Mumbai

RUDRADEEP SAHA

•1d

I am planning to buy a car, most probably a Baleno or Dzire, within my Rs. 9 lakh budget by September. However, since the government has introduced new mandates regarding petrol with up to E30 blends and is pushing for its rollout, I am wondering whether it is safe to buy a car now or if I should wait. I need it for my parents, as they are elderly, and it would help them travel more comfortably. The car's annual running is expected to be relatively low, around 4,000-6,000 km per year.

Autocar India

•1h

The important thing to understand is that while the government has notified standards for fuels up to E30, it has not mandated an immediate switch to E30 fuel. In fact, the government has asked ARAI to conduct long-term testing on how E25 affects existing E10 and E20 vehicles before taking any further decisions. The study is expected to assess durability, mileage, engine health and long-term reliability over tens of thousands of kilometers.

There is also a strong possibility that consumers will be offered a choice of fuel blends at petrol pumps rather than a sudden replacement of E20 with E30. Discussions are already underway around offering multiple ethanol blend options based on vehicle compatibility. Even if higher ethanol blends eventually arrive later in the decade, manufacturers, fuel companies and regulators will have to provide a transition path because millions of E20-compatible vehicles will still be on the road.

Between the two cars, we would actually lean towards the Baleno AMT. The Baleno's 4-cylinder petrol engine is noticeably smoother and more refined than the Dzire's 3-cylinder unit, which makes a difference in everyday driving. It also has one of the better calibrated AMT gearboxes in the segment, feeling smoother and more predictable than many rivals. For elderly parents, the Baleno's wide-opening doors, comfortable ride and easy drivability are all strong positives.

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More questions on similar cars

Venkatesh K

•2d

Can you please suggest which car is best, Toyota Glanza/Taisor or Maruti Baleno/fronx? I am a first-time buyer. My budget is 10L+. I am preferring Automatic drive. Please suggest from the above list, or mention the cars not in the list, also welcome.

Autocar India

•2d

For a first-time buyer looking for an automatic in your budget, we would actually pick the Maruti Fronx AMT from your shortlist. It gives you the raised seating position and SUV-like feel that many first-time buyers appreciate, while still being easy to drive, fuel-efficient and inexpensive to maintain. It also feels a bit more special than the Baleno and Glanza.The Baleno AMT and Toyota Glanza AMT are mechanically identical, and if rear seat comfort, ride quality and value for money are your priorities, they remain excellent choices. Between the two, we would lean towards the Glanza because Toyota's warranty packages and ownership experience can be an advantage.The Toyota Taisor is essentially a Fronx underneath, so the choice between the two often comes down to styling preference, dealership experience and the offers available in your city.One car not on your list that is definitely worth considering is the Honda Amaze CVT. The CVT gearbox is smoother than the AMTs in the Maruti and Toyota models. The car is comfortable, reliable and easy to own long term. If you do not specifically need the SUV stance, it is arguably the most refined automatic you can buy around this budget.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Toyota Glanza

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Honda Amaze

Kumar

•1d

I'm planning to purchase a car, but I'm confused between the Kylaq AT, Venue DCT, and i20 N Line DCT. My primary usage will be mostly city driving.

Autocar India

•5h

Pick the Hyundai Venue DCT. For mostly city use, it is simply the easiest to live with: compact dimensions for easy parking, a high seating position for better view in traffic, and enough ground clearance to glide over bad patches and tall speed breakers without worrying. Its turbo engine with the automatic feels quick enough to exploit gaps in traffic, and the steering is light, so long commutes will be less tiring. Do note, though, the Venue DCT's can feel a touch hesitant at low speeds, and the city mileage is just okay, as is the case with the others, because it's a small capacity turbo engine.The Hyundai i20 N Line DCT is more fun to drive, but its firmer suspension and lower stance make it less friendly on rough roads and speed bumps, and you're sitting lower, so you won't get as good a view out.The Skoda Kylaq AT has the smoothest gearbox for bumper-to-bumper and feels more at home on the highway, but it isn't as premium or spacious on the inside as the Venue.

Saransh Parnami

I am confused between the Nexon, XUV 3XO, and Venue as my first car. My running is expected to be 1,000-1,200 km per month. My priorities are: 1) Performance, 2) Mileage and ownership cost, 3) Features, and 4) Rear-seat and boot space. Please advise and suggest the best-value variant as well. I am inclined towards a manual.

Autocar India

•8h

Our first recommendation would be the new Venue Turbo Petrol Manual. It strikes the best balance for your priorities. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and enjoyable to drive, fuel efficiency is respectable, and Hyundai's ownership experience is generally hassle-free. The latest Hyundai Venue is also more spacious than before, particularly in the rear seat, and feels like a very well-rounded first car. For value, we would look at the SX Turbo Manual, which gets a good mix of features without stretching the budget too much.Our second choice would be the Mahindra XUV 3XO. If outright performance and rear seat space are your priorities, it is arguably the strongest car here. The turbo petrol engine is lively, the rear bench is among the widest in the segment, and it feels more substantial than the Venue. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not as strong, and the boot is one of the smallest in the class. The MX2 Pro or AX5 Manual would be the variants to consider, depending on your budget.The Tata Nexon would be our third choice. It remains a good all-round package with decent space, a strong feature list and good road presence. However, compared to the newer Venue and 3XO, it does not feel quite as polished, and neither the driving experience nor the ownership proposition is as compelling.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

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Popular discussions right now

Balaji

•5d

I am looking to buy a 6/7-seater EV. My primary usage will be as a 4-seater, with occasional 6-seater use. I will mainly drive it in the city for my daily office commute and undertake long-distance trips of around 500 km once every two months. I have a solar setup at home and can charge the vehicle comfortably. My budget is Rs 30-40 lakh, although I can stretch it slightly if required.

Autocar India

•4d

You should go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. It's a proper three-row EV, and it fits your use case perfectly. With home solar charging, your running costs are very low, and the smooth, quiet drive is just right for city runs as a 4-seater. When you do need six or seven seats, the third row is reasonably spacious, and for your 500 km trip every couple of months, you’ll need just one quick top-up at a highway charger.Do note that with all three rows up, boot space is tight, so your highway trips will require some planning.Alternatively, consider the Kia Carens Clavis EV. It isn't as feature-rich and doesn't have as much range as the XEV 9S, but its third row is more comfortable for adults.

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Anshuman Mishra

•5d

I am planning to buy an automatic car for my family and am confused between the Kia Sonet and the Skoda Kylaq. Could you please advise which one would be the better choice and explain the pros and cons of each?

Autocar India

•5d

Skoda Kylaq is the better family automatic, mainly because it gives you a bit more cabin and boot space and a calmer ride over bad roads. It feels more secure at highway speeds with a full load, and its turbo engine with the automatic pulls cleanly, so hills and quick overtakes are easy even with the AC on. The petrol Kylaq automatic uses a torque convertor gearbox which is also smoother than the dual clutch unit on the Sonet so it would fare better in city traffic. Kia Sonet makes sense if you want more features and need Kia’s service reach which is wider. For weekend trips with four on board it will do the job too, but rear seat width and long-journey comfort are not its strong points and within a year it will get a major update, thus buying it now would not be ideal.

Skoda Kylaq

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Sandeep

•4d

I want to buy a car under Rs 12 lakh. It should be a petrol automatic and will be my first car. I need good ground clearance, a good engine and gearbox combination for 70% city and 30% highway use, and my daily running is around 30 km in Bengaluru traffic. Comfort, space, decent fuel efficiency, ease of driving, and long-term ownership are important to me. I do not want a Fronx, Baleno, i20, Exter, Punch, or Nexon. Please suggest a value-for-money option. Thank you.

Autocar India

•3d

Given your exclusions, the Skoda Kylaq automatic would be our first recommendation. Specifically, the Signature automatic is if you can stretch slightly. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol and torque converter automatic are a very good combination for Bangalore traffic. The gearbox is smooth, the engine has enough punch for highway overtakes, and the car feels more premium and substantial than most options in this price range. Ground clearance is good, it is easy to drive, and it has the solid feel that many first-time buyers appreciate.Another strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic. It has a wider rear seat, feels bigger inside and is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment. The torque converter automatic is smooth, and it is comfortable for city use. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not that great, and the boot is on the smaller side.If you are willing to consider a sedan, the Honda Amaze CVT is also worth a look. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in traffic, reliability is excellent, and it is the kind of car you can comfortably keep for a decade. The only reason it is not our primary recommendation is that you specifically mentioned wanting good ground clearance.

Skoda Kylaq

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