I want to buy a premium automatic petrol SUV with a budget of around ₹20–25 lakh. My driving pattern will be 75 % city and 25 % highway. I have shortlisted the following cars with their ex-showroom prices: Hyundai Creta King IVT – ₹18.67 lakh Kia Seltos New GTX A IVT – ₹19.49 lakh Kia Seltos New GTX A DCT – ₹19.99 lakh Creta King IVT vs New Seltos IVT: The Creta King IVT is about ₹80 k cheaper than the top-end Seltos IVT and offers many features that the Seltos doesn’t, such as an adjustable hand rest, electric adjustable passenger seat, front dash cam, and rear wireless charging. However, the new Seltos feels more upmarket and premium in both interior and exterior design. New Seltos IVT vs New Seltos DCT: In the Seltos lineup, the price difference between the IVT and the DCT is only ₹50 k. I’m tempted to go for the DCT due to better power and performance, but since most of my driving is in the city, I’m wondering if the DCT causes issues like noise or heating. Which one do you recommend?

Autocar India

•13h

Go for the Hyundai Creta 1.5 SX MT. As a non‑turbo manual, it balances city drivability, adequate 115hp / 144 Nm performance, and Hyundai’s large, reliable service network.Since you prefer a manual petrol and want to avoid turbos, this 1.5‑litre NA with CVT gearbox suits you. With 80% city running, its linear throttle makes crawling and short bursts easy without turbo lag. The 115hp output is enough for quick overtakes up to city speeds. Hyundai’s service network and typical 10,000 km/1‑year intervals (confirm with your dealer) keep upkeep predictable. At over 4.3m, it’s a clear upgrade, not a sub‑4 m compromise.The one thing you give up is the mid‑range surge of a turbo; quick highway passes above 90-100kph will need a downshift or two to access performance.

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•11h

Since a large part of your driving will be on the Kochi-Bengaluru highway and you enjoyed the performance of your old Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi, choosing a car with strong performance and relaxed cruising ability will make your drives more enjoyable.Between the two, you will likely be happier with the Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI with the 7-speed DSG. It offers superior performance and refinement compared to the Kia Sonet diesel automatic, especially for highway usage. The Slavia’s turbo-petrol engine delivers effortless acceleration, and the DSG gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly, which makes overtaking and long-distance cruising feel easy.Another advantage is that the 1.5-litre engine features cylinder deactivation, which shuts down two cylinders under light loads such as steady cruising. This helps improve fuel efficiency when driving on the highway. The Slavia also feels more planted and stable at higher speeds, which will be noticeable on your frequent intercity drives.However, we would recommend waiting a little before making the purchase. The Slavia facelift is expected soon, and with it around the corner, it makes sense to see what updates and features the refreshed model brings before committing to the current version.

Skoda Slavia

Kia Sonet

Autocar India

•1d

Without knowing your budget and more requirements, we can't recommend the ideal choice for you. We have shortlisted models that you should consider, and why they are of interest. Compact SUVs- Hyundai Venue: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, good interior space, upmarket interior | (-) Expensive for its size- Kia Sonet: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, upmarket interior, good value | (-) Rear seat space is limited, due to be replaced in the coming year Midsize SUVs- Kia Seltos: (+) Spacious interior, well equipped, good ride comfort | (-) Performance is adequate only- Tata Sierra: (+) Class-best space, feature-packed, tough build, ride comfort | (-) Engine feels noisy, road noise- Hyundai Creta: (+) Well equipped, decent performance | (-) Due to be replaced in the coming year

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Hyundai Creta