Hyundai cars in India (12)

Autocar India

•3h

Buy the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid automatic. It is the only other bigger 3-row with space that will feel like a real step up from your Taigun. For a family of five, it is superb - wide, airy, comfy second row, and the hybrid makes city driving smooth and quiet while keeping running costs low. Toyota service, parts availability, and resale are about the best you can get at this price, and the cabin fit and panel consistency are better than those of the 7XO you sampled.The catch is the price and waiting period. The sweet-spot VX (O) and ZX trims push beyond Rs 30 lakh on road, and waiting periods can be long, so keep that in mind. Also, it will not feel as sharp to drive as your Taigun 1.5 TSI.If that's too far out of budget, two other options you can consider are the Hyundai Alcazar petrol or the Kia Carens Clavis EV. The Hyundai gets you the SUV body style, a punchy petrol-DCT combo, and comfy seating for 5 with the option of two smaller seats in the third row. The Clavis EV, meanwhile, may have a less desirable MPV shape, but it actually has more interior space and an equally well put-together cabin. Both Hyundai and Kia offer an excellent after-sales experience.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Volkswagen Taigun

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Carens Clavis EV

Autocar India

•2h

Take the Hyundai i20 Magna at Rs. 7.25 lakh on-road – at that price, it’s the nicest, most grown-up first car you can buy. It’s easy to drive in traffic, the clutch and steering are light, and the cabin feels a size bigger than rivals, so family and luggage won’t be a squeeze. Hyundai’s network and resale help keep ownership stress-free, and since your deal includes infotainment, the basics are covered.Just know the 1.2 petrol is calm, not quick. For highway runs, you’ll wish the engine had stronger performance, but in the city, it does reasonably well.

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•10h

The Mahindra Scorpio Classic still makes the most sense for your requirements. Coming from a Bolero Storm, the Scorpio Classic will feel familiar in terms of its rugged nature, commanding driving position and ability to tackle rough roads, highways and hilly terrain with ease. Even though your monthly running is only around 700km, the Scorpio's diesel engine should not pose any issues as long as the vehicle is driven regularly and occasionally taken on longer runs.The Maruti Suzuki Victoris and Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol are more modern and refined vehicles. They are quieter, easier to drive in traffic and better suited to urban commuting. Given your limited running, a petrol SUV is certainly the more logical choice from a purely financial perspective.However, your reasons for preferring the Scorpio are valid. If you value durability, high ground clearance, strong low-end performance and the ability to comfortably handle city roads, highways and hilly areas, the Scorpio Classic remains difficult to beat at its price point. It also offers a very different character from the Maruti and Hyundai.

Mahindra Scorpio Classic

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•23h

While both the Mahindra XUV 3XO and Hyundai Venue are competent compact SUVs, the Mahindra offers a more complete package for your budget. The diesel engine is strong and refined, making it well-suited to both town driving and highway trips. It also feels more spacious inside, especially in the rear seat, and offers a richer feature set for the money.The Venue's strengths lie in its proven ownership experience, widespread service network and easy-to-drive nature. However, it feels narrower inside and does not offer the same level of cabin space or overall value as the XUV 3XO.Since you will be using the car both in town and on highways a few times a month, the XUV 3XO's more powerful diesel engine, roomier cabin and better overall value give it an edge.However, if you are specifically considering an automatic diesel, the recommendation shifts towards the Hyundai Venue. The Venue uses a torque-converter automatic gearbox, which is smoother and more refined in everyday driving than the automated manual transmission (AMT) offered on the XUV 3XO diesel. For frequent stop-start driving, the Hyundai's gearbox delivers a noticeably better experience.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1h

Opting for an EV seems like a better bet, as that safeguards you from the uncertainties around higher ethanol-blended fuel in the future. With an Rs 11 lakh budget, you can pick the Tata Punch EV. It is an excellent, well-rounded option. However, go for an EV only if you can arrange for home charging. Relying solely on public charging for an EV isn't ideal.If you can't account for home charging, you could consider a Hyundai i20 IVT instead. It is a smooth, refined, and spacious car.

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai i20

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Creta SX petrol manual. With your usage pattern, you'll appreciate the Creta's smoothness and stress-free ownership experience, which will feel familiar to your Baleno manual. It has a roomy cabin, it rides well over bad roads, and Hyundai service is everywhere.The Tata Curvv EV will be cheaper to run and nice to drive in the city - quiet, quick and single-pedal friendly. But your highway runs will require some planning for charging stops, and it also isn't as proven as the Creta.One honest catch with the Hyundai Creta is that you will spend more on fuel, and a manual can tire you in heavy traffic. If you are okay with that, the Creta is the safer, easier choice today.

Hyundai Creta

Tata Curvv EV

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Hyundai Venue automatic - it will make your 30 km daily city drive far easier and still handle your once-in-3-months trips calmly. Two-pedal ease in traffic saves fatigue, it’s compact for tight parking, and Hyundai’s service reach is wider than most, so ownership is simple. It also gives you a change from your old Sonet without feeling alien.If you loved your Sonet’s feel and features and don’t mind a repeat, the Sonet automatic is still a strong pick. Choose the Venue if you want a slightly more relaxed ride and a fresh cabin and more space. Amaze works if you really want a sedan’s boot and lower price, but you’ll miss the higher seat and ground clearance that help on bad roads and speed breakers.Go automatic for your usage. The manual is cheaper and can return a bit better kpl, but in stop-go traffic the automatic is worth the extra Rs. 1-1.5 lakh and a little fuel penalty.

Hyundai Venue

Honda Amaze

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•1d

Modern cars from both Honda and Hyundai have significantly improved corrosion protection, and under normal ownership conditions, rust should not be a major concern.If the Honda City was your preferred choice after the test drive, there is little reason to change that decision based on a single comment. The City remains one of the most well-rounded sedans in the segment, offering excellent ride comfort, rear-seat space, visibility and a proven naturally aspirated petrol engine that is smooth, refined and reliable.The Hyundai Verna offers a more modern interior, a stronger feature list and a wider powertrain choice. While the turbo-petrol version grabs most of the attention, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol paired with the CVT is also a very smooth and relaxed combination. It is easy to drive in traffic and suits buyers looking for comfort and refinement rather than outright performance.

Honda City

Hyundai Verna

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Hyundai Creta because your 70% highway use and family of five will benefit most from its space, calm cruising and real-world efficiency. The 1.5 NA petrol with the automatic is smooth, stress-free and proven reliable, and the Creta’s big cabin and boot make family trips easy. Real-world mileage should be good too, and maintenance should be relatively low. In your budget, you should be able to get the mid-range S (O) CVT. Coming from a Maruti Jimny AT, you’ll love the greater refinement, more comfortable ride and stronger high-speed performance.From Maruti Suzuki, there are the Grand Vitara and Victoris, which are both excellent options too. Great mileage, smooth gearboxes and exceptional reliability, but for a family of five, space in the back seat isn't as good as the Creta, and the 105hp 1.5-litre petrol can feel overwhelmed under heavy load, especially on the highway, where you do 70% of your driving. Honda's 1.5-litre petrol in Elevate doesn't have this issue, but compared to the Creta, space and comfort aren't quite as good, and it lacks the same wow factor. However, if you don't mind a sedan, the City is a more compelling choice.Overall, though you won't get it in a higher variant with as many features as others, we feel the Creta is the best all-rounder for the money.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Honda Elevate