[Ripcord09]

Skoda Kylaq

What you'll like:

• A well-rounded Compact SUV that gives you mini-Kushaq vibes. Solid build too
• Good-looking cabin with supportive seats, sorted ergonomics and decent space
• 114 BHP, 1.0L TSI engine with 6MT or 6AT offers peppy performance
• Sorted suspension delivers a balanced ride & handling package
• 446 litres of boot space (boot floor to roof) is sufficiently sized for a family’s weekend getaway
• 5-star BNCAP safety rating! Equipped with 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Feature list includes ventilated front seats with 6-way electric adjustment, automatic headlamps, automatic wipers, auto-dimming IRVM, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting and a sunroof

What you won't:

• Just one engine on offer. No diesel, no CNG, no electric, no 1.5L petrol like the Kushaq
• Interior quality doesn’t feel up to old-school Skoda standards
• Mediocre 4 speaker + 2 tweeter sound system. Competition offers a better sound experience
• Missing some features like the 360-degree view camera, subwoofer, driving modes, ADAS…
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 adults onboard
• Skoda’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. The brand’s long-term reliability can be patchy as well

First Drive Review

Kia Syros

What you'll like:

• A well-engineered all-rounder with lots of tricks up its sleeve
• Radical styling makes it stand out in a crowd
• Has a sturdy build and excellent fit & finish
• Available with turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engines, both offering optional ATs
• Mature on-road behaviour, including at highway speeds. Good brakes as well
• Excellent use of interior space with comfortable seating for 4 adults and useful storage areas. Rear seat space is fantastic! Healthy 390-465 litres of boot space
• Loaded to the gills with features such as the panoramic sunroof, 8-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, sliding & reclining rear seats, ventilated front & rear seats, sunshades, driving & traction modes, paddle shifters, 30-inch (!!!) trinity panoramic display panel, all windows up/down through smartkey, remote engine start, electronic parking brake with auto hold, extendable sunvisors, air purifier, dashcam with dual camera and more
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ADAS Level 2, ESC, HSA, 360-degree camera, TPMS etc.

What you won't:

• Funky styling isn't to everyone's taste. You'll either love it or hate it
• Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (especially on 17" wheel variants)
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• Buzz felt on idling in the cabin (1.5L diesel). Diesel’s engine noise could be better controlled too
• Output from the Harman-Kardon sound system is just average
• Have to mention the misses (thinner spare tyre on top trims, rain-sensing wipers…)
• Cheaper & simpler 1.5L naturally-aspirated petrol isn’t on offer (nor is its butter-smooth CVT)

First Drive Review

Mahindra XUV 3XO

What you'll like:

• A truly premium crossover. Nice build, quality & refinement levels
• Cabin has enough space for 5. Quality-wise, the interior is more like a Hyundai
• Fantastic petrol & diesel engine line-up; they offer fast performance & good driveability
• Finally gets a smooth torque converter automatic with the turbo-petrol engines
• Wide variant spread ensures there's something for everyone
• A compliant ride with sorted road manners
• 5-star NCAP rating & kit. Level 2 ADAS, 6 airbags, ESP, ABS, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS, seatbelt reminders for all & more
• Loaded to the gills with equipment (360-degree camera, big sunroof, drive modes, Harman Kardon audio system, wireless smartphone connectivity, auto headlamps & wipers etc.)

What you won't:

• The new edgy & outlandish design may not be to everyone's liking. Some love it, some don't. It is very polarizing
• Top-end variants are expensive. Not overpriced, but definitely higher than expected
• 295-liter boot is the smallest in the segment. There are cheaper hatchbacks that have a larger boot
• No proper diesel automatic option, just a jerky AMT which has no place in a premium crossover
• Light & disconnected steering is the biggest drawback in a competent handling package
• Mahindra's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• Some important features missing (ventilated seats, parcel tray, full-sized spare wheel, paddle shifters etc.)

First Drive Review

AMT Review

Tata Nexon

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

Maruti Suzuki 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!
• 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 one of the smallest in the segment
• Some missing features like ventilated seats, leather upholstery, TPMS, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors

Review Link

Kia Sonet

Facelift Review

Maruti Suzuki 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 km/l
• 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

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor

Launch Discussion (Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor launched at Rs. 7.74 lakh)

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 Syros, Kylaq, XUV 3XO, Sonet etc.
• Nissan's tiny dealership network & lousy after-sales quality

Review Link

Renault Kiger

Renault Kiger 1.0L Turbo-petrol Driving Report

Ownership Review

[Omkar]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[GTO]

From this list, my choice would be the Mahindra XUV 3XO. Great looks, build, safety, suspension, engines & torque-converter AT.

But what I would really buy is the Curvv EV. Reason = I already have 2 great cars for expressway runs & highway road-trips, so any Compact SUV would be for Mumbai in-city usage only. And I love the Curvv EV for the top-class, premium experience it offers. Have my own charging points at home, so no issue with topping up the battery or range anxiety (city usage only).

[myavu]

The Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor or the Maruti Suzuki Fronx are my options. Since Alpha MT was already owned by the family, I voted for the Taisor.

1.0 Di Turbo MT is fast and fun to drive. The icing on the cake is the mileage which is more than 21 Kmpl on highways and 13 to 14 in the stop-go Delhi Traffic.

Since Toyota (Maruti), long-term maintenance will be economical and peaceful.

Most probably my EOL Beat will be replaced with Taisor V MT

[freakmuzik]

As someone who test drove almost all the cars in this list quite recently, the only two cars that floored me literally are the Skoda Kylaq and the Mahindra XUV 3XO.

My focus was less on FE and bling and features but more on how solid the cars felt, how well they drive and how good the seats feel to sit over a long period of time. Both are solidly built, very comfortable seats, great engines and smooth gearboxes. 3XO feels bigger in and out, has a big feel to it when driving as well and is a lot more tech filled. It is the one I'd choose if I'm looking for a proper four seater but if it's going to be 2 + occasional 2, I'd go with the Kylaq as it feels a little more smaller and easier to handle. Since both the brands have their own minuses in terms of after sales service, I'm just going to ignore that

But, wild card entry would be the Jimny! There's nothing like the Jimny in this price rage. It's got a character of its own and gives a confidence on most our roads that is very unique to it. I'm a sucker for its simple mechanicals and bare bones nature as well. To each their own I guess.

So, in short - Mahindra XUV 3XO or Skoda Kylaq or Maruti Suzuki Jimny!

[dieselteen]

I'd go with the XUV3XO mainly for its sheer VFM factor and the 300NM torquey diesel engine. Also, interior space matter more to me than the boot. It ticks literally every box atleast for me.

However, if I am supposed to go with the petrol option, then the Skoda Kylaq should work the best for me. Sporty looks, decent feature set, great ride and handling balance, while it scores less on interior space, as an overall package it really makes up for this.

[vattyboy]

My choice would be Hyundai Venue N Line or Taisor Turbo. Between the two, Venue has a better road presence, so I am slightly inclined towards it + The N line treatment on it looks smashing.

[Shreyans_Jain]

The pick continues to be between the 3XO and Nexon. Most complete and well rounded cars that offer maximum competence. Personally, I’ll go for a Nexon EV 45 if I have to make a purchase in this segment, or the 3XO TGDi if it has to has to be a petrol. Rest, all options are either ageing or not as competent or dressed up from a segment below or not as well rounded or any combination of the same.

At the same time, the wild card pick in this price range in the Maruti Jimny. The top end Alpha AT can be effectively had for 13.5-14L. It’s an acquired taste, but nothing else sings to the heart like this one if it appeals to you.

[It's Magic]

Voted for Mahindra XUV 3XO

I find it to be the perfect value for money car from the given options. It's the best compact sub 4 metre SUV currently available on the market.

1. You get unique looks that will make people notice.

2. The interiors are of good quality, and you will feel happy to sit inside.

3. You get a proper automatic transmission (torque converter).

4. It has a 5 star safety rating as per BNCAP tests.

5. It has a good feature list, so you don't miss much.

6. You can easily seat three people in the rear seat.

7. Harman Kardon audio system.

The only thing that might stop me from actually going for the XUV 3XO is Mahindra's after sales service. It's still a gamble. If I were in the market today, I might end up purchasing a Maruti or Kia from the given options.

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by Shreyans_Jain

At the same time, the wild card pick in this price range in the Maruti Jimny. The top end Alpha AT can be effectively had for 13.5-14L. It’s an acquired taste, but nothing else sings to the heart like this one if it appeals to you.

The Jimny is not a sub 4 mtr compact FWD monocoque SUV and I believe that's why it was excluded from the list.

Having said that I completely agree with you, as I brought home a Pearl White Jimny Alpha Automatic recently. Started off my search with a hatchback, Baleno, then Glanza, then raised the bar to the sub 4 meter CSUV Mahindra XUV 3XO, the larger Skoda Kushaq & younger sibling Kylaq and finally ended up bringing home the lovely Jimny Alpha Automatic.

After test driving Jimny, I couldn't bring myself to buy any other car in the market today and it's home now.

It's an acquired taste, but nothing else sings to the heart like this one. Truer words haven't been spoken..

[FAIAAA]

Voted for the Kylaq.

Have test driven all the Cars here except the Syros. For me the core buyer values will be fun to drive, performance (engine - automatic gearbox combo), design and character.
On the Fun to drive and performance front, only two remain - Kylaq and 3XO. Both have their pros and cons.
3XO loses out for me personally on design (external and internal). Also a vague steering feel.
And that's where the Smooth lines and timeless external design of the Kylaq work for me. Apart from the explosive performance, light but accurate steering and perceived quality and design of the Interiors.

[SithDefender]

Voted for the Kylaq. It feels like a smaller Kushaq and is handsome in it's own right. That engine/transmission is also a driver's paradise.

It is rare for Kia to mess up the design, and only the Carens looked like the ugly duckling in the family, despite being a practical car with plenty of features and space. Unfortunately, the Syros is now the grotesque duckling, with front lights that are sure to get dented in less than six months of ownership. I wish they would have made it a little more like the Skoda Yeti which I still like.


Skoda, if you are listening, could you consider bringing back the Yeti? I am sure there would be a market for a spacious and airy compact crossover with elegant interiors and powerful engines.

[Utopian]

Voted for the Kylaq. Well rounded car with that delectable 1.0AT option. The rear looks are a little polarizing but I can live with it.

[Autocaptive]

Voted with my wallet earlier last year with the Taisor 1.0 V AT. Although the car is somewhat overpriced it offered me the most peace of mind and the smoothest driving experience as a city car. Especially coming from a Tiago AMT, I wanted a proper turbo AT but didn’t want the hassle of DCTs so my options were limited to 3XO which I find quite appalling to look at or the Fronx so I waited for the Taisor and got it as soon as it was launched. I also test drove C3 Aircross but it was too big for my requirements and the C3 didn’t come with an AT at the time. Another consideration which pushed me towards the Taisor is it’s one of the few cars that comes with an analog tachometer and no sunroof in the top spec variant, thereby giving me a well equipped car without any of the usual caveats of top spec variants.

[nikvint]

Voted for 3XO, for it's built quality, suspension set up, cabin space and most VFM offerings. I am compromising on that ugly looking lights and small boot space.