I am planning to buy an automatic car under Rs. 15 lakh as I am a first-time buyer. My usage will mostly be city driving, with occasional highway trips, and I expect to drive around 750 km per month on average. My shortlist includes the Skoda Kushaq Classic, Skoda Kylaq Signature, Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5, Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT, and Maruti Brezza ZXi AT.

autocar.india

•2d

Based on your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic would be our first recommendation. It is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, has a strong safety record, a wide cabin that makes it a genuinely comfortable five-seater, and the turbo petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic delivers good performance and a fun-to-drive experience. It also offers a well-equipped interior and Mahindra's service network is strong, keeping maintenance costs reasonable.The Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our second recommendation. It is the most driver-focused car in this price range, with a strong turbo petrol engine and a well-tuned chassis that makes it genuinely enjoyable to drive. The torque converter automatic is smooth and reliable, and the Kylaq offers good safety credentials and a solid build quality. The only drawback is that the rear seat is not as spacious as the 3XO.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is the sensible choice. It is reliable, has low maintenance costs, a comfortable ride and a good safety record. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the torque converter automatic is smooth and easy to live with, making it an excellent city car. It may not be as exciting to drive as the 3XO or Kylaq, but it is a very dependable ownership proposition.The Tata Nexon automatic is also worth considering. It has a strong safety record, a comfortable ride and a feature-rich interior. The turbo petrol engine paired with the DCA automatic offers good performance, but the gearbox can feel a bit hesitant at times in stop-start traffic.Overall, the XUV 3XO automatic strikes the best balance between safety, performance, interior quality and ownership costs. The Kylaq is the enthusiast's choice, while the Brezza is the most sensible long-term option.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

autocar.india

•6h

At 183cm and 140kg, your priority should be a car with a genuinely accommodating driving position, easy ingress and enough seat and cabin width, while keeping running costs reasonable. The Brezza is one of the better options around Rs 15 lakh because of its spacious, boxy cabin and seats that accommodate larger adults well. We found the current Brezza capable of comfortably seating five adults, with good overall space and a comfortable driving position.If you want something more spacious and can stretch slightly, the Honda Elevate is worth a serious test drive. Its front seats are particularly comfortable, ergonomics are excellent, and the elevated driving position gives plenty of room around the driver. Its ride and handling are also very good.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Honda Elevate

autocar.india

•8h

With just around 7,000km a year, mostly in the city, a simple petrol car makes much more sense than a diesel. Since you have already driven the Brezza and found it smooth and easy to drive, it would be my first choice. The new 1.0 litre Booster jet is refined, has good low speed tractability and is more than adequate for your occasional highway trips. We also found it impressively efficient, with the onboard computer showing 11 to 14kpl even during hard driving.One important point, though: the new Brezza 1.0 Turbo is manual only. If you are looking for an automatic, the 1.5 litre petrol is still the only Brezza powertrain with an automatic, and that pushes the price beyond your Rs. 10 lakh budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza