Autocar India
KR

Kushal Raj

•18w

Hi, I am a huge fan of your page and you are doing very commendable job here, a big applause to you team..My question is I am a driving enthusiastic guy who love driving and I am currently using Maruti Suzuki S Cross Diesel Manual. Now I have shortlisted XUV 3XO Diesel Manual, Kia Seltos Diesel Manual and Duster 1.3 L mild hybrid manual Transmission.. I am not a tech lover but my car should have Power adjusted seats, Ventilated seats, Good mileage, great breaking, Good engine, Comfort and smooth ride whether in city or Highway for long trips, Safety and good driving controls (not interested in Sunroof). My budget is 15-16 lacs.My city driving is less and I am occasionally a long trip guy (mostly weekends) twice in a month. City commute will be around 500 km in a month. Also I am interested to keep the car in long run (7-8 years). Please suggest if Other than these Should I consider Hyundai Creta? I am planning to buy in this coming March.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•18w

Thank you for your kind words, and glad you enjoy our work! Given your budget and your requirements, the best option from your shortlist is the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It is the best to drive and offers a choice of punch turbo petrol and diesel engines. Besides this, it has very comfortable suspension too, which should serve you well on long highway journeys. 

While the petrol version is not the most fuel efficient, since you're looking at the diesel manual, so you should be fine on mileage. The only downside really is that it has a relatively small boot, and it's missing two of the features you are looking for - powered and ventilated front seats - but our advice is to still stick with it, as the rest of the benefits are too good to pass up, for your kind of usage. 

As for your other choices, with the Kia Seltos, at your budget, you won't get those features either, and in fact, the specification will be quite basic. The Renault Duster could be a good choice, but until its launch in March, it remains an unknown quantity. We will only know at a later stage how it is to drive, how comfortable it is, and what its price will be.

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Mahindra XUV 3XO

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AN

Anjum

•15h

Which is the best option to buy a budget-friendly car? Which has adaptive cruise control and ESP? Please Suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4h

Get the Honda Amaze and opt for the top spec ZX variant, which is the most affordable ADAS-equipped car in India.The ADAS suite is a camera-based system that includes lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and blind-spot monitor, among others. Adaptive cruise control works well in stop-go conditions, and besides the ADAS, the Amaze is also a calm, easy drive in traffic, will give you good mileage, and you will benefit from Honda’s fuss-free ownership.If you want an SUV instead, consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO, which also offers an ADAS suite; bear in mind that fuel efficiency will not be as good as the Amaze. One thing to know: adaptive cruise is most useful on open highways. In messy city traffic, it will brake often, and you may switch it off.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
KA

Karthik

•2d

Hello, I am looking to buy a diesel SUV in a strict budget of 16 lakhs and have currently down-selected the XUV 3XO and the Hyundai Venue. Actually, I am living in town, so I will drive it in town, or I will get it onto the highway a few times a month. I am confused about purchasing a car between these 2 which car do I need to purchase?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

While both the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Hyundai Venue are competent compact SUVs, the Mahindra offers a more complete package for your budget. The diesel engine is strong and refined, making it well-suited to both town driving and highway trips. It also feels more spacious inside, especially in the rear seat, and offers a richer feature set for the money.The Venue's strengths lie in its proven ownership experience, widespread service network and easy-to-drive nature. However, it feels narrower inside and does not offer the same level of cabin space or overall value as the XUV 3XO.Since you will be using the car both in town and on highways a few times a month, the XUV 3XO's more powerful diesel engine, roomier cabin and better overall value give it an edge.However, if you are specifically considering an automatic diesel, the recommendation shifts towards the Hyundai Venue. The Venue uses a torque-converter automatic gearbox, which is smoother and more refined in everyday driving than the automated manual transmission (AMT) offered on the XUV 3XO diesel. For frequent stop-start driving, the Hyundai's gearbox delivers a noticeably better experience.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHyundai Venue
SS

Shyam S

•5d

I am planning to buy a car primarily for city use. I was considering the Hyundai Venue DCT and the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT, both petrol. However, I have now seen the XUV 3XO EV and am seriously considering it. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV for city use, as long as you have a fixed parking spot where you can install a home charger. In traffic, it is smoother and quieter than the petrol alternatives, costs far less per kilometre to run, and the range is easily enough for daily commutes with the AC on. One-pedal driving also makes stop-and-go traffic less tiring.The catch is charging. If you can’t install a home charger, then public charging will cost a lot more, and the savings will take much longer to add up. Also, if you often do long highway trips, an EV requires more planning, with stops revolving around charging stations. For pure city use, though, an electric car is much smoother and less tiring to drive than a petrol automatic.If charging feels like a hassle, then go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT over the Hyundai Venue DCT. The Mahindra’s automatic feels calmer at low speeds, and the car rides rough patches better, which matters in our cities. The Venue DCT is still nice to drive and compact to park, but in heavy traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant.So, if home charging is sorted and your usage is mostly in the city, pick the XUV 3XO EV. If not, pick the XUV 3XO AT.

VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO EV
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleHyundai Venue

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JD

Jayvir Deol

•6d

I want to buy an SUV, and my budget is around 20 lakh. I have seen the MG Hector, the Mahindra XUV and the Tharr Rox. Which car should I buy, and given the current scenarios on the govt policies, should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
VehicleMG Hector
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Abhishek Das

•1w

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
AS

AS

•2d

I am confused between buying Skoda Kylaq and Kia Seltos. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kylaq

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Posted on: 5 Feb 2026