I want to buy a new car. I have shortlisted three cars: Maruti Ertiga, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Sierra. I want a petrol model with a manual gearbox, good mileage, good safety features, and the ability to handle both local and occasional long drives. Please advise.

Autocar India

•15w

All three cars listed are very different - the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga is a no-nonsense seven-seater MPV; the XUV3XO is a turbo-petrol compact SUV with excellent ride and handling balance; and the Tata Sierra is a mid-size SUV which is likely to offer the most space and feel the most premium of the lot.

You don't seem to have a definitive requirement for a seven-seater since two out of the three cars you've listed can only seat five; the only reason to consider an Ertiga is for its fuel efficiency.

If that is something you can overlook, we'd recommend you shortlist the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Sierra. Out of these, even though the Mahindra car is likely to be punchier and more fun to drive, the Sierra's larger size and more cabin space are likely to deliver a nicer drive and cabin experience, making you feel like you've spent your money well.

The Sierra's NA petrol isn't likely to be much more efficient than the Mahindra's turbo-petrol, due to the Tata's heavier kerb weight; however, between the two, it is the one we'd recommend.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Ertiga

from ₹9.97 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Got a suggestion for Pramod?

Add a Comment

Latest questions people are discussing

Ankit

•1d

Hi, first of all, thanks to Autocar for always replying to each query. I am looking for an automatic car. It should have a peppy engine and be fun to drive with proper safety. I will be driving my car mostly in the city and occasionally on the highway on weekends. I prefer petrol. I already own a Kia Sonet iMT. Kindly suggest any other car apart from the Kia.

Autocar India

•8m

The Mahindra XUV 3XO will meet your requirements of a car with a peppy engine and good safety. The petrol automatic comes paired with a torque convertor gearbox, which is the smoothest autobox around, and since your driving is mostly in the city, you will really appreciate this.We would recommend the 1.2-litre MPFi turbo engine, which would offer you more than enough pep and a slightly better mileage than the direct injection unit, though bear in mind that on the whole, mileage will still be lower than something like the Brezza, as Mahindra tunes all its engines for a peppy feel.If mileage isn't a priority and you simply want a very peppy and lively drive feel, opt for the direct injection unit. The 3XO will also meet your requirements for safety as it comes well-equipped with 6 airbags and ESP as standard, and has secured a 5-star rating in the BNCAP crash tests.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Deepesh

•1d

I am a first-time car buyer and also a new driver. I am planning to buy a car for long-term ownership with a budget of around ₹11–12 lakh (on-road). My family has five members, and the car will be used mostly for city driving in Hyderabad, with occasional highway trips maybe once a month. I prefer an automatic transmission since it will be easier to drive in city traffic. Currently, I am considering the Mahindra XUV 3XO MX2 Pro Petrol AMT and the Tata Nexon Pure Plus S AMT Petrol. I am looking for a car that offers good safety, reliability, comfort for family use, and reasonable maintenance for long-term ownership. Between these two options, which one would you recommend? Also, are there any other better options in this price range that I should consider?

Autocar India

•1d

First, a small correction. The Mahindra XUV 3XO does not use an AMT gearbox. It comes with a proper torque converter automatic, which offers a much smoother and more refined driving experience compared to AMTs. This makes it easier to drive in city traffic and overall more comfortable for daily use.Because of this, the XUV 3XO MX2 Pro automatic becomes the better choice between the two cars you shortlisted. The wider cabin also makes it more comfortable for a family of five and the ride quality is well suited for both city drives and occasional highway trips.The Tata Nexon does offer a DCA/DCT automatic option with the turbo-petrol engine, but that variant is significantly more expensive and would go well beyond your ₹11–12 lakh budget. The Nexon AMT variants therefore do not match the smoothness of the torque converter automatic offered in the 3XO.For your requirements of ease of driving, comfort and a better automatic gearbox, the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic would be the better option over the Nexon in your budget.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Nexon

Tarun

•3d

I am confused between the Hyundai Venue SX(O) Petrol 1.0-litre Turbo Automatic (DCT), Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 Petrol 1.2-litre Turbo Automatic (Torque Converter), and Hyundai Venue SX(O) Diesel 1.5-litre Automatic (Torque Converter). Which of these would be better in terms of hassle-free ownership, reliability, and long-term peace of mind? I plan to keep the car for many years for my family, so comfort and reliability are very important to me.

Autocar India

•1d

If your priority is long-term reliability and hassle-free ownership, the powertrain choice and brand service experience will matter more than outright performance.Between the three options, the Hyundai Venue petrol turbo with the DCT automatic is the safer choice in terms of ownership experience. Hyundai has a strong reputation for reliability and service support, and the Venue is a well-proven product. It also offers a comfortable ride and a well-finished cabin, which makes it suitable for long-term family use.The Mahindra XUV 3XO petrol automatic is a very good car to drive and offers strong performance thanks to its larger 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. It also has a spacious cabin and good ride quality. However, Mahindra’s ownership experience and service consistency can vary depending on location.The Venue diesel automatic can make sense if your running is high and you regularly do highway drives. However, for typical mixed usage, the petrol automatic will generally be the simpler option to live with.

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

View all Posts