I’m planning to buy my first car and have chosen the Kia Syros automatic. Is it worth buying if my commute is only within the city?

Autocar India

•21h

City and highway use with low running costs within a Rs 15 lakh cap points us to the Hyundai Venue diesel HX5 automatic. Coming from your 2016 Brezza diesel, you will like the strong pull from low speeds, and the automatic will make life a lot easier in traffic. The steering is light, the seat is high, and the view out is clear, which helps on busy roads. Hyundai’s service reach is on par with what you are used to with Maruti, so ownership should be simple.One thing to keep in mind is that the back seat is fine for two adults, but fitting three across is tight. If you need more space, consider the Kia Syros diesel HTK+, which is easily the roomiest among the compact SUVs.Overall, for your mix of city and highway use and a focus on fuel efficiency, the Venue diesel fits your brief best. Also, with new diesels, try to do a good highway run every few weeks to help keep the exhaust filter clear.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Syros

Autocar India

•2d

Opt for the Kia Syros petrol manual. It is the best fit for your needs. Your requirement is clear. Family of five, low usage and a preference for an SUV. In this case, space and comfort matter more than anything else, and the Syros stands out here. It is one of the most spacious cars in this segment, especially at the rear. The wide rear seat means three people can sit in good comfort, which is important for your family's use.It also has the advantage of a turbo petrol engine. Compared to the Kia Sonet HTK(O), which gets a naturally aspirated engine, the Syros feels more responsive and will not feel short on power, especially when the car is fully loaded with five people. The Sonet’s rear seat is also not as spacious, so it ends up being a compromise for rear passengers.The Tata Punch is a different kind of option. It is a smaller segment and does not feel as premium as the other two. While it offers good value and more features for the price, it cannot match the space, comfort, and overall feel of the Syros or Sonet.

Kia Syros

Kia Sonet

Tata Punch

Autocar India

•15h

Yes, priced at Rs 39.99 lakh, ex-showroom India, the Skoda Kodiaq Lounge represents great value for money. It's a full Rs 4 lakh cheaper than the Kodiaq Sportline and Rs 6.5 lakh cheaper than the L&K variant, and you don't miss out on that much. The main difference, of course, is the lack of a third row, though these seats were quite small to begin with. It misses some features too, but none of them is essential. For instance, the boot is still powered but loses its hands-free-opening function, the touchscreen is slightly smaller, the front passenger seat is not powered, there's just a rear-view camera instead of a 360deg camera, and the 13-speaker Canton audio system is replaced by a simpler one with 9 speakers. What remains unchanged is the powertrain - a 204hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with AWD and a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Also unchanged is the well-sorted chassis, high interior quality and solid build, which is really what you're getting a Kodiaq for in the first place.

Skoda Kodiaq