Delhi

Every helpful action can earn a badge.

•21w

Hi Autocar team, I’m planning to buy a compact SUV, but I am a little confused between the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Diesel and the Hyundai Venue HK5 Petrol. My budget is strictly ₹10 lakh. I need a car that offers good mileage and is fun to drive. Please suggest which one would be the better choice.

•21w

If your priorities are better mileage and a fun-to-drive experience, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 diesel, provided your running is healthy enough to justify a diesel. Its 1.5 diesel has strong low-end punch, an effortless mid-range, and feels more muscular than the Venue’s 1.0 turbo petrol, especially on highways and overtakes. Fuel efficiency of the Mahindra car will also be clearly better.

That said, the Hyundai Venue HX5 1.0 turbo petrol is the more polished and easier car to live with. The turbo petrol is genuinely peppy, refinement is better, and Hyundai’s ownership experience tends to feel more consistent. If your running is not particularly high and you mostly do shorter city trips, the Venue is actually the smarter long-term choice.

So if mileage is your absolute top priority and your usage suits diesel, pick the XUV 3XO. If you want a more fuss-free and still fun turbo petrol package, the Venue is the better fit. The Hyundai Venue price starts at Rs 8.00 lakh and goes up to Rs 15.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.69 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹8.92 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•3d

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

Hi, I’m confused about buying a car. My budget is below Rs. 11 lakh on-road. I’m looking for an automatic car, primarily for city driving in Chennai and its suburbs, with occasional highway trips. Reliability, safety, and fuel economy are also priorities.

•1d

At your budget, the automatics available are mostly the AMTs (automated manual transmission), which are cost-effective and efficient but a bit jerky during the shifts. This can be a bother in traffic, and given that most of your driving is in the city, we would recommend that you avoid these. A good option would be the Honda Amaze; it comes with a CVT transmission, which is smoother than AMTs, and the car meets your other criteria of reliability, safety and mileage very well. You could consider the XUV 3XO too, which has a torque converter gearbox and is the smoothest type of autobox around. It's also a very safe car; however, the mileage would not be very high.

Honda Amaze

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•1d

XUV 3XO is reportedly getting a CNG option. Do you think this could be a good choice for someone looking for an SUV with lower running costs?

View all Posts

Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

Expert reviews worth reading

Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•6d

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•6d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Verna

•1w

I test-drove both the Kia Seltos GTX(A) IVT and the Hyundai Creta N10 Turbo DCT. For some reason, the Creta felt more balanced over rough roads and was also quieter. I initially wanted to purchase the HTX(A) Turbo DCT, but it wasn't available for a test drive. Now, I'm confused about two things: Seltos vs Creta and manual vs DCT. Around 60-70% of my driving will be in the city, but I still want a punchy engine. Having driven manual cars for years, I've always enjoyed them and am comfortable with them. However, considering the advancements in automatic transmissions in 2026 and the fact that I plan to keep the car for 7-8 years, a DCT seems like a convenient option. I'm now unsure which combination would be the right choice for my needs. What would you recommend?

•1w

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX(A) Turbo DCT as it strikes the best balance for your needs. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and enjoyable, while the DCT makes city driving far less tiring than a manual. You enjoy manuals, but with 60-70% city usage and a 7-8 year ownership horizon, the convenience of an automatic becomes hard to ignore. The Seltos also feels slightly more premium inside than the Hyundai Creta, and the HTX(A) is a well-equipped variant without pushing the budget too far. The Creta is also the older model, and the next-gen version is right around the corner. The difference in terms of stability and ride comfort between both is marginal, and the Seltos counters that with a more premium cabin and a slightly wider rear seat. The IVT is smooth but lacks the punch you are looking for, while the DCT delivers the performance you want without the fatigue of a manual. Overall, the Seltos HTX(A) Turbo DCT is the most complete package for your usage pattern and long-term ownership plans.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

•5d

I currently drive a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, which is very comfortable. Its mileage is around 7-8 kpl, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,200 km. Please advise on a good vehicle with decent mileage and comfort. I look forward to your advice.

•5d

With 1,000-1,200 km a month and a 7-8 km/l Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, the priority should be better fuel efficiency without sacrificing comfort. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible upgrade. It delivers significantly better real-world fuel economy, especially in city driving, while still offering a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The hybrid system is proven and reliable, and the ownership experience is straightforward.If you want a more premium feel and are willing to accept slightly lower fuel efficiency, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is a strong alternative. It offers a more upmarket cabin and a comfortable ride, but it will not match the Victoris Hybrid on fuel savings.The Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is also worth considering if you want to stay within the Hyundai family. It offers a familiar ownership experience and a comfortable ride, but again, it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid.Overall, the Victoris Hybrid strikes the best balance between fuel efficiency, comfort and long-term ownership costs for your usage pattern.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

View all Posts

Upcoming launch buzz

Community discussions on upcoming launches