Autocar India
1w

Hi I am currently using an S-Presso manual car and planning to upgrade to an automatic sub-4-metre SUV. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh, and my annual usage is around 6,000 km, with 60% highway and 40% city driving in Chennai. I am also planning to take solo trips twice a year. Please suggest a car that offers good mileage, low maintenance costs, and strong safety.

Verified
5m

With your 6,000 km annual running, a petrol automatic is the right choice. Your 60% highway usage and solo trips suggest you need a car that is stable at speed, comfortable over long distances, and easy to live with in the city. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic fits this brief well. It uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth in traffic and relaxed on the highway. The naturally aspirated petrol engine is reliable, easy to maintain, and well suited to your running. This Maruti Suzuki car also has a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a stable highway manner, making it a significant upgrade over the S-Presso for long drives. Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs are a clear advantage too. If you want something more fun to drive, the Skoda Kylaq is worth considering. This Skoda car offers a more powerful turbo petrol engine, but the Brezza remains the safer long-term ownership bet. Overall, the Brezza automatic is the most balanced recommendation for your usage and budget.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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4d

Hi Team, good day. I currently own a Tata Altroz petrol manual and am planning to change my car due to its poor mileage and low power. I am considering two options: the Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi CNG and the Kia Sonet HTK(O) diesel manual, mainly for better mileage. My daily running is around 80km, with 20km in the city and 60km on the highway, about 4–5 days a week. I also travel to my hometown once every three months, covering around 800km on a round trip. Which of these two would be better suited to my usage? If CNG is the better option, can the Brezza be driven only on CNG for better mileage? Will regular CNG usage cause premature damage to the engine head or cylinder bore? I would also like to know about the service requirements and long-term reliability of both options. Additionally, will diesel-related restrictions or norms be implemented in Chennai as well? Please guide me on which car would be more suitable for my usage and whether these two are good choices.

Verified
7h

With 80km a day and a mix of city and highway driving, the Kia Sonet diesel manual is the better fit. The diesel engine will give you strong fuel efficiency on the highway, good pulling power for overtakes and a more relaxed driving experience at higher speeds. The Sonet is also a more powerful and enjoyable car to drive than the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG, which will feel underpowered on highways and during overtakes.CNG is best suited to city-heavy usage where fuel savings are maximised. On highways, the savings are not as significant, and refuelling with CNG also requires a bit of planning. You can run the car mostly on CNG, but it is recommended to run on petrol occasionally to keep the fuel system healthy. Modern factory-fitted CNG systems are reliable, and there are no widespread issues with head or bore damage when used as intended.Go for the Sonet diesel manual. It will give you the best balance of power, efficiency and long-term suitability for your usage.

VehicleKia Sonet
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
1d

Hi Experts! I am a first-time car buyer and a new driver. I want to buy a sub-4-meter SUV. My daily usage will be between 25- 30 km. It is mostly for city driving in Delhi NCR. I intend to buy an automatic and like the Kylaq as an option. But my understanding is that it is expensive to maintain. Among other options that I am considering are the Venue and the 3XO. However, Venue has DCT, which I understand is not great for city driving. Could you give me some more guidance on maintenance of the Kylaq and, generally, if I have to choose among these 3, what should be the best option? To clarify, my budget is 12-15 lakhs. I have already looked at the Brezza as an option but did not like the feel of it. Sonet has been disregarded because there is a new Sonet coming next year. Thank you for your input!

Verified
1d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic. This Skoda car is the best fit for your usage and budget. The Kylaq uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic. It is not a DCT, so you do not have to worry about overheating or jerkiness in city conditions. The 1.0 TSI engine is proven and has a good ownership track record. Skoda's maintenance costs are not significantly higher than Hyundai or Mahindra, especially with service packages available. The Kylaq is also one of the best driver's cars in the segment, with a solid, planted feel and good ride quality.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good choice but not ideal for your usage, as DCT gearboxes are not ideal for heavy city traffic. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a strong alternative. It is spacious, feature-rich and has a good torque converter automatic gearbox, but it does not feel as engaging to drive as the Kylaq. Since you have already ruled out the Brezza and Sonet, the Kylaq is the clear recommendation. It will give you the best ownership experience and driving enjoyment over the next 5-10 years.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleKia Sonet

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