Planning to buy a new car. Budget is Rs 10 lakh. Baleno or Kia?

Autocar India

•20h

With 50 km a day, a mix of city and highway driving, plus weekend trips, petrol is the safer pick for you. It avoids DPF worries. Modern diesels work fine if you do steady highway runs for 15-20 minutes a few times a week, but if your driving is often slow and short, the filter can clog, and you will see warnings.Between your two choices, pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 petrol. It fits your budget and usage better because its turbo-petrol engine feels stronger on highways, so overtaking is easy even with passengers and bags. It also rides well over rough patches and feels steady at speed, which suits your weekend runs. In the city, it is easy to drive and not hard to park. If you are opting for the automatic, the torque-converter gearbox in the 3XO shifts smoothly and makes city driving stress-free.Know the trade-offs. The 3XO’s boot is not the biggest, so fitting two large suitcases plus extra bags may be tight.If you mostly drive in the city and carry a lot of luggage, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus petrol is the better alternative. Overall, for your mix, the 3XO AX5 petrol lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•22h

Low running, long-term keep, and you care about mileage and a steady feel at speed - in that brief, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus 1.2 manual fits you better. With the same 1.2 petrol engine, mileage will be much the same as the Venue's in daily use, but the Sonet feels a touch more stable on the highway. Its steering has a bit more weight, and the suspension feels firmer, so it holds a straight line well and gives you more confidence on flyovers and open roads. Cabin quality also feels a notch nicer, which matters when you plan to keep it for many years.Know the trade-offs. This 1.2 engine is fine in the city, but with four or five people and luggage, it will feel slow to overtake so you will plan your moves. The Sonet’s ride is a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps are felt more than in the Hyundai Venue. If you often travel with rear passengers, then the Sonet's back seat can feel cramped compared to the Venue, but it makes up for it with a larger boot. If most of your use is inside the city and you want a softer, easier drive, the Hyundai Venue 1.2 in a similar mid variant will suit you. Overall, for your needs, pick the Sonet HTK Plus.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•13h

Get the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT - it is a comfortable and easy SUV to live with for your daily Chennai runs. The smooth automatic suits light traffic, the ride takes bad patches and speed breakers well, and the AC is strong, which matters in our weather. It is also properly spacious for five, with a relaxed back seat and easy ingress, so the upgrade from your beat will feel big without feeling bulky to drive.City mileage will sit around 11kpl, and the light steering makes parking and tight streets simple. Mid trims with the automatic should land around your Rs. 20 lakh mark in Chennai, and Hyundai’s wide service network helps for hassle-free ownership.One honest trade-off: the 1.5 NA is not exciting to drive on the highway, and the petrol auto is tuned more for smoothness than speed. If you want a bit more performance from a NA engine, look at the Honda Elevate CVT.

Kia Sonet

Honda Elevate