Autocar India
•2d

I mostly drive in the city to commute to my workplace. My daily commute is around 20 km, and my annual running is about 10,000 km. I currently own a Hyundai Creta Manual. Can you suggest an upgrade, preferably an automatic, with decent city mileage?

Verified
•25s

With a 20km daily city commute and around 10,000km a year, your usage is predominantly urban and not high enough to justify a diesel. The priority should be a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and ease of driving in traffic. Since you are upgrading from a Creta manual, the natural step up would be a midsize SUV with a reliable automatic gearbox.

The Kia Seltos IVT petrol is the most sensible recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is smooth, reliable and well-suited to city driving, and the Seltos is a well-rounded package with good comfort, features and a premium feel. It is essentially the same mechanical package as the Creta but feels like a more substantial upgrade in terms of cabin quality and overall experience.

If you are open to a slightly different approach, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is also worth considering. The hybrid system delivers excellent city fuel efficiency and a very smooth driving experience, which is ideal for stop-start traffic. It is not as powerful as the Seltos, but it makes up for it with lower running costs and a more relaxed driving character.

Between the two, the Seltos IVT is the safer and more premium-feeling upgrade, while the Victoris Hybrid is the more economical and city-friendly option. Both are strong choices, but given your upgrade from a Creta, the Seltos IVT feels like the more natural progression.

Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

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Hyundai Creta

Hyundai

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Kia Seltos

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from ₹12.98 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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from ₹12.39 Lakh

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•4d

Hello Autocar, I'm planning to buy an EV with a budget of around Rs. 20-22 lakh (ex-showroom). Although I can stretch it a bit if it's worth it. The models that I'm currently considering are Tata Sierra Adventure 75, Tata Harrier EV Adventure 65 and Mahindra XEV 9e 59 kWh (base variant). My usage will be around 70% city driving. I also own a 2025 Hyundai Creta Petrol CVT, so I'm looking for an EV that genuinely feels like an upgrade rather than just a different powertrain. Among these, I liked the XEV 9e the most, but I'm a bit concerned about the long-term practicality and battery life of the 59 kWh pack, since it's the smallest battery among the three. Which one would you recommend, and is there any other EV in this price range that I should consider?

Verified
•2d

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9e 59 kWh. It is the most complete electric car from the ones you're considering and will genuinely feel like an upgrade over your Creta. The Sierra and Harrier EV are good cars, but the XEV 9e feels more premium, more modern and more sorted as an overall package. Going for the smaller 59 kWh battery should not be a concern since it is still a large pack, and Mahindra’s battery management system is well engineered. The car is also more efficient than the Tata EVs, so real-world range is not as far behind as the numbers would suggest. The only reason to stretch to the larger battery is if you regularly do very long highway runs. For your 70% city usage, the 59 kWh pack is more than sufficient. The Sierra EV is the better Tata EV, but the XEV 9e is the better car overall.

VehicleMahindra XEV 9e
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleTata Sierra EV
VehicleTata Harrier EV
•3d

I’m buying my first car and am still learning to drive. My monthly running will be around 500-600 km, with most of my driving in Mumbai city and occasional weekend highway trips. I plan to keep the car for the next 8-10 years. I was initially considering the Hyundai Venue HX 8 Automatic Petrol, but I dropped the plan because it does not offer a panoramic sunroof. Now I’m confused between the Hyundai Creta S(O) and the Kia Seltos HTK(O) 1.5 NA Petrol Automatic. The Creta S(O) is around Rs. 1 lakh cheaper than the Seltos HTK(O), but the additional features offered by the Seltos are tempting. Which one would you recommend for my requirements?

Verified
•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. It is based on a newer platform than the Creta and is bigger inside and out. For your usage and ownership plan, it is the sensible choice. The 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol paired with the IVT is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and as you mentioned, the Kia has the extra features you want. While it does cost more, it does give you more for the money. The Creta is also due for a full model change in 2027, so you are buying a car that is closer to the end of its lifecycle, but that is not a deal breaker given Hyundai's strong aftersales support and the fact that the mechanical package is proven and reliable.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
•4d

Hi, my monthly running is under 1,000 km, and I prefer a mid-size SUV as I'm over 6 feet tall. My driving is around 80% in the city and 20% on highways, and my budget is approximately Rs. 14 lakh. I'm confused about buying a petrol car due to the transition to E20 fuel. Could you please suggest a good car that suits my needs?

Verified
•9h

Your concern about E20 is understandable, but it should not be a deal-breaker. All petrol cars sold new today are engineered to handle E20 and even tend to have material tolerances for higher blends like E25 or E27 engineered in, and the impact is largely limited to a drop in fuel efficiency. Worth noting, however, is that at Rs. 14 lakh, you only have access to the absolute start of the midsize SUV segment. This usually means just the base or second variant of each car, which typically miss out on a lot of features, are limited on colour options and look a bit barebones. If you're okay with this, we would recommend the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol MT HTE(O). It's among the newest of the bunch, and this Kia car will provide you with a spacious, comfortable, efficient, and smooth engine and gearbox that's well suited to the city. We would recommend the smooth CVT automatic, but you would have to stretch your budget by around Rs 2 lakh for that.If you would prefer having more features, consider the Kia Syros. Though it is technically a compact SUV, its tall and boxy shape means it is far more spacious than others in the segment. And owing to its sub-four-metre size, its price is much lower than the Seltos, and you can have it in a high specification on your budget of Rs 14 lakh. Do note, however, its 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is not quite as smooth and effortless as the Seltos's 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleKia Syros

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•6d

Hi, my brother and I are planning to buy a new family car. Our budget is RS. 10 lakh, and our maximum monthly running will be around 500 km. Our priorities are a reliable engine, good performance, and fuel efficiency. Please suggest the best all-rounder car within our budget.

Verified
•6d

The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is the most sensible recommendation here. It is spacious enough for family use, has a proven and reliable engine, and is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs also make it a very easy car to own over the long term.If you prefer a sedan, the Honda Amaze is worth considering. Honda’s engines are known for their reliability and refinement, and the Amaze is a comfortable and well-built sedan.Overall, the Baleno is the most balanced choice. It offers the best combination of space, efficiency, reliability and low running costs, which is exactly what you need given your usage and budget.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno
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•4d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

Verified
•3d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

VehicleSkoda Kushaq
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•4d

I am looking for a spacious car for three people, with a naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox, and good mileage in both city and highway driving. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Honda Amaze. My budget is Rs 10-15 lakh. Please suggest.

Verified
•3d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is the better fit for your requirements. You want a naturally aspirated petrol engine, good mileage in both city and highway driving, and a spacious car for three people. The Brezza delivers on all those points. The 1.5-litre petrol engine of this Maruti Suzuki car is smooth and reliable, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to Indian driving conditions. It is also a more spacious car than the Honda Amaze, with a wider cabin and better rear seat comfort for three people. The higher seating position and SUV stance also make it easier to drive in the city and over bad roads.The Amaze is a good car, but it is a compact sedan and does not offer the same level of space or practicality. The Brezza is the more complete package for your needs.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Brezza
VehicleHonda Amaze

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Posted on: 1 Aug 2026