•2d

Hi, I want to upgrade from my Nissan Sunny Diesel to an SUV. My budget is around Rs. 16 lakh. My daily running is around 75 km on the highway, which may reduce next year due to my transfer. I want an automatic. I am confused between a diesel and a petrol SUV.

•37m

Pick the Kia Sonet diesel automatic. Your 75 km daily highway run suits diesel, and this one does effortless cruising with strong mid-range pull, so overtakes feel easy. It will also save money on fuel, typically returning around 16-18 kpl on highways. It fits your Rs. 16 lakh budget in the mid trims and will be easier to live with in the city after your transfer because it is compact yet feels like a proper SUV.

One honest catch is the extra upfront cost over petrol and the usual diesel particulate filter upkeep if your usage turns into only short, stop-start city runs. If you usage pattern is dramatically changing next year and you want to keep things simple, consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx turbo petrol automatic. It is smooth, easy in traffic, and its running costs stay reasonable even if your mileage drops, though highway efficiency will be lower than the Sonet diesel.

Given today’s usage and your diesel habit, the Sonet diesel automatic is the right upgrade. If your transfer makes it a mostly-city life, the Fronx petrol automatic is the safer pick.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.92 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.56 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More questions on similar cars

•5d

I'm looking for an automatic car. I've been using a Ford EcoSport diesel manual, but I think it's time to replace it. My driving pattern involves driving 2-3km and stopping the car, and these short trips happen four times a day. I also make occasional trips around Delhi NCR and one or two mountain trips each year, with an annual running of around 10,000-12,000km, split 60% city and 40% highway. I've always preferred diesel cars, but I'm not sure whether the DPF will survive this kind of usage. My priority is a stress-free ownership experience over a few extra kilometres per litre. I like diesel torque, but don't want to deal with DPF or AdBlue injector issues. Please suggest suitable options in both the sub-4m segment under 12 lakh and the 4.3m segment under 16 lakh.

•2d

Skip diesel for your short hops and get a turbo petrol automatic. Your 2-3 km stop-start runs are exactly what clog DPFs. A turbo-petrol will get you the torque you like while avoiding DPF issues.Under Rs 12 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx and Nissan Magnite are good picks. Both turbo-petrols have good low- and mid-range, and smooth automatics (torque converter in the Fronx and CVT in the Magnite). They are light to drive in the city, stable enough on Delhi-NCR runs, and will handle an annual hill trip without fuss.Under Rs 16 lakh, consider the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 and the Honda Elevate. The Kushaq 1.0 with the 6-speed automatic feels torquey, cruises all day, and climbs hills confidently. It’s compact outside but feels tight and secure at speed, which makes highway stints less tiring. One caveat: service reach and costs are higher than the mass brands.If you want an absolute zero-hassle over punch in the bigger bracket, the Honda Elevate automatic is calmer and super easy to live with, just not as eager as the Kushaq.

I want to buy a new automatic car in the price range of the top-end Kia Sonet or the Mahindra XUV 3XO. The car will be driven around 7,000 km per year and will be used as a second vehicle. So, an EV may also be worth considering, as I have a solar plant at home. I like premium interiors and prefer a relatively maintenance-free vehicle. I also want good ground clearance to handle potholes. What would you suggest? Should I stick to sub-4-metre SUVs, or should I also consider larger options?

•6h

Your annual running of just 7,000km, the fact that this will be a second car, and having a solar plant at home make an EV a very compelling proposition. You'll enjoy extremely low running costs, quiet performance and the convenience of charging at home.Our top recommendation would be the MG Windsor EV. It is priced similarly to the top variants of the Sonet and 3XO, but offers a much more spacious cabin and a greater sense of space inside. It also feels more premium than its price suggests and is an excellent family car.The Tata Nexon EV is another excellent option. It offers good ground clearance, strong performance, a proven electric powertrain and a wide service network. If you prefer the more traditional SUV stance and slightly better rough-road ability, it remains a very sensible choice.If you decide to stay with a petrol automatic, we'd lean towards the Mahindra 3XO over the Kia Sonet. The 3XO offers a more spacious cabin, stronger safety credentials and a more comfortable ride, while the Sonet counters with a richer feature list and a more premium-looking interior.

Hi. I am planning to purchase an automatic car under Rs 15 lakh. My driving is split equally between traffic and normal roads. The options I'm considering are: Mahindra XUV 3XO REVX A TC, Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT, Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus TC, and Kia Sonet HTX DCT. Please suggest the best option for me.

•1d

Pick the Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus automatic. Your driving mix of traffic and open roads suits its 6-speed torque converter very well. It creeps smoothly in jams and never overheats, and the 1.0 turbo petrol is punchy for quick passes. It also feels more surefooted at speed than the others here, which makes longer runs less tiring, and it’s among the safest in this lot thanks to its 5-star crash safety rating. It's also the only one here that's not a compact SUV (sub-4 metre).The Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are tempting for the features they offer, but their DCTs aren't as smooth. The XUV 3XO with the torque converter is also a good fit and roomier, but the Kushaq still feels nicer to drive overall.Be aware that the Skoda’s cabin and feature list in Classic Plus isn't on par with the Koreans, and Skoda’s service reach is smaller. If you value a calm, durable auto for daily congestion and a confident feel on weekend runs, the Kushaq Classic Plus AT is the one to buy under Rs. 15 lakh.

Skoda Kushaq

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

View all Posts

Cars you may like

Nissan Magnite

₹5.65 - ₹10.96 Lakhs

Nissan Tekton

₹11.00 - ₹19.00 Lakhs

View all

Popular discussions right now

•1w

Hi, I have a budget of Rs. 40 lakh and am confused between the Skoda Kodiaq Lounge, the Toyota Innova Hycross ZX(O), and the Toyota Fortuner Petrol. I am 28 years old and want a car that is fun to drive but also comfortable for my family. My driving will be split 80:20 between on-road and off-road use.

•2d

Pick the Innova HyCross ZX(O). For a hard Rs. 40 lakh cap it fits cleanly, it is the most comfortable and spacious for family, and it is far easier to live with daily. The smooth hybrid makes city drives effortless and quiet, and on broken roads, it just takes the abuse without rattling everyone. Your 20 percent off-road sounds like rough trails rather than rock crawling, and the HyCross will handle that sort of bad-road stuff better than you expect. But, the Innova isn't particularly fun to drive.If you really crave driver fun, the Kodiaq is the one that puts a smile on your face. The 2-litre turbo petrol and AWD make it genuinely enjoyable on highways and hills and the cabin feels richer. Two catches, though. It likely stretches past Rs. 40 lakh on-road in most cities, and its third row is tighter, and you have to be a bit careful off the beaten path.The Fortuner petrol is the most capable off-road, but for 80 per cent on-road use, it feels heavy and bouncy, the steering is not friendly in town, and it guzzles fuel.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Toyota Fortuner

Skoda Kodiaq

•2d

I am planning to buy an SUV and prefer the German twins Škoda and Volkswagen. Which one is better? Also, how significant is the DSG issue in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the NCR region? This will be my fourth car, so I want to try a German brand.

•19h

Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

•1w

I was planning to buy a Maruti Ignis, but it’s been discontinued. I prefer small cars for city driving and office commutes, but I also need something highway-capable for an occasional 900 km trip to my hometown. It will mostly carry three of us (my spouse, child, and me), but needs to fit five people when my parents join. With a 12-lakh budget, what are the best compact cars that balance city manoeuvrability, highway stability, and occasional 5-seater comfort?

•6d

Pick the Maruti Fronx turbo within your Rs. 12 lakh budget, because it stays easy to park in the city yet feels secure on a 900 km run with enough room for five. The 1.0 turbo has decent mid-range for quick overtakes, and the suspension is absorbent and yet keeps the car steady at highway speeds. If you are opting for the automatic, then the Fronx torque converter auto is a very smooth unit and will make life much easier in the city.If you want an even smaller, lighter car with lower running costs, go for the Maruti Swift. It is smooth in the city, easy on fuel, has a usable boot for three, and will cruise comfortably at 100. It can take five in a pinch, but it will feel tight on shoulder room and lack the highway punch of the turbo Fronx.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Swift

View all Posts

Curated collections

SUVs under ₹20L

74 CARS