My budget is ₹7 lakh and I do not want a Maruti Suzuki. I am open to other car makers and also considering an EV. Which car should I choose?

Autocar India

•16w

Unfortunately, no EV is available within a budget of Rs 7 lakh. You will have to extend your budget by at least 1-1.50 lakh to purchase the entry-level MG Comet or Tata Tiago EV.

The MG Comet is an excellent urban runabout, due to its tiny footprint, which makes it easy to manoeuvre and park. Occasionally, it can seat four passengers in relative comfort, with the only limiting factor being access to its rear seats due to its two-door layout. The Tata Tiago EV is relatively more conventional in its approach, and it drives a bit better than the Comet.

Also, it is the Tata Tiago EV, which will feel a bit more comfortable and confident for the occasional highway drives. Hence, if this is going to be your primary vehicle, we'd recommend the Tata Tiago EV for its well-roundedness.

Explore cars mentioned

Comet

from ₹7.99 Lakh

Tata

Tiago EV

from ₹8.51 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Abhijeet sinha

•2d

Hi, Abhijeet this side. I am looking for a car with good mileage, as my daily run is around 100 km from Bhiwadi to Gurgaon and back. My usage is roughly 60% highway and 40% city traffic, although highways can get heavily congested during peak hours. I have a family of five, including my parents, and I prefer using my car for long trips rather than public transport. EVs are not an option for me due to infrastructure concerns. Currently, I own a Nissan Magnite XV Red Edition (manual, NA engine), but its mileage has dropped to around 11.5 kpl. I am not sure if this is due to E20 fuel. I plan to sell this car and do not want to keep two vehicles. Please advise whether I should opt for a hybrid or a diesel car. My budget is up to 20 lakh, but I would prefer to stay closer to 15 lakh if possible. It all depends on your guidance.

Autocar India

•1h

Opt for a strong hybrid, specifically the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid. It is the best fit for your usage and long-term ownership. Your daily running is very high, with a mix of highway and heavy traffic. In this kind of use, the stop-and-go sections hurt fuel efficiency the most, and this is where a strong hybrid makes a clear difference. It can run on battery at low speeds, cuts fuel use in traffic and makes the drive smoother and less tiring compared to a diesel or petrol car. Over time, this will reflect in significantly lower running costs.A diesel car, such as the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, will still do well on open highways and feel stronger during quick overtakes. But your route is not purely highway, and the traffic component reduces that advantage. Also, being in the NCR region, diesel ownership comes with long-term limitations, which the hybrid avoids completely.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Bhargav

•2d

I’m planning to buy my first car and am considering the Kia Seltos 1.5 diesel top-end automatic with a torque converter. My main priority is the gearbox. Since I mostly drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I’ve read that DCTs can heat up over time, while torque converters are smoother and more reliable in city conditions. Even though I prefer petrol for refinement, the lack of a torque converter in petrol is a concern. I love the Seltos overall and want the top-end variant for its features. I drive around 500–700 km/month in the city, with occasional highway trips, taking my total monthly usage to ~900–1200 km. I understand diesel engines need periodic long drives to avoid issues like filter clogging, and I’m fine to take it on long high speed drives once or twice a month. I didn’t like the CVT/IVT petrol variant as it lacked the power and driving feel I want. Given this, is the top-end diesel a good choice for me as a first car? Also: 1. What are the maintenance costs like? 2. Is choosing diesel mainly for the torque converter a sensible decision? Because I am preferring the torque converter over the DCT, is this the right way to think? 3. Any key tips for maintaining a diesel engine?

Autocar India

•7h

Mostly bumper-to-bumper city use with 900-1,200 km a month, and you want a smooth, fuss-free automatic with all the features - in that situation, the Kia Seltos 1.5 diesel top-end automatic is the right pick for you. With your relatively limited running, though, you won’t recover the extra purchase price quickly. Since you are choosing the diesel largely for the gearbox, you will have to make your peace with the higher upfront cost.A DCT can feel a bit jerky and can warm up when you are moving very slowly for long periods, but Kia's newest gearboxes have improved this significantly. A torque converter, though, is smoother at walking speeds, so it feels calmer in stop-go traffic than a dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The IVT is actually the better fit for your use case, but since you didn’t enjoy it, this diesel automatic lines up best with what you want. Alternatively, consider the Tata Sierra turbo-petrol, which comes with a torque-converter automatic.For maintenance, budget roughly Rs 8,000-12,000 a year for scheduled services, with higher bills in years that include additional items like filters. It will vary by city and dealer, so do check Kia’s prepaid service pack to lock in costs. Tyres, brake pads and fluids are normal wear items.Key diesel care is simple: use good fuel, avoid many very short trips back-to-back, and do a 15-20 minute highway run at a steady speed every few weeks. If a filter warning shows, follow the manual to clear it. Overall, for your use, the diesel automatic Seltos fits well.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

AMAR

•5d

I live in Andhra Pradesh, and most of my driving is on quarry roads and double-lane roads. I drive nearly 5,000 km per month. Please suggest a 7-seater SUV, MPV, or EV with captain seats within a budget of ₹30-40 lakh.

Autocar India

•9h

Your usage and requirements point to a tough yet comfortable diesel SUV with lots of space. In that use, the Tata Safari 6-seat diesel automatic Accomplished X+ fits you best. It rides comfortably on broken surfaces, feels steady at highway speeds, and the captain seats in the middle row are wide and easy to get in and out of, which matters when you are in the car for hours every day. They're also widely adjustable and even ventilated, which is a bonus. The diesel with an automatic gearbox means less effort in slow stretches and relaxed cruising between towns, and diesel makes sense for your monthly distance.Know the trade-offs. With all three rows up, boot space is tight, so plan for a roof carrier if you carry a lot of luggage, and Tata's aftersales and service network isn't quite as good as some other brands. If you are fine with a manual, the Toyota Innova Crysta 7-seat diesel remains a great long-term workhorse and is very reliable too. However, it's not as comfortable or well equipped as the Tata Safari.As for EVs, your two options are the Vinfast VF MP7 and the BYD eMax7. However, due to their long wheelbases, slightly lower ground clearances and underbody battery packs, we'd recommend sticking to an ICE MPV for your usage on rough roads and quarries. Additionally, their dealership and after-sales networks are still limited compared to Tata and Toyota.

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