[Aditya]

Maruti Brezza

What you'll like:

• Good-looking Compact SUV with improved road presence & mass appeal
• Well-rounded product. Takes a successful formula and improves upon it
• A competent BS6 petrol with Smart Hybrid tech and excellent fuel efficiency
• Smooth 6-speed torque-converter AT comes with paddle shifters
• Well-mannered suspension setup riding on 16-inch wheels and 215/60 section tyres
• Decent cabin space for a sub-4 meter car. Lots of storage & a powerful air-con too
• Now gets a sunroof, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, ambient lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc
• Long feature list includes dual projector LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs & foglamps, auto-dimming IRVM, cruise control and a 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX. Built on the same platform as the outgoing car, which had received a 4-star GNCAP safety rating
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• Feels more like a significant facelift rather than an all-new product
• No diesel option like its rivals! Petrol-only as of now. CNG may be offered in the future
• 1.5L petrol engine lacks outright grunt. Tuned for fuel-efficiency and suitable for relaxed cruising only
• Expensive! AT variants are priced higher than competitor turbo-petrols with more advanced transmissions
• AT option commands a stiff Rs. 1.5 lakh ex-showroom premium!
• Interior quality and fit & finish are underwhelming for the price. The game has moved on
• Short gearing of the 5-speed MT and lack of 6th cog results in an unusually busy engine at 100-120 km/h
• 328-litre boot is among the smallest in the segment
• Some missing features like ventilated seats, leather upholstery, TPMS, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors

Review Link

Hyundai Venue

What you'll like:

• A mini-Creta in almost every way! Same formula, in a smaller package
• Precise build & quality (including interiors) are easily among the segment best
• Competent engines mated to slick gearboxes
• Fast shifting dual-clutch Automatic gearbox available
• Balanced road manners. Very easy to drive as well
• Loaded to the gills with equipment (paddle shifters, drive modes, sunroof, BlueLink telematics, cabin air purifier etc.)
• Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, BAS, ESP, HSA, ISOFIX and more
• Hyundai's competent after-sales & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• Diminutive street presence. Looks more hatchback than SUV from some angles, especially the rear
• Strictly a 4-seater; the rear bench has very awkward seating for the middle occupant
• Missing kit (auto wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, steering reach adjustment...)
• Long term reliability of the DCT is a concern
• Engine noise is very prominent, more so in Sport mode
• AT only on the petrol, not the diesel. Kia Sonet gets a Diesel AT

Review Link

The 2020 1.0L iMT

The 2022 Facelift

Kia Sonet

What you'll like:

• A mini-Seltos in almost every way! Same formula, in a smaller package
• Sharp & handsome styling. In our opinion, this is the best-looking Compact SUV
• Excellent spread of powertrains including a fast & enjoyable turbo-petrol
• Diesel AT is fantastic; the only smooth torque-converter gearbox in a sea of AMTs
• Well-tuned suspension offers a good balance between ride & handling. 205 mm GC too
• Top safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, TPMS etc.
• Very enjoyable 7-speaker Bose sound system
• Impressive kit (ventilated seats, sunroof, auto LED headlamps, cruise control, wireless charger)

What you won't:

• Rear seat legroom is just adequate, while its limited width makes the Sonet a 4-seater
• Top variants are pricey! More expensive than its sibling, the Hyundai Venue too
• Some misses ( 60:40 rear seat split, auto wipers, steering reach adjustment, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trims…)
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• As always with Kia, the variant spread is tough to figure out. Good luck finding your perfect Sonet!
• Waiting periods are a couple of months long for some trims

Review Link

Tata Nexon

What you’ll like:

• Very well-priced for what it offers. Undercuts all rivals
• Funky styling ensures that the Nexon stands out from the crowd
• 5-star NCAP safety rating & a solid build, unlike many of its flimsy competitors
• Nice, spacious cabin with comfortable seats. You get a practical 350-liter boot too
• 1.5L diesel & 1.2L petrol offer good performance. Diesel is especially impressive
• Balanced road manners for such a tall car. Fine EPS & 209 mm of ground clearance!
• Loaded with features: Driving modes, LED DRLs, reversing camera, 8-speaker ICE etc.
• Dual airbags, ABS & Isofix child seat mounts are standard on all variants

What you won’t:

• Overdone design will be a turnoff for many of you. Rear end is way too busy
• Jiggly low speed ride; bumps are felt in the city (unlike other Tata cars)
• 3-cylinder petrol can't match 4-cylinder competition in NVH. Has lag too
• The observant eye will notice some rough edges in fit, finish & quality
• Concerns over long-term reliability, more so of the freshly developed engines
• Missing essentials (telescopic steering adjustment, auto-dimming IRVM, proper dead pedal)
• Tata's inconsistent after-sales experience is far from that of Maruti & Hyundai
• Shorter service / checkup interval of 6 months & 7,500 km (rivals have 12-month gaps)

Review Link

Toyota Urban Cruiser

Launch Thread

Mahindra XUV300

What you'll like:

• A truly premium crossover. Nice build, quality & refinement levels
• Great looking! Smart design has none of the usual Mahindra quirkiness
• Cabin has enough space for 5. Quality-wise, the interior is more like a Hyundai
• Fantastic engines. The petrol & diesel, both, offer fast performance & good driveability
• A compliant ride with neutral road manners
• Top safety kit. 7 airbags, ESP, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, seatbelt reminders for all & more
• Loaded to the gills with equipment (front parking sensors, sunroof, cruise control, auto headlamps & wipers etc)

What you won't:

• The most expensive Compact SUV in India! Not overpriced, but definitely higher than expected
• 257-liter boot is the smallest in the segment. There are cheaper hatchbacks which have a larger boot
• Lack of a proper middle variant. W6 trim is simply too bare-bones, while W8 is expensive!
• AMT doesn’t suit a truly premium crossover like the XUV300
• Sad audio system by current standards. The bass, especially, is poor
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Some important features missing (dead pedal, parcel tray, rear air-con, steering reach adjustment etc)

Review Link

The 2021 XUV300 Petrol AMT

Honda WR-V

What you’ll like:

• Crossover styling, taller seating position & 188 mm of ground clearance
• Interior space is awesome, with a practical boot too. Honda’s packaging skills are brilliant!
• 1.5L diesel offers excellent driveability & fuel economy
• Well-tuned suspension; a supple, cushy ride matched to neutral handling
• Features such as sunroof, feather-touch climate control, LED DRLs, cruise control, reversing camera, touchscreen ICE & more

What you won’t:

• Unimpressive 1.2L petrol has a weak bottom end. Honda should’ve gotten their tasty 1.5L here
• Diesel’s NVH still has holes to fill, especially at higher revs
• Strangely, no automatic! This & the Mobilio are the only Hondas without an AT option
• Petrol is inexplicably lesser equipped than the diesel (keyless start & go, cruise control)
• Missing features! Magic seats, rear air-con vents & adjustable headrests, auto-dimming IRVM, height adjustable seatbelts, auto headlights

Review Link

Renault Kiger

Driving Report

Nissan Magnite

What you'll like:

• The Magnite looks really good…that handsome face is a head-turner
• Sheer value-for-money pricing. Turbo-petrol with a proper AT under 10 lakhs!
• Peppy performance from the Magnite’s 1.0L turbo-petrol engine
• Smooth well-tuned CVT in a sea of jerky AMTs. Has Sport and L modes too
• Healthy legroom for rear passengers. Space packaging is brilliant
• Impressive kit (cruise control, LED headlamps, rear air-con vents, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay)
• 205 mm of ground clearance is more than enough for any kind of bad roads
• Safety kit includes ESP, TPMS, ABS, EBD & hill start assist
• Base variant also gets reasonable kit, including a rear wiper. It’s not poverty-spec

What you won't:

• Stiff & basic ride quality. You feel each and everything on the road
• The Magnite is built to a cost and it does show, especially in the budget-grade cabin
• Lower variants’ 1.0L naturally-aspirated petrol is a boring, unimpressive engine
• Clunky, firm MT gearshift & a clutch pedal that has more weight than it should
• No diesel option available on the Nissan Magnite
• Cabin is narrower than some competitors. Narrow width makes it best for 4 adults
• Missing features such as an auto dimming IRVM, full-size spare tyre…
• Doesn't have the finesse or quality of premium crossovers like the XUV300, Sonet etc.
• Nissan's tiny dealership network & lousy after-sales quality

Review Link

Tata Punch

What you'll like:

• Snazzy styling! We love the mini-Harrier face and tight rear end
• Well-designed & practical cabin with enough space for 4 adults
• 366-liter boot is accommodating
• 1.2L NA petrol offers good driveability in the city. Performance is acceptable <90 kmph
• Sorted road manners & reassuring high speed stability
• Enjoyable Harman 6-speaker ICE. One of the better systems in this segment
• Features such as auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, Traction Pro (AMT), cooled glovebox…with factory customization packs too
• A full 5-stars in the GNCAP! Safety package includes dual airbags, CSC, brake sway control, ISOFIX etc.

What you won't:

• 1.2L NA petrol’s highway performance is weak. At 100 kmph & up, more noise than action
• Suspension has a firm tune (R16 variants). It is compliant & liveable, but you do feel bad roads
• Jerky and slow AMT gearbox when competitors offer you smoother CVTs and torque converters
• 3-cylinder petrol cannot match the competition’s 4-cylinders in refinement & NVH
• No turbo petrol or diesel option. Period. Rivals & other Tata cars offer both
• Cabin width makes 4 adults welcome, not 5
• Some missing goodies such as an auto-dimming IRVM, splitting rear seat, rear AC vents, full-size spare…
• Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble

Review Link

Citroen C3

What you'll like:

• Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time
• Good-looking cabin that is practical too
• 1.2L turbo-petrol is punchy, while the 1.2L naturally-aspirated engine offers excellent driveability
• 6-speed MT is slick and light to operate. Definitely one of the better gearboxes in the segment
• Sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package
• Compact size and light controls are perfect for the urban environment
• 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is excellent to use
• Lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What you won't:

• Missing plenty of features = electric ORVM adjustment, IRVM dimmer (not even manual), climate control, rear wiper & defogger, reversing camera, alloy wheels, tachometer!
• Just 2 variants at launch (no true top variant)
• No automatic transmission on offer - a big miss when ATs are rapidly gaining popularity in India
• Quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
• Some ergonomic issues like the placement of rear power window switches, unusable rear headrests…
• 1.2L NA petrol’s highway performance is mediocre; 5-speed MT is notchy too
• Cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults, not 5
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

Review Link

[GTO]

Despite newer competition, the Kia Sonet remains my favourite Compact SUV due to that styling, features, suspension tune & most importantly = great engines mated to smooth ATs. The XUV300 & Nexon are next on my list and I'd probably go with them if I wanted to get an MT vehicle. But I'm an AT guy now and the XUV300 / Nexon desperately need to dump the jerky AMTs.

[itsmeparvathy9]

The Sub 4 metre SUV/ Crossover segment, one of the most crowded segments in the auto industry in India today with almost every major manufacturer having a model.

I voted for the Kia Sonet, despite all the newer launches including its Sister Car Hyundai Venue and the new Maruti Suzuki Brezza. According to me, the Sonet has it all, the looks, the lengthy list of engine and gearbox options to suit everyone's needs, the mileage, the tech and the gizmos,the boot space, comfort,for what it's worth, it even has the sweet 1.5 L Diesel AT seen in much premium offerings like the Alcazar, Elantra, Creta, Seltos, Verna and the Carens. With the Sonet being the smallest of the lot and with the same engine it makes it a really FUN and frugal car as well.

the only thing which it lacks is the rear seat space, which although not too bad, is behind the competition.

There may be arguments about the safety aspect, body shell integrity and all such stuff, but the Sonet does come with all requisite active safety features and 4 airbags as standard too.

So, for a small family, who want value on their money spent, the Sonet is a no brainer.

[shancz]

Voted XUV300.

Petrol and MT for me and hence the car which made me feel "let's head to Ladakh" the moment I started driving takes that spot easily. Dismissed smooth roads and bad ones with ease.

If the S-Cross hadn't been discontinued it would have been a very difficult fight between the XUV300 W8 Petrol MT and the S-Cross Zeta MT.

[SanjayW]

Tata Nexon will be my pick, it has petrol, diesel, EV, 5 star safety ratings, build quality is superior than sonet, venue and Brezza.
I won't pick sonet because of cramped rear space.
Brezza has only perol engine that is priced at premium and power is just adequate.
I don't like shape of XUV300.

[Rocketscience]

Despite booking the new Brezza, I chose Venue, reason is that Brezza is for my wife!

Venue looks great, has Hyundai's backing and fantastic set of engines both Turbo Petrol and Diesel, I don't like its interior design though but its exterior looks stunning to me as compared to Sonet which has as bad looking interiors but worse looking exteriors, Sonet is a great choice too as it is identical to this and looks great to majority of TBHP folks who have never seen eye to eye with me regarding Venue's looks, but the Venue especially the facelift with the new grille remains my top choice!

Although I'd whole heartedly recommend the New Brezza for most people as they'd be OK with the power and no one I know is hell bent on purchasing the top most variant which are overpriced for the Brezza, the VXi would make for a great car for most people with Maruti's backing, simple and reliable engine with good driveability, stunning looks from outside as well inside, good build quality and reassuring NCAP rating going for the car, it is a great overall package, just not for me personally although we would be welcoming it in our garage soon.

[ajayc123]

Opted for Toyota urban cruiser (preferred strong hybrid) keeping an anticipation of fuss free long term ownership.

Interesting to note that Kushaq / Taigun are clubbed with others, though they have longest threads on TBHP.

[itsmeparvathy9]

Originally Posted by ajayc123

Opted for Toyota urban cruiser (preferred strong hybrid) keeping an anticipation of fuss free long term ownership.

Interesting to note that Kushaq / Taigun are clubbed with others, though they have longest threads on TBHP.

I think you have been mistaken! the Toyota Urban Cruiser is the one mentioned here (sub 4 metre model similar to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza) released in 2020, not the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder which is due for launch in the upcoming month.

The Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Kushaq, Taigun, Creta, Seltos, Astor etc. are over 4 metres in length. All the models mentioned in this thread are under 4 metres.

[CarWorld]

If I am going for AT, here is my preference.
1. Sonet (Diesel AT)
2. Kiger (Turbo CVT)
3. Brezza (1.5 L Petrol NA AT)

If I am going for MT, the preference will be,
1. Nexon (Diesel)
2. XUV 300 (Diesel)
3. Brezza

Those who have significant running on highways can go for diesel (Sonet AT) without worrying about DPF issues, those who have primary run inside City, can opt for Kiger CVT in my opinion.

[SoumenD]

Probably the hottest segment but sadly none of the options feel complete.

XUV3OO & Nexon while being safest lack a proper AT(TC/CVT). I so wanted to get the nexon but AMT TD turned me off.

Sonet and Venue are feature packed but they belong to a stable which is yet to give 1 car under 20L that’s structurally stable. Unacceptable when paying more than a million bucks

Brezza is priced way too optimistically for a sub4m crossing 17L in Bangalore. If I have to spend that much, might as well look at the upper segment’s lower/mid variants. Hyryder/Vitara i.e.

Punch & C3 sound interesting but former again has only an AMT and the latter doesn’t have a AT yet in 2022 which sounds weird.

Magnite seems to be the best compromise in terms of safety(4* with stable bodyshell), good engine transmission combo & isn’t priced astronomically. Interior quality leaves you a bit underwhelmed but guess I can live with that as long as the fundamentals are sorted. So voted for Magnite

[xway]

Voted Kia Sonet.

Hands down without even a thought.

Reason is best styling, well packaged, an all rounder in all departments.
There is everything to smile and nothing to complain.

I have never come to prefer Tata or Mahindra vehicles even when they were priced much lower than the popular brands. Now its an even grimmer story when they caught up with the prices but not in service, finish, refinement and reliability.

Other options have something or other going for them like Brezza, Venue which are close contenders, but rest are not worth considering for me.

[ajayc123]

Originally Posted by itsmeparvathy9

i think you have been mistaken! the Toyota Urban Cruiser is the one mentioned here (sub 4 metre model similar to the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza) released in 2020, not the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder which is due for launch in the upcoming month,

The Urban Cruiser Hyryder,Kushaq, Taigun, Creta, Seltos, Astor etc are over 4 metres in length. All the models mentioned in this thread are under 4 metres.

Thanks for clarification. I accept the mistake. It's human behaviour, as the HyRyder has always on my mind since I heard about it.

In such circumstance, I would vote for Brezza, but I don't see an option to change.

[headbanger]

I have to go for a petrol due to NGT ruling. Hence, Brezza edges out Sonet due to a safer shell and TC transmission. We have Sonet diesel automatic in family as well. So I know first hand of its pros and cons. If it's automatic and diesel, Sonet is a no brainer. Tata Nexon is a super choice if the requirements are for manual transmission and diesel engine.

[JithinR]

Voted for Magnite. As another fellow member mentioned it's the best compromise. I would have picked the Nexon but I am loathe to pay 10L+ of tax deducted pittance and then get an AMT for all my efforts.

This is actually reflected even in the bookings that I did a few years back. First, went for Nexon D AMT and then cancelled it when I changed jobs and realised that diesel no longer made sense for the short commute. Also, I never liked the petrol engine or even the interior design.

Then we booked the Magnite but cancelled it due to the ridiculous waiting period and the fact that reading all those threads on the limited lifespan of IT folks drove some financial literacy into my noggin.

Finally, settled for a used car.

[MaheshY1]

Voted: Citroen C3 (Turbo)

I prefer simpler vehicles with fewer electronics, good touchpoint feel, and good drivability.

The C3 is a rare car with a sorted turbo petrol engine, good feel from touchpoints, and very few electronics (so, low probability of electronic feature failure.) I'll add a day/night mirror, maybe an aftermarket front armrest and I'm good. I just wish it was a little cheaper. As in, if the turbo was available without a touchscreen, dual-tone, and vibe pack.

Disclaimer: I'm not a potential buyer for any of these cars. I look at a good car and look for its potential for failure so that I can buy it at dirt cheap prices 4-5 years later. I literally looked at the 2017 BS4 Multix when it launched with a higher displacement engine and said to myself, "I hope it fails so I can buy it 5 years later." Now, I'm looking for a used Multix in good condition at a value price.