Hello, I am looking to buy a diesel SUV in a strict budget of 16 lakhs and have currently down-selected the XUV 3XO and the Hyundai Venue. Actually, I am living in town, so I will drive it in town, or I will get it onto the highway a few times a month. I am confused about purchasing a car between these 2 which car do I need to purchase?

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO EV for city use, as long as you have a fixed parking spot where you can install a home charger. In traffic, it is smoother and quieter than the petrol alternatives, costs far less per kilometre to run, and the range is easily enough for daily commutes with the AC on. One-pedal driving also makes stop-and-go traffic less tiring.The catch is charging. If you can’t install a home charger, then public charging will cost a lot more, and the savings will take much longer to add up. Also, if you often do long highway trips, an EV requires more planning, with stops revolving around charging stations. For pure city use, though, an electric car is much smoother and less tiring to drive than a petrol automatic.If charging feels like a hassle, then go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AT over the Hyundai Venue DCT. The Mahindra’s automatic feels calmer at low speeds, and the car rides rough patches better, which matters in our cities. The Venue DCT is still nice to drive and compact to park, but in heavy traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant.So, if home charging is sorted and your usage is mostly in the city, pick the XUV 3XO EV. If not, pick the XUV 3XO AT.

Mahindra XUV 3XO EV

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1d

Given your low annual running and predominantly city use in Delhi, a diesel does not make sense. Modern diesels are happiest when regularly driven on longer runs, and with just 4,000km a year, the higher purchase cost and potential emission system issues are difficult to justify.As for DCTs, they have become far more reliable than early examples, but if the priority is a smooth, stress-free ownership experience in heavy urban traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the safer bet. It is generally smoother at low speeds and better suited to constant stop-start driving.Rather than moving to a Syros DCT, it would be worth considering the Skoda Kylaq automatic or the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic. Both use torque-converter gearboxes and offer a more relaxed driving experience in city conditions. The Kylaq feels particularly polished to drive, while the 3XO counters with a richer feature list and a more spacious cabin.If you like the Syros, the manual remains a sensible choice given your limited annual usage, but if an automatic is preferred, a torque-converter-equipped rival would be a better fit than a DCT.

Kia Syros

Skoda Kylaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•2d

Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 CVT for mostly city use because it feels smoother in traffic, the 1.5 is very refined, and its economy will be more consistent when you crawl, stop and go. Kia’s service experience is generally quite good, too.In the real world, expect the Seltos CVT to do roughly 10-11 kpl in the city and 14-15 kpl on the highway if you drive gently. As a turbo, the Mahindra XUV 3XO auto can dip into single digits in stop-go traffic, although it can match the Seltos IVT's efficiency on open roads.The Kia Seltos is also the larger car, which will give you a more spacious cabin and boot, and a more premium in-cabin experience. Hence, between the two, the Seltos is the one to get.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO