I am planning to buy an automatic car for my family and am confused between the Kia Sonet and the Skoda Kylaq. Could you please advise which one would be the better choice and explain the pros and cons of each?

Autocar India

•3d

Mixed city runs with very short commutes, a new driver, and a hard Rs. 10 lakh cap point to the Hyundai i20 Sportz manual. It will be easier to live every day. The car is smaller and easier to park, the steering and clutch feel light, and the features you’ve listed reduce stress in traffic and while reversing. Hyundai’s wide service network also helps long-term peace of mind.On occasional highway trips, it feels stable and comfortable for a small family, but its engine won't feel as enthusiastic as the Kylaq’s. With five people and luggage, you will need to plan quick passes. You also won’t get the high seating of an SUV.Pick the Skoda Kylaq Classic+ only if you care more about strong highway pull and that higher, SUV-style view than you do about convenience features. It is more enjoyable on open roads and feels more solid at speed, but the base trim skips some everyday comforts. For your mix and confidence as a new driver, the i20 Sportz fits best.

Hyundai i20

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•3d

The Kia Sonet 1.2-litre petrol is smooth and refined, and the 5-speed manual gearbox is light and easy. Being an SUV, it has a raised seating position and better ground clearance, too. Additionally, interior quality is also better than that of the Baleno.Where the Maruti Suzuki Baleno scores is the fuel efficiency, which will be much better than the Kia's. Also, it has a lower starting price, but the mid and higher variants overlap with those of the Sonet.

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Autocar India

•3h

Go for the diesel engine in the Hyundai Creta or the Alcazar. With 1,300-1,500km a month and two 500km highway trips, the diesel will save you a good amount of money on fuel and feel more relaxed at highway speeds, especially with family and bags. Your regular long runs will also keep the DPF clean, so the time you spend in Noida-Gurgaon traffic should not be an issue.The only catch is Delhi-NCR’s 10-year cap on diesel cars and the odd winter clampdown on diesel models. If you plan to keep the car beyond 8-10 years or want zero risk of restrictions, petrol is the safer bet.Between the two SUVs, pick the Alcazar diesel only if you actually need the third row; otherwise, the Creta diesel is lighter, a bit more efficient, and cheaper to buy. If you must go petrol, the Creta 1.5 petrol suits calm city use and will drink less than the turbo; the turbo petrols are quicker but thirstier in traffic.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Alcazar