I’m looking for an SUV in which I’ll mostly be chauffeured but will occasionally drive myself. My budget is around ₹20 lakh (ex-showroom). I don’t prefer MPVs, though I can consider the Innova Crysta.

Autocar India

•9h

Between the two, we would lean toward the Mahindra XEV 9e. Since you already own a Toyota Innova Crysta, you already have practicality, family hauling and long-distance duties well covered, so your second car does not need to duplicate that role.The bigger differentiator is actually the way the two drive. The XEV 9e has a more balanced suspension setup and feels more composed. Overall, the 9S is tuned noticeably softer and can feel bouncy or a little floaty at times, especially for rear seat passengers over undulating roads. If you are using this as a personal EV, that alone makes the 9e the nicer car to live with.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Toyota Innova Crysta

Autocar India

•2d

The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are essentially sister cars, sharing the same platform, 1.5-litre diesel engine and gearboxes. So in terms of outright performance, efficiency and reliability, there’s very little to separate them.Where the difference lies is in execution. The Seltos, being the newer, latest generation model, feels more contemporary. It offers a more spacious cabin, a fresher design inside and out, and a more polished overall feel. Feature packaging is also more up-to-date in the corresponding variants.The Creta, on the other hand, remains a very well-rounded and comfortable SUV, especially in terms of ride quality and ease of driving, but it is closer to the end of its current lifecycle. A full model change is expected in the near future (likely around early 2027), which means a purchase today could feel dated sooner than expected.Given that, the Seltos HTK (O) makes more sense right now as the more current product. Alternatively, if you’re not in a hurry, waiting for the next-generation Creta could be worthwhile, as it should bring a significant leap in design, features and tech.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•3d

Mostly city use with a sensitive lower back and an under Rs 20 lakh cap points to a taller, easy-to-drive automatic. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT HTX (A) fits this brief best. The seat height makes getting in and out simple without bending or climbing. So, the ride is soft at low speeds, thanks in part to this variant's smaller 17-inch wheels, so your back gets less shock from broken roads, and the automatic moves smoothly in traffic. You sit upright with a clear view out, the steering is light, and the 360 camera takes the stress out of parking. What's more, this should just about fit in your budget, and it gets you ADAS features as well. Kia’s wide service network helps with easy, reliable ownership over many years, too. The other good option is a Hyundai Creta, but getting these features will require you to move to a top-spec variant only, which is out of your budget. You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris 1.5 petrol AT, which offers even lower running costs but is not quite as comfortable as the Hyundai or Kia.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Victoris