I am planning to buy a new car, preferably a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission, with a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Currently, my monthly running is around 900 km, but it is expected to increase to about 2,000 km per month after 1.5 years. I have a family of five, so I am looking for a comfortable and spacious car that can serve us well for the next 6-7 years. At present, I drive a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta and really appreciate its mileage and cabin space. However, mileage is not a major concern for my next car.

Autocar India

•4d

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the new Kia Seltos. It's got plenty of space for five and their luggage, it's very modern, and it's comfortable too.

At your budget you can get a reasonably high variant, which means you will get lots of features too. Moreover, like its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has a good reputation for reliability, and so you can safely hold on to the car for six to seven years.

The best bit is you have the choice of three engines - the naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and diesel. The turbo petrol is not available with a traditional manual and gets a clutchless manual or iMT instead.

It's a good option that mixes convenience with control, but frankly given your usage, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol with the 6-speed manual. It's a great combination of efficiency, smoothness and value for money.

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Latest questions people are discussing

Shiv Singh

•5h

I am looking for a new car recommendation for my work commute. My budget is 13 Lakh, and my monthly running is approximately 1,500-2,000 km. My typical schedule involves travelling from Mumbai to Goa and rural Konkan for three weeks out of the month, with the remaining week spent in Mumbai or Pune city traffic. My driving split is roughly 70% highway and 30% city traffic. Since I travel alone for work, my top priorities are low running costs and decent build quality. I have shortlisted the following options: 1. Kia Seltos (Base Diesel HTE) 2. Hyundai Venue (HX5 Automatic TC) 3. Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG 4. Mahindra Thar RWD Please let me know if you suggest any of these or if there are other vehicles I should consider. Additionally, given my travel patterns, would you recommend a manual or an automatic (TC) transmission?

Autocar India

•24m

From the options you listed, we would recommend going for the Kia Seltos diesel manual. Even in the base variant, the Seltos still gets most of the essential features. Being a larger car, it will also feel more comfortable and stable on long highway drives. The diesel engine offers good performance and will feel effortless on the highway, which suits your usage pattern well.From a pure efficiency point of view, it makes sense to go for the manual transmission. Torque converter automatics tend to reduce fuel efficiency slightly, and with diesel efficiency already coming down due to tighter emission norms, the manual will help maximise mileage. Also, since 70 percent of your driving is on the highway, the manual transmission should not feel inconvenient.If the lowest running cost is your main priority, then the Maruti Suzuki Victoris LXi CNG is worth considering. The running cost will be much lower than that of even diesel engine cars. Thanks to smart packaging of the CNG tanks under the boot floor, the boot space, unlike most CNG cars, is not compromised.However, compared to diesel cars like the Seltos, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine will not feel as effortless on the highway. Also, it does not come with a spare tyre, only a puncture repair kit, which is something to note, considering you spend most of your time on the highway.The Mahindra Thar will prove to be uncomfortable for your usage. Its ride quality tends to feel quite bumpy, especially on our less-than-perfect Maharashtra roads. Also, the amount of driving you do, it will become tiring over long distances. For your usage pattern, the Seltos diesel manual would be the better choice thanks to its comfort and strong highway performance. If your focus is purely on minimising running costs, then the Victoris CNG is the alternative to consider.

Kia New Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•3d

I currently own a Hyundai Grand i10 petrol manual and am planning to upgrade to a mid-size SUV. I am considering the Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, and Kia Seltos. My driving pattern is 80% city and 20% highway (occasional trips). My priorities are safety, driving comfort, co-passenger comfort, rear-seat space, and good mileage. Also, does it make sense to wait for the Honda Elevate Hybrid, which is expected to launch in the second half of this year, or should I go ahead with one of the current options?

Autocar India

•7h

Of the options you've listed, you should consider the Kia Seltos, given that it is the best all-rounder that fits your wide range of requirements. You can pick from one of three engines that suit your needs best. The turbo petrol has the strongest performance, the diesel has the best fuel efficiency, and the naturally aspirated petrol is the best compromise between the two. It's also the most spacious and comfortable of the three, and though it hasn't been awarded a safety rating yet, its new K3 platform is engineered for a high score, and it has all the necessary safety features. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that Honda will launch the Elevate Hybrid, as the company has stated it is moving straight to an EV, which should be here in 2027.

Kia New Seltos

Sant

•2d

I am looking to buy a new car, preferably an SUV with an automatic gearbox. My previous car was the Hyundai Elite i20, and now I am looking for something more comfortable, premium, and reliable. My budget is around ₹22 lakh, and my usage will be less than 1,000 km per month, mostly city driving with occasional long trips. I have already booked the Tata Sierra, but I am now having second thoughts due to the long waiting period and concerns about Tata’s service and reliability. I am open to other brands as well, but would prefer petrol or hybrid engine options. What would you recommend?

Autocar India

•4h

With your running of less than 1,000 km a month, going for a strong hybrid may not really make sense. Hybrids typically justify their higher price only when the running is higher, and you are able to recover the extra cost through fuel savings.In your case, we would suggest considering the Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT automatic. Since your previous car was the Hyundai i20, you are already familiar with the Hyundai brand and its ownership experience. The Creta’s 1.5-litre turbo petrol paired with the DCT offers strong performance and smooth shifting, making it both enjoyable on the highway and easy to drive in the city.Another strong option to consider is the Kia Seltos turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT. The Seltos is the newer car, slightly bigger and more spacious than the Creta, yet priced very similarly. It uses the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a DCT gearbox that delivers quick and smooth shifts.

Hyundai Creta

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