Mumbai

Kalpesh dalia

•2d

Hi, I am planning to buy a diesel automatic SUV and am currently confused between the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus PS, Hyundai Creta, and Kia Seltos. My budget is around ₹17 lakh, and my weekly running is approximately 50 km.

Autocar India

•19m

With just 50 km a week, we would strongly advise against a diesel automatic. Your running is simply too low for a modern diesel to make sense, and repeated low usage can create DPF-related headaches over time.

Between your options, the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic or Kia Seltos petrol automatic are the much smarter choices. If we had to pick one, we would lean toward the Seltos IVT because it feels slightly more premium inside, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in daily use.

The Creta IVT is equally good mechanically and rides a touch softer, so if comfort is your absolute top priority, it remains a very strong option too.

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More questions on similar cars

Soumil

•1d

I’m on the hunt for a car with a budget of around ₹20 lakh ex-showroom. I’m open to stretching the budget a bit if I find a truly amazing car or one with cutting-edge tech. Right now, I hold a R-Pass booking for the Duster Hybrid. I took the Duster 1.3L DCT for a spin and absolutely loved the driving feel and the engine. The front cabin was also quite nice. However, my family felt the rear was very cramped and congested. I don’t want people sitting in the rear complaining about my car space. It’s usually just my wife and me travelling; my family rarely joins us for long trips. So, we’re still deciding whether to stick with the hybrid or explore other options because of the cramped space at the rear. Also, if they launch it at ₹ 24-25 L, starting it would be overpriced for the quality it offers. I also test-drove a Seltos Diesel Automatic. Everyone enjoyed it equally. The only thing it didn’t quite have was the performance of the VW or Duster 1.3. But overall, it’s a good, stable car with good comfort and a smooth drive, the best overall. I’m a bit worried about the ethanol blending updates without proper planning by the government, and how it will affect our petrol cars, as the maximum supported blending is E20. Diesel feels safer, especially since staying in Mumbai, I can do weekly or bi-weekly highway trips through the Atal-Setu/Palm Beach Road to get the right amount of highway running to avoid DPF issues. I don’t have a home charger for an EV for at least a year until I shift into our new apartment, so I’m not sure if I should consider them. Also, there aren’t any reliable EVs within my budget except for the Hyundai Creta EV. It’s a nice car, but it feels a bit outdated and isn’t rated as safe as a 5-star vehicle. Staying away from Tata cars. Any suggestions welcome

Autocar India

•19m

Coming to the first part of your question, you mentioned that you loved the driving experience of the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT, you are planning to skip it because your family wasn't happy with the space at the back. We would strongly advise you to reconsider.Yes, space is tighter than most rivals in this class, and ingress/egress (for rear passengers) is a bit difficult, but if you're rarely going to have passengers at the back, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. If you really enjoyed the drive experience, it is certainly worth going for. The turbo-DCT isn't very fuel efficient, but keep in mind that the hybrid is likely to command a significant premium over it, so unless your usage is over 1500km per month, it is worth opting for the turbo-petrol DCT.The Kia Seltos is an excellent all-rounder, when it comes to space, comfort, interior quality and it is one that checks all the right boxes, however unlike the Duster, it lacks that emotional appeal, so it won't tug at your heartstrings. If you go for it, you won't go wrong with it.Your concern of whether the petrol engine will be capable of handling higher Ethanol blend is valid, so opting for an EV could be an option, but be prepared to pay a premium for an electric powertrain. As far as the Hyundai Creta Electric goes, yes, it does feel a bit old compared to the modern offerings, however it is an excellent car - one that we easily recommend.

Shyam

I’m looking to buy a compact SUV with an automatic transmission for my family, with a budget under Rs. 17 lakh. It should comfortably seat 5 people - 4 adults and 1 child - plus luggage. My usage will be mostly city driving in Pune for office commutes, with occasional highway trips to Mumbai and other outstation routes that include ghat sections. I’m considering the Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Hyundai Creta N Line, Kia Sonet, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, and MG Astor. Could you please help me decide which automatic option would be most reliable for me? I’d like to compare them on safety, mileage, comfort, and service/maintenance. If there’s another car you’d recommend that fits my needs better, please suggest that too.

Autocar India

•20h

Mostly city use in Pune with room for five and a Rs 17 lakh cap - the Hyundai Creta IVT is the best fit. The N Line or other turbo-petrol trims will require you to stretch your budget beyond Rs 20 lakh. Since most of your use is in Pune city traffic, performance from the 1.5 NA is more than adequate. It is also the roomiest amongst your choices and comfortably seats five with room for their luggage. One drawback, though, is that on your occasional highway excursions, you may find overtaking needs a bit more planning with a full load and luggage.If performance feels inadequate, then the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic or the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI automatic are great choices too. They feel solid and safe, have top crash ratings, and stay steady in sharp bends. The automatic is smooth in traffic, the engine pulls well on climbs, and fuel use is sensible for daily runs. They are not as roomy as the Creta, but overall, the space is good for four adults and a child, and the ride handles broken roads well. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris should be very easy to own and efficient, but highway performance would trail the Kushaq/Taigun.Overall, for your mix of city and highway with ghats, the Creta IVT fits best.

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Aakash B

•4d

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a used SUV in Pune with a budget of up to ₹10 lakh and would really appreciate your suggestions. We are a family of four, and I am the only driver. I am 6’2” and slightly on the heavier side, so cabin space, seat comfort, and good driving ergonomics are very important to me. My usage includes a daily office commute of around 20 km, along with regular weekend trips and frequent drives to Konkan. Because of this, good ground clearance, ride comfort, and highway stability are essential requirements. My priorities are: Safety Comfort Reliability Low maintenance costs Decent fuel efficiency Good boot space Could you please advise on the following: Best used SUVs under ₹10 lakh for my requirements Whether petrol or diesel would suit my usage better Manual vs automatic transmission Ideal model year/age of vehicle to target Which models or engines should be avoided in the used car market Reliable platforms to buy from, such as Spinny, Cars24, CarDekho, etc. Important things to inspect before finalising a used SUV purchase Looking forward to your advice. Thanks!

Autocar India

•19h

City commute plus frequent Konkan runs, a family of four, and a tall driver - in this brief, a used Hyundai Creta diesel is the best fit under Rs 10 lakh. It rides well over broken roads, stays steady at highway speeds, has a big boot, and the wide seat and upright driving position suit a 6’2” frame well. The diesel is reliable and uses less fuel on long trips.A strong alternative, if you don’t find a clean Creta, is the Renault Duster diesel manual for its comfy seats and torquey engine.On petrol vs diesel: a petrol would be better with just a 20km daily commute, but since you are frequently heading out of town with family in tow, a diesel makes more sense. Manual vs automatic: an automatic eases Pune traffic, and the Creta's smooth torque-converter auto is the reliable pick in this price range.Target 2018-2021 cars with under 70,000km. Buy from reliable sources like Spinny with inspection and return/warranty. Check the full service history, accidental/flood signs, clutch and suspension health, tyre age, underbody rust, A/C, electricals, and do an OBD scan. Ensure the driver's seat adjusts far enough back for you.

Hyundai Creta

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•3d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

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Nirmil Shah

•3d

I am interested in the BYD Seal, but I’m concerned about its low ground clearance of the car. Is this a serious issue on Indian roads, speed breakers, and basement ramps?

Autocar India

•2d

The low ground clearance of BYD Seal is something you can live with, especially if you're used to driving sedans. Its nose sits low and the distance between the wheels is long, so tall, badly built breakers and sharp ramp crests can make it touch, especially with four or five people and luggage. However on regular speed breakers, it is likely to clear if you slow right down, and you don't necessarily need to take them at a slight angle.The underbody and battery are protected, so even if it scrapes a few times, it should not be a cause of concern, however, it will feel gut-wrenching to hear the underbody scrape over the unscientifically-built speed humps.Before finalizing, if your daily route has extra-tall breakers or a tricky ramp, take a test drive on that exact path. If it clears there, you’ll be fine in regular use.

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Amithab

•2d

Hi, my budget is ₹15 lakh on-road, and I’m confused between buying an EV or a petrol car. My usage will mostly be in the city, with only occasional highway trips.

Autocar India

•2d

For your usage, we would lean towards the Tata Punch EV Long Range. With mostly city driving and only rare highway use, an EV makes more sense than a petrol car because you will benefit from the low running costs, quiet and effortless driving experience, and minimal maintenance. The updated Punch EV Long Range offers substantially more usable range than you are likely to need day to day, which also gives you a comfort buffer for occasional outstation trips rather than locking you into a strict city only use case. The reason to specifically pick the Long Range even if your current use does not demand it is flexibility. You may not need the extra battery every day, but if your usage changes or you decide to do the occasional road trip, having that headroom makes EV ownership much easier and less stressful.

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