Citroen BasaltX vs Kia Sonet vs Mahindra XUV 3XO (2026)
The classic compact suv shortlist, settled with numbers (October 2026):
- Pick the Citroen BasaltX if you want the biggest boot (470 L).
- Pick the Kia Sonet if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.45 Lakh), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.1 kmpl).
- Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO if you want the most power (129 bhp), the best crash-test score (5 stars).
Three-Way Specification Comparison
Citroen BasaltX in short
The BasaltX is India's most affordable coupe-SUV — the sloping-roof Basalt launched in August 2024, refreshed as the X in September 2025 with six airbags standard, a new dashboard and more equipment. Power comes from an 82 PS 1.2 NA petrol or a 110 PS 1.2 turbo-petrol (190 Nm with the 6-speed manual, 205 Nm with the 6-speed torque-converter automatic), and its 470-litre boot is the biggest in the compact-SUV class. A 4-star Bharat NCAP rating and famously supple ride quality back its fight against the Tata Curvv, the only other coupe-SUV at this price.
Full BasaltX prices & variants →Kia Sonet in short
The Kia Sonet is one of the most feature-loaded sub-4-metre SUVs on sale, and its 2024 facelift sharpened the styling while making six airbags standard across the range. It remains the only car in its class to offer a diesel-automatic combination, giving it a unique selling point against the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra XUV 3XO. The wide engine-gearbox matrix and segment-first features like ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera keep it a strong all-rounder.
Full Sonet prices & variants →Mahindra XUV 3XO in short
The XUV 3XO is Mahindra's comprehensively reworked sub-4m SUV, replacing the XUV300 with sharper styling, a segment-first panoramic sunroof and Level 2 ADAS on top trims. Its 129 bhp TGDi turbo-petrol is among the punchiest in the class, and it holds a full 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. It battles the Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet.
Full XUV 3XO prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
BasaltX vs Sonet vs XUV 3XO — which should I buy?
Pick the Citroen BasaltX if you want the biggest boot (470 L). Pick the Kia Sonet if you want the lowest starting price (₹7.45 Lakh), the best claimed efficiency (up to 24.1 kmpl). Pick the Mahindra XUV 3XO if you want the most power (129 bhp), the best crash-test score (5 stars). Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among BasaltX, Sonet, XUV 3XO?
The Kia Sonet starts lowest at ₹7.45 Lakh, against ₹7.79 Lakh for the XUV 3XO and ₹8.55 Lakh for the BasaltX (ex-showroom, October 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Citroen BasaltX: 4 stars; Kia Sonet: not yet NCAP-tested; Mahindra XUV 3XO: 5 stars.