I’m looking to own a car that is reliable, has good resale value, and low maintenance cost. It should have high torque and be punchy, with good handling and a rugged body. My budget is up to ₹20 lakh. Please suggest.

Autocar India

•7w

These two cars are very different, so it depends on your preference. The Citroen Basalt X is a natural upgrade from your Polo, offering fantastic ride and handling, a strong 1.2 turbo-petrol engine, and a pleasure to drive. However, compared to the Tata Sierra, the Basalt feels a couple of segments down.

It is nowhere near as well-equipped, and in fact, the Sierra’s most significant selling point is all the tech on offer, which includes three digital screens for the infotainment system, a top-notch audio system, ADAS features and a lot more. Also, the Sierra is more spacious and solidly built. Being an SUV, the Sierra is not as agile as the Basalt, but it's still a pleasure to drive and hence overall fits your needs better.

Explore cars mentioned

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹9.24 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Prateek

•6d

I currently own a Creta 1.4 diesel, and after nearly 10 years of reliable performance, I am planning to upgrade to a car with better road presence and visibility. My budget is up to ₹25 lakh. However, with the government expected to implement CAFE-III norms from April 2027 and stricter BS-VIII emission standards around 2026–27, it feels risky to go for a diesel vehicle as the resale value may drop in the future. Because of this, I am considering the petrol version of the Tata Harrier. Would it be a worthwhile choice? Can I realistically expect a fuel efficiency of around 12–14 km/l? Is it a prudent decision to go for the Harrier petrol, or would you suggest other options within this budget?

Autocar India

•1d

If you're uncertain about buying another diesel car, that's okay, as there are plenty of great petrol options available these days. The Tata Harrier is certainly big on presence and visibility, and its new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is smooth with more than enough performance. However, fuel economy won't be great as this is a big and heavy car, and while 12-14kpl might be possible on the highway, in the city, expect that to drop to single digits. You could consider the Tata Sierra, which uses the same turbo petrol engine but is a slightly smaller and lighter SUV. The fuel efficiency gains may be marginal, but you will see some improvement, and the Sierra is big on road presence, too. You could also consider the new Kia Seltos or even the Hyundai Alcazar, both of which have potent yet relatively efficient 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, and good road presence.

Jaydeep Dawar

I am a first-time car buyer, confused between the Sierra, Seltos and Thar Roxx. Most of my driving will be from town to town and on highways, with long tours and less city usage. I am also looking for comfort for my aged parents. Budget is Rs 10-15 lakh. Please suggest which to buy.

Autocar India

•1d

The Thar Roxx is a rugged off-roader that can take a lot of abuse, so if your driving is mainly on rough roads, it is a good option. However, the ride is a bit bumpy, and the step into the cabin is quite high, which might be inconvenient for your elderly parents. It makes more sense to look at the Sierra or Seltos.For your budget, you will have to consider only manual transmission options. Between the two, the Kia Seltos is better to drive, but the spacious rear seats of the Sierra are more comfortable. So if your parents are mainly going to be sitting in the rear, we would suggest the Tata Sierra.

Suryakant Jagtap

I want to buy my first geared bike. My daily commute is up to 30 km, and occasionally I travel out of the station once a month for not more than 40 km. I would prefer a bike with higher mileage rather than more features. I have checked the TVS Sport and Hero Splendor, but there is no proper review page or video available to compare both. Please help me choose the right bike. Thank you.

Autocar India

•22m

Since you are a novice rider and want a machine that prioritises fuel economy over everything else, we'll recommend some models that fit the bill. The Hero Splendor is a proven machine that is very hard to go wrong with and will last you years on end while returning stellar fuel economy, and is a great place to start. You should also consider the Honda Shine 100 because it is a comfortable, extremely fuel-efficient, simple and lightweight machine that comes from a reputed company. The TVS Sport is quite a dated machine, but still continues to sell because of its low price, good fuel economy and reputation for dependability.The TVS is a 110cc bike which will offer you slightly better performance, with not a big drop in fuel economy in comparison to the Hero and Honda. Take a test ride before you decide to see which one suits you best.

Honda Shine 100

TVS Sport

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