I am planning to buy a car primarily for city use. I was considering the Hyundai Venue DCT and the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT, both petrol. However, I have now seen the XUV 3XO EV and am seriously considering it. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•4h

Consider the Hyundai Venue DCT; its size makes it easy to drive in the city, Hyundai has a solid reputation for reliability and service, and efficiency is decent for the segment. It sits higher than the Amaze you tried, so getting in and out is easier, and the seats are comfortable for two adults. The narrow width means seating three abreast in the rear is a bit of a squeeze.Hyundai’s service reach and parts availability are big advantages for family use. Ride comfort is well judged for bad roads, and the cabin feels airy and easy to live with.One catch: the DCT can hesitate at times, but for normal city use, it will be fine. The Skoda Kylaq has a smoother torque-converter automatic, but the back seat isn’t as roomy as the Venue’s.If you want a more spacious cabin, the Kia Syros is an excellent alternative. It has the same turbo-petrol DCT combination as the Venue, but the cabin is significantly roomier. Kia also has an excellent reputation for after-sales service, so that shouldn’t be a concern.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Syros

Autocar India

•5h

Consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 turbo-petrol automatic in Zeta trim. In Hyderabad traffic, it is easy to drive, the steering is light, the automatic keeps stop-and-go stress low, and you get hill-hold and a clear rear camera that makes ramps and tight parking simple. It is a turbo-petrol and returns good mileage for daily use – expect roughly 10-11kpl in the city and 16kpl on the highway. The 308-litre boot takes airport bags and weekly shopping without fuss, and the cabin is well built and comfortable. Ground clearance is higher than that of a hatchback, so speed breakers and broken patches are less of a worry.Your budget should cover the Zeta automatic in Hyderabad, but if it feels like a stretch, the Fronx is also available with a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre engine and an AMT. This combo won’t have the highway performance of the turbo-petrol and the AMT shifts with a slight pause between gears, so it won’t be as seamless as the turbo's torque-converter automatic. However, it will deliver higher mileage, in the region of 13-14kpl in the city and 18kpl-plus on the highway.For a first-time buyer, Maruti’s reliability and stellar service network make the most sense. However, if you want an alternative, the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX3 turbo-petrol automatic is also a good choice. It has a more SUV-like presence, and the cabin feels more premium, but the boot is a bit smaller, and efficiency won’t be as good as the Fronx’s.Overall, the Fronx fits your needs best.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 CVT for mostly city use because it feels smoother in traffic, the 1.5 is very refined, and its economy will be more consistent when you crawl, stop and go. Kia’s service experience is generally quite good, too.In the real world, expect the Seltos CVT to do roughly 10-11 kpl in the city and 14-15 kpl on the highway if you drive gently. As a turbo, the Mahindra XUV 3XO auto can dip into single digits in stop-go traffic, although it can match the Seltos IVT's efficiency on open roads.The Kia Seltos is also the larger car, which will give you a more spacious cabin and boot, and a more premium in-cabin experience. Hence, between the two, the Seltos is the one to get.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO