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?

I’ve been driving a Maruti Ritz Diesel for approximately 7 years and am looking for a proper upgrade. My running is around 750-1,000 km/month, with 75-80% highway driving, and typical long trips of 200-250 km one way. My budget is roughly Rs. 19-22 lakh (on-road) in Bangalore. I generally keep my cars for a long time, so long-term reliability and highway performance matter more to me than just features. I have shortlisted Kia Seltos 1.5 Turbo DCT that is around Rs. 20.6 lakh. This is probably the most fun of all the options. The turbo feels strong and the DCT is quick and smooth. My concern is long-term ownership because it is a dry-clutch DCT, and I’m wondering about DCT/turbo-petrol reliability over 5+ years. It is also around Rs. 1 lakh cheaper than the diesel. Another shortlisted car is Kia Seltos 1.5 Diesel AT for around Rs. 21.6 lakh. This feels like the natural upgrade from my Ritz Diesel. It generates 250 Nm torque, highway performance and potentially better mileage that are better for my usage. But my running is only 750-1,000 km/month, so I’m wondering whether the extra 1L and diesel-specific considerations, particularly DPF, are worth it when I don’t drive that much in the city. Would love to hear from long-term Seltos diesel owners. Another shortlisted car is Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT Adventure that costs around Rs. 19 lakh. I’ve driven it multiple times and really like the way it feels. It feels more rugged and planted than the Seltos, with better suspension and less body movement at highway speeds. I can physically feel the difference in the heavier boot/doors and overall solidity. I know both cars are 5-star rated, so I’m not equating weight or feel with crash safety. The Duster has a wet-clutch DCT, unlike the Seltos dry clutch, which is another reason I’m considering it. The compromise is features and rear space as the Seltos has noticeably better knee/legroom. However, the Duster is still perfectly comfortable for my family’s height, so I can live with that. I have also shortlisted Kia Seltos 1.5 NA CVT/IVT that is priced around Rs. 19.65 lakh. I would select it for its simplicity. I know I’ll compromise significantly on torque as compared to the turbo and diesel, especially coming from a diesel Ritz, but a 4-cylinder NA petrol is a relatively straightforward option and potentially fewer powertrain-related headaches will be there compared to DPF and modern turbo/GDI systems. If I go this route, I may also wait for the Elevate facelift. Although the current Elevate’s poor thigh support is a major concern for me. My wife strongly prefers the Seltos, so realistically, my biggest dilemma is Seltos Turbo DCT vs Diesel AT. Duster is the wildcard because I personally like its ruggedness and driving character, while NA petrol is the fallback for its simplicity. I am looking for genuine 5-year ownership experience, highway performance, reliability, DCT/DPF experience, mileage and maintenance opinions rather than just brochure figures.

My monthly running is 3000km that translates to 40000 kilometers annually with most round trip of around 400-500 km thrice a month on highway. I own a petrol car and its mileage is close to 14 kpl. Should I opt for EV under 20 lakh budget or should I look for diesel or strong hybrid?In hybrid, we will not have a better boot space since we always use it to carry stuff.

Hello, I’m looking to buy a good car in India. We previously had an Alto, and this will be our first new car. I’ve taken test drives of the Creta and Seltos. The Creta looks good overall, while the Seltos feels newer and more premium, although my family didn’t really like its door handles. This will primarily be a family car, with our usage being around 80 percent on highways and 20 percent in the city. I’m considering either of these two, but I’m also open to other options under a budget of Rs 20 lakh. Any suggestions or recommendations would be helpful. Thanks!