I am planning to buy a new car. I absolutely love my current car, but I no longer find the driver’s seat very comfortable, I feel the suspension could be better, and the 1.2-litre Hyundai engine lacks serious power. The cars I am currently considering are: Mahindra BE 6 Pack Three Hyundai Verna 1.5 Turbo HX(O) Kia Seltos 1.5 Turbo (variant yet to be finalised) My usage mainly involves driving to work in Bengaluru, along with at least one weekly night drive for pleasure. I also take occasional drives around Bengaluru every month and go on longer trips once every quarter. I genuinely enjoy driving and the freedom that owning a car gives me. I am not particularly fond of long motorcycle rides, although I do own an Harley-Davidson X440. The reasons behind my shortlist are: I do not want an ordinary car; I want something with a strong wow factor. I like all three cars from a design and styling perspective, which is important to me. All three felt comfortable, with my comfort ranking being: Seltos > Verna > BE 6. However, I found the high-speed stability of all three to be just average and expected better. I have admired the Mahindra BE 6 ever since it was announced, but I am unsure about EV practicality in my situation. I live in a rented apartment with only a 3kW sanctioned electricity load, and I am also uncertain about charging infrastructure. Additionally, Mahindra’s warranty recommendation of charging at least 25% through AC charging concerns me slightly. I would have also considered the Volkswagen Virtus, but I feel its interior quality does not justify the price. Could you please help me decide which option would make the most sense for my needs?

Autocar India

•2h

With two Noida-Gurgaon runs every week plus two long trips of around 500-550 km each month, you are mostly on highways with some heavy-city traffic, and you drive 1,200-1,500 km a month. For this use, the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic (look at the mid trim like HTK+/HTX, confirm current availability with the dealer) fits you best if you are okay with the Delhi-NCR 10-year rule for diesel.Three simple reasons. One, you already own an automatic and do tough NCR traffic twice a week, so an automatic gearbox that changes gears on its own will keep life easy. Two, your longer highway runs will feel more relaxed in the diesel; it pulls strongly at cruising speeds and usually needs fewer fuel stops. Three, the Seltos is easier to park and drive in the city than the bigger Alcazar.A couple of trade-offs. In NCR, diesel cars are allowed for 10 years, while petrol is 15 years, so think about how long you plan to keep it. The diesel is also a bit noisier than the petrol, though it's only in comparison; for a diesel, it is quite refined.If that 10-year cap worries you, pick the Seltos 1.5 petrol automatic (IVT). It is very smooth and quiet in the city and has a 15-year life in NCR, but your fuel efficiency will take a hit.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•22h

Given 1,200-1,500km a month with most of it on the Noida-Gurgaon run, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is the better fit. The naturally aspirated petrol automatic is smooth in slow Gurgaon traffic and relaxed at highway speeds. If budget allows, the turbo-petrol makes fast overtakes even easier, but bear in mind, its DCT automatic isn't as smooth in traffic.In Delhi-NCR, petrol also avoids the 10-year limit on diesel cars and the chance of diesel filter trouble in slow, stop-start use. That means less worry over long-term ownership. If you don't mind these inconveniences, the diesel is more efficient and comes with a smooth 6-speed automatic.Trade-offs: the petrol will use more fuel than a diesel on long highway runs, and while the Seltos has good rear space and a big boot, it cannot match the extra room of a larger three-row car.If you truly need six or seven seats often, the Hyundai Alcazar serves that role well and cruises comfortably. But compared to the new Seltos, it does feel a little dated and doesn't get as many features. Plus, you don't get the naturally aspirated petrol and IVT option - just the turbo-petrol and DCT. For your mix of highway and NCR traffic, the Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT lines up best.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•1d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT) is the one that fits your brief best. The DCT changes gears very quickly once you are moving, so city drives feel easy and highway trips feel strong and smooth. The Seltos also rides well for daily use, the seats are supportive, and the cabin looks and feels upmarket. For safety and build, it gives you a solid-feeling body, a long list of safety features, and on higher trims even driver assist tech; plus it received a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating.A couple of things to note for your use: like most dual-clutch gearboxes, there can be a small pause at very low speeds, and if you spend hours in slow traffic every day it is best to drive gently. From your list, the Mahindra Thar Roxx 2.0 petrol automatic is the one to pick if you mainly want a tough, go-anywhere machine and love the stance, but for daily comfort and ease it is not as relaxed as the Seltos, and it has very poor fuel economy. The suspension isn't as absorbent and the controls aren't as light. The Duster and Sierra come much closer, the Renault imparting a tougher feel while still remaining comfortable, and the Sierra feeling large and more comfortable. However, overall, for mixed city-highway use and your priorities, the Seltos turbo DCT lines up best.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra Thar Roxx

Renault Duster

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•3d

Going by your shortlist, you want a bigger family car on a tight budget and are looking at base trims. If you need the car in the next couple of months for mostly city use with some weekend trips, pick the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT. It is well equipped and, compared to the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, gives you more back-seat space and boot room.The Brezza update will be relatively minor, though we expect the 1.5 NA engine to make way for the 1.0 turbo-petrol from the Fronx. Waiting for it only makes sense if you mainly drive in tight city areas and want an easier-to-park car.Overall, for a near-term purchase and everyday comfort, the Seltos lines up best with what you’re considering.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Autocar India

•2d

You’re after a no-drama, long-term family car that is easy to drive, comfortable and roomy. For that brief, the Honda Elevate VX CVT is a good fit. The VX CVT is the sweet spot because the automatic keeps the engine smooth in traffic, and the VX trim gets the useful features without pushing the price too high.Why it fits your list: Honda’s simple 1.5 petrol has a long, clean track record, so it suits your “no issues for 10+ years” aim. The driving position is high, the steering is light, and the CVT makes stop-go city work very easy. Space is good for four adults, the seats are supportive, and the suspension deals with broken roads well, so daily comfort is strong.Trade-offs to note: it is not the quickest for fast highway passes, and rivals offer more flashy features. If you expect a lot of high-speed use with a full load, you may want more punch.Regarding waiting for a facelift, while it may launch this year, there is no confirmed date or list of changes. An update usually brings small styling tweaks and a few extra features, and prices can go up too. The basics you care about are space, ease of driving, Honda’s engine and service and these are unlikely to change much.If you do want to look around, pick the Kia Seltos IVT for more features and a more modern cabin. Overall, for your needs, the Elevate VX CVT lines up best right now.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•2d

Both perform very well for your requirements, but overall, the Skoda Kylaq is the better choice. The Citroen C3 X has a slightly comfier ride quality, its AC performance is very strong, and its 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine is quite punchy. However, the Kylaq's 1.0 TSI engine is more powerful, and the 6-speed automatic gearbox has been tuned for even greater responses. As such, it will feel more eager on ghats and highways. It too has excellent suspension and absorbs bumps and broken roads well. Moreover, the Kylaq sits in a segment above and hence offers more space in the back seat and the boot, which will be useful for your passengers and luggage. Moreover, the build quality is stronger, the interior feels more upmarket, and though it may be more expensive, there are more features on offer than in the Citroen. Hence, we recommend that you go with the Skoda.

Skoda Kylaq

Citroen C3