I want to buy a smooth automatic car within ₹10–12 lakh on-road price. It will be mostly for city driving for my wife and two kids. I have shortlisted two cars, which are very different, and need your expert opinion: Tiago EV XT Long Range and Mahindra 3XO RevX A Turbo. I am also open to other cars meeting the same criteria (smooth automatic).

Autocar India

•19w

You're right, those are two very different cars. Since your usage is mostly city driving, an EV like the Tata Tiago EV is smooth but limited in space and range. The Mahindra XUV 3XO RevX A Turbo on road price is above your budget, and it has limited boot space.

We recommend the Hyundai i20, which is comfortably within your budget. It offers two great petrol engines (1.2 MPI and 1.0 T-GDI) with two smooth automatic gearboxes (CVT and DCT), good features, comfort, and sufficient space for a family of four.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.66 Lakh

Hyundai

i20

from ₹7.07 Lakh

Tata

Tiago EV

from ₹8.51 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sharath

•1d

Hi, I am confused between buying the Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT and the Mahindra REVX A AT. My monthly usage is around 500 km, and I prefer a petrol variant. Please advise which would be a better choice.

Autocar India

•6h

Both the Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO, in their HX 6 DCT and RevX AT guise, are extremely close when it comes to price and what they offer. The Venue is the newer, more modern-looking car on the inside and out, but the 3XO is more powerful with a 131hp engine. The 3XO is also more spacious in the rear seat, while the Venue gets a slightly bigger boot. Features on the 3XO are better, boasting a panoramic sunroof, leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control, to name a few. When it comes to ride and handling, too, it is the 3XO that pips ahead of the Venue. We would recommend the 3XO in this case as it offers a lot more for the money and is the better value proposition.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

•1d

Hi Autocar Team, I want to buy a good, powerful SUV within ₹25 lakh that has a petrol manual transmission and ADAS Level 2 features. Which category of SUV should I go for?

Autocar India

•7h

Considering your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO with the AX7 L spec would be a good choice. It gets a powerful 131hp turbo-petrol engine, a fantastic ride quality and the most up-to-date Level 2 ADAS along with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 3XO is a compact SUV but gets a spacious rear seat and a feature-rich cabin with a panoramic sunroof and wireless connectivity. The top-spec version will easily fit in your budget.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Lokesh A

•3d

During my test drive, the torque-converter gearbox felt smoother, and both the gear shifts and overall ride quality were noticeably better in the Mahindra XUV 3XO. In the Hyundai Venue, I could clearly feel turbo lag at lower speeds, and the DCT did not feel as smooth as the 3XO’s gearbox. However, from a long-term ownership perspective, Hyundai’s service network is more reliable and hassle-free, and the resale value is generally stronger compared to Mahindra. I’m also slightly concerned that the 3XO might develop rattles or increased engine noise over time, whereas the Venue, if maintained well, may remain more refined. I also doubt fuel efficiency: will the Venue’s DCT deliver better mileage compared to the 3XO’s torque-converter? I would appreciate guidance from the community based on real-world usage and long-term ownership experience.

Autocar India

•1d

You’ve summed up the driving difference quite accurately.A torque-converter automatic, like the six-speed Aisin unit in the Mahindra XUV 3XO, uses hydraulic fluid between the engine and gearbox. That fluid coupling cushions the initial take-off and smoothens out power delivery, which is why it feels more progressive and less jerky in traffic. There’s a slight build-up of torque before full engagement, and that’s what gives it that fluid and easy feel. A DCT, like the dry-clutch unit in the Hyundai Venue, uses two clutches to pre-select gears. Shifts are quicker and more direct. But at low speeds, especially with a small turbo engine, you can feel turbo lag followed by a slightly sharper clutch engagement. That’s the “snappier” sensation you experienced. In crawling traffic, a torque converter generally feels more natural.On long-term ownership, Hyundai does have a very strong service network and typically excellent resale value. Mahindra has improved significantly in recent years, and the 3XO’s platform (derived from the globally developed SsangYong Tivoli architecture) is fundamentally robust, so we wouldn’t be overly concerned about structural quality. Minor rattles over time depend more on usage and maintenance than brand alone.On fuel efficiency, the Venue’s DCT may be marginally more efficient in ideal conditions. But in real-world city driving, the difference is unlikely to be dramatic. It shouldn’t be the deciding factor.Where the Venue clearly scores is in overall polish, its user interface, feature integration and ergonomics feel more mature. The 3XO, on the other hand, gives you stronger performance and a smoother automatic experience.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

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