Delhi

Omar Moghal

•2w

I have a budget of ₹14 lakh and wanted to buy the Kia Seltos Petrol HT e-Ornate variant. I went for a test drive but felt the car was underpowered, and I got disappointed. The features and finish are top-class, but the power is lacking. What are my options?

Autocar India

•1w

For a budget of Rs 14 lakh, it is admittedly difficult to find a mid-size SUV automatic that offers genuinely strong performance. The 1.5 petrol in the Kia Seltos HTE is smooth and refined, but it isn’t particularly punchy, which explains why it felt underpowered on your test drive.

If you are primarily driving yourself and rear seat space isn’t a top priority, it would make sense to look at the compact SUV segment instead. This is where you’ll find turbo-petrol engines that feel noticeably more energetic.

Since you liked the Seltos’ fit, finish and feature list, the Kia Sonet HTX is worth considering. It comes with the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (118hp), which feels much more responsive in everyday driving. The Hyundai Venue (particularly the higher variants with the same 1.0 turbo engine) offers similar performance with a slightly different interior feel and feature mix.

Another very strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO. Its 1.2 TGDi engine (up to 131hp) is the most powerful in this class, and it combines strong performance with a spacious cabin and generous features for the money.

In short, if power is high on your priority list, moving to a turbo-petrol compact SUV will give you a much more satisfying driving experience within your budget.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

New Seltos

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.30 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.07 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.37 Lakh

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Parveen choudhary

•1w

But turbo engines are inefficient in fuel economy.

Vedesh

•1w

If he is looking for seltos,then thinking of sonet and venue , it won't fit his choice, since they are smaller(sub 4-metre) , i guess new duster would be under 14-15 lakhs . The 1.3l turbo petrol engine in duster have really good power 163hp and 280nm of torque

Latest questions people are discussing

Sidhant Singh Chandel

•1d

I am currently driving a Maruti Suzuki WagonR (2017), and I now feel the need to upgrade as my monthly running is around 1,500-2,000 km. What car should I buy within a budget of ₹14 lakh?

Autocar India

•1d

Since your monthly running is on the higher side, a diesel SUV would make sense. The newly updated Hyundai Venue in HX 5 trim would fit in your budget and is a big upgrade from the WagonR. The engine is refined, frugal and tried and tested, and should you get the manual gearbox, it has a light clutch that makes it easy in traffic. The HX 5 also gets a good level of kit, like a sunroof, cruise control, touchscreen, reversing sensors, TPMS, etc. The ride quality is good too, and it has a decent-sized boot for outstation trips. Hyundai's after-sales network is also one of the best, and it would be a hassle-free ownership experience.

Hyundai Venue

JAYAPRAKASH

•4d

I currently own a 2018 Honda WR-V diesel manual (6-speed), which has run about 50,000 km, along with a Tata EV purchased in 2023, which has covered around 20,000 km. I have now decided to replace my WR-V with a BS6 diesel automatic car. Could you please suggest which diesel automatic model would be the best choice according to Autocar?

Autocar India

•1d

Without knowing your budget and more requirements, we can't recommend the ideal choice for you. We have shortlisted models that you should consider, and why they are of interest. Compact SUVs- Hyundai Venue: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, good interior space, upmarket interior | (-) Expensive for its size- Kia Sonet: (+) Smooth diesel engine and auto gearbox combo, upmarket interior, good value | (-) Rear seat space is limited, due to be replaced in the coming year Midsize SUVs- Kia Seltos: (+) Spacious interior, well equipped, good ride comfort | (-) Performance is adequate only- Tata Sierra: (+) Class-best space, feature-packed, tough build, ride comfort | (-) Engine feels noisy, road noise- Hyundai Creta: (+) Well equipped, decent performance | (-) Due to be replaced in the coming year

Sanjay Sharma

Hi sir, I am looking to buy a new car, approximately under ₹11 lakh and am confused between the Kia Sonet HTK Plus and Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus petrol. My running is daily 50 km on the highway. Kindly advise which model and variant I should go for.

Autocar India

•7h

Both cars are good options and would be fine for highway driving; however, between the two, we would recommend you lean towards the Skoda Kylaq, as the Sonet is older and will be updated in about a year or so.On the other hand, the Kylaq is far newer and would thus also get you a much better resale value. At city speeds, the Kylaq's ride is firm; however, stability at speed is very good, as is body control around corners, with good amounts of grip on offer. This is something you would benefit from, given that you drive daily on the highway.

Skoda Kylaq

Kia Sonet

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