[Aditya]

Maruti Fronx

What you'll like:

• Smart looking crossover with sharp & attractive styling
• Feels better built than some other Maruti cars
• 1.0L Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine is quick and has minimal turbo lag. Driveability is satisfactory
• Smart Hybrid system ensures excellent fuel efficiency. ARAI = 20.01 to 22.89 kmpl
• Nicely tuned suspension glides over small bumps, potholes and road imperfections
• User-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 adults (unlike many competitors)
• Long feature list includes LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX
• Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

• On the inside, it’s almost identical to the regular Baleno. Differentiation should’ve been more
• Quality of some plastic parts and fabric upholstery is mediocre
• 1.0L turbo-petrol although quick, is not exciting enough for enthusiasts
• 308-litre boot is among the smallest in the segment
• No diesel option like some rivals
• Rear seat’s under-thigh support is lacking for taller passengers
• A few missing features like sunroof, TPMS, rear armrest, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors
• Lesser height means, despite the smart styling, it doesn’t have the road presence of typical crossovers

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

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

Citroen C3

What you'll like:

• Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time
• Good-looking cabin that is practical too
• Fast 1.2L turbo-petrol is genuinely fun-to-drive, 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 features like climate control, tachometer, etc.
• 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

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

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

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

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, turbo-petrol & diesel, 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

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line.

[Sran]

Had to scrap the 15 year old Alto due to NGT rules in Delhi, got Rs 27,000. It was a good car, went all over Himachal, Uttarakhand, Punjab in her heydays, braved landslides during monsoon drives in Manali. Drove her good and hard but was in pristine condition due to primarily being driven for only 2 kms daily.

Now in market for a new car, will be driven not more than 100km/month, occassional once in a year Shimla, Haridwar, Chandigarh trips (yearly around 3000 km). I know its low but got to have one, so budget is 9 Lakhs. Haven't driven the Fronx yet nor will be able to before buying as I won't be available there if it will be bought. However, I will test drive it here. Have driven Baleno but only manual version for good amount of time here and in various cities, pretty much a no nonsense car, nothing amiss but nothing special. I have also never driven Tata Punch. I am somewhat reluctant on purchasing Tata as an ex owner of Safari. Not too keen on Altroz as many owners have issues and service all over is bad and I am looking for fuss free ownership. The car will be kept for next unforeseeable future or 15 years. Also no Turbo engine due to low running.

I have gotten offer of a 2 year old 20,000 km run Nexon XMA AMT for 8 Lakhs and a 2017 Creta EX manual, run 44,000 km for 8 lakhs. However, I am not much inclined due to second hand issues and have to buy it before monsoon arrives so not leaving much time to scope other good pre owned cars. Are these two valid options?

[Abhisheknott]

Voted for the Brezza though the best car here would be the Nexon. Cant live with the Nexon design. Only the Brezza and Nexon are proper 5 seaters.

Interesting poll as it combines two sets of vehicles. The Magnite/Kiger/C3/Fronx/Punch are similar and the other 5 one size above. Any particular reason why they are clubbed together?

The C3 is the new first gen Swift. Hope they ramp up their presence as the vehicle is really good.

[AYP]

My choice would be the Kia Sonet for the diesel+AT combo. To reiterate, diesel plus a 'proper' automatic combination. The truck load of features are an added advantage.

Even if we take away the diesel option, I'd still go for the Sonet for the 1.0 Turbo plus the DCT combo, followed by the Venue.

Amongst the lower strata of the 'SUVs' , I'd pick the Fronx due to the 1.0 Turbo plus a proper torque converter combo.

[Shreyans_Jain]

Nexon remains the car of choice in the among the compact crossovers, closely followed by Brezza and Sonet. The upcoming new model of Nexon promises to bring in a host of updates, including the all important DCA automatic. This will take care of its single biggest weak point, and make it attractive to a larger section of audience that were put off by that stupid AMT. Otherwise, its combination of space, pace, solid build, sorted suspension, potent engines, proven safety and overall robustness is very hard to beat. It is the complete package.

One thing is for sure - car prices may be shooting upwards, but the buyer was never spoilt for choice quite like this. This is the single largest segment of cars in India now, and no other segment is so hotly contensted.

[d-g-p]

Voted for Brezza. Only major disadvantage of Brezza is the lack of outright grunt.
With a proper Automatic, that is presumed to be coming soon, Nexon would be no 1 choice for me.
Kiger and Magnite are VFM products, an update with improved interior and six airbags makes it more appealing.
Citroen C3 needs a proper Automatic, improved interior and more sales & service network.
Venue and Sonet though are sorted product, I would never vote for them until some serious structural safety efforts shown and implemented.

[Jangra]

Voted for Kia Sonet. Variant of choice is 1.5 D AT
I think for the driving enthusiasts looking for an automatic transmission, only two choices are Fronx and Sonet. Between the two, I would anyday choose Sonet for its;
- Much better and Torquey Diesel engine
- Better sound system
- Better interior ambience
- Better Road presence

[AutoInt]

Voted for Renault Kiger. This is value for money option. It has 1.0 Turbo matted with CVT. It is good to drive. Interiors and features could be better.

[07CR]

Voted for Kia Sonet. I own a HTX iMT 1.0 turbo. This car checks all of my requirements-
Spacious for 4+1.
Best in class boot.
Awesome road presence (IMO second only to the Ecosport)
Very well loaded for the 2nd/3rd top variant as well.
Best in class ride and handling combo (Now that Ecosport is not there).
NVH is excellent.
1.0 turbo is marvelous. Reaches triple digit speeds faster than you think.
Gearshift is literally pinky finger light. Absence of clutch lever is a godsend for my left leg.
ASS experience has been pretty affordable and flawless.

What could improve-
FE in bumper to bumper traffic could improve.
Low speed ride could be a little more better.
Space for 5 healthy adults. Average size 5 adults still fit though.

[SNA411]

One of my permanent pet peeve with Team-BHP has been why is Tata Punch always included in this segment polls, and who even votes for it?

[Vikram9193]

Voted for the Punch. It’s the smallest and least expensive thing on the road that still gives SUV vibes when I drive past in my hatchback. I like the Fronx but the two criteria for a compact SUV are raised bonnet and raised seat height. The Fronx only does the first. This is a fatal flaw in the Indian market. If it sells, it’ll be because it’s a Maruti.

Of course as an enthusiast I’m all for cross hatches, my Punto has as much or more ground clearance than a Fronx and will do most Uttarakhand village trails in the dry. But the market needs a taller seat height as well to complete the SUV experience. Why else did the S-Cross fail?

[Small Bot]

Voted for the Brezza, and with my wallet as well.

The Brezza AT is the ideal car for me at the moment, for my physique, budget and use-case.

I'm not going to break my head with the relatively lower performance figures, as it is anyways an improvement over all my previous cars. And I'm not going to be setting any land speed records any time soon, this power is sufficient for a guy like me who never drives at beyond 80-90 kmph at any point in time. Further, add MSIL's general reliability and peace of mind ownership testimonials till date and the business case for a Brezza writes itself.

Can't stand the Nexon's overtly funky rear design and the hit-or-miss Tata A.S.S. in my city. But if they put in a decent AT and make the rear a little more neutral, I can see how that could attract buyers of these other cars.
Not into Mahindras as well, as my family doesn't like it as a brand. A shame, because the XUV 3OO seems like an excellent car.
Really like the Venue and Sonet, but there are too many question marks about their safety and long-term reliability of their DCT.

All other cars listed seem too small for me.

[pradeep_mvpa]

The only compelling reason to choose Fronx over Baleno is the proper automatic transmission. Someone looking for a manual should just buy and Baleno and save few lakhs. Baleno's 1.2 engine is not lethargic at all in comparison with the boosterjet.

[EshanS]

How can Nexon, Breeza and XUV300 can be in comparison? Neither cost/nor performance is anywhere close to what tiny Fronx is giving. From a costing standpoint, probably, but still no.

Venue, Sonet, Kiger and Magnite would be yes. I did check the Fronx and its no where close to Kiger and Magnite. No drive modes, turbo still feels less powerful, build is flimsy. For the OTR cost of Fronx turbo I would have other options to consider.