Hyundai cars in India (13)

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Coming from a Datsun Go, you'll probably appreciate a car that feels light, easy to manoeuvre and has a responsive engine rather than a large SUV. Given your relatively low monthly running of around 400km and the fact that most of your driving will be in Bengaluru, a petrol automatic makes the most sense.Our pick would be the Skoda Kylaq Signature AT. It is compact enough for city traffic, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine feels genuinely peppy and the torque-converter automatic is smooth and easy to live with. It also offers a substantial upgrade over the Datsun in terms of safety, refinement and overall quality.If you prefer a hatchback, the Hyundai i20 IVT is worth considering. It is easy to drive in traffic, has a smooth and refined powertrain and offers a premium cabin. While it isn't as punchy as the Kylaq, it remains one of the best all-round city cars in this price range.As for the Hyundai Bayon, we wouldn't recommend delaying your purchase for it. Even if Hyundai decides to bring it to India, it is likely to be positioned above your budget and could end up closer to the Creta in terms of pricing.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Bayon

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Since you already have a Hyundai i10, we would recommend moving up to another Hyundai, so that you continue in the same service network. You can even try and ask your dealership for a loyalty bonus or exchange offer at the time of purchase. While the Grand i10 Nios comes across as the VFM choice, in that you can get a fully loaded Asta AMT variant well within your Rs. 10 lakh budget. If that's okay with you, it should still feel like a sufficient upgrade from your older i10, with considerably more space. However, a real update would be the Exter, which though based on the Grand i10 Nios, is newer, more spacious and crucially gets you a bit more ground clearance as a buffer against poor roads. Ingress and egress are easy in the Nios but easier still in the Exter, and it recently got an update which has kept things relatively fresh. The downside is you won't get a fully loaded AMT variant in your budget, but you don't miss out on too much. Another alternative is the Tata Punch, which feels a bit more solid, but its powertrain is nowhere as smooth as the Hyundai's 1.2-litre petrol and AMT combination.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Hyundai Exter

Tata Punch

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The Kia Seltos GTX+ IVT would be the recommendation here. Given your annual running of 8,000-10,000km and predominantly city-based usage in Delhi NCR, a naturally aspirated petrol automatic is the right choice. That's why we'd suggest narrowing your decision down to the Creta IVT and Seltos IVT, rather than the Tata Sierra Turbo AT. While the Sierra is an impressive package, the turbo-petrol powertrain is likely to be less efficient and more expensive to run over the long term than the Hyundai-Kia 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.Between the Creta and Seltos, the nod goes to the Seltos. It is the newer product, feels more premium inside, offers a slightly more spacious cabin and remains one of the most feature-rich SUVs in the segment. Ride comfort is also very good, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally well-suited to urban driving.Another factor worth considering is that the next-generation Creta is expected within the next year or so, whereas the Seltos has a longer lifecycle ahead of it, making it the safer long-term bet.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Tata Sierra

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The Hyundai i20 Asta (O) IVT would be the recommendation here. Your priorities are comfort for five adults, predominantly city driving and a smooth automatic gearbox. The i20 delivers very well on all three counts. Its rear seat is among the roomiest in the premium hatchback segment, the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in Delhi's stop-start traffic, and the overall driving experience is relaxed and refined. It is also easier to drive and park than an SUV in crowded urban conditions.The Kia Sonet HTK+(O) DCT and HTX DCT offer a more powerful turbo-petrol engine and a higher seating position, but the rear seat isn't as accommodating for three adults, and the DCT transmission isn't as seamless in heavy traffic as Hyundai's IVT.If you want an SUV, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza AT and Mahindra 3XO AT are the alternatives worth considering. Both have wider cabins and are among the best five-seaters in this price bracket. Importantly, both use conventional automatic gearboxes that feel smoother and more natural in everyday city driving than the Sonet's DCT. The Brezza scores well on refinement, efficiency and ease of ownership, while the 3XO offers a more premium cabin and stronger performance.

Hyundai i20

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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It depends on what you are looking for from the vehicle. If you want a larger car with a bigger boot, get the Hyundai Creta, which is in a segment above the Brezza. However, note that you will only get the low-spec EX and EX(O) variants with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and manual gearbox in your budget. While you can get a panoramic sunroof in the EX(O), the rest of the features are very basic. Meanwhile, in the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is available in fully loaded ZXi+ guise comfortably within your budget. You get far more features than the Creta in this budget, including auto climate control, a heads-up display, split-folding rear seats, LED headlamps, rear washer-wiper, keyless entry and go, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and more. What's more, you can get an automatic gearbox with the Brezza within your budget, which adds hugely to convenience. The cabin and boot space are also not too much less than the Creta, and the mileage will be much higher.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Creta

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Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol automatic. It meets your requirements, the mid variant will fit under your budget and it feels like a proper midsize SUV with the space, ground clearance and comfort that you won’t get in the sub-4m segment. In daily office runs, the smooth CVT automatic and light controls will make driving in traffic easy, its visibility is good. In addition, Hyundai’s service reach keeps life simple for a company car. For once-in-3-month highway trips, it cruises calmly on the highway, rides comfortably, has a big boot for bags, and the cabin is roomy enough too.It's worth noting though that the 1.5 petrol is more about smoothness than speed, so with five people and luggage you might want more performance. Also, the fanciest features sit in the top-spec versions. But for reliability, ease of use, and total ownership peace of mind, this is the balanced choice.

Hyundai Creta

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The Skoda Kylaq Automatic would be the recommendation here. For an older driver who is relatively inexperienced in city traffic, the Kylaq's torque-converter automatic is a major advantage. It is smoother and more predictable than a dual-clutch transmission in stop-start conditions, while the light steering, good visibility and compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre. The higher seating position also inspires confidence and makes getting in and out easier.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good SUV, but if ease of use is the priority, the Kylaq's torque-converter automatic is the better fit. DCTs work best when driven smoothly and can occasionally feel less natural in heavy traffic than a conventional automatic.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai Venue

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Go for the Hyundai Venue. Given your limited usage, there's no need to spend extra for the diesel engine, and either of the petrol engines should be sufficient. The 1.2-litre engine is perfect for your largely city use, with sufficient power and a light clutch and gear shift. However, for your highway trips, it might feel underpowered, and in that case, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol is a better bet, and even comes with a DCT automatic option. However, this engine isn't as fuel-efficient as the 1.2.Being one of the newest SUVs in the compact segment, the Venue comes with the latest tech, high-quality interiors, good space and good comfort too. With your budget of Rs 15 lakh, you can go up to the HX8 variant, which has a lot of features and tech. This includes safety features, and you'll be reassured by the fact that it has scored 5 stars in Bharat NCAP's crash tests. The only downside is that it's not particularly exciting to drive compared to some rivals.Speaking of which, alternatives include the Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO, which have also scored 5-star NCAP ratings, but aren't as fuel-efficient as the Venue. Or conversely, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Fronx, which are more fuel efficient, but haven't yet been tested by Bharat NCAP or Global NCAP. Overall, we think the Venue is the best bet for you.

Hyundai Venue

Tata Nexon

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Hyundai has globally unveiled the next-generation i20 with a completely new design, larger screens and a more tech-focused cabin. However, the company has not yet confirmed whether this model will make its way to India.Even if it does, it is unlikely to arrive before 2027. With buyers increasingly gravitating towards compact SUVs, premium hatchbacks are no longer the priority they once were, which could influence Hyundai's plans for the Indian market.For that reason, if your requirement is a car for city commuting today, it doesn't make much sense to postpone your purchase. The current Hyundai i20 iVT remains one of the best city automatics in its price bracket. The CVT gearbox is exceptionally smooth in traffic, the cabin feels premium, and the car is comfortable enough for occasional highway trips as well.

Hyundai i20

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For your relatively high running and goal of reducing running costs, a diesel is probably your best pick. At 3,100 km a month, diesel will cut your per-km cost far more than petrol, and you can get a well equipped manual within Rs. 12 lakh within your shortlist. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel and Kia Sonet diesel are booth good options. Bear in mind, however, that you will have to take a few extra steps for diesel engine maintenance, such as occasional Adblue top-ups and high-speed runs to regenerate the DPF.The XUV 3XO has the stronger engine, more spacious cabin and comfier suspension, whereas the Kia Sonet offers better mileage, interior quality and refinement. Another good option is the Hyundai Venue diesel, which is the best all rounder, and offers a fair mix between the XUV 3XO and Sonet. However, it is more expensive, and you will have to stretch your budget slightly to get some features.The Brezza is a good option too, but there is no diesel, and while you can opt for CNG, you will experience a power deficit in the process. Downsides of CNG include long waits at the pump, and a CNG tank that compromises boot space. If you are fine with this, it's a good alternative, but bear in mind, there is a facelift of the Brezza coming out soon, so it might be worthwhile waiting for that.The Punch EV 40kWh would be the absolute cheapest to run, but will push the limits of your budget and only makes sense if you have home charging. All considered, the XUV 3XO or Sonet diesel are your best options.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Punch EV

Hyundai Venue