Hyundai cars in India (13)

autocar.india

•4h

Go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige+ AT. Your usage of 700-750 km a month with a 40:60 highway-to-city split does not justify a diesel, especially given your concerns about DPF issues and the fact that your highway runs are only once or twice a month. The Kylaq’s 1.0 TSI turbo petrol paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven and reliable combination, and the car’s strong mid-range performance makes overtaking effortless, which you have already experienced on your test drive.Fuel efficiency is not the best and in our real world tests the Kylaq returned 8.7 kpl in the city and 13.6 on the highway when driven normally. Of course a diesel car is more efficient but for your running, the savings will not be very substantial over the life cycle of the car, especially when you factor in the lower purchase price of a petrol over a diesel. The Kylaq also offers a more engaging driving experience than the Venue, with better handling and a more planted feel on the highway.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•3h

We'd recommend a petrol automatic. With a daily running of around 46km and an ownership period of 15 years, it offers the best balance of low ownership costs, reliability and ease of use for a first-time driver.We wouldn't let E20 fuel influence your decision. Modern E20-compliant petrol cars are designed to run on it, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20. It isn't a reason to avoid buying a petrol car today. A CNG automatic will certainly reduce your fuel bills, but the higher purchase price, reduced boot space and limited automatic options make CNG car less attractive unless fuel savings are your overriding priority. An electric car will have the lowest running costs, but at your budget, you'll have to compromise on size or features, and recovering the higher upfront cost will take time.Given your budget and usage, we'd look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift automatic which will launch soon if you can stretch slightly, or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta+ AGS if you want to stay within budget. Both are easy to drive, have good ground clearance for the 6km of rough village roads and come backed by Maruti Suzuki's extensive service network. If you prefer a smoother automatic, the Hyundai Exter SX AMT is also worth considering.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Hyundai Exter

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

autocar.india

•11h

For a family car under Rs 9-10 lakh with good mileage and low maintenance, wait for the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift, which seems like the best fit. It is a simple, reliable and practical SUV with a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine, low running costs and Maruti's widespread service network. The Brezza also offers a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride and easy-to-drive manners, making it well suited for family use. The manual gearbox is easy to use, and the update is likely to feel more modern and feature-rich.You could also consider a Hyundai Venue 1.2 petrol, and even though its engine is smaller and less powerful than the above-mentioned Maruti car, it feels adequate for city use and is likely to deliver decent mileage and low maintenance costs.

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift

autocar.india

•14m

With your current usage pattern of 30-40 km weekend drives and only occasional long trips, a diesel car is no longer the right choice. The DPF issues you have experienced are a direct result of this kind of low-mileage, short-trip usage, and moving to a petrol car is the right decision.The Hyundai Venue petrol is a natural replacement if you are otherwise happy with the car. The 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol is smooth, reliable and well suited to your usage, and the car itself is compact, easy to drive and well equipped. The Kia Sonet petrol which is essentially the same car underneath is also a good option and well suited to your usageThe key is to move away from diesel and towards a simple, naturally aspirated petrol engine that will be reliable and easy to live with given your current usage. The Venue petrol, Sonet petrol and the latest Brezza petrol are all excellent petrol cars.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

autocar.india

•1d

For your usage, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit. You are doing very high mileage with long highway runs, so diesel efficiency and strong performance are the priorities. This Mahindra car is one of the most refined and powerful diesel SUVs in this price range, and it is also a very comfortable long-distance car with a spacious cabin - including a third row of seats - and a strong feature set. The Tata Harrier is also a good highway car with a strong diesel engine and a comfortable ride, but the 7XO is a more refined and better-rounded package overall. However, both these are in a higher segment, which means your budget will only get you a low- to mid-range variant. In the segment below, the Tata Sierra diesel is a newer product and looks very promising, but its diesel engine doesn't feel particularly strong considering its size and weight. The Hyundai Creta is just a facelifted version of your current car and hence won't feel as new, while the Seltos, though new and larger, uses the same engine as your Creta, and like the Sierra, doesn't feel as powerful given the SUV's size. Overall, the 7XO feels like the more premium and more complete product for your usage, but if you're not happy with the features on offer in your budget, try the Seltos instead.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Harrier

Tata Sierra

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos