the two, the Hyundai Venue automatic is the more suitable choice for a first car. Its 1.0-litre turbo petrol paired with a seven-speed DCT has adequate performance for both city driving and highway use.The Kia Syros manual is a good option if learning manual driving is itself an important goal or if you genuinely enjoy being involved in driving. This Kia car shares the same 1.0 turbo as the Venue, and the six-speed manual is well matched to the engine. However, buying a manual only as a training exercise does not make much sense when the eventual preference is for an automatic.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

•1d

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a new car and have test-driven several models. I have narrowed my choice down to the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo and have already booked one. I currently own a Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo manual. Most of my driving is within Chennai city, and I will primarily use the car for my office commute, around 25km each way. Both the morning and evening drives involve moderate to heavy traffic, with frequent crawling movement. My main concern is the DSG gearbox and its behaviour in heavy traffic. I have read about potential heating issues with DSG transmissions during prolonged stop-and-go driving, and I am wondering whether this should be a significant concern for my usage. Should I reconsider the Kushaq 1.5 DSG and look at another car instead? I really like the performance of the 1.5-litre Kushaq, and it feels like a genuine upgrade over my current Venue. However, the concerns around the DSG in heavy city traffic are making me hesitant about going ahead with the purchase. Could you please advise whether the Kushaq 1.5 DSG would be suitable for my usage, particularly from a long-term ownership perspective?

•1d

The Skoda Kushaq Monte Carlo 1.5 TSI DCT is a genuine upgrade from the Hyundai Venue, particularly in performance, and the Kushaq is an excellent highway car. However, the concern about the DSG is relevant for your specific usage. Your 50km daily commute involves moderate to heavy Chennai traffic, 3–4 days a week, so the gearbox will regularly spend time at very low speeds. The current 7-speed DSG is considerably more robust than earlier generations, but it is still a dry-clutch unit and repeated crawling places more heat and wear on the clutches.If the priority is peace of mind in Chennai traffic, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI AT is the better fit. The newer 8-speed torque-converter automatic is smoother and more relaxed at crawling speeds, while the 1.0 TSI remains adequate for city use and occasional highway trips. The trade-off is clear: it will not deliver the effortless 150hp performance that makes the 1.5 feel like a substantial upgrade from the Venue.If the 1.5 DSG is the reason for buying the Kushaq, keep the booking. If avoiding any gearbox-related worry is more important, switch to the 1.0 TSI AT. The 1.5 DSG is not a deal-breaker, but the 1.0 AT is better suited to your Chennai commute.

Skoda Kushaq

Hyundai Venue

•2d

I am looking for an automatic SUV under Rs 14 lakh, preferably with a torque-converter or CVT gearbox. The car will primarily be used for city driving, with occasional highway trips and long-distance journeys. I am leaning towards a petrol model rather than an EV, as I feel EV charging infrastructure is still not widely available. My main priorities are mileage and long-term reliability. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Skoda Kylaq, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO.

•1d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. Your priorities are mileage, reliability and predominantly city driving, and the Brezza lines up perfectly with that brief. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is proven, the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, and Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs make it a very easy car to own long-term. It is also one of the more fuel-efficient naturally aspirated petrol SUVs in the segment, which matters given your usage pattern.The Skoda Kylaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO are both excellent cars, but they are turbo petrols and will not be as fuel efficient in city conditions. The Hyundai Venue is a good all-rounder, but it comes with a DCT automatic that is nowhere as smooth as a CVT or torque converter. The Brezza is not the most exciting car to drive, but it is the most sensible choice for your requirements.

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•1d

Hi, I am planning to buy a CNG SUV and am considering the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. I will be driving around 150km every day for office, so my main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Many people have suggested the Brezza because of its mileage and lower running costs, but Tata is also a large company and has a wide service network. So, why do buyers generally recommend the Brezza over the Nexon CNG? I personally prefer the Nexon, but I am confused about whether it would be the right choice for my daily usage. Which one would make more sense for my requirements?

•1d

Go with the Tata Nexon CNG if that is your preference. At 150 km daily, CNG is the right fuel choice, and both the Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza are factory CNG cars, so reliability and safety are not a concern. The Nexon CNG is a strong product with good performance, a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The reason many people suggest the Brezza is Maruti's reputation for low maintenance costs, wide service reach and a long-standing reputation for hassle-free ownership. The Brezza CNG is also a very reliable and efficient package. However, the Nexon CNG is the more modern car and feels more premium inside.At 150 km daily, the key is to choose the car you will enjoy driving every day. The Nexon CNG is a solid choice, and there is no reason to change your decision.

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

•1w

Hi, I want to buy my last car as I am 66 years old. I have been driving a Honda City for the last 12 years without any major hiccup. The Honda City engine and its reliability is excellent although its ground clearance is an issue. I have looked at Elevate and given its ground clearance as an SUV, I am impressed although the issues on E20 and abrupt blending issues are surely technical issues. Windsor EV was a great test drive but all controls on screen could be a bottleneck for me at my age and am planning to move to an automatic. Please recommend as experts. My monthly running will not be more than 500 km. Should I also look at Seltos. I will appreciate a feedback from experts. I want a reliable, easy to drive car with low maintenance cost and good family value with. There won't be any great pick ups or many highway drives will not be there.

•6d

Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.

I want to know the launch date of the new Toyota Innova Hycross model.

•4d

The Toyota Innova Hycross facelift is expected to launch in early 2027. Toyota has already been testing the updated Hycross in India, with spy shots showing a revised front end, new lighting elements and a redesigned bumper. The facelift is expected to bring some interior and feature updates as well, while the existing 2.0-litre petrol and strong hybrid powertrains are likely to continue. Toyota has not announced a confirmed launch date yet, so early 2027 is the current expectation rather than a firm date.

Toyota Innova HyCross facelift

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