I am confused about whether to buy a new sedan or a sub-4 metre compact SUV in petrol with a budget of around Rs 10 lakh. I am not a frequent traveler and the car will mostly remain parked, with a monthly running of about 100-200 km, except for occasional outstation trips. However, I still need a car for family use as we are a family of four. Which type of car would be the better choice?

Autocar India

•1m

We would recommend you look at the Maruti Suzuki Dzire as the car is very reliable and spacious enough for a family of four. Also, assuming no one in your family is really very tall, as rear headroom will be tight for taller people, those around 5 feet 10 inches and above.

Boot space would also be adequate for your few trips outside of the city. Just slightly above your budget is the fully loaded ZXi + variant. Though we would recommend you opt for the one below - the ZXi. This variant will give you all of the essential features like automatic AC, touchscreen with wireless phone connectivity and all of the safety features too, while coming in below your budget.

You would also miss the sunroof, which frankly has limited utility, and in the Dzire is a very small unit and only lowers the headroom.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Dzire

from ₹7.13 Lakh

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Dhaval P Parmar

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We are a family of three planning to buy our first car with a budget of under Rs 10 lakh. Our priorities are safety, interior space and good after sales service in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Which car would you recommend?

Autocar India

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We would recommend the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. The car is very spacious and will be more than enough for your family of three. Moreover, it will meet your other two requirements for safety and good after-sales service. Maruti has upped their safety game, and the new Dzire comes well equipped on the safety front and also scored a 5-star rating in both the BNCAP and GNCAP tests. And of course, being a Maruti car, you would have a wide dealer spread and a good service experience.

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Shrihari

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I'm looking for a Diesel automatic car with 40% city and 60% Highway driving, with around 1500kms per month with a budget between 12 to 15 lakhs. Please suggest a good vehicle. Used or new vehicle is considered.

Autocar India

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There are quite a few diesel options within your budget, especially from the compact SUV segment. The list of contenders includes the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Tata Nexon. Which one suits you best depends on your key requirements. The Hyundai Venue is a great all-rounder offering good refinement, new-age features, reasonable rear seat space and a large boot. The Kia Sonet has many of the same strengths but loses out on rear seat space. If cabin space is a key requirement, the Kia Syros is the ideal pick. It's the roomiest compact SUV and cabin quality is also very good. However, the design is not to everyone's liking. The Mahindra XUV 3X0 has a good engine, feels tough and offers enough space for three to sit in comfort at the back. Boot space isn't as generous as the others, though. Tata's Nexon diesel feels peppy and the suspension is well suited to our bad roads but the package isn't as refined or polished as alternatives. If it's an automatic transmission you're keen on, the Hyundai and Kia are the one's to consider. Their torque converter automatic transmissions work superbly with the 1.5-litre diesel engines to deliver a truly upmarket experience. The Sonet diesel-AT in HTX trim is great value. You could also get diesel versions of the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra or Kia Seltos for the same money. While these options are more spacious, you will have to settle for a low-spec trim without many features.

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Venkatesh Naidu

•3d

With a budget of 25L, I'm looking for a 5-seater car. It should be fun to drive and provide a comfortable ride. Safety, reliability and after sales service should be too-notch. I'll be driving this 60% in city and 40% on highways. It should also have a good interior and features including ventilated seats, wireless carplay/android auto, panaromic sunroof, 360 degree camera.

Autocar India

•22h

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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