I am planning to upgrade from my Tata Tiago and am considering the Maruti Suzuki Brezza (2026) and the new Kia Seltos. My key requirements are good fuel efficiency, affordable service and maintenance, and comfort for city driving. My usage will mainly be city driving in Navi Mumbai, around 75 km per day, three times a week. Could you please suggest which would be a better fit for my needs? Also, let me know if there are any better alternatives I should consider.

Autocar India

•1d

For your needs, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is best. For your mostly city use in Navi Mumbai, it will use less fuel, cost less to keep running, and it is easier to drive and park than the Kia Seltos. Coming from a Tata Tiago, the Brezza will feel like a clear step up in space and ride comfort but it still feels light and simple to handle in tight lanes and crowded parking. The Brezza is known to be more efficient in daily stop-go traffic than the bigger, heavier Seltos, and Maruti’s service is cheaper and more widespread, which helps over years of ownership. The 6-speed automatic changes gears smoothly, the seat is set high so you see out easily, and the steering is light, which takes the stress out of your 75 km city runs.One thing to be aware of is that the Brezza is not very quick if you push hard on the highway, and its cabin feels simpler than the Seltos. Also, the boot is smaller, so if you often carry a lot of luggage, note that.Pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol iVT only if you want a larger, more premium-feeling car and do more highway trips - its smooth automatic is nice in traffic, but it will use a bit more fuel and cost more to buy and service.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•2d

The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7L is substantially more expensive than the Maruti Brezza ZXI+; however, you get a lot more for the money. In addition to features like ADAS, all-wheel disc brakes, etc, you also get a more powerful 131hp turbo-petrol engine. It makes the drive experience far more effortless, both in the city and on the highway. Also, the XUV 3XO's cabin feels a lot more upmarket and airy, not only due to the bright interiors, but also due to its panoramic sunroof. As a product, it is certainly superior to the Brezza.Space-wise, though, the Maruti Brezza is similar, and both cars feel equally capable over bad and broken roads. The Brezza has an edge in terms of boot space, and its fuel-efficiency will be better than the Mahindra's. The Maruti's overall ownership experience with its wider service network is likely to be trouble-free as well. In case you're going for the Brezza, wait for the updated version which is likely to be launched in a few months.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

•42m

Hyundai and Kia belong to the same parent group and share engines, gearboxes, suspension and electrical architecture, so the Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT and Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT are fundamentally similar in the way they drive and in long-term reliability.Where they really differ is in design, space and cabin ambience. The new Seltos has a longer wheelbase, is noticeably more spacious, and as you’ve pointed out, feels more premium inside. It also feels a bit more up-to-date in terms of dashboard design and overall cabin experience. Performance from the 1.5 petrol with IVT is effectively the same in both, so you won’t feel a big difference in outright smoothness or ease of driving.For maintenance and after-sales, Hyundai still has a slight edge with its wider, more established network, which is an advantage if you’re in a smaller town or travel widely. Kia’s support has improved quickly, though, so in most bigger cities it’s no longer a deal-breaker.On resale, the Seltos currently enjoys strong appeal, and with the next-gen Creta due around 2027, the present Creta will start to feel older sooner, which can soften its resale value earlier. So, if both are similarly priced and you like the Seltos more, I would pick the Seltos HTK(O) IVT. If you can wait, the next-gen Creta is also worth keeping in mind.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta