My usage is strictly within Kolkata city, with almost no highway travel. I am not worried about fuel economy, but want a sub-4-metre SUV that is reliable, easy to maintain (spares should be quickly available), and offers very good ride quality and features, especially a strong infotainment system.

Autocar India

•4w

Since you're after the best infotainment system in a sub-four-metre SUV, it has to be the new Hyundai Venue, whose Nvidia-based dual-screen system is the best in the segment by a long shot. What's more, the 8-speaker Bose sound system is an excellent companion for driving around town, and while the previous Venue had a firm suspension and choppy ride, things are far improved with the new version that's built on an all-new platform.

Being a Hyundai car, service is no problem, with plenty of coverage and easily available parts. Since your usage is primarily around town, we recommend the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with the 7-speed DCT gearbox.

Another alternative is the Maruti Suzuki Fronx, which is perhaps even easier on the maintenance side, but is not as spacious or comfortable as the Venue, and misses out on some features in comparison.

Explore cars mentioned

Maruti Suzuki

Fronx

from ₹7.79 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

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Soumya Sinha

•4w

As correctly pointed out by Team Autocar please check out the new Hyundai Venue with the 1.0 Turbo in the HX8 variant which boasts of a 8 speaker Bose sound system. Alternatively you can consider the Tata Nexon with a solid build quality and a top notch audio player by Harman.

Related questions you may find helpful

Krishnav

•2d

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

•6h

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.

Hyundai Venue

Umang Jaiswal

•2d

Within a budget of around ₹12 lakh (could extend some), I want to buy a petrol manual car which is fun to drive, reliable and will not be so heavy on my pocket for fueling and maintenance. My monthly usage is around 400km, mostly city and occasional road trips. Which car will you suggest?

Autocar India

•1d

You can consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx or the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor in their top turbo petrol manual variants. The engine, despite being turbocharged, has hardly any turbo lag and offers good punch. It also comes with a light clutch and a slick gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in the city. Even on an open road or around a ghat section, both these cars are surprisingly fun to drive, and over bad roads, the suspension delivers a comfortable ride as well. For a turbo petrol engine, efficiency is also quite impressive. Overall, there is actually not much to fault here.If you want something that feels a bit more premium, you can look at the Skoda Kylaq, the Signature+ MT variant. The Kylaq is a fun car to drive, but the clutch is heavier, and you will feel more turbo lag. It will also not be as efficient as the Fronx turbo petrol, and the peace of mind ownership experience may not be as strong.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Skoda Kylaq

Vigneshwar S

•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under ₹7 lakh. I am looking for a car with smooth engine performance and enhanced safety features.

Autocar India

•1h

We would recommend you look at the Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Refinement from the 1.0 litre engine is much better than you would expect from a three-cylinder engine, and minimal vibrations filter into the cabin. The overall performance is smooth and easy for normal everyday driving, and at low city speeds, it even feels a bit eager, and it is thus quite enjoyable to drive. In terms of safety, the car is well equipped with safety features like 6 airbags, anti-locking brakes (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). It also scored a three-star crash safety rating in the GNCAP test. You can get cars with a better crash rating, like the Tata Tiago, for instance, but you will not find the engine as smooth.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Tata Tiago

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