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Sanjoy dholey

•4w

I have not owned a car until now. I want to purchase a car within 9-10 lakh. My preferences are Hyundai Venue, Nissan Magnite and Kia Sonet. Please suggest something.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2w
Pinpointing a car from your shortlisted three is difficult without knowing your specific requirements and usage, such as city driving, bad roads, importance of rear space, etc. Thus, from the list, we would recommend the Hyundai Venue. It is the best all-rounder and the newest of the lot too.
The Kia Sonet is quite old now, and rear legroom is tight. The Nissan Magnite is very cost-effective; however, the interiors do not have the same level of premium feel and quality as the others.
Hyundai Venue

Hyundai Venue

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Hyundai Venue

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

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MA

Mayank

•2w

I would suggest going for a maruti car for a first time car buyer, a no nonsense car like fronx and baleno are great options. In your choice of cars, i would suggest Kia sonet.

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KR

Krishnav

•3d

I have been looking for a secondary car, primarily to be driven in the city. A petrol automatic would be preferred. Mileage is not a very big criterion. Good engine performance, features and a hassle-free ownership experience are on the must-have list. We are looking for something compact and easy to maneuver in the city and park in tight spaces. Budget is around ₹15 lakh, plus or minus a lakh. A lack of dealerships in the city we reside in restricts us to only a few brands: Maruti Suzuki (Nexa too), Kia, Hyundai, Mahindra, Toyota and Tata. We test drove the Hyundai Venue (new gen), Kia Sonet and also looked at the Toyota Fronx and Nexon. Which car would you kindly suggest?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•18h

The Hyundai Venue is a good option to consider. It is compact, has a good feature list, and the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine is punchy and fun to drive. The DCT automatic gearbox is also smooth and quick to respond. Being the newest entrant to the compact SUV segment, it gets a modern cabin that is well-equipped and gets all the features you would want.This Hyundai car also has decent space at the rear, and the ride comfort and sales and service experience is good, too. Overall, it is a well-rounded package that does everything the way you'd want it to. The HX 8 trim is one shy of the top-spec, but it will fit in your budget and offer a long equipment list.

VehicleHyundai Venue
SP

Shivathmaja PS

•14h

I am looking to buy a car for my parents, who do not drive, so it will mostly be chauffeur-driven. My main priority is rear seat comfort. We are upgrading from a 2011 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire. The car will mainly be used for highways and long trips, with minimal city usage. However, I would prefer an automatic transmission in case I need to use it occasionally in the city (Bengaluru). Before starting test drives, I wanted your suggestions on some suitable vehicles. Based on my initial research, I have shortlisted the following options: Honda City ZX CVT Kia Seltos HTX iVT Honda Elevate ZX CVT Škoda Slavia 1.5L Sportline DSG or 1.0 Monte Carlo AT Volkswagen Virtus Topline AT My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh. Which option would you recommend, especially considering rear seat comfort and highway usability?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•8h

Go for the Honda City ZX CVT. For chauffeur‑driven parents, it offers the comfiest rear bench, ample legroom, and a smooth CVT for Bengaluru traffic within your ₹20-21 lakh budget.Rear comfort is its strength: the 2,600 mm wheelbase helps knee-room, the rear seat is well-cushioned with good thigh support, and the ride is tuned soft for long trips. The 506‑litre boot easily swallows luggage for highway runs. ZX adds 6 airbags and ADAS with adaptive cruise control, useful on long highways. The CVT’s smooth creep and no shift‑shock make occasional city use easy. Versus your shortlist, Elevate’s rear bench feels upright, while Slavia/Virtus ride firmer and are more driver‑centric for back‑seat comfort.The one thing you give up is ground clearance in comparison to the Elevate. Also, if getting in and out is a concern, the Elevate's high-set seats would make it easier. A test drive should sort that out. For now, we recommend the City for its hassle-free ownership experience, reliability and most of all, a refined and comfortable cabin.

VehicleHonda City
VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleSkoda Slavia
VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
RM

RATHI MRINALINI

•1d

I am a new driver and have been driving in Bangalore for the past three years. I currently own a second-hand Maruti Celerio. I am planning to buy a new automatic car with a budget of ₹9.5 lakh. Could you please recommend a safe and comfortable car that is easy to drive?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•9h

We would recommend sticking to the Maruti family and upgrading to the new Swift. The Swift, in its ZXI AMT guise, will fit in your budget and deliver your requirements. It is compact, which makes it easy to handle, and has enough power at 82hp for the city and the highway from the 1.2-litre engine.In terms of efficiency, the AMT version returns 12.7kpl in the city and 19.7kpl on the highway. The AMT is one of the nicer versions in the segment and makes light work of city driving. The ride comfort is good too, and the Swift is tuned for bumpy Indian roads. The ZXI will also get you a good kit like 15-inch alloy wheels, touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging and rear AC vents.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Swift

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Posted on: 21 Feb 2026