Delhi

Kushal

•3w

Hey Autocar Team, I am looking to upgrade from an Elite i20 2016 variant - confused between going for the top variant of sub 4m or upgrading to the larger SUV, considering the Hyundai Venue HX10, the Kia Sonet GTX Plus or upgrading to the new Kia Seltos HTX variant - the cost difference is ~4 lakhs, primarily city driving in Mumbai and monthly long trips along with family.

Autocar India

•3w

It’s a confusion many people face, and understandably so. If you go purely by the brochure and think with your head rather than your heart, compact SUVs do offer strong value for money, but there are a few key differences to keep in mind.

Since you haven’t specified the engine option, let’s assume you are looking at petrol variants. In that case, there is a noticeable difference in the driving experience. Compact SUVs like the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Venue use a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DCT. While this setup offers good punch, it doesn’t feel as smooth, refined or effortless as the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated or 1.5-turbo petrol engines offered in the Kia Seltos.

If you are considering a diesel, the experience is largely similar across these cars, as they all use the same 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine, paired with either a manual or a 6-speed automatic.

There are other areas where the Seltos feels like a clear step up in terms of space, comfort and interior quality. If a larger, more refined petrol engine, better cabin space and superior comfort matter to you, it makes sense to spend the extra money on the Seltos.

However, if you prefer to save that money and go with a compact SUV, then between the Sonet and the Venue, we would suggest the Hyundai Venue, as it is the newer car, offers better rear seat space, and packs in more features.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.79 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sidhant Singh Chandel

•2d

I am currently driving a Maruti Suzuki WagonR (2017), and I now feel the need to upgrade as my monthly running is around 1,500-2,000 km. What car should I buy within a budget of ₹14 lakh?

Autocar India

•1d

Since your monthly running is on the higher side, a diesel SUV would make sense. The newly updated Hyundai Venue in HX 5 trim would fit in your budget and is a big upgrade from the WagonR. The engine is refined, frugal and tried and tested, and should you get the manual gearbox, it has a light clutch that makes it easy in traffic. The HX 5 also gets a good level of kit, like a sunroof, cruise control, touchscreen, reversing sensors, TPMS, etc. The ride quality is good too, and it has a decent-sized boot for outstation trips. Hyundai's after-sales network is also one of the best, and it would be a hassle-free ownership experience.

Hyundai Venue

JAYAPRAKASH

•5d

I currently own a 2018 Honda WR-V diesel manual (6-speed), which has run about 50,000 km, along with a Tata EV purchased in 2023, which has covered around 20,000 km. I have now decided to replace my WR-V with a BS6 diesel automatic car. Could you please suggest which diesel automatic model would be the best choice according to Autocar?

Autocar India

•1d

Without knowing your budget and more requirements, we can't recommend the ideal choice for you. We have shortlisted models that you should consider, and why they are of interest. Compact SUVs- Hyundai Venue: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, good interior space, upmarket interior | (-) Expensive for its size- Kia Sonet: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, upmarket interior, good value | (-) Rear seat space is limited, due to be replaced in the coming year Midsize SUVs- Kia Seltos: (+) Spacious interior, well equipped, good ride comfort | (-) Performance is adequate only- Tata Sierra: (+) Class-best space, feature-packed, tough build, ride comfort | (-) Engine feels noisy, road noise- Hyundai Creta: (+) Well equipped, decent performance | (-) Due to be replaced in the coming year

Ritz

I am looking to purchase a new SUV in exchange for my Ciaz Diesel. We are a family of five, and my usage is low and mostly within the city (350-400 km monthly) with a quarterly outstation trip (500-600 km). My main requirements are a car that has good mileage/range, a good audio system, a large boot space and high acceleration (I like quick acceleration but not necessarily at very high speeds). The Ciaz seemed perfect so far, but now it's 11 years old, and I would like to change to an SUV for better ground clearance. I prefer not to have to spend often (for cars with low upfront cost but less mileage). My preferred budget is up to ₹20 lakh. So far, I liked the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Mahindra XEV 9S for their overall drivability. However, since they both are nearly ₹30 lakh on-road in Bangalore, I was trying to look for other alternatives at a slightly cheaper cost. I have heard horror stories of Tata service and hence would prefer to avoid Tata cars (even though I loved driving the Harrier as well).

Autocar India

•1d

That's a tricky requirement as strong acceleration and good fuel economy tend to be at odds with one another. A diesel engine would be good for mileage, but none of the engines in this price range is particularly quick at accelerating. Thus, we'd recommend going for a Turbo Petrol engine, which, if driven carefully, can return a good amount of kilometres for every litre.Your best option, given your requirements, is the new Kia Seltos. It's spacious, comfortable, reliable and reasonably priced in terms of maintenance. Within your budget of Rs 20 lakh, you should be able to get the HTX T-GDi DCT variant, which also includes the excellent-sounding 8-speaker Bose premium audio system. There's also a sizeable 447-litre boot that's well-shaped and good for swallowing up a sizeable amount of luggage.

Kia Seltos

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Posted on: 16 Feb 2026

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