Replacing my Vento: Need a car with good ground clearance in 13 lakhs

I'm stuck on the engine power/torque because I drive a 1.6 L Vento which is super fun to drive and hugs the road when cornering uphill at even 60/70 kmph.

BHPian Aj346 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Good day all,

Would sincerely appreciate advice as per below. The confusion just gets worse each time I research more and into more options. At times, I prefer the old automobile scene where there was no choice.

Been looking to buy a new car as my sedan is too low for most roads in Goa, where I have recently relocated to. My primary options are the Nexon, Brezza & the Sonet. Also test drove the Kia Carens but found it too under powered, 2nd gear was not up to the task of going uphill at slow speeds, had to even down shift to 1st when going over a speed-breaker slowly. The sales person admitted to this aspect. Thus ruled out.

The XL6 though a lot more spacious than the Brezza, was marginally under powered for highway driving but is still in the mix but not a favourite.

The Nexon drove the best, overtaking was good and could climb slopes satisfactorily. Only negative was the poor legroom in the back seat. Drove the XZ+ variant.

The Brezza though not best in any segment, mileage was the best overall, roomy feeling because of good headroom as compared to the Nexon and WR-V.

I'm stuck on the engine power/torque because I drive a 1.6 L Vento which is super fun to drive and hugs the road when cornering uphill at even 60/70 kmph. However, I need to move to smaller car with more ground clearance.

Kindly advice between the Nexon XZ+ and the Brezza ZXi or wait for the Hyryder lower variants. Do not wish to spend more than 13L for now as I eventually want to shift to an EV in 4/5 years.

Thanks,

Ajay.

Here's what BHPian Racer911 had to say on the matter:

If you're moving from the Vento especially the 1.6, I'd strongly advise the Tata Nexon as it has the best driving dynamics among the lot and the most mature suspension setup to go over rough roads and ditches. This is not based on reading 500 reviews online, but my personal observation when test driving cars for my sister's purchase. The Tata Nexon was the first Tata car I ever drove and was actually quite impressed. This is the first time I found the suspension setup of a non European car very satisfactory especially for its price segment. Its definitely better than the Hyundais and Kias, and if not better definitely at par with the current gen VWs, though the suspension setups of the 2nd and 3rd gen VW's are nothing to boast about. You'd know what I mean if you've been driving the 1.6 and ever drove the current 1.5 version.

PS: Can't say strongly but why not at least consider the Kushaq and Taigun. I haven't driven them or even seen the Taigun in the flesh but I feel they're definitely worth a look.

Here's what BHPian Roadster101 had to say on the matter:

Why not S-Cross?

• Reliable - check
• Excellent ride quality - check
• Wide dealer network - check
• Availability of spares - check
• Decent ground clearance - check
• Under your specified budget - check

Its bigger than the options you are considering at almost the same price. It might not be fancy and completely up to date like newer generation cars but its still got the basics right and the engine drives like a charm. I strongly urge you to consider the S-Cross over a Brezza or a Nexon.

Happy hunting.

Here's what BHPian Revvman had to say on the matter:

If your driving is mainly going to be in the city and "build quality" is not very high on your priority list, which I think you will immediately relate to when compared to your Vento, Sonet fits the bill quite well for you. Having said that, long waiting period could be a bummer!

On the other hand, Tata Nexon is an excellent package overall but it wouldn't hurt to check out the VW twins - Taigun and Kushaq. Who knows you might as well fall for one of them and stretch your budget. 4/5 years is still a reasonable period of time to enjoy your new car before you go for an EV.

Here's what BHPian itsmeparvathy9 had to say on the matter:

Considering the fact that you are planning on selling your car and moving on to an EV in the next 5 years, I would like to propose the following:

Maruti Suzuki S-Cross:

You get the Zeta manual under 12 lakhs on-road in Goa and as iterated earlier has excellent ride quality, wide dealership network, decent ground clearance and is a reliable car on the whole. Although looks are subjective, it does have a crossover stance. Moreover, it is going to be replaced by the Grand Vitara in the Suzuki lineup. However, if you don't mind these, you can go for it.

Mahindra XUV300:

You have options of both petrol and diesel with the Mahindra XUV300 just like with the Tata Nexon and the Kia Sonet. Both engines are powerful and have enough torque on tap.
Boot space is the major concern here at just 257 litres, but the car is spacious and has the longest wheelbase among sub 4 metre SUVs.

Kia Sonet:

The Kia Sonet gives you many engine and gearbox options to choose from, the car although has limited rear space excels in everything else and is an all-round performer.
Be ir class leading boot, High Ground clearance, fit and finish of the cabin and 4 airbags as standard. The HTX 1.0 IMT, the HTX 1.5 Diesel and even the HTX 1.0 DCT can all be considered and are priced in the ballpark of around 13 lakhs.

Hyundai Venue:

Similar to the Kia Sonet in terms of engine and gearbox combinations, if the styling appeals to you, you may consider the Venue over the Sonet.

Tata Nexon:

The Tata Nexon is one of the favourites in the segment and has both petrol and diesel engine options. It has all necessary features, 5-star safety, enough space in the cabin, excellent Ground clearance, what more could you ask for.

If you want a bigger car for less money, the S-Cross would be my pick, if you want an automatic, the Sonet is the winner here. If you want space and comfort, 5-star safety the Nexon would be the better choice followed by the XUV300.

The Hyryder/Grand Vitara's pricing is yet to be revealed. so, can't comment but considering its heavier than the Brezza with the same engine, power to weight ratio would be less.

Here's what BHPian Gypsian had to say on the matter:

IMHO the XUV300 petrol which is priced 10 lakhs on road or lesser in few states in it's base trim is the best choice, as the same is a delight to drive both in its petrol and diesel avatars and justifies your need for performance and ground clearance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.