autocar-logo
Delhi
Fallback ad for 970x90

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.

Asked by: Vinod
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.
Hyundai Venue

Hyundai Venue

Answered by
AI
Autocar India team13 Nov' 25
Fallback ad for 728x90

Latest questions

Asked by: Aishwarya

Hi, I’m confused between the Honda Elevate and the Honda City. My basic requirements are safety, comfort and reliability, especially on highways. I have heard that the Elevate has high NVH levels, while the City’s ground clearance and narrow tyres could be problematic. I don’t plan to do any off-roading but want to drive comfortably on ghats and long distances. I am very confused and would appreciate any advice.

Yes, NVH levels in the Honda Elevate are quite high, and thus, if it's only the ghats and long drives that you are considering, the Honda City will do just fine. Moreover, the City will be more fuel efficient than the Elevate, even more so if you get the hybrid version, thus you will save on fuel bills during your long-distance travels. The only downside of the City is that its ground clearance is low, which can be a problem on bad roads. However, if you are not going to go off-roading and the roads in your area are generally in good condition, this should not be a deal-breaker.
AI
Autocar India team
18 Dec' 25
Asked by: Chethan h

I am 5 ft 11 in tall and currently own a 2018 Dominar 400. I plan to upgrade to a Bear 650 for my daily commute of about 60 km each way to an office on the Outer Ring Road. I am attracted to the Bear 650’s performance but am concerned about maintenance costs. Please advise whether the Bear 650 is the best choice, and suggest other 650 cc bikes with lower maintenance.

We would advise you to look at other options than the Royal Enfield Bear 650 because we found the rear suspension to be very stiff in our time with it. This means that on less-than-perfect city roads, your back will bear the brunt of the bumps, which won't be ideal given your long daily commute.Instead, we would recommend you look at the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 because it has much better suspension comfort and will have exciting performance while also fitting in your price range. If your heart is set on a 650cc bike, then the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 is the best bet for city use with its supple suspension, neutral ergonomics and creamy smooth engine. Take a test ride and decide before you buy.
AI
Autocar India team
18 Dec' 25
Asked by: Gopikrishnan P

My parents have used a Zen Estilo for the past 13 years and now want to upgrade. The car is used mostly for city driving with occasional long trips. Their budget is around ₹10 lakh. Which car would be most suitable for them?

The Hyundai Venue is a good option for your parents. It is a spacious and comfortable compact SUV that is easy to drive in the city, and its tall stance will make ingress/egress quite easy.The 1.2-litre petrol engine is smooth and refined, and while it isn't the most powerful, it feels adequate, keeping the Venue's size in mind. Its cabin is well-built, and it is well-equipped too.
AI
Autocar India team
18 Dec' 25
Asked by: Arshad Mohammed

I love bikes and currently ride a 2019 FZ-25 in good condition with 26,000 km on the odometer. I want a more comfortable bike for highway touring with a reliable engine and better headlight visibility at night. Please suggest suitable options.

Since you haven't specified your budget, we'll give you some options from both the same segment as well as one above. In a similar displacement and performance range as the FZ25, the Bajaj Pulsar N250 and TVS Apache RTR 200 4V are good options, and the Pulsar in particular has a great headlight spread. You should also look at the KTM 250 Adventure because it has more performance than your FZ, good highway manners and a bright headlight too. If you are open to stepping up to a 300cc machine, the TVS Apache RTX 300 will be a great option. It has even more performance than the aforementioned KTM. Moreover, its Top and BTO variants come with a very bright LED headlight that also has good spread and throw.We recommend exhaustive test rides and seeing the headlight performance of each of the bikes you shortlist for yourself before going ahead with the purchase.
AI
Autocar India team
18 Dec' 25
Fallback ad for 970x90