I live in a small town called Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. My monthly driving mileage is approximately 1,400 km. I have a preference for modern and good-looking cars. I have shortlisted the Venue HX5 Diesel and the Victoris CNG. Please share your suggestions.

Autocar India

•2d

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Maruti Suzuki Victoris share the same Global C platform and are structurally as well as mechanically identical, so the crash structure and safety levels should be very similar. However, since you're concerned about having a certified 5-star rating, the Victoris is the safer bet as it has been officially crash-tested by Bharat NCAP and awarded a 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The rating applies to all Victoris variants, including the strong hybrid models. The Victoris is also the newer model with additional features like a larger 10.1-inch infotainment system, ADAS, and improved tech over the Grand Vitara.Regarding everyday use, the strong hybrid powertrain is exceptionally well-suited for city driving with long daily commutes. The system operates in near-silent EV mode for extended periods in city traffic, switches seamlessly between electric and petrol modes, and delivers excellent fuel efficiency. This Toyota-based strong hybrid technology is both smooth and refined in operation.As for ride quality, you will need to adjust your expectations coming from the Terrano. This Nissan car suspension setup was indeed exceptional on broken roads and offered a plush ride. The Grand Vitara and Victoris, while comfortable, have a slightly firmer setup that may not quite match the Terrano's ability to absorb bad road surfaces. However, the ride is still acceptable for most conditions.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•22h

Your current Maruti Suzuki Dzire has already adapted to E20 with only a slight impact on mileage, which shows how gradual these transitions are. The same approach will apply going forward. E27 may come as an incremental step, but cars that are E20 compliant today, like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, are already engineered to handle such small increases without major issues. Higher blends like E85 or E100 are a completely different case, as they need dedicated flex-fuel engines and separate fuel infrastructure, which will take time to develop and scale.Even when these higher ethanol fuels are introduced, they will not replace existing petrol overnight. They will be offered alongside current fuel types, and conventional petrol cars will continue to run on standard blends. So there is no real risk of your new car becoming unusable or outdated in the near future.Instead, focus on your upgrade. Moving from a Dzire to something like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris or the Grand Vitara will give you a clear improvement in comfort and efficiency, and both cars are already aligned with current fuel norms.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Autocar India

•2d

From what you’ve said, most of your worry is low-speed city use and how smooth the automatic feels, with cabin look a close second. For that use, I would lean to the XUV 3XO petrol automatic, because its regular automatic gearbox is smoother when you are moving slowly in traffic. The Venue DCT (a dual-clutch automatic that changes gears very quickly) can feel like a small pause or a light jerk at 10-20 kph as it shifts, which is exactly what you noticed. The 3XO’s automatic does not do that, and it also handles long, crawling jams without any worry about clutch heat.The catch is what you already feel: the 3XO’s cabin design looks more simple and not as flashy as the Venue. If the cabin look matters to you every single day, the Venue still makes sense. You can also drive the DCT more gently in the first two gears and let the car roll on its own to smoothen that low-speed feel. Once above 20-25 kph, the Venue DCT feels quick and easy.So the call is this: pick the XUV 3XO petrol automatic if your priority is a smooth, calm drive in heavy city traffic. Stick with your Venue DCT booking if the premium cabin is what you love and you can live with a little shift feel at very low speeds. For your brief, I’d pick the 3XO for the smoother city drive.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

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