I’m choosing between the new Venue (2025) high-spec and the Creta EX-O. My wife has some health issues when travelling, so I lean toward the Creta for comfort. Does the Creta feel more sophisticated than the Venue? Given my budget concerns, which should I pick?

Autocar India

•1d

You can consider the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI manual. It is a well-rounded compact sedan that offers a good balance of space, comfort, and features. The 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is peppy and efficient, and the manual gearbox is slick to use. In your budget, you can get the top-spec Monte Carlo trim that gets a well-equipped cabin and all necessary features. The Slavia also gets a decently long list of features, including a sunroof, a wireless charger, and a connected car tech and a massive boot. However, if it is an SUV that you want, the Hyundai Venue in its HX8 guise gets you a turbo-petrol engine with 120hp and a slick manual gearbox as well. It is also loaded with features since it is a top-spec and will be a worthy rival to the Slavia if boot space is not the top priority. Both cars have good ground clearance, so that will not be an issue.

Skoda Slavia

Hyundai New Venue

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Autocar India

•31m

The Mahindra XUV 7XO is the best option for you. It has a spacious and comfortable cabin with three rows of seats, though it's worth noting that the third row is a bit cramped for adults. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is powered by a 203hp/380Nm, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, delivering strong performance. The XUV 7XO also features new 'DaVinci' dampers and hydraulic bump stops in the suspension setup. As a result, this SUV feels plush and comfortable at low speeds and composed at highway speeds. Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol-auto prices range from Rs 17.47 lakh to Rs 23.64 lakh (ex-showroom, India).

Mahindra XUV 7XO

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Autocar India

•1h

The problem with strong performance is that it usually comes at the cost of mileage. However, the Mahindra XUV 300 - and Mahindras in general - is that they have been tuned to prioritise performance over fuel economy; hence, they are all very powerful. If you want strong performance and a fun-to-drive character, check out the Skoda Kylaq. Its 1.0 TSI engine makes 115hp, which is less than what the Mahindra offers. But as is often the case with Volkswagen Group's famous TSI turbo-petrol engines, it feels a lot stronger than the numbers suggest. The good bit is that it comes with a smooth 6-speed AT option, in case that is what you want, but the 6-speed MT is a fun and easy gearbox as well. As for fuel economy, it will definitely be better than the XUV 300's 1.2-litre turbo petrol, but you will still have to be careful with the throttle to achieve good real-world economy numbers.

Skoda Kylaq

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