Kia Sonet

Autocar India

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Buy the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. With your 2,000 km of highway every month, its strong diesel torque keeps overtaking easy and cruising relaxed, and it’s one of the few that still gives you real value under Rs. 16 lakh.It rides comfortably on broken roads and speed breakers, has proper ground clearance, and feels secure at highway speeds. The diesel’s running costs will stay low at your mileage, and Mahindra’s pricing of the mid trims means you don’t have to stretch for the useful bits like cruise control and six airbags. One thing you will have to live with is that the boot is smaller than most rivals, so fitting two large suitcases can be a squeeze.If you absolutely want an automatic for your 1,000 to 1,500 km of monthly city driving, options like the Kia Sonet, Kia Syros and Hyundai Venue offer smooth torque converter automatics in this price range and are very easy to live with in traffic. However, if fuel efficiency is a priority, we would suggest sticking to a manual, as it will be both more efficient and more affordable.If you’re fine with a manual, the XUV 3XO diesel is the sweet spot for torque, comfort, ground clearance and low running costs.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Syros

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1d

The Mahindra Scorpio N is due for a facelift later this year, so if your father likes it and doesn't mind waiting, it could be worthwhile. However, while it has great road presence, it won't meet your other requirement of good mileage. The Scorpio N is a large, heavy, ladder-frame SUV whose focus is on strong performance and responsiveness, rather than mileage, so prepare for much lower figures than what you get in your Kia Sonet. Moreover, owing to its top-heavy ladder-frame layout, it won't drive as well as the Sonet, at least in terms of handling and sharp dynamics. What you get instead is a commanding driving position and a tough, robust feel from the driver's seat. For a good mix of road presence and driving dynamics, check out the Tata Sierra. You'll get a decently feature-packed variant around Rs 20 lakh. Also, it is the most spacious in the class, and the turbo-petrol and diesel engines come with a smooth torque-converter automatic that works well around town and on the highway. Moreover, since it is a monocoque SUV, it has more car-like driving dynamics, easier manoeuvrability, better ride quality and better refinement. For your requirements, the Sierra is the better pick.

Mahindra Scorpio N

Kia Sonet

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•2d

Skoda Kylaq is the better family automatic, mainly because it gives you a bit more cabin and boot space and a calmer ride over bad roads. It feels more secure at highway speeds with a full load, and its turbo engine with the automatic pulls cleanly, so hills and quick overtakes are easy even with the AC on. The petrol Kylaq automatic uses a torque convertor gearbox which is also smoother than the dual clutch unit on the Sonet so it would fare better in city traffic. Kia Sonet makes sense if you want more features and need Kia’s service reach which is wider. For weekend trips with four on board it will do the job too, but rear seat width and long-journey comfort are not its strong points and within a year it will get a major update, thus buying it now would not be ideal.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

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The Kia Sonet 1.2-litre petrol is smooth and refined, and the 5-speed manual gearbox is light and easy. Being an SUV, it has a raised seating position and better ground clearance, too. Additionally, interior quality is also better than that of the Baleno.Where the Maruti Suzuki Baleno scores is the fuel efficiency, which will be much better than the Kia's. Also, it has a lower starting price, but the mid and higher variants overlap with those of the Sonet.

Kia Sonet

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Autocar India

•6d

Get the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT - it is a comfortable and easy SUV to live with for your daily Chennai runs. The smooth automatic suits light traffic, the ride takes bad patches and speed breakers well, and the AC is strong, which matters in our weather. It is also properly spacious for five, with a relaxed back seat and easy ingress, so the upgrade from your beat will feel big without feeling bulky to drive.City mileage will sit around 11kpl, and the light steering makes parking and tight streets simple. Mid trims with the automatic should land around your Rs. 20 lakh mark in Chennai, and Hyundai’s wide service network helps for hassle-free ownership.One honest trade-off: the 1.5 NA is not exciting to drive on the highway, and the petrol auto is tuned more for smoothness than speed. If you want a bit more performance from a NA engine, look at the Honda Elevate CVT.

Kia Sonet

Honda Elevate

Autocar India

•6d

Low running, long-term keep, and you care about mileage and a steady feel at speed - in that brief, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus 1.2 manual fits you better. With the same 1.2 petrol engine, mileage will be much the same as the Venue's in daily use, but the Sonet feels a touch more stable on the highway. Its steering has a bit more weight, and the suspension feels firmer, so it holds a straight line well and gives you more confidence on flyovers and open roads. Cabin quality also feels a notch nicer, which matters when you plan to keep it for many years.Know the trade-offs. This 1.2 engine is fine in the city, but with four or five people and luggage, it will feel slow to overtake so you will plan your moves. The Sonet’s ride is a little firm at low speeds, so sharp bumps are felt more than in the Hyundai Venue. If you often travel with rear passengers, then the Sonet's back seat can feel cramped compared to the Venue, but it makes up for it with a larger boot. If most of your use is inside the city and you want a softer, easier drive, the Hyundai Venue 1.2 in a similar mid variant will suit you. Overall, for your needs, pick the Sonet HTK Plus.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

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Given your usage pattern of mostly city driving with traffic and a few highway runs, pick the Kia Sonet diesel automatic. It suits you better because its automatic is a torque converter unit, unlike the Nexon's AMT, which feels smooth and quick, so driving in traffic and hill starts are easy. The 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine is refined and responsive, which makes driving less tiring. Plus, the cabin feels more premium than the Nexon's.Know the trade-offs: the Sonet’s back seat is not as spacious as the Tata Nexon, and the ride can feel a little firm at low speeds on broken roads.

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon

Autocar India

•6d

With 50 km a day, a mix of city and highway driving, plus weekend trips, petrol is the safer pick for you. It avoids DPF worries. Modern diesels work fine if you do steady highway runs for 15-20 minutes a few times a week, but if your driving is often slow and short, the filter can clog, and you will see warnings.Between your two choices, pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 petrol. It fits your budget and usage better because its turbo-petrol engine feels stronger on highways, so overtaking is easy even with passengers and bags. It also rides well over rough patches and feels steady at speed, which suits your weekend runs. In the city, it is easy to drive and not hard to park. If you are opting for the automatic, the torque-converter gearbox in the 3XO shifts smoothly and makes city driving stress-free.Know the trade-offs. The 3XO’s boot is not the biggest, so fitting two large suitcases plus extra bags may be tight.If you mostly drive in the city and carry a lot of luggage, the Kia Sonet HTK Plus petrol is the better alternative. Overall, for your mix, the 3XO AX5 petrol lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

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The Kia Sonet is the better pick of the two compact SUVs. It's got the more refined engine, slicker gearbox and generally more polished driving experience than the Nexon. What also pushes the Sonet's case is its interior, which comes across as more premium with greater attention to detail and a higher level of fit and finish. Your budget will get you the fully-loaded Sonet, which is really well equipped. A very large boot is another Sonet highlight. The Sonet does feel firm in its ride comfort.The Tata Nexon has its strengths too. It feels tough, especially on bad patches of road. There's a bit more room at the back too though the sloping window line takes away from the sense of space. Further, the Nexon has started showing its age now. If you want something altogether newer, the Hyundai Venue diesel manual is an option to consider. It's spacious, refined and packs in new-age features.

Kia Sonet

Tata Nexon

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

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While there are a fair few options within your budget, we'll narrow the list down to models that can be had in mid-spec and above form. After all you don't want to pay Rs. 15 lakh and feel shortchanged on feel good features. Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Kia Syros use the same 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine. The engine is pleasant and comes paired to a smooth 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. However, it's the 6-speed torque converter automatic version that we'd recommend you opt for. The gearbox is well in tune with the engine's characteristics, and what you get is a very polished drive experience. Of the three, the Hyundai Venue is the best all rounder but is on the pricey side for what you get. The Kia Syros is easily the roomiest and feels most premium inside too. A firm ride does take away from the experience, though. The Sonet is the oldest of the lot but still holds its own in quality, tech and features. In fact, the Sonet that's in its run out phase (the next-gen Sonet comes in a few months) is available at very tempting prices without feeling like a last-gen model. If you like the robust build of your VW Polo, you might find a good replacement in the Mahindra XUV 3XO. There's a toughness to the package, and ride and handling are very well sorted. Go for the manual, though. The AMT is not great.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Kia Syros