Autocar India
5h

I am a retired person, and my daily city driving is around 15-20 km in heavy traffic, with occasional highway trips. My current car is a 2010 Honda Jazz. I am looking for a reliable and safe automatic car with a budget of around Rs. 25 lakh. I am open to a hybrid automatic, electric, or petrol automatic. Which option would you recommend?

Verified
7m

Given your limited usage, the initial premium a hybrid or an electric car command over a petrol-automatic can't be justified, despite the significant difference in running costs. Hence, we'd advise you to consider a petrol-automatic car instead. For the money, you can consider a VW Taigun 1.0 TSI 8AT or a Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI 8AT. Both these are smooth and compact in size, and will feel rather easy to drive in urban conditions. Also, both are solid, and you will feel confident driving on your occasional highway drives. In case you want a car that's larger and more modern, the Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is an excellent option.

However, if you're still keen to keep the running costs to a bare minimum, and if you have a provision for home charging, then consider the upcoming Kia Syros EV (expected to launch in the coming weeks). This Kia car is compact in size, yet it is surprisingly spacious, and with adjustable rear seats, the Syros will feel like a natural progression from your outgoing Honda Jazz. The electric powertrain is likely to be shared with the Clavis EV, which means it will be smooth and very efficient too. Sure, the Syros EV's looks might not be universally appealing; however, we'd strongly recommend that you drive it once - it is likely to be an ideal Jazz replacement for you.

Volkswagen Taigun

Volkswagen Taigun

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More questions on similar cars

1d

Which is the best SUV to buy now or is it better to wait for 1-1.5 years since there are going to be a lot of changes in the powertrain landscape? Should I buy a hybrid or a petrol automatic SUV under a budget of Rs. 25 lakh. My daily usage is 50-60 km within the city, including heavy traffic and bad roads, along with highway travel once or twice a month. I am looking for an SUV with a good driving experience, reliability, safety, good features, and a proven track record.

Verified
17h

With a budget of Rs. 25 lakh, daily city usage of 50-60 km in heavy traffic and bad roads, and 1-2 highway trips a month, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit. The hybrid system of this Maruti Suzuki car delivers excellent fuel efficiency in stop-start traffic, the ride is comfortable over broken roads, and Maruti’s service network and reliability are strong. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid is essentially the same car with Toyota’s badge and service network, so choose whichever brand you are more comfortable with.There is no need to wait 1-1.5 years. The powertrain landscape is evolving, but there is no major shift expected in this price bracket that would make waiting worthwhile. Hybrids like the Victoris and Hyryder are already well-proven and deliver real-world benefits today. If you are willing to wait, however, a Kia Seltos hybrid and Renault Duster hybrid are expected to launch later this year.Between hybrid and petrol automatic, hybrid is the clear choice for your usage. Your daily city running is high, and the hybrid system will save you significant fuel costs over time while still being easy to live with. Petrol automatics are cheaper to purchase, but the fuel savings of the hybrid far outweigh that.If you want a more premium feel and stronger performance, the Kia Seltos IVT or Hyundai Creta IVT are good alternatives, but they will not match the hybrid for fuel efficiency in your usage. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the better driver’s cars, but again, they will not be as efficient in city traffic. Overall, the Victoris Hybrid or Hyryder Hybrid are the most sensible and cost-effective choices for your usage.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleRenault Duster
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos
5h

Hi, I am planning to buy an SUV but am confused about choosing the best one from the three options. My maximum budget is Rs. 17.5 lakh. I am looking for a 5-seater car where safety and value for money are the top priorities. My monthly running will be around 2,000 km. My family members are suggesting the Kia Seltos with an automatic transmission. However, its overall size and length are bigger than the others. The Skoda is another option, but my friends say that its maintenance and spare parts are more expensive. I have no idea about Tata. Please help and advise.

Verified
12m

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. At Rs 17.5 lakh, you are right at the point where the Seltos becomes the most sensible choice. The IVT automatic is smooth, reliable and well suited to your 2,000 km/month usage, and the Seltos is a genuinely well-rounded SUV with good space, a comfortable ride and a strong safety package. Kia’s service network is strong, and ownership costs are reasonable. The Skoda Kushaq is the better driver’s car, but the Seltos is the more complete family SUV. Tata Sierra is a good option, and very spacious but would feel much larger than the Kia car, thus go with the Seltos it feels premium and is the better long-term ownership proposition. Although, the Seltos is also one of the longer cars in the segment, but this translates into better rear seat space and a more comfortable cabin for family use. Overall, the Seltos IVT is the safest, most value-for-money choice in your budget.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleTata Sierra

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Posted on: 14 Jul 2026