I own a 2015 Hyundai Creta Diesel S+ and have driven it single-handedly for over 1,00,000 km across ten years. I want to replace it with a compact or full-size SUV and have shortlisted the Elevate, Aircross and the new Dustor. I have been evaluating other cars (Harrier, Hector, Victoris and the Tata Sierra) but none have satisfied me. My on-road budget in Bangalore is 20-25 lakh. Please help me choose.

Autocar India

•12w

A good option to also look at would be the newly unveiled Kia Seltos. It is a new generation model with a lot of changes, an upmarket cabin and even more features added. Kia has also retained the powertrain options so should you want a diesel, you can get that as well.

If you want a bigger SUV, the Mahindra XUV 700 will also be updated to the Mahindra XUV 7XO with a refreshed look and new features in January.

Although it is worth noting that the XUV will be pushing the Rs 25 lakh mark in terms of price. The Renault Duster is also an iconic model that is set to make a comeback next month so it is definitely worth waiting for.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

New Seltos

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.23 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

Rojit Naorem

•5d

I am planning to buy a new car, preferably a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission, with a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Currently, my monthly running is around 900 km, but it is expected to increase to about 2,000 km per month after 1.5 years. I have a family of five, so I am looking for a comfortable and spacious car that can serve us well for the next 6-7 years. At present, I drive a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta and really appreciate its mileage and cabin space. However, mileage is not a major concern for my next car.

Autocar India

•1d

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the new Kia Seltos. It's got plenty of space for five and their luggage, it's very modern, and it's comfortable too. At your budget you can get a reasonably high variant, which means you will get lots of features too. Moreover, like its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has a good reputation for reliability, and so you can safely hold on to the car for six to seven years. The best bit is you have the choice of three engines - the naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and diesel. The turbo petrol is not available with a traditional manual and gets a clutchless manual or iMT instead. It's a good option that mixes convenience with control, but frankly given your usage, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol with the 6-speed manual. It's a great combination of efficiency, smoothness and value for money.

Kia New Seltos

Nano

•2d

I am looking for an upgrade. Does it make sense to buy the 3XO, coming from a Honda City? Please suggest. (Also open to other options)

Autocar India

•1d

If an upgrade necessarily means a larger car for you, the Mahindra 3XO won't be the right move after a Honda City. You'd be best served by midsized SUVs, which measure between 4.3 and 4.5m. Of the current crop of mid-sized SUVs, the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta and Tata Sierra are the best-rounded. The new-gen Renault Duster that launches on March 17 also has promise.If vehicle size isn't a dealbreaker, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is a good pick. It's got powerful petrol engines, feels solid, and ride and handling are also impressive. The interior is also spacious for what is a compact SUV, and higher-spec versions pack in loads of equipment too. In fact, a fully-loaded 3XO is better equipped than a fully-loaded City.Within the compact SUV segment, you could also consider the Hyundai Venue, which is a well-rounded package.

Anushank

I am planning to sell my Mahindra XUV500 as it is nearing the end of its registration validity in Delhi NCR, and I want to buy a 5-seater SUV under ₹10 lakh. My preference is for a fuel-efficient car as my daily running is around 100 km, but it should also be spacious enough for five people. Since fuel efficiency is a priority, I am open to both CNG and diesel cars. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway, mostly within Delhi NCR. I have narrowed my choices to the Maruti Brezza CNG, Tata Nexon CNG, Kia Sonet Diesel, and Maruti Fronx CNG. Please help me evaluate which would be the better option. I am also open to any other better option if available.

Autocar India

•1h

The Maruti Brezza CNG and Fronx CNG will be more fuel efficient than the Nexon iCNG, and their clutch and gearbox make them friendlier to drive, too. The Brezza is due for a facelift in the coming weeks, so you might want to wait for that to arrive. The Kia Sonet diesel will feel punchier to drive (than the CNG options listed above), while being very efficient too. Also, by opting for a diesel, you won't need to wait in long queues to refill CNG. Even the Sonet is due for a generation update, which is likely to be launched this year. Another option you could consider is the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel MX2, which is more spacious than a Sonet. Its ride-handling balance is very impressive; the Sonet, however, has an edge in terms of fuel efficiency.

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