Mumbai

•16w

I have a Maruti Baleno (2016) as our family car, which is good, but I am looking to replace it with a newer SUV. Although I read your column regularly, I am confused about which car to buy. I have a tight budget of ₹16-17 lakh and am looking to get maximum value for my money. So out of Seltos HTK, Duster (2026), Sierra, and Elevate, which one should I consider? My usage is 70% in the city and 30% on highways.

•16w

Pick the Kia Seltos HTK IVT as it best suits your requirements.

Your city-heavy usage benefits from its smooth and seamless powertrain, light controls and settled low‑speed ride, which make driving in traffic and parking less tiring. For weekend highway runs, it feels confident at 80-100 kph cruising speed and has enough room for 4 adults plus luggage. Within your budget, the Kia Seltos HTK gives you the core safety and convenience features without forcing you into pricier trims. The one thing you give up is advanced driver assistance (ADAS) on the HTK; those features start higher up the range.

Alternatively, if you prefer a simpler, no-frills package and prioritise easy ownership over features, consider the Honda Elevate V CVT.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.69 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

I have a 2022 Virtus 1.5 GT and am looking to upgrade to an SUV. My maximum budget is Rs. 35 lakh (on-road). My priorities, in order, are safety, performance, and after-sales service. Kindly suggest the best option.

•22h

Given your priorities of safety, performance and service, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic is the recommendation. This Mahindra car is one of the safest cars in the segment, with a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, and the diesel engine offers strong performance and excellent highway touring ability. The 7XO also has a well-developed service network and is a proven product with a strong ownership track record. The petrol 2.0 turbo is also a strong performer but quite thirsty. The diesel is the better all-rounder for long-term ownership and running costs. The Tata Harrier diesel automatic is the alternative if you prioritise comfort and space, especially in the third row, which is better than the 7XO's. The Kia Seltos diesel automatic is also worth considering if you want a more premium cabin and a more compact package,

I am planning to upgrade from my Maruti Suzuki Dzire and am looking for a car with excellent rear-seat comfort, good fuel efficiency, an enjoyable driving experience, and overall value for money. My budget is Rs. 15 - 21 lakh, and I am open to any body style. Which car would you recommend based on these requirements?

•1d

Since you're open to different body styles, you could consider the Kia Carens Clavis MPV. It is available in 6 or 7-seating configurations, and it is a good mix of comfort, performance, cabin experience and features. A Kia Seltos will also be a good option, given you're looking for a good driving experience. Kia's sales and service experience is likely to be quite fuss-free, but yes, it isn't as widespread as Maruti's. The Honda City is also a safe and sensible option, with excellent rear seat comfort. It is a car you just can't go wrong with.

I am using Tata Zest XM Diesel 90 PS since November 2024 and the odometer has crossed 1 lakh km. My annual running is around 8000 km but my monthly running sometimes might just be 150km. On day to day basis, I am using the car for commuting to office which is nearby. In a year, I have taken 4-5 long drives with more than 1000 km running that amounts to around 8000km annual running. Now, I have started looking for a new vehicle under 25 lakhs. And I want technologically advanced car with all bells and whistles along with reliability and affordable maintenance. Will BS6 diesel suit my commute pattern? Since I want upgrade from sub-4m range, which vehicle should i choose?

•2d

With your annual running of around 8,000km and a commute that is mostly short city trips, a BS6 diesel is not the right choice. Modern BS6 diesels use a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that needs regular long runs at steady speeds to regenerate properly. Your pattern of short, low-speed trips with only occasional long drives increases the risk of DPF issues over time. Petrol cars, hybrid or EV would be a better fit.Given your budget of Rs. 25 lakh and your desire for a technologically advanced car with all the bells and whistles, the Kia Seltos is the most sensible upgrade from your Tata Zest. It is a genuinely premium midsize SUV with a strong feature list, a comfortable cabin and a good balance between city usability and highway capability. It also has a proven ownership track record and affordable maintenance.If you want something a bit more driver-focused, the Skoda Kushaq is worth considering. It is a more engaging car to drive, but it does not feel as premium or as feature-rich as the Seltos.Overall, the Seltos is the best fit for your requirements. It is a significant upgrade from your Zest, it is technologically advanced, it is reliable and it will be easy to live with over the long term.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

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Popular discussions right now

•4d

I am confused between the Toyota Innova Crysta and the Mahindra XUV 7XO. I am looking for a comfortable 7-seater with good luggage space and a premium interior, including a high-quality music system. My usage will be mostly on highways, with occasional city driving. Which one would you recommend?

•4d

Go for the Toyota Innova Crysta. Your usage is highway-heavy with occasional city runs, and you want a proper 7-seater with good luggage space and a premium feel. The Crysta is still the benchmark for this kind of requirement. It is genuinely spacious in all three rows, has a large and usable boot even with all seats up, and is built for long-distance comfort and reliability. The diesel engine is strong, refined and well-suited to highway cruising, and Toyota’s ownership experience and long-term reliability are hard to beat. The Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more modern product with a more premium-looking interior and a better sound system, but it does not match the Crysta for outright space, practicality or long-term peace of mind. If your priority is a proper 7-seater that will serve you well for years, the Crysta is the safer and more sensible choice. If you want a more premium cabin and a richer feature set, the XUV 7XO is the alternative, but it is not as practical as the Crysta.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1w

I'm happy to choose either the Kia Seltos diesel or the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel, as you suggested. However, I'm concerned about DPF issues. My usage is around 40km daily in Bangalore city, along with 3-5 highway trips every month.

•6d

With a 40km daily commute in Bangalore and 3-5 highway runs a month, you are actually in a good position for a modern diesel. The DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) issue is a concern mainly for cars that do only very short, stop-start city runs with no opportunity for the filter to regenerate. Your 3 to 5 highway runs every month should suffice in keeping the DPF clean; you would have long enough stretches for the car to reach operating temperature and allow passive regeneration to occur. Between the Kia Seltos and the XUV 7XO diesel, the decision comes down to priorities. The Seltos diesel is the more refined and polished package, with a smoother engine and a more premium cabin experience. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the more powerful and more spacious car, with a stronger engine and a more commanding road presence. If you value refinement and a more premium feel, go for the Kia car. If you want more power, more space and a more rugged feel, go for the Mahindra car.The key point is that with your usage pattern, the DPF should not be a deal-breaker. Both cars are strong diesel options, and your driving routine is well-suited to modern diesel ownership.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•3d

Hi, I am confused about which car to buy within a budget of Rs. 8-9 lakh (on-road). This will be my first car, and my daily running is around 50 km, with an occasional 1,000 km round trip. Kindly suggest the best car in this budget with good fuel efficiency, reliability, safety, and comfort.

•2d

For your first car with a daily 50km commute and occasional long trips, the Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXI is the most sensible choice. It is fuel efficient, reliable and compact enough for daily use, while also being comfortable enough for longer journeys. The Swift’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is reliable and easy to live with, and Maruti’s service network and low maintenance costs make ownership straightforward. Safety is adequate for the segment, and the Maruti Suzuki car offers a good balance of ride comfort and practicality. If you prefer a slightly higher driving position, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx with the 1.2-litre petrol engine is worth considering.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Maruti Suzuki Swift

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Posted on: 30 Mar 2026

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