Hyundai cars in India (12)

Autocar India

•2h

Between your two options, neither is ideal if your priority is comfortably seating three people in the rear. The Hyundai Venue has a relatively narrow cabin, which makes it tight for three adults, while the Skoda Kushaq has a heavily contoured rear seat that is very comfortable for two, but not as accommodating for three.Between the two, the Kushaq is still the more comfortable car overall. It belongs to a segment above, so it offers more knee room and better overall comfort. Its torque converter automatic is also smoother and better suited to city driving compared to the Venue’s DCT, which can feel slightly jerky in slow traffic.If rear-seat comfort for three passengers is a key requirement, it is worth looking beyond your shortlist at the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It has a wider cabin than the Venue and the Kushaq, which makes it more accommodating for three passengers at the back. It also gets a smooth torque converter automatic paired with a strong turbo-petrol engine.

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kushaq

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Autocar India

•4h

You should check out the Kia Sonet 1.2 HTK (O) manual, it fits your budget and needs best for safe, easy city driving. Your use is very low and only in the city, so the simple 1.2 petrol with no turbo is the right call. It is a 4-cylinder engine, so it feels smoother and quieter than most 3-cylinder engines. The HTK (O) trim includes a rear camera, though if you can increase your budget slightly, consider moving up to the Sonet HTK+, which will get you features like keyless entry and go, a wireless phone charger, a 60:40 split rear seat and alloy wheels.The 1.2 in the Sonet doesn't get an automatic option, so if you decide you must have one, you would need to look at a different model. Consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2 Delta+ AMT, which also gets a rear-view camera and a four-cylinder engine. If you don't mind a hatchback, there's also the Hyundai i20 1.2 IVT Sportz, which gets a smoother CVT automatic gearbox.The only 1.5-litre engine in your price bracket can be found in the Maruti Suzuki Brezza. But as that very engine capacity disqualifies it from small car tax breaks, its price is higher than others, and you will only get a base model.

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•1d

If you're open to diesel options, you could consider the Hyundai Venue or Kia Sonet. Both share their engine and gearbox options. Opt for the manual version of either for maximum efficiency.An excellent electric option is the Punch EV. If you can arrange for home charging, your running costs will be very low - something you will surely appreciate given your usage.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG can also be considered. Its engine is reliable, and the CNG will keep per km costs in check.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Tata Punch EV

Autocar India

•12m

The Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi AT is a good option for your wife’s city use in Pune, it is the right size, has a smooth automatic and is not too powerful, and it's easy on the pocket. Compared to your Hyundai Creta, the Brezza feels much smaller in traffic and easier to park. The high seat and big windows make it simple to judge gaps and U-turns, which will help on narrow Pune roads. The AT here is a regular automatic (not an AMT), so it moves off gently, shifts with minimal jerks, and is very calm in stop-go traffic. AC performance is strong, and overall fit and finish are better than in the Maruti Suzuki Swift or Baleno. Maruti’s service reach in Pune is a bonus for easy ownership. The cabin does not feel as plush as a Venue or XUV 3XO, but for daily city use, it works very well. If you want to spend less and still want a very smooth auto, look at the Nissan Magnite Turbo CVT. It is very compact, and the CVT is easy in traffic, though the cabin feels simpler, and Nissan’s service network is smaller. If you do stretch, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L AT is also easy to drive despite its power and offers top safety and features.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hyundai Creta

Nissan Magnite

Autocar India

•1h

Consider the Tata Punch Adventure with the 1.2-litre petrol and manual combo for a family of four moving up from a Celerio at around Rs 10 lakh; it fits your needs right now. You sit higher than in your Celerio, so getting in and out is easier, and you get a better view in traffic. The cabin has more room, and the boot is bigger, so weekend bags or a stroller fit without a squeeze. Ride quality is good too, and it feels robust on rough roads.One thing to be aware of: this engine is fine in the city, but you will need to plan your overtakes on the highway with a full load. Also, if you choose the automatic, it is the AMT type, so you will feel a small pause between shifts. If this is an issue, then consider the Hyundai i20 with a CVT instead.Take your family along and do a short highway stretch in both to see which cabin and driving experience you prefer.

Tata Punch

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•6h

Opt for the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R ZXi+ AMT. It fits your brief for a smaller, easy automatic under Rs. 9 lakh. Compared to your Baleno, the Wagon R feels much easier in the city. It is shorter, turns in a tighter space, and is simple to park. The AMT is tuned well here, so starts and slow traffic are smooth enough, and the steering and pedals are very light. The seat is set at a friendly height, so getting in and out will be easier than in many low cars. Maruti’s service network is everywhere, which means stress-free ownership.One thing to be aware of is that the cabin will feel simpler than your Baleno, and on rough roads, you may feel more movement. It is fine for daily city runs, but on highways, it might not feel as solid as bigger cars. If you want a plusher cabin and a bit more comfort, look at the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Sportz (O) AMT. It too has a smooth AMT, but is a tad larger in size than the Wagon R.During the test drive, try some stop-and-go traffic and tight parking situations to assess smoothness and visibility.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Autocar India

•1d

Hyundai and Kia belong to the same parent group and share engines, gearboxes, suspension and electrical architecture, so the Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT and Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT are fundamentally similar in the way they drive and in long-term reliability.Where they really differ is in design, space and cabin ambience. The new Seltos has a longer wheelbase, is noticeably more spacious, and as you’ve pointed out, feels more premium inside. It also feels a bit more up-to-date in terms of dashboard design and overall cabin experience. Performance from the 1.5 petrol with IVT is effectively the same in both, so you won’t feel a big difference in outright smoothness or ease of driving.For maintenance and after-sales, Hyundai still has a slight edge with its wider, more established network, which is an advantage if you’re in a smaller town or travel widely. Kia’s support has improved quickly, though, so in most bigger cities it’s no longer a deal-breaker.On resale, the Seltos currently enjoys strong appeal, and with the next-gen Creta due around 2027, the present Creta will start to feel older sooner, which can soften its resale value earlier. So, if both are similarly priced and you like the Seltos more, I would pick the Seltos HTK(O) IVT. If you can wait, the next-gen Creta is also worth keeping in mind.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•4d

Go for the Tata Nexon EV with the 45kWh battery. You can easily expect around 350km of real-world range, and with home charging, you can top up its battery overnight and run for a week without worry, keeping your 50-75km usage in mind. In daily traffic, it feels smooth and quiet.But if you can't arrange for home charging, then you could consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel-AT option. Keep in mind, being an AMT, gearshifts aren't very smooth, and on account of its weight, the XUV 3XO won't be as efficient as a Kia Sonet or Hyundai Venue diesel-automatic, which will also be far smoother to drive.

Tata Nexon EV

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2d

If it fits in your budget, go for the Kia Seltos, as it meets most of your broad set of requirements. Kias are known to be reliable enough for prolonged usage. The Seltos has a spacious and well-appointed premium interior that looks and feels upmarket. It's also pretty fun to drive, especially if you opt for the 160hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. The new-gen Hyundai Creta is coming in 2027 and might be worth waiting for, but you will get most of what it offers in the Seltos available today. However, as you've pointed out, it might be worth moving a segment lower to get more for your money, in which case we'd recommend the Hyundai Venue. It offers much of what the Seltos offers, including reliability, features and high-quality interior - albeit in a smaller form factor at a more affordable price. If reliability trumps all else, consider a Maruti Suzuki compact SUV like the Brezza or the Fronx.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•2d

We would recommend you shortlist the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 Turbo-AT and the Hyundai Venue N Line 1.0 Turbo-AT. Given that your son has only recently learnt to drive, it will be better to buy him a 'relatively' compact car that's both user-friendly. It has a good audio system, and at the same time has the 'cool' factor that a young driver would be looking for. Both the Kylaq and Venue N Line fit the bill. Also, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engines in these cars will be adequately powerful and fun to drive, without feeling overwhelming for a new driver.A hatchback alternative that you could consider is the Hyundai i20 N Line Turbo-DCT, which should cost you around Rs 14 lakh for the top-end version.All these will comfortably fall within your Rs 20 lakh budget with some cash to spare, which you could utilise to upgrade the vehicle down the line, once he has mastered the art of driving, and wants a bigger car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Venue