We are a family of six with two kids. My father has knee pain, so we need a car with a spacious rear cabin and good headroom. I’m looking for a petrol automatic Sub-4-metre car because of parking constraints. My yearly run is only around 5,000 km. I want a car with a high seating position, high ground clearance, a 4- or 5-star safety rating, and decent boot space. My budget is around ₹12-15 lakh. Please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•14h

The answer depends on whether this will be your only car or a second car in the family. If this will be your only car, the Tata Tiago EV is the better choice. It is a proper hatchback with enough space for a small family, a usable boot and the ability to handle occasional highway trips comfortably. Your daily 50km commute is well within its capabilities, and it offers greater flexibility if your usage changes in the future. The Tiago EV is also available with Battery as a Service (BaaS).If you already have another car at home for longer journeys, then the MG Comet EV is worth considering. Its compact size makes it ideal for city driving, it is extremely easy to park and manoeuvre, and it is also available with BaaS schemes that lower the initial purchase price.

Tata Tiago EV

MG Comet

Autocar India

•15h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•10h

While both the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Hyundai Venue are competent compact SUVs, the Mahindra offers a more complete package for your budget. The diesel engine is strong and refined, making it well-suited to both town driving and highway trips. It also feels more spacious inside, especially in the rear seat, and offers a richer feature set for the money.The Venue's strengths lie in its proven ownership experience, widespread service network and easy-to-drive nature. However, it feels narrower inside and does not offer the same level of cabin space or overall value as the XUV 3XO.Since you will be using the car both in town and on highways a few times a month, the XUV 3XO's more powerful diesel engine, roomier cabin and better overall value give it an edge.However, if you are specifically considering an automatic diesel, the recommendation shifts towards the Hyundai Venue. The Venue uses a torque-converter automatic gearbox, which is smoother and more refined in everyday driving than the automated manual transmission (AMT) offered on the XUV 3XO diesel. For frequent stop-start driving, the Hyundai's gearbox delivers a noticeably better experience.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue