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Delhi
SA

Sandip Aggarwal

3w

I currently own a 5-year-old BS6 EcoSport diesel (earlier had a BS4 EcoSport diesel for 6 years). I now want to change my car but am unsure which one to buy. I am based in Delhi and drive around 9,000km per year, mostly in the city, with 3-4 highway trips annually. Budget: ₹17-19 lakh. Priorities: driving experience, double-digit real-world mileage, and overall product value. Test drives done: Creta, Elevate, Seltos petrol (NA) - did not feel very impressive. I am inclined towards the Alcazar, Creta Turbo, and XUV700, but I am open to suggestions.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
3w
Out of the cars you have shortlisted, all use turbo petrol engines, and achieving double-digit fuel efficiency in a congested city like Delhi will be difficult. Your best bet for good and consistent efficiency is to opt for a naturally aspirated petrol engine.
That said, whether you choose a naturally aspirated or turbo petrol, we would suggest going for the new Kia Seltos. It shares its engine options with the Creta and Alcazar, including both the 1.5 litre NA petrol and the 1.5 litre turbo petrol. Being the newer generation car, the Seltos is larger than the Creta, more spacious, better equipped, and also offers a bigger boot.
Between the Seltos and the Alcazar, choose the Hyundai Alcazar if you want the captain seat option, the ability to seat more than five people, and a larger boot with the third row folded.
We would not recommend the Mahindra XUV700, now called the XUV 7XO, for your usage. Within your budget, you would only get the lower variants, which are not as well-equipped as the others.
More importantly, fuel efficiency could be a concern. While the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine delivers effortless performance, achieving double-digit mileage figures, even on the highway, would require very gentle driving.
Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

TE

Tejas

3w

Try the new renault duster

MA

Manzoor Ashraf

3w

Why not to Harrier petrol or Seira. Both are the best looking and loaded with features...

RI

Rish

3w

Please go for scorpion-n z4 automatic diesel it's around 16 Lacs on road. Great mileage, road presence and comfortable

AS

Aadit Swain

3w

I recommend u test drive Toyota Hyryder. It has enough power and also will give u two digit real world mileage. It's reliable enough like the ecosport and also has a great amount of features.

DI

Dinesh

3w

Actually we ford driven man has same problem we don't feel the same in others car.if u want to sel ecosport contact me.

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I own a 2017 Skoda Yeti from the last batch, which has completed 1,30,000 km on the odometer. It has been very well maintained, and I have recently done a major service, including the replacement of the timing belt and water pump. However, I have started feeling the urge to upgrade. Would it be a good idea to upgrade to a new car under ₹35 lakh, preferably a diesel automatic, considering my daily running of around 80 km on the highway? Or would it make more sense to retain the Yeti for a few more years?

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We understand your love for your Skoda Yeti. It's a superbly engineered car which is very well suited to Indian conditions. Your car with over 1,30,000km on the odometer would likely be the most used Yeti in India! While care and periodic maintenance will keep the Yeti running, issues are bound to crop up every now and then. Hence, there is a case for a new vehicle. The best bet in your budget is the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel-AT in fully loaded AX7 T form. It's got a strong diesel engine, smooth gearbox, and, as someone used to a Yeti, you'll appreciate the ride and handling balance too. The XUV 7XO is also packed with lots of tech and features, which really make it feel like a good value even at its price.Alternatively, you could consider the Jeep Compass, which, like your Yeti, comes across as a solidly engineered product. It has been around for quite some time now, but there's a toughness that shines through, and ride and handling are also really good. The 9-speed gearbox dulls some of the engine's performance, though. The Compass is also not very large for its price - something that also worked against the Yeti.

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I currently own a Renault Duster and have been driving it since 2016. As I am planning to upgrade, I am looking for an automatic petrol SUV with an on-road budget of around ₹30 lakh. I live in Pune, and my daily commute is about 40 km (home-office-home). Around 60% of this drive is on the highway, although traffic in the evenings is usually slow.I would prefer an SUV with good boot space, strong ground clearance, good safety, and modern features. Could you please suggest which car would be the best option for my requirements?

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At this budget, your best bet is the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It's spacious, comfortable and loaded with features, and will feel like a worthy upgrade to your Renault Duster. Your daily usage isn't that much, but since a large chunk of it is on the highway, you'll appreciate the XUV 7XO's stability, ground clearance and good ride quality. And as safety is a priority, you'll be happy to know it comes with a long list of standard safety kit, and has been given a 5-star crash test rating by Bharat NCAP. Whether you choose the petrol or the diesel is really a matter of preference, given your limited usage, and both come with smooth automatic gearboxes to help make your commute a little less tiresome.

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I am looking to buy a new car, preferably an SUV with an automatic gearbox. My previous car was the Hyundai Elite i20, and now I am looking for something more comfortable, premium, and reliable. My budget is around ₹22 lakh, and my usage will be less than 1,000 km per month, mostly city driving with occasional long trips. I have already booked the Tata Sierra, but I am now having second thoughts due to the long waiting period and concerns about Tata’s service and reliability. I am open to other brands as well, but would prefer petrol or hybrid engine options. What would you recommend?

Autocar India team

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Verified
1d

With your running of less than 1,000 km a month, going for a strong hybrid may not really make sense. Hybrids typically justify their higher price only when the running is higher, and you are able to recover the extra cost through fuel savings.In your case, we would suggest considering the Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT automatic. Since your previous car was the Hyundai i20, you are already familiar with the Hyundai brand and its ownership experience. The Creta’s 1.5-litre turbo petrol paired with the DCT offers strong performance and smooth shifting, making it both enjoyable on the highway and easy to drive in the city.Another strong option to consider is the Kia Seltos turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT. The Seltos is the newer car, slightly bigger and more spacious than the Creta, yet priced very similarly. It uses the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a DCT gearbox that delivers quick and smooth shifts.

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Posted on: 17 Feb 2026