Hi Autocar, I am willing to purchase a Hyundai Venue HX 8 Petrol MT(Turbo) for city & occasional highway drive. I am a new driver having just got my license & this will be my 1st car. How is the car in terms of driving experience and safety? Is there any other option I should consider?

Autocar India

•2d

In your case, we would suggest going for a diesel automatic. At this kind of running, diesel makes clear sense because you will benefit from better efficiency and lower running costs, especially on highways. Since half your driving is in the city, an automatic gearbox will make a big difference in reducing fatigue and making daily driving easier.Within your ₹10-16 lakh budget, the Hyundai Venue diesel automatic is a strong option. It offers a refined diesel engine and smooth automatic gearbox, making it well-suited for both city and highway driving. The newer Venue is also more spacious than before, so rear seat space is not really a concern anymore, making it a well-rounded family car.If you are looking for even more space, you can also consider the Kia Syros. It feels wider, more airy and offers better rear seat room. However, the ride quality is not as comfortable as the Venue's, which is something to keep in mind, especially for long drives.

Kia Syros

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1h

Since your usage is primarily in the city, the Kia Seltos HTE (O) with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine and CVT combination is a solid choice. The engine is responsive in city traffic and works well with the seamless CVT automatic. While the HTE (O) is essentially the base trim, it comes with features like a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six speakers, 60:40 split-folding seats, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold.

Kia New Seltos

Autocar India

•2h

The diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO is significantly more efficient than the petrol model. However, given your limited running, the near Rs 1 lakh extra spend for a diesel version of the same trim level doesn't add up. Further, modern-day diesels need a bit of extra care to keep running flawlessly. A steady speed highway drive, for instance, every couple of weeks helps in DPF (diesel particulate filter) regeneration. For someone with such low running, you might have to specially work a long drive into your schedule for this process. The petrol engine doesn't have any such extra requirement and is, hence, more suited to your kind of usage. The AX7 T is already well equipped and offers plenty for the money. Among the features exclusive to the AX7 L are powered front seats, configurable ambient lighting and larger 19-inch rims. To us, the features of more interest are concentrated at the back. Features such as a boss mode, rear wireless charger, and middle row ventilation do a lot to up the experience at the back. In a nutshell, it's worth considering the AX7 L only if the middle row seat will be used often.

Mahindra XUV 7XO