Hi team, I am looking to buy an automatic petrol SUV for a family of four, mainly for city use in Hyderabad. I prefer non-Indian brands and want a car under ₹15 lakh with strong safety and performance features. Please suggest a couple of suitable options.

You can look at either the Skoda Kylaq or the recently launched Hyundai Venue. Both cars have scored a full 5 stars in BNCAP, so your safety requirement is well covered.Within your budget, you can get the top Prestige+ variant of the Kylaq. While it misses features like a 360° camera, it comes well loaded with a premium kit. It includes a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a single-pane sunroof, powered front seats and more.Between the two, the Kylaq is the nicer car to drive; it offers confident handling, a comfortable ride and a spacious cabin that’s supportive for four adults. The boot is also generous.The Venue, on the other hand, is more spacious overall and benefits from Hyundai’s wider sales and service network. It adds peace of mind to ownership.If driving feel and feature content matter most, the Kylaq Prestige+ is a strong choice. If you prioritise overall space and a broader dealer-service network, the Venue makes more sense.

If fuel efficiency is a priority, the Tata Nexon diesel is a good option. In our real-world fuel efficiency test, Nexon gave a combined (city + highway) mileage of 18kpl, which is a very good figure. Nexon also comes with a lot of attractive features, but you will find the engine to be noisy.The good thing about Nexon diesel is that the issue of modern diesels, where they need urea to be filled or increased service cost because of DPF issues, is not true for Nexon, as it uses a passive selective catalytic reduction system, which cleans the filter automatically, making it easier to own.

Mahindra XUV 3XO is a good option. It is equipped with a 1.2 Turbo GDi, which is a punchy engine and delivers the thrill of driving. The torque converter automatic supports the engine well. In the budget you have mentioned, you will get most of the features you desire, but may miss out on a few, like the 360-degree camera.In the manual transmission, the gear lever is a bit notchy, and the clutch is light but has a long travel. So we recommend opting for automatic. The boot of this Mahindra car is one of the smaller ones in the segment.The other option to consider is the Hyundai Venue HX8. It was recently launched and offers all the desirable features, along with a modern and spacious cabin and good luggage space.

The Tata Harrier is a full-sized SUV and is larger than both the Sierra and Seltos. Hence, if comfort is your priority, the Harrier is the one to go for. The Harrier petrol AT drives brilliantly too, and the 1.5 turbo-petrol is more powerful and refined than in the Sierra, which shares the same engine.The Kia Seltos diesel won’t offer the same refined and plush feel as the Harrier, which feels more premium and upmarket.