Hello Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹12-14 lakh. I am considering the Hyundai Venue HX5 DCT, Kia Sonet HTX 1.0 DCT, Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT, and Tata Nexon EV 45 Creative. My primary car is an EV (MG Windsor), which I use daily for around 60-65 km. This new car will be my second vehicle, with a daily running of around 20-25 km. I did not like the road presence of the Venue much, although I liked its cabin. The Sonet has a strong road presence but feels a bit dated inside. The Brezza feels outdated both inside and outside, although it offers Maruti’s reliability. I also liked the Nexon EV, but the variant within my budget misses some features like rear AC vents. I am quite confused between these options and am specifically looking for an automatic variant. Could you please guide me on the best choice?

Autocar India

•3h

Given your requirements, the Tata Nexon DCA is the better option. The Nexon's smaller size will make it easier to drive and park in the city. There's also the convenience of the DCA or dual-clutch automatic, which will really take away much stress from driving. Do note that while the Nexon is a good choice, it's not the best option in the segment. We would recommend you also check out petrol-automatic versions of the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Skoda Kylaq that offer punchier performance, which you will appreciate on highway drives. You could check out our comprehensive comparison to find the model that will fit your needs best - https://youtu.be/eHhFbfwYADo

Tata Nexon

Hyundai New Venue

Kia Sonet

Kia Syros

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•1d

Between the two, we would suggest going for the Kia Sonet HTK (O) DCT. The Sonet and the Venue share the same 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine paired with the DCT gearbox, so performance and the overall driving experience will be very similar. In terms of equipment as well, both these variants are quite similarly equipped, but the Sonet is around Rs 1.5 lakh cheaper, which makes it an excellent value for money.That said, the Hyundai Venue is the newer car and offers slightly better rear seat space. So if rear seat comfort is an important factor for you, that is something to keep in mind.On the topic of DCT overheating, it can happen in very heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic where the car is constantly crawling forward. However, this gearbox has been around for quite some time and has seen improvements over the years. In normal usage, it is not a major concern, and there are safety systems built in to alert you if the gearbox temperature rises too much.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2h

You should consider the Hyundai Venue. The compact SUV comes with two petrol and one diesel engine options - though the 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol is the one you want to go for. It's got good performance, and it comes mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.The cabin of the Venue is premium and spacious enough for four people, and it comes loaded with all the latest features like ventilated front seats, a sunroof, twin displays, ADAS and much more. Go for the Venue HX8 turbo-petrol DCT, which costs Rs 14.93 lakh (on-road, Delhi).

Hyundai Venue