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ruchir marwaha

•14w

Hi, I own a Wagon R 2015 model and now wish to upgrade to a new car. My priorities are a big boot and a powerful engine, with a monthly drive of around 500 km. The car should be under ₹15 lakh on road - kindly guide me on which car I should go for.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•14w

The car that best suits your budget and requirements is actually the Kia Sonet. It has the biggest boot in this price bracket of compact SUVs, and the wide boot opening and good depth make it best for loading luggage. 

The 1.0 Turbo-petrol engine packs 120hp and is mated to a 7-speed twin-clutch gearbox, which provides good performance and is quite powerful. The HTX variant will easily fit your budget and comes with essential features. But if you can stretch your budget to the GTX variant, which is around Rs 16 lakh, you get useful features like ADAS and a 360-degree camera. 
 

Kia Sonet

Kia Sonet

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Kia Sonet

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Taher Vohra

•5w

Hi everyone, I am buying a car for the first time and am looking for some guidance. After some research and test drives, I have finalised the Kia Sonet HTX DCT, which costs around 714 lakh on-road. The main reason for choosing this variant is that I want a proper automatic driving experience along with premium features, decent space, reasonable mileage, and acceptable safety. I work from home, so my usage will mostly be limited to weekends. I live in a Tier 2 city (Nashik) where I don't face prolonged bumper-to-bumper traffic. The car will mainly be used for city driving on weekends, occasional short trips, and a few long highway drives with family and luggage. In the past, I have driven the Maruti Swift ZXI and Tata Nexon, both manuals, so this will be my first automatic car. My biggest concern at this point is the long-term reliability of the Kia/Hyundai DCT dry-clutch gearbox. I am getting a 6-year warranty (standard + extended), which also covers the gearbox. However, after the warranty period, any major issue with the DCT could be very expensive to fix. Although my running is expected to be low and I don't think I will even cross 50K km in five years, this concern still keeps bothering me. Before finalising the Sonet, I had initially planned to go for a TC, and test drove the XUV 3XO and the Maruti Fronx. While both cars were decent, they didn't tick all the boxes for me, which is why I dropped them. I am also avoiding the Skoda Kylaq mainly because of concerns around after-sales service costs once the warranty period is over. I didn't want to go with an AMT or CVT either, and I am specifically looking within the sub-4m SUV segment. Given my usage pattern, city conditions, and low annual running, do you think opting for the Kia Sonet DCT makes sense in the long run? How concerned should I realistically be about the reliability of the DCT gearbox in my case? Looking forward to your suggestions and experiences.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Given that your usage isn't too heavy, you should go for the Kia Sonet HTX 1.0 TGDi DCT without a worry. A concern could arise when used frequently in bumper-to-bumper stop-and-go traffic, and that too if not driven with care. However, since you drive mostly on the weekend and through flowing traffic, we think it should be fine. The trade-off is quicker shifts when you're on the move, and this pairs well with the Sonet's sprightly 120hp turbo petrol engine. The compact SUV itself is well equipped and has premium interiors, but it does have a choppy ride, and its rear seat isn't particularly spacious. If those are concerns for you, also check out the Hyundai Venue HX6 1.0 TGDi DCT, which costs about the same. It uses the same powertrain, but as it's based on a new-gen platform, it has a more spacious cabin and a more comfortable ride. Additionally, the Skoda Kylaq with its punchy 1.0 TSI engine and smooth 6-speed AT gearbox is a great bet. The after-sales is far less of a concern these days than the brand's old reputation leads most to believe.

VehicleKia Sonet
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
SK

Shiva Kunal

•3d

My budget is around ₹13 lakh on-road. Can you please suggest a car with good mileage and a boot space of around 350 litres or more?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Dzire ZXi+ MT. It stays well within your Rs 13 lakh budget, delivers a 24.79kpl ARAI efficiency, and offers a roomy 382‑litre boot.The Dzire also offers a comfortable and spacious cabin, and it has received a 5-star crash safety rating from Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP. You also get the peace of mind associated with Maruti ownership. The one thing you give up is the high ground clearance and elevated seating position you'd get in a compact SUV.If you want SUV-like clearance and a taller driving position, consider the Kia Sonet 1.2 HTK+(O) petrol instead. It has a claimed ARAI mileage of 18.83kpl, and its 385‑litre boot can fit in more cargo than you'd think.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Dzire
VehicleKia Sonet
VI

Vihari

•6d

Hi, I am upgrading from a Tata Vista Quadrajet. My usage will be mostly within the city, with drives of up to 20 km at a stretch. Occasionally, my family of four goes on 3–4 day trips to nearby hill stations, which involve steep inclines and sharp bends. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos 2026 and possibly the Tata Sierra. Please advise on the best engine variant and transmission that would offer a comfortable and pleasant driving experience. Also, would choosing a diesel automatic be a bad decision, considering I am willing to pay an additional ₹1.5–2 lakh?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•23h

For your usage, which is largely short in-town drives with occasional hill trips carrying family, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol with the IVT automatic is the most suitable choice. It offers a very smooth and easy driving experience, especially in stop-go city conditions, with light controls and seamless power delivery that will feel far more relaxed compared to your current Vista. On hill drives, while it may need to be worked a bit harder on steep inclines, it has enough power and is easy to manage.A diesel automatic is not a bad choice, but in your case, it is not the most ideal fit. With mostly short city runs of around 20km, modern diesel engines can sometimes require longer, sustained drives to maintain optimal health, and you may not fully utilise the diesel’s strengths. The extra cost also becomes harder to justify given your usage pattern.The turbo petrol with DCT is another option, but for your kind of driving, it is not the best fit either. Dual-clutch automatics can feel less smooth at low speeds, in crawling traffic, and in hilly conditions; they require a bit more care.So, overall, the petrol IVT strikes the best balance of smoothness, ease of driving and long-term peace of mind. If you are also considering the Kia Carens Clavis, it could be worth a look for its added practicality. But if you specifically want an automatic petrol, you will have to opt for the turbo petrol with DCT, as the 1.5 naturally aspirated engine is offered only with a manual transmission.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis

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Posted on: 22 Dec 2025