I am from Bangalore and planning to buy a car. My budget would be around 12-13 lakhs on road. Mostly, I would be driving on highways(75%). I was confused between Kylaq and the new Venue. Which one would be better?

Autocar India

•22h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic. For your usage pattern, it strikes the best balance between city comfort in Mumbai traffic and relaxed weekly highway runs to Pune. The torque converter automatic is smooth in stop-start conditions, the cabin feels genuinely spacious and the suspension is well suited to the broken roads and expansion joints that you will regularly encounter. It also feels robust and well equipped, which is clearly something you value.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the safer, fuss free alternative. If your absolute priority is long term peace of mind, reliability and hassle free ownership, it is very easy to recommend. Its naturally aspirated petrol and conventional automatic setup are proven, and it will likely be the least demanding car here over the long term. The trade off is that it simply does not feel as modern, spacious or as punchy as the Mahindra car.As for the Skoda Kylaq, your concerns are not entirely unfounded. It is a genuinely good driver’s car with strong dynamics and a peppy turbo petrol, but some owner reports have flagged AC performance concerns and niggles, while the rear cabin is tighter than the XUV 3XO. That said, online complaints tend to amplify edge cases, so it should not automatically rule the car out if you love how it drives.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Signature. For your usage, it is simply the most sensible long term choice as your running is quite limited, so a petrol makes far more sense than a diesel today, especially with mostly city driving in Delhi. The Kylaq gives you a more premium and involving driving experience than the Tata Punch CNG AMT, with a smoother petrol engine, better highway manners and a cabin that feels more solid and mature overall. It will also feel more comfortable and refined on longer trips, while still being compact enough for daily city use.The Punch CNG AMT is definitely the cheaper to run option and it is rugged enough for bad roads, but compared to the Kylaq, it does not feel as polished, as engaging to drive or as premium inside. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel, meanwhile, is not the right fit for your usage because modern BS6 diesels and your kind of low city running can lead to DPF related issues over time, especially without regular long highway runs.

Skoda Kylaq

Tata Punch

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•19h

Yes, the Skoda Kylaq Signature petrol automatic is a very good choice for your usage. With low weekly running and mostly highway driving, a petrol automatic makes perfect sense, and the Kylaq suits that brief well with its strong turbo petrol engine, confident highway manners and smooth torque converter automatic gearbox.If rear seat space is a bigger priority and you want a more genuine five seater, then the Mahindra XUV 3XO is worth considering as well. It also gets a turbo petrol engine paired to a torque converter automatic, while offering a noticeably roomier rear seat and a more spacious cabin overall.The only drawback with the Kylaq is that rear seat space is not its strongest point, but overall it remains a strong first car choice.

Skoda Kylaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•3d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•2d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•2d

Both perform very well for your requirements, but overall, the Skoda Kylaq is the better choice. The Citroen C3 X has a slightly comfier ride quality, its AC performance is very strong, and its 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is quite punchy. However, the Kylaq's 1.0 TSI engine is more powerful, and the 6-speed automatic gearbox has been tuned for even greater responses. As such, it will feel more eager on ghats and highways. It too has excellent suspension and absorbs bumps and broken roads well. Moreover, the Kylaq sits in a segment above and hence offers more space in the back seat and the boot, which will be useful for your passengers and luggage. Moreover, the build quality is stronger, the interior feels more upmarket, and though it may be more expensive, there are more features on offer than in the Citroen. Hence, we recommend that you go with the Skoda.

Skoda Kylaq

Citroen C3