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AN

Anwesh

•1d

I am planning to purchase a new vehicle with a maximum on-road budget of ₹18 lakh in Hyderabad. My daily usage is quite high, averaging around 160 km, with a significant portion of driving on highways. I am specifically looking for a diesel vehicle with a manual transmission, preferably in the above 4-meter segment. My primary priorities are safety and fuel efficiency, given my extensive daily commute. However, with the wide range of options available in this category, I am finding it difficult to shortlist the most suitable car. I am currently looking at the Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Creta. I would appreciate your expert recommendation to help me make an informed decision.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•18m
Go for the Kia Seltos HTX 1.5 diesel MT variant, which comes in just under Rs 18 lakh on-road. Since your usage is very high, the refined and efficient 1.5-litre diesel engine is a good choice. Your requirement for top-notch safety is met, too, with the Seltos being the current highest-scoring ICE SUV rated by Bharat NCAP.
This Kia car also gets features like alloy wheels, keyless entry and a rear wash-wipe that the similarly priced Tata Sierra Pure does not offer. With your high usage, you will also find Kia’s unlimited kilometre warranty useful.
Where the Sierra betters the Seltos is in interior space. If the space in the Seltos is not sufficient for your needs, then consider the Sierra instead. On the test drive, check if refinement, highway cruising ability and seat comfort are satisfactory for your long commutes.
Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

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Kia Seltos

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 Lakh

Tata Sierra

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from ₹13.60 Lakh

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PR

Preet

•1d

I am looking for an automatic, fuel-efficient car with low maintenance. My driving is 90% in the city and 10% on the highway, with a daily running of 70km through Gurgaon-Delhi traffic. My budget is around ₹14-15 lakh. This will be the only car in the family. For family comfort, could you please help me with this?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1h

Choose the Honda Elevate V CVT. It might be slightly above your budget, but Honda regularly offers significant benefits.With 90% city usage and a long 70km commute in peak traffic, the CVT will feel easier and smoother to drive than AMTs or DCTs. The 1.5-litre engine is also very refined and responsive, while being reasonably fuel efficient for a vehicle in this segment.As your only family car, you will appreciate the spacious and comfortable rear seat and the generous 458-litre boot space. If you are looking for more features, also consider the Kia Seltos IVT, though you may need to stretch your budget a bit.On your test drive, spend 10 minutes crawling at 5-10kph to see if throttle response and performance is to your liking. Also, check that the steering feels light and the cabin remains comfortable for your long commutes.

VehicleHonda Elevate
VehicleKia Seltos
AN

Ankit

•2d

Hi, I am planning to buy a new Kia Seltos IVT petrol model. Can you please tell me what the mileage will be in the city and on the highway? Also, if there is any good automatic car with better mileage, please suggest one. My budget is approximately ₹18 lakhs.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•23h

Considering your requirements, choose the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol CVT.The Seltos' refined 115hp, 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with the smooth and seamless CVT auto gearbox makes it well-suited to city as well as highway duties. Although Kia is yet to reveal official figures, in our real-world fuel efficiency tests, the Seltos IVT returned 10.31kpl in the city and 14.22kpl out on the highway.However, the one thing you give up is class‑leading fuel efficiency as some strong hybrids in the segment manage 20-26 kpl. So if mileage is paramount, go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid, but you'll have to stretch your budget a bit.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
SO

Sohil

•3d

My budget is ₹18-20 lakh. Requirements: automatic, Android Auto, comfortable for five people. The only car that I have liked so far is the Kia Seltos, but the waiting period is over 10 weeks. Are there any other cars with a similar width to the Seltos?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

In terms of width and interior space for five occupants, the Tata Sierra is a good choice for your needs.Your key requirement is space for five, similar to the Seltos. The Sierra is only about 10mm wider than the Seltos, but crucially, it is 80mm longer and can comfortably seat five. It is also comparable to the Kia Seltos in terms of powertrains, ride and handling, features and safety.However, the Sierra is in high demand, and waiting periods could be similar to or even longer than those of the Seltos, depending on the variant. If that is a concern, then consider the Tata Harrier.On the test drive, seat three adults in the rear and do a 10km loop. Check shoulder room, noise levels and suspension comfort with the car fully loaded.

VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleTata Harrier
VehicleKia Seltos

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Posted on: 1 Apr 2026