My budget is ₹23 lakh. I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq facelift 1.0-litre Monte Carlo, Skoda Kushaq facelift 1.5-litre Monte Carlo, and Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus 1.0-litre TSI. My running is 1,500 to 2,000 km per month with a 70:30 city-to-highway ratio. I need performance, stability, good suspension, and peace of mind with good drivability. Can you suggest which of the three will be value for money?

Autocar India

•17h

From the options you've listed, we'd recommend you shortlist the Hyundai Venue and Skoda Kylaq, both of which are turbo-petrol sub-4-metre SUVs. On account of their turbo-petrol engines, these will feel a bit more effortless to drive on the highway compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Grand Vitara that are powered by a 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol engine. Additionally, both cars get LED headlamps, have good audio systems (the Venue has an edge with its branded Bose speakers), and both are generously equipped with similar safety kits. The Venue's turbo-petrol will be a touch more efficient, and its maintenance costs will be a bit lower than the Kylaq's as well. Also, its cabin is comparatively more spacious too. The Kylaq, on the other hand, has an excellent ride-handling balance, which gives you tremendous confidence while driving. We'd suggest you drive both of these, and pick the one that appeals to you more.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2d

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Zeta (O) MT is a good choice that meets most of your needs. It comes in under Rs 17 lakh, and its excellent fuel economy should be good for your relatively high running of 1,500km per month. This is a Maruti car, so maintenance will be easy on the pocket too, estimated at Rs 4,000-6,000 per service, which happens at 10,000km intervals. It's reasonably comfortable too, with a well-sorted suspension.The only downside is the driving dynamics, which aren't geared to enthusiastic driving. While the chassis is well-engineered, the steering feels light and slow. Most of all, though, the 105hp petrol engine isn't particularly exciting, tuned as it is for fuel economy.For a more engaging drive, consider the Skoda Kushaq, though bear in mind you'll only get a low-spec Signature 1.0 TSI MT variant at your budget, and it won't be as good as the Maruti on running costs.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•15h

It really comes down to what you want. Both these cars come from different segments, as the Mahindra XUV 3XO sits above the Tata Punch, so they are not direct rivals.If you are looking for more convenience and everyday features like an infotainment system and a reversing camera, the Punch will make more sense. It is also a better option if this is your first car, because its compact dimensions make it easier to drive and park in tight spaces. In fact, despite being smaller, the Punch also has a more usable boot for regular needs.The 3XO, on the other hand, is the better choice if you have a larger family. It has a more spacious cabin, which makes it more comfortable for more passengers. It also gets a much more powerful turbo petrol engine, which makes it far more capable for highway drives and overtakes.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Tata Punch