Delhi

New buyer

•3w

Writing again to get a response. I am a first-time car buyer looking to purchase an automatic car within a budget of ₹13-13.5 lakh. I have shortlisted the Kia Sonet HTK(O) DCT, as it is feature-rich and offers modern features that are not available in competitors like the 3XO and Venue within this budget. I mainly drive in the city and less on the highways. Please advise.

Autocar India

•3w

If you have zeroed in on the Kia Sonet HTK(O) DCT, then go for it. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is peppy, and the DCT automatic gearbox offers quick shifts. Overall, the Sonet is enjoyable to drive. As you pointed out, it is well-equipped, and the cabin feels plush and upmarket and has the quality of a more expensive car. The only real downside of the Sonet is that the back seat is cramped, so if you are travelling with your family regularly, that might be an issue.

The new Hyundai Venue, which is a sister car of the Sonet in its new avatar, has a bit more legroom and also has a premium feel. The Mahindra XUV 3XO has the most spacious cabin of the lot and is also worth considering. However, if you are mainly driving yourself and back seat comfort is not important, go ahead with the Sonet.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Confused Buyer

•3w

Thanks for your response. Can you please let me know if 3XO AX5 has Hill Assist or not? I have checked it on car dekho and it seems that this feature is missing in that car. My first priority was 3XO only as it comes under my budget and its performance is also very good. Just because of 2-3 important features I have decided to opt for Sonet.

Ron

•3w

yes, it has hill assist, but depends on the variant you buy. in the ax5l and ax7l, you also have auto hold feature which holds your vehicle untill you press the accelerator

Himanshu Bajaj

•2w

If you have hilly and city driving in mind, DCT is a TERRIBLE idea. The one with 1.0 turbo is I guess dry clutch DCT, and any person who values reliability wouldn't touch one with even a ten feet pole.

Rajendra

•2w

Buy exter amt top model. Very easy to drive in city

Anonymous

•3w

If your diving in mainly in the city, don't go for DCT gearbox, try 3x0 or Kylaq instead

Confused Buyer

•3w

3XO AX5 AT or 3XO REVX A Turbo AT Which one should i prefer?

Himanshu Bajaj

•2w

The more powerful engine at that miniscule a price difference is a freaking steal. The difference between the two is direct Injection and I cannot recommend the revv trim enough. Di means ethanol blending becomes your ally (it increases octane, e20 is anyways almost 95 octane, and Di makes use of high octane), far more refined engine due to DI, and so on. Get the better engine

Latest questions people are discussing

JAYAPRAKASH

•4d

I currently own a 2018 Honda WR-V diesel manual (6-speed), which has run about 50,000 km, along with a Tata EV purchased in 2023, which has covered around 20,000 km. I have now decided to replace my WR-V with a BS6 diesel automatic car. Could you please suggest which diesel automatic model would be the best choice according to Autocar?

Autocar India

•1d

Without knowing your budget and more requirements, we can't recommend the ideal choice for you. We have shortlisted models that you should consider, and why they are of interest. Compact SUVs- Hyundai Venue: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, good interior space, upmarket interior | (-) Expensive for its size- Kia Sonet: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, upmarket interior, good value | (-) Rear seat space is limited, due to be replaced in the coming year Midsize SUVs- Kia Seltos: (+) Spacious interior, well equipped, good ride comfort | (-) Performance is adequate only- Tata Sierra: (+) Class-best space, feature-packed, tough build, ride comfort | (-) Engine feels noisy, road noise- Hyundai Creta: (+) Well equipped, decent performance | (-) Due to be replaced in the coming year

Jithin

I am looking to buy my first car. I am currently looking at the Kia Sonet Diesel Automatic 1.5, which comes at ₹16.25 lakh and the Skoda Slavia Sportline Auto at ₹17 lakh. My main usage would be travelling between Kochi and Bangalore and occasional city drives in and around both cities. I had a Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi earlier, which I loved and would prefer something with a similar driving punch. Which would be an apt choice?

Autocar India

•6h

Since a large part of your driving will be on the Kochi-Bengaluru highway and you enjoyed the performance of your old Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi, choosing a car with strong performance and relaxed cruising ability will make your drives more enjoyable.Between the two, you will likely be happier with the Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI with the 7-speed DSG. It offers superior performance and refinement compared to the Kia Sonet diesel automatic, especially for highway usage. The Slavia’s turbo-petrol engine delivers effortless acceleration, and the DSG gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly, which makes overtaking and long-distance cruising feel easy.Another advantage is that the 1.5-litre engine features cylinder deactivation, which shuts down two cylinders under light loads such as steady cruising. This helps improve fuel efficiency when driving on the highway. The Slavia also feels more planted and stable at higher speeds, which will be noticeable on your frequent intercity drives.However, we would recommend waiting a little before making the purchase. The Slavia facelift is expected soon, and with it around the corner, it makes sense to see what updates and features the refreshed model brings before committing to the current version.

Skoda Slavia

Kia Sonet

Sanjay Sharma

•5d

Hi sir, I am looking to buy a new car, approximately under ₹11 lakh and am confused between the Kia Sonet HTK Plus and Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus petrol. My running is daily 50 km on the highway. Kindly advise which model and variant I should go for.

Autocar India

•15h

Both cars are good options and would be fine for highway driving; however, between the two, we would recommend you lean towards the Skoda Kylaq, as the Sonet is older and will be updated in about a year or so.On the other hand, the Kylaq is far newer and would thus also get you a much better resale value. At city speeds, the Kylaq's ride is firm; however, stability at speed is very good, as is body control around corners, with good amounts of grip on offer. This is something you would benefit from, given that you drive daily on the highway.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

View all Posts