CLASH OF THE COMPACT

THERE ARE MOMENTS IN THE INDIAN CAR MARKET WHEN THE TECTONIC PLATES OF CONSUMER PREFERENCE SHIFT.

- WORDS SANEET DSILVA PHOTOGRAPHY SIDDHARTH DADHE

This is one of them. Small SUVs are no longer the budget compromises they once were; they've become serious, desirable machines aimed at people who want the feel of an SUV in a package that still fits into our congested cities.

At the sharp end of this compact SUV world, we've lined up three contenders: the Mahindra XUV 3XO, Kia Syros, and Skoda Kylaq. Each has been designed to lure you with its own pitch. The Mahindra claims to offer class-leading performance and features at aggressive pricing. The Kia promises out-of-the-box design and ease of use, built around a turbocharged engine and dual-clutch gearbox. Skoda aims to bring European sophistication and a sense of solidity that no one else can quite match.

We're only talking about the petrol automatics in their most loaded variants here: the Mahindra AX7 L with its 1.2-litre TGDi and 6-speed torque converter, the Kia Syros GTX+ with the 1.0-litre turbo and 7-speed DCT, and the Skoda Kylaq Style powered by the 1.0-litre TSI with a 6-speed automatic: three different cars, three different powertrains, and three different ways of interpreting the same formula.

Style vs Stature

You can't talk about cars in India without acknowledging the importance of styling. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want one that appears to belong to a higher segment than it actually does.