I’m planning to buy an SUV in the ₹25 lakh price range. I have shortlisted the Tata Sierra, Thar Roxx, and the facelifted Kia Seltos. I have seen a Sierra demo car without PDI and have concerns about uneven panel gaps, the plastic quality on the lower dashboard and doors, and the durability of the white soft-touch material on the dashboard. Can you please recommend whether I should wait for the Sierra’s production car or go with an alternative? I prefer a balance of power and efficiency.

Autocar India

•9w

The Tata Sierra's that we reviewed were well put together for the most part, with just a few niggles around. However, Tata Motors is known to have many issues with its cars, especially in the initial period. Thus, if you are in doubt about the quality, we would suggest you wait for a few months.

As for the other options, we would rule out the Mahindra Thar as it is tilted more towards performance. Also, it will not meet your requirement of a balance of power and efficiency.

What would meet this requirement would be the diesel Kia Seltos.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

New Seltos

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

Mahindra

Thar

from ₹11.47 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Got a suggestion for Pranav?

Add a Comment

Latest questions people are discussing

Sharmila

•4d

I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the 2026 Hyundai Creta EX(O) IVT, Kia Seltos HTK IVT and Honda Elevate V CVT. My usage will be around 50 percent in the city and 50 percent on highways. I also plan to sell the car after 3-4 years, so good resale value and overall value for money are important factors. Which of these cars would you recommend?

Autocar India

•16h

Among your three choices, the Hyundai Creta is in high demand in the used market and therefore holds its value the best. The current Kia Seltos is too new to accurately predict its resale value, but going by the resale values of the last generation, we expect it to be only slightly behind the Creta. Interestingly, the Elevate, despite Honda's good reputation, will likely see the most depreciation of the three, but in the V CVT variant you've chosen, it is also the cheapest to buy, and Honda dealers regularly offer sizeable discounts on it.The Creta is the safest bet if you want the best value for money and strong resale value. It is good to drive, well-equipped, the engine is smooth and refined, and the IVT works seamlessly. However, do take a test drive of the Elevate as well. It offers better acceleration than the Creta, the seats are very comfortable, and the suspension feels more robust. If you can negotiate a good deal, it can represent very good value for money.

Venkatesh Naidu

With a budget of 25L, I'm looking for a 5-seater car. It should be fun to drive and provide a comfortable ride. Safety, reliability and after sales service should be too-notch. I'll be driving this 60% in city and 40% on highways. It should also have a good interior and features including ventilated seats, wireless carplay/android auto, panaromic sunroof, 360 degree camera.

Autocar India

•54m

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

Tanvir

Hi, I currently own a Virtus GT 1.5 DSG, which I bought around three years back. I am looking to buy an SUV in the next few months, and under ₹20 lakh. My running is a maximum of 200km in a month. 90% of my travel is within the city.

Autocar India

•22h

For your limited usage, most of which is in the city, a petrol automatic SUV makes the most sense. There are several options within your budget, but the new Kia Seltos and the Tata Sierra stand out.The Kia Seltos HTX with 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and DCT combination sits within your price range and comes with features like ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat and a Bose sound system.The Tata Sierra Adventure+ with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and automatic is an alternative, though it is slightly more expensive than the Seltos. It comes with features like a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera and a reclining rear seat.Do take a test drive of both before you decide.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

View all Posts