Mumbai

•9w

I am planning to buy a new car within a budget of Rs. 12 lakh. My final choices are the Kia Sonet and the Hyundai Venue. I am a little confused about which one to choose, as I plan to make the purchase within the next 30 days. The car will be used primarily for highway driving, and good fuel efficiency is one of my key requirements. Safety and build quality are also important factors for me. Which one would you recommend?

•9w

Go for the Hyundai Venue. It sits on the newer platform and has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It also has the better back seat among the two, which helps on long trips with family, and the cabin of this Hyundai car feels a touch more airy. For highway-heavy use, you could consider the 1.5 diesel, which is refined and gives good real-world mileage. The Hyundai Venue price is between Rs 8.00 lakh and Rs 15.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The Sonet has the firmer suspension between the two; it isn't as absorbent as the Venue over rough roads, but feels a bit more planted on the highway. Kia Sonet mileage ranges from 18.6kpl to 24.1kpl, depending on the engine and transmission combination.

If you’re fixed on petrol within Rs. 12 lakh, the Venue is a solid pick.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.56 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.24 Lakh

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•1w

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Based on your usage pattern of 50 km daily city driving with only occasional highway trips, the Kia Sonet diesel is not the best fit. Modern diesel engines with DPF systems are not ideally suited to predominantly urban driving, and while the Sonet is a good car, it is not worth the potential hassle given your usage. The Skoda Kushaq Signature Plus AT is a better option if you enjoy driving, but it is a segment up on the others, which means it will exceed your budget. The Kylaq is the direct rival to the others on your list, but its rear seat can feel a bit tight. The Tata Nexon Creative+ PS Camo DCA is a solid all-rounder with good safety credentials, but the DCA gearbox won't feel as smooth as the torque converter on the XUV 3XO.The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L is therefore the recommendation here. It has a premium and spacious cabin, a strong feature set, good safety credentials and a comfortable ride, making it well suited to daily city commuting. The turbo-petrol engine is also punchy and the 6-speed automatic is very smooth. If you are open to alternatives, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is also worth considering for its reliability, fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs and proven ownership experience, but it lacks the performance of the 3XO.

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•6h

Yes, dual-clutch automatic gearboxes are more complex and can be expensive to repair if something goes wrong. That said, the Hyundai Venue Turbo DCT is quite well-sorted. However, do keep in mind that if you drive a lot in stop-start traffic, it might not feel as smooth as a torque converter.The Skoda Kylaq AT uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is far better suited to Indian conditions. It is smoother, and the Kylaq is more engaging to drive, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-balanced chassis. Overall, the Skoda car seems to be the safer and more sensible choice for you.

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•1d

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Since you need a city car that'll be easy to drive, we'd recommend the Hyundai Venue 1.2 petrol for its more responsive engine and lighter controls. Additionally, the Venue's seating position is high, visibility is good, and it feels a bit more modern on the inside compared to the Brezza. Sure, the Brezza's 1.0 turbo-petrol engine is more powerful, which makes overtaking and highway drives much more effortless (compared to the Hyundai 1.2), however, since it is pre-dominantly a city car with easy-of-use taking precendence over performance, it is the Hyundai that gets our vote.

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•1w

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