I am looking to buy a new SUV and have considered options like the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, Tata Sierra, Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and the new Renault Duster. I have test-driven all of them and found the Creta to be the most comfortable, though it feels slightly outdated. The Elevate also seems to lack some modern features and feels a bit dated. The Kushaq/Taigun feel slightly small for five occupants, which is a concern. I really enjoyed driving the new Duster, but rear seat comfort seemed to be an issue. This car will be my primary vehicle for weekly Jaipur–Delhi trips and occasional long drives, while city usage will mostly be handled by my secondary car (Volkswagen Polo diesel). Based on this, which SUV should I choose, and which engine option would you recommend?

Autocar India

•23h

Go for the Kia Carens Clavis DCT HTK+(O) 1.5 turbo-petrol for a chauffeur-driven family car with easy entry for parents and a little fun when you take the wheel. It fits your brief best at this budget.Your parents will find it easy to step in because the floor is low and the rear doors open wide, so they do not have to climb up or drop down. The rear seat is roomy and supportive, and the ride is comfortable at city speeds, which helps in tier-2 traffic. The automatic here is a DCT, which is an automatic that changes gears very quickly. On the highway, the turbo-petrol picks up speed easily, so overtaking feels stress-free and even exciting. Kia’s service reach in smaller towns is also quite good now, which matters for easy ownership.Two things to be aware of: in very slow bumper-to-bumper traffic, the DCT can feel a touch jerky and hesitant if you are gentle on the throttle, and the car is long, so tight parking needs some care. If you prefer two rows and an even softer ride, look at the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol IVT SX. It is very smooth in traffic and easy enough on ingress/egress, though not as exciting as the Clavis turbo.Take your parents along for the test drive and check step-in height and rear-seat comfort, then do a short highway run to feel how easily it gains speed.

Kia Carens Clavis

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•1h

Hyundai and Kia belong to the same parent group and share engines, gearboxes, suspension and electrical architecture, so the Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT and Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT are fundamentally similar in the way they drive and in long-term reliability.Where they really differ is in design, space and cabin ambience. The new Seltos has a longer wheelbase, is noticeably more spacious, and as you’ve pointed out, feels more premium inside. It also feels a bit more up-to-date in terms of dashboard design and overall cabin experience. Performance from the 1.5 petrol with IVT is effectively the same in both, so you won’t feel a big difference in outright smoothness or ease of driving.For maintenance and after-sales, Hyundai still has a slight edge with its wider, more established network, which is an advantage if you’re in a smaller town or travel widely. Kia’s support has improved quickly, though, so in most bigger cities it’s no longer a deal-breaker.On resale, the Seltos currently enjoys strong appeal, and with the next-gen Creta due around 2027, the present Creta will start to feel older sooner, which can soften its resale value earlier. So, if both are similarly priced and you like the Seltos more, I would pick the Seltos HTK(O) IVT. If you can wait, the next-gen Creta is also worth keeping in mind.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•20h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol IVT, which is essentially a CVT automatic for 30 km a day and a 6-8 year plan, it suits you better than the Creta EV, given your clear worry about resale. Hyundai’s petrol Creta is a proven car with wide service support across India, and its resale is stronger and more predictable than most EVs today. You also already have a Kia Seltos diesel for long trips, so the Creta can focus on city duty without you having to think about charging or planning routes.One thing to be aware of: the IVT is tuned for smoothness, not speed, so fast highway overtakes with a full load need a bit more planning. Also, your fuel cost in the city will be higher than that of an EV.Consider the Creta EV only if you have hassle-free home charging and mainly city use, and you are okay with the risk of lower resale. It is very quiet and relaxing to drive, and with your Kia Seltos diesel covering highways, it can work well if charging is easy.Given your usage and time frame, the Creta 1.5 petrol IVT is the safer, simpler bet and will be easy to live with.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos