I’ve been using a second hand 2011 Ford Figo Titanium Diesel for the past 3.5 years. I’m now considering buying a new Baleno or Glanza. Should I go for the manual or AMT variant, considering ease of use and driving fun? I’m conscious about mileage and maintenance, so please guide me accordingly.

Autocar India

•7h

With 80% city use and only some highway runs, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol CVT (Kia calls it IVT) is the better fit for you. The CVT is an automatic that varies the gear ratio steplessy and smoothly, so it feels calm and easy in stop-and-go traffic. It moves off the line gently; there is no shift shock, and it is usually a bit easier on fuel in the city. It is also simpler to live with day to day. The 1.5 turbo petrol DCT is the one to pick only if you really value strong speed and quick overtakes. A DCT is an automatic with two clutches that shifts very fast, so it feels much quicker on an open road and with a full load. But in crawling traffic, it can feel a touch hesitant and jerky when you get on and off the throttle. Two trade-offs to note with the CVT: if you often drive with five people and luggage, or if you like sudden highway bursts, the turbo DCT will feel stronger. And the 'rubber-band effect' of the CVT can make the engine sound noisy, though it settles once you’re cruising.Given your mostly city pattern with only occasional highway trips, the 1.5 petrol CVT lines up best with what you need and will feel easier and calmer to use every day.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•9h

If you are choosing between the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol IVT and the Mahindra Thar Roxx MX3 petrol, this really comes down to what you want your car to feel like in everyday life. The Seltos is the more sensible choice with a smooth automatic that is effortless in traffic, better suited to your kind of usage and far easier to live with daily, while also offering a more comfortable and premium cabin experience. The Thar Roxx, on the other hand, is all about character with its strong petrol engine, big road presence and that sense of occasion every time you drive it, but it is still a heavier, more lifestyle-oriented SUV that is not as convenient for daily city use.So the choice is quite simple in nature. If you want something that quietly does everything well and keeps life easy, the Seltos will feel like the right fit. If you want something that feels special and makes every drive more memorable, the Thar Roxx will appeal more.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Autocar India

•11h

Choose the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 diesel. It feels like a proper upgrade from your Polo with a much stronger engine, bigger road presence and far better long-distance comfort, which suits your occasional highway trips and higher budget. The diesel also makes sense here as your running can go up to 1500 km with trips, giving you better efficiency and effortless cruising, while the XUV’s size, space and overall robustness make it feel like a true step up rather than just a lateral move.The Kia Seltos HTX turbo petrol is the easier car to drive daily with a smoother petrol engine and a more premium interior. It will feel more refined in city conditions, but it does not deliver the same sense of upgrade or long-distance ease as the XUV, especially when you start doing highway runs. The Mahindra also simply offers more performance and size, with a much more powerful engine and bigger footprint overall .The only real drawback with the XUV 7XO diesel is that it is a larger car to manage in the city and not as polished as the Seltos in terms of refinement.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos