I’m planning to buy a new car with a budget of ₹13.5-14 lakh. I’ve shortlisted the Kia Sonet HTX Petrol Automatic, but with the launch of the new Hyundai Venue, I’m confused. We’re a family of three: my wife, my 10-year-old son, and I. My yearly usage is around 10,000 km, mostly city driving with occasional long drives once every two months. Comparing the features of Sonet HTX, a Venue with similar features seems pricey. Which one should I go for? I prefer an automatic car.

Autocar India

•21w

The Hyundai Venue is a newer car in comparison to the Kia Sonet, which is almost two years old now. Even though the Venue is newer and has new features, the powertrain is the same as the Sonet. So, performance-wise, you won't be gaining much with the Venue.

Since your use is primarily in the city, a good automatic gearbox is important, and both the Sonet and Venue get a DCT gearbox that is not the smoothest.

If you are open to trying other options, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a good alternative, as you get the same feature list but with a smoother torque converter automatic gearbox. The AX5 trim would be in your budget and is worth checking out.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.56 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Sudhir

•1d

I am planning to buy a car within a budget of ₹15 lakh and am confused between the Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT and the Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus automatic. My main requirement is an automatic transmission, and the car should comfortably accommodate three passengers in the rear seat. Please suggest which would be the better option.

Autocar India

•5h

Between your two options, neither is ideal if your priority is comfortably seating three people in the rear. The Hyundai Venue has a relatively narrow cabin, which makes it tight for three adults, while the Skoda Kushaq has a heavily contoured rear seat that is very comfortable for two, but not as accommodating for three.Between the two, the Kushaq is still the more comfortable car overall. It belongs to a segment above, so it offers more knee room and better overall comfort. Its torque converter automatic is also smoother and better suited to city driving compared to the Venue’s DCT, which can feel slightly jerky in slow traffic.If rear-seat comfort for three passengers is a key requirement, it is worth looking beyond your shortlist at the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It has a wider cabin than the Venue and the Kushaq, which makes it more accommodating for three passengers at the back. It also gets a smooth torque converter automatic paired with a strong turbo-petrol engine.

Ali Suharwardy

I am planning to buy a mid-size SUV mainly for city use within a budget of ₹14–16 lakh in the next 6–7 months. My priorities are long-term ownership (10–15 years), premium interiors, a punchy engine, and good driving performance. I am considering the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq (1.0 TSI), and the Renault Duster (1.3 MT). Which one would you recommend as the best balance of reliability, driving enjoyment, and interior quality? Also, is it worth waiting for the Creta facelift or any upcoming models?

Autocar India

•2d

If it fits in your budget, go for the Kia Seltos, as it meets most of your broad set of requirements. Kias are known to be reliable enough for prolonged usage. The Seltos has a spacious and well-appointed premium interior that looks and feels upmarket. It's also pretty fun to drive, especially if you opt for the 160hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The new-gen Hyundai Creta is coming in 2027 and might be worth waiting for, but you will get most of what it offers in the Seltos available today. However, as you've pointed out, it might be worth moving a segment lower to get more for your money, in which case we'd recommend the Hyundai Venue. It offers much of what the Seltos offers, including reliability, features and high-quality interior - albeit in a smaller form factor at a more affordable price. If reliability trumps all else, consider a Maruti Suzuki compact SUV like the Brezza or the Fronx.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

Suraj Nayak

•2d

My budget is around ₹15 lakh. We already own a 2017 Kwid top model AMT. My current running is around 100km per day. I want a reliable engine along with good mileage so that running costs remain low.

Autocar India

•1d

If you're open to diesel options, you could consider the Hyundai Venue or Kia Sonet. Both share their engine and gearbox options. Opt for the manual version of either for maximum efficiency.An excellent electric option is the Punch EV. If you can arrange for home charging, your running costs will be very low - something you will surely appreciate given your usage.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG can also be considered. Its engine is reliable, and the CNG will keep per km costs in check.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Tata Punch EV

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