I own a 4th-generation Honda City, which is a very comfortable car. I am now looking to buy an SUV within a budget of Rs 18 to 21 lakh. I am interested in the Tata Harrier and Sierra, but I am concerned about Tata’s service issues. Should I wait for the new Kia and Duster? My monthly usage is around 1,500km. Should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India

•1h

Given what you're looking for in your SUV, the Tata Sierra makes more sense than the Harrier for you. It will feel like a considerable upgrade from your Ford EcoSport Diesel MT, most notably in size and features. And yes, as you mentioned, its standout design is really one of its biggest selling points. The Harrier has a much stronger engine, though build quality isn't too far off, but the premium Tata Motors is asking over the Sierra, spec for spec, doesn't feel worth it when the latter is such a good package. The sunroof, unfortunately, has become an inescapable feature in modern cars, especially in these segments, and it's something that you'll just have to accept and not use if you want the rest of the features as well. Tata is known to update its models regularly and add new trim levels, and maybe it will introduce more variants that have the rest of the features minus the sunroof. All things considered, the Sierra represents far better value than the Harrier.

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

Autocar India

•38m

If your priority is long-term reliability and hassle-free ownership, the powertrain choice and brand service experience will matter more than outright performance.Between the three options, the Hyundai Venue petrol turbo with the DCT automatic is the safer choice in terms of ownership experience. Hyundai has a strong reputation for reliability and service support, and the Venue is a well-proven product. It also offers a comfortable ride and a well-finished cabin, which makes it suitable for long-term family use.The Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is a very good car to drive and offers strong performance thanks to its larger 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. It also has a spacious cabin and good ride quality. However, Mahindra’s ownership experience and service consistency can vary depending on location.The Venue diesel automatic can make sense if your running is high and you regularly do highway drives. However, for typical mixed usage, the petrol automatic will generally be the simpler option to live with.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•1h

We would suggest looking at the Skoda Kylaq. It offers a comfortable ride, has good space for four adults, and the torque converter automatic transmission is smooth and easy to drive in the city. Its compact dimensions also make it convenient to park and manoeuvre in tight spaces.If seating five adults regularly is important, the Mahindra XUV 3XO makes more sense thanks to its wider cabin. It also offers a comfortable ride and a smooth torque converter automatic. The only drawback is the relatively small boot space.The Honda Amaze would otherwise have been a good choice thanks to its smooth CVT transmission, which works very well in city traffic. However, the ride quality is not the most comfortable compared to some of the other options you are considering.The Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai Exter are offered with AMT gearboxes, which are not as smooth or sophisticated as the torque converter or CVT automatic options available in some of the other cars on your list. AMTs tend to feel jerky during gear shifts, especially in slow-moving traffic.

Skoda Kylaq