Autocar India
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I am planning to buy a subcompact suv for city driving. After test driving Hyundai Venue1.0 HX8, Kia Sonet HTX DCT and Škoda Kylaq Signature + , I am getting a good deal on the Sonet. Is it because a new model is in the offing. Its poor NCAP rating worries me a bit. Should I consider the other two or wait for a new Sonet.

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4d

Hi Team, Please help me choose the right car. I am planning to buy a car with a budget of around Rs. 11-12.5 lakh (on-road price in Delhi NCR). I need an automatic car, and my monthly running will be approximately 600 km, mainly in city traffic, especially on the Delhi-Gurgaon peak traffic stretch. I prefer to keep my cars for a longer period and will be upgrading from a Hyundai i20 manual. Based on my requirements, please suggest the best option among the following: Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT - Rs. 11.9 lakh on-road Kia Sonet DCT HTK(O) - Rs. 11.2 lakh Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT - Rs. 9.6 lakh Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic - Rs. 11.2 lakh I am unable to decide which one would be the most suitable choice for my needs. Kindly suggest the best option.

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8h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic. It is the best fit for your usage and available under Rs. 12 lakh, which fits your budget. Your running is low, so petrol is the right choice, and the Kylaq’s 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven and reliable combination that works well in Delhi-Gurgaon traffic. This Skoda car is also one of the most fun-to-drive cars in this price range, with strong performance and good highway manners, which makes it a meaningful upgrade from your Hyundai i20. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXI AT is a solid alternative if you want a more relaxed ownership experience and Maruti’s service reach, but the Kylaq is the more engaging car to drive. The Kia Sonet DCT is not the right choice for your usage because the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy stop-and-go traffic. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT is the most affordable option, but the AMT gearbox is not as smooth as the Kylaq’s torque converter, and the car itself does not feel like a meaningful upgrade from your i20.The Kylaq strikes the best balance between driving experience, reliability and value for money.

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1d

Hello Autocar, I am using a 4-year-old Tata Nexon AMT, and I suffered a gear oil leakage issue during the third year and an engine oil leakage issue in the fourth year. Due to the engine oil leakage, the engine had to be opened for repairs, and the car remained in the workshop for two months. Since the engine has been opened, I am wondering whether I should replace the car because of these issues. However, the car is running fine now, although I do feel there is a loss of power and mileage. I would like to know whether I should change the car now or wait a few months to understand the roadmap for ethanol blending. Also, my annual running is only around 5,000 km. Would a naturally aspirated engine be a better choice than a turbocharged engine, considering the car would remain idle for long periods? I am thinking of switching to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza TC. However, I like the Kia Sonet's interiors, but I am concerned about its turbo engine and DCT. That said, the Sonet seems like a fun-to-drive car on the highways. My usage will be around 70% city and 30% highway. Please advise.

Verified
1d

Given your low annual running of 5,000km and the fact that the car will be idle for long periods, a naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a torque converter automatic is the most sensible choice. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza fits this brief perfectly. It is a simple, reliable and low-maintenance package with a proven engine and gearbox combination that will serve you well over a long ownership period. The Sonet turbo petrol DCT is the more fun-to-drive option on the highway, but the DCT gearbox is not the ideal choice for predominantly city driving and long periods of idling. As for your current Nexon, if the car is running fine now, there is no immediate need to change it. However, given the engine has already been opened and you are experiencing a perceived loss of power and mileage, it is understandable to want to move on. On the ethanol front, there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage, and modern engines are engineered to handle E20 without issue. There is no need to wait for further clarity. The Brezza is the safer and more sensible long-term choice for your usage pattern.

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4d

Hello Autocar Team, I obtained my car driving licence over a year ago, but I have almost no real-world driving experience apart from the driving test. Since my father drives a Mahindra XUV300 Manual (he lives in another city), I was initially inclined to buy a Mahindra XUV 3XO AT (AX5/AX5L/REVX A). However, some advice I found online has encouraged me to consider buying a smaller, less powerful used car to drive for a year. After giving it some thought, I completely agree with the idea of starting with a smaller car, especially since I'll mostly be driving alone. After some research, I narrowed my options down to the Hyundai i20 AT (2021-2023 IVT) over the Toyota Glanza and Maruti Suzuki Baleno in Bengaluru. My plan is to use the car mainly for highway trips (I'm planning lots of temple visits across South, East, and West India) while also practising city driving over the next few months. As a motorcyclist, I've been riding a Triumph Scrambler 400 X for the past two years and occasionally go on highway rides. Although I'll be a new car driver, I don't want to feel that the car is underpowered after a short period of ownership. Along with the i20 (and the Glanza/Baleno), I've now also added the Hyundai Venue to my shortlist. P.S. I'm also planning to enrol in a 10-day doorstep driving instruction course. Could you please suggest which car would be the right choice for me? My key requirements are: Automatic transmission, beginner-friendly automatic gearbox, reasonably quiet cabin, good highway stability, and good or decent resale value after 12-15 months

Verified
9h

The Hyundai i20 IVT is an excellent city car; however, its 1.2 petrol engine will not feel effortless for highway drives. The Hyundai Venue is a good alternative, and its turbo-petrol and dual-clutch automatic combination will feel well-suited for highway drives. Also, visibility is very good thanks to its high seating, and with light steering, it feels quite easy to drive.Given that you plan to take the car for highway drives frequently, we'd recommend you also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Turbo AT or Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor Turbo AT. Both are essentially the same car and are powered by a turbo-petrol engine and a smooth torque converter (automatic). Their turbo-petrol engine delivers strong performance, which will make the drive experience rather enjoyable. Also, these cars are quite stable for highway drives, are feature-rich, yet compact enough for the city. Between the Taisor and Fronx, pick the one you think looks better and the brand you're more comfortable with.

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Popular discussions right now

4d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
3d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

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Posted on: 1 Aug 2026