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•3d

Hi Autocar experts, I am currently driving a 2022 Renault Kwid, which I primarily use for commuting within the city. Now that my wife also needs to drive to work, I am planning to give her this car and buy a second car for myself. I want the new car to serve as our primary vehicle for family trips on highways, so safety, good driving dynamics, and overall comfort are important. It should also be suitable for my daily city commute. My budget is under Rs 15 lakh. Could you suggest some good options?

•1h

For your requirements, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It is one of the safest cars in the segment, has a strong turbo petrol engine and is genuinely enjoyable to drive on highways. At the same time, it is compact enough to be manageable in the city and offers a comfortable ride. The wide cabin also makes this Mahindra car a good family car, and Mahindra’s service network is strong in most cities.

If you want something with a more premium feel and a slightly better ownership experience, the Kia Sonet is a good alternative. It is also a safe car, has a refined turbo petrol engine and feels more upmarket inside. However, this Kia car is not as spacious as the 3XO and does not feel as robust on bad roads.

Alternatively, the Skoda Kylaq is worth considering. It is one of the best driver’s cars in the segment, with excellent handling and a strong turbo petrol engine. However, this Skoda car is slightly more expensive and does not offer as many features as the 3XO at a similar price point.

Overall, the XUV 3XO strikes the best balance between safety, driving dynamics, space and value for money.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.69 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.27 Lakh

Skoda

Kylaq

from ₹8.47 Lakh

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•3d

Hi, I am planning to buy a car around Rs. 11.5 lakh (on-road) for monthly running of around 700-800 Km with a trip in 3-4 months of around 1000 km on hilly terrain and highways. My requirements include sunroof for children, 60:40 seats, rear AC, good torque for hills and rear camera. I feel that push button or automatic will be advantageous. Please suggest.

•3h

With a budget of around Rs 11.5 lakh on-road, your requirements are quite clear: a sunroof, 60:40 split rear seats, rear AC vents, good torque for hills, a rear camera, and ideally push-button start or an automatic transmission. Your monthly running of 700-800 km with occasional 1000 km hill trips points towards a petrol car, as a diesel would not justify itself at this usage level.The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit here. It offers a strong turbo petrol engine with good low-end torque, which will help on hilly roads, and it comes with a sunroof, rear AC vents, 60:40 split rear seats and a rear camera in the mid variants. The automatic gearbox is also available within your budget, and the car is well equipped for the price.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is another solid choice. You have the choice of a naturally aspirated or a turbo petrol, but only the former comes with an automatic. It also offers a sunroof, rear AC vents and a rear camera, and Maruti's service network is a big advantage.The Hyundai Venue is another option, but the turbo petrol automatic variants are likely to stretch your budget. The naturally aspirated petrol is available within your budget, but it will not feel as strong on hills.Overall, the XUV 3XO is the best fit for your requirements. It offers the right combination of features, performance and value for money. The Brezza is the more sensible alternative if you prioritise reliability and ease of ownership over performance.

Which diesel automatic car to buy under 18 lakh?

•2d

The diesel-automatic options available are the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, Kia Syros, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Tata Nexon. Out of these, the Hyundai and Kia offerings share their 1.5-litre diesel engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, which is smooth, refined and very efficient. Mahindra and Tata use a 6-speed AMT, which isn't as smooth or seamless as the torque converter which the others offer. Hence, we'd advise you to narrow down your options to the Venue, Sonet and Syros.Out of these, the Syros is a brilliantly packaged car with a sophisticated interior. If you don't mind the way it looks, it deserves serious consideration. If you prefer a vehicle that looks a bit more conventional, opt for the Venue instead, which ticks all the right boxes.Alternatively, you could consider an entry-level Kia Seltos HTE O variant. You might miss out on some features, but if you're looking for a more spacious car from a segment above, it might be worth opting for. It has the same powertrain as the Venue.

I’ve almost finalised the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, and I really like the car. However, I’m a little worried about Skoda’s long-term service and maintenance costs, especially after the warranty period. I’m planning to keep the car for around 7–8 years. Would you recommend taking the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) along with the car? Is it worth the additional cost considering regular servicing and potential maintenance expenses? Also, compared with the Brezza and Nexon, how is the Kylaq Signature Automatic in terms of long-term reliability, service costs and parts replacement? Would really appreciate your advice before I make the final purchase decision.

•9h

If you like the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, go ahead and buy it. It is a genuinely good car and one of the best driver’s cars in the segment. The 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven combination, and Skoda’s reliability has improved significantly in recent years. The bigger concern is not reliability but long-term maintenance costs, which can be higher than Maruti or Tata once the car is out of warranty.This is where the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) makes sense. It locks in your service costs for the first 4-5 years, covers all scheduled maintenance and gives you peace of mind during the most expensive ownership period. If you are planning to keep the car for 7-8 years, it is worth the additional cost because it protects you from unexpected bills and helps you budget ownership costs more accurately.Compared to the Brezza and Nexon, the Kylaq is the better driver’s car with a more engaging driving experience and a stronger engine. The Brezza is the benchmark for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, while the Nexon sits somewhere in between. The Kylaq is not unreliable, but parts and service can be more expensive once you are out of warranty.If you are buying the Kylaq, take the SMP and enjoy the car. If long-term ownership costs are your absolute priority, the Brezza is the safer financial choice.

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

•4d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

I currently own a Jeep Compass and want to get an additional car for my father, with good reliability, unlike the Jeep. My father still drives a 2008 Honda City, and I am torn between a few choices: the Honda City, Skoda Slavia, Nissan Tekton and Toyota Hyryder. Or should I wait for the Virtus facelift or the new-generation Creta? His usage is low, at almost 500 km per month. Please suggest.

•23h

With just 500km a month, petrol is the clear choice, and reliability and ease of ownership become the most important factors. The Honda City is the safest recommendation here. It is a proven product with a strong reliability record, a comfortable ride and a familiar ownership experience that your father will appreciate, especially coming from a 2008 City. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the 1.0 TSI engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds, and the 1.5 TSI is overkill for this kind of usage. The Nissan Tekton is a good value proposition, but engines are not responsive at low speeds and Nissan's service network is not as strong as Honda's, which matters more for a low-running, long-term ownership scenario. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a solid option if you specifically want an SUV, but the hybrid premium does not make financial sense at this running, and the naturally aspirated petrol is not as refined as the City's engine. The new-generation Hyundai Creta is worth waiting for only if your father specifically wants an SUV; otherwise, the City remains the more sensible choice. Overall, the Honda City is the most reliable, comfortable and hassle-free option for your father's usage.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Nissan Tekton

•6d

I recently bought a Tata Safari Stealth Black Accomplished+ and am very happy with its performance. It returns around 13kpl in the city and 14-15kpl on the highway. I also own a Maruti Suzuki Ritz diesel VDi, which I have used for 10 years and driven 2.3 lakh km with regular servicing and genuine synthetic oil. Is it time to replace the Ritz? If so, what would be a good diesel or petrol car around Rs 15 lakh? My usage is a mix of city and highway driving, around 75-100 km a day. I also have three older family members above 60 who will use the car occasionally. I am considering the 1.0-litre Skoda, the new Thar 1.5-litre and other options. I am not interested in a sunroof or other fancy features. I do track racing, so strong performance, suspension, stability and an engaging driving experience are important to me.

•4d

Yes, it's time to retire the Ritz. Of the two cars you're considering, the Skoda 1.0 TSI is the right one. Both the Kylaq and the Kushaq use it, and either suits an enthusiast far better than the Thar. The engine is eager, the steering is sharp, and the chassis feels planted when you push it. Those are the things you'll value as someone who drives on track.The catch is your mileage. At 75-100 km a day, you'll cover close to 30,000km a year, and the petrol Skoda will cost noticeably more to run than a diesel. If that bothers you, test-drive the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. Its 1.5 diesel is one of the punchiest in its class; it has a roomy rear seat for your parents, and it'll be much cheaper to run, though it isn't as sharp to drive as the Skoda.The new Mahindra Thar isn't a good fit. It's tall to climb into for older passengers, the rear is cramped, and it isn't as settled as a regular SUV over 100km a day.Your Ritz has done well. Its 1.3 diesel runs a timing chain rather than a belt, which is why it's lasted. Drive the Skoda car and the 3XO back to back, and decide how much the extra fun is worth to you.

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