Hi, I am currently driving a 2018 S-Cross diesel and wish to upgrade to a new car. My daily commute is around 80+ km, with occasional long trips of 200+ km. My budget is below Rs. 15 lakh. Kindly suggest a few good options available at present. Thanks.

autocar.india

•1h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7 automatic at Rs. 14.5 lakh. It is a significant upgrade from the Tiago, offering a much larger cabin, a more powerful turbo petrol engine and a genuinely premium feel for the money. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide rear bench that makes it a comfortable five-seater, and the AX7 variant is well-equipped without pushing you beyond your budget. The Brezza ZXi+ at Rs 15 lakh is also a strong option, but the 3XO simply offers more car for the money in terms of performance and overall value. The 3XO's turbo petrol engine will make those occasional weekend trips more enjoyable. The only drawback is that the boot is on the smaller side but unless you regularly travel with a lot of luggage, it should not be a deal-breaker.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Tiago

autocar.india

•5h

For your 8,000- 10,000 km annual running and frequent highway and mountain trips, the XUV 3XO diesel manual remains the first choice. This Mahindra car has compact dimensions that are useful on narrow mountain roads, while the diesel has plenty of low-end torque for climbs and rough terrain. It also offers strong safety credentials and is much easier to live with as an everyday car.If your Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir trips involve genuinely challenging terrain and you want a more capable off-roader, the Thar 3-door is the more specialised choice. The 2.2-litre diesel with 4WD offers a proper low-range transfer case, making it far more capable off-road than the 3XO.However, the Thar is less practical for everyday use. It is a four-seater, has limited boot space, and the rear seats are less convenient to access. The 3XO is therefore the better all-rounder, while the Thar makes sense if off-road capability is a major priority.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra Thar

autocar.india

•21h

With your low annual running of 4,000-5,000 km and a budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, a petrol compact SUV is the most sensible choice. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is the strongest recommendation here. It offers the most spacious cabin in the segment, making it a genuinely comfortable 5-seater for a family of four, and the turbo petrol engine is punchy enough for occasional highway runs while remaining efficient in the city. This Mahindra car also comes well equipped and offers excellent value for money.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza Turbo is the alternative if you prioritise long-term reliability and low maintenance costs above all else. It is a proven, dependable product with Maruti's extensive service network, and it is also a comfortable 5-seater. The 1.2 petrol versions of the Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are also worth considering if you want a more premium-feeling cabin and a wider feature list. They might not have the same performance as the turbo-petrol versions, but their engine is responsive and both are very user-friendly with light controls and good visibility.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet