Which car should I go for Hyundai Venue HX10 DCT Petrol Automatic, the new facelift Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet GTX+ Petrol Automatic, or Tata Nexon Fearless+ PS DCA Petrol? My driving will be around 80% city and 20% highway. Please advise.

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Hyundai Venue. For a 17 km city run, it gives you the upright SUV feel and visibility you want, yet stays small and easy to park, and it rides over speed breakers and broken roads far better than your Alto. It also feels like a solid upgrade inside and has a strong safety rating, while running costs stay reasonable.Be clear on one thing, though: its 1.2-litre engine is fine in town but not very quick on highways. If you often do fast trips with family, the turbo petrol will be a better choice. If that exceeds your budget, then the Fronx turbo manual is a good alternative. Renault Kiger is a good value, and the turbo is fun, though the cabin feels a bit budget and the brand’s network is thinner. The Wagon R remains the cheapest and simplest step up, but it won't feel like a significant enough step up from your Alto. The Tata Punch is a segment down from your other choices and won't feel as roomy on the inside.Overall, the Venue is a good fit for your needs.

Hyundai Venue

Renault Kiger

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Autocar India

•23h

With 60% city and 40% rougher rural runs, a petrol manual under Rs 10 lakh that covers space, comfort, AC and running costs best is the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2 manual in a mid variant. It rides higher than a regular small car, so bad roads and speed breakers are easy. The back seat is wide enough for three for most trips, the AC is strong, the boot is decent for a family of four, and you get Maruti’s big service network and easy mileage. It is light and easy to drive in traffic, yet steady at highway speeds.The trade-offs: the engine is smooth but not very exciting when fully loaded, and the audio system in lower trims is just okay.If you can stretch by Rs 1-2 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza manual fits your brief even better with a roomier back seat, tougher ride for rural roads, and strong AC.In the used market, you should be able to find a 5-6 year old Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol manual combo from a trusted source like Spinny. Overall, the Fronx meets your needs without big compromises; the Brezza is the nicer step-up if you stretch.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•1d

Mostly city use in Hyderabad and a few long trips - in that brief, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic fits you best among your picks. It pulls strongly when you need to pass, so you won’t face the same dull pick-up you felt in the Brezza, and it stays steady at highway speeds. The AC cools the cabin quickly, and the rear seat is shaped well for a child seat with one adult beside it.A few watch-outs: the boot is not very big, so check whether your stroller fits. It also lacks ventilated seats, which is something you might want. Alternatively, consider the Kia Syros if you want a roomier cabin and a bigger boot.If a Honda Elevate fits your budget, it would be a better choice than the sub-4 metre SUVs, but you might have to opt for a lower trim and miss out on some features. Overall, the Mahindra is a good fit for your needs.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Kia Syros

Honda Elevate