Hapur

Omar Moghal

•11w

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

•11w

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

Sonet

from ₹8.22 Lakh

Hyundai

Venue

from ₹8.99 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 3XO

from ₹8.49 Lakh

Parveen choudhary

•11w

But turbo engines are inefficient in fuel economy.

Vedesh

•11w

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

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More questions on similar cars

Deeps

•1d

I want to upgrade to a new car. Less city usage, maximum long trips. The old car was a Swift Dzire VXi 2010 model. I want a low-maintenance premium car within a 15-17 lakh budget, for long-term usage.

Autocar India

•2h

For your usage, we would recommend the Kia Seltos diesel manual. Since your driving is primarily long distance and you plan to keep the car for the long term, the diesel makes complete sense, and the Seltos is a very easy car to recommend in this budget. It feels like a significant upgrade from your old Dzire in every way, with a far more premium cabin, much better comfort and stronger highway performance.The new Seltos is also larger than the Hyundai Creta, and offers more cabin space, a bigger boot and overall feels more premium. Kia has also improved the ride quality over the previous generation, so it feels more comfortable and settled on long journeys while still being easy to drive.The Creta diesel manual remains a strong alternative because it uses the same dependable diesel powertrain, but the current Creta is now the older product and due for a generational replacement in roughly the next year or so.

Hyundai Creta

Ganesh Natarajan

•2d

Hello team, I am planning to buy a compact SUV. Shortlisted vehicles are 3XO, Venue Automatic, Sonet, the new Punch, and Nexon. Please suggest. I am in the process of shortlisting the Venue Automatic.

Autocar India

•2h

The new Hyundai Venue is a genuinely well-rounded package. It is more spacious than before, the rear seat is now comfortable enough for two adults, the turbo petrol engine feels punchy, and overall, it is easy to live with. The only caveat is the DCT gearbox. It is smooth enough in normal use, but it is not as seamless in traffic as the 3XO’s torque converter automatic, which is where the Mahindra clearly has the advantage.The Mahindra XUV 3XO also has a wider and more spacious rear seat, making it a better five-seater if family use matters. The downside is boot space, which is among the smallest in the segment, so if luggage carrying matters, that is worth keeping in mind.The new Tata Punch is a solid improvement over the older car, but compared to the others here, it does not feel as premium, as powerful or as sophisticated, which is reflected in its lower price positioning. The Nexon is still a competent option, but against the fresher 3XO and Venue, it now feels a little dated.

soumyadeep ghosh

I have been using a Celerio for 10 years and now want to change the car. My budget is 10 - 11 lakh. I have been a driving enthusiast for a long time. Currently, my daily running is 120 km with 60% highway use. I also want the car to be comfortable for my parents, especially getting in and out and sitting too high and too low will cause problems for their knees. I have driven all the cars in the mini SUV category and shortlisted the Kylaq, 3xo, Venue and Brezza. Kindly share your opinion on these options, and also suggest if there are any other cars worth considering in this price range based on my requirements.

Autocar India

•13h

Purely from an enthusiast point of view, the Skoda Kylaq would be the pick here. It is the most engaging of the lot, the turbo petrol feels punchy, and it genuinely has that fun-to-drive character you are looking for. The problem is your running. At 120 km a day, fuel efficiency will start mattering very quickly, and the Kylaq’s real-world economy will begin to pinch.The Marutu Suzuki Brezza actually fits your overall requirement better. No, it is not the most thrilling engine here, but it is efficient, and the ride and handling balance is genuinely sorted. Also, the seating height is just right for older parents to get in and out comfortably without it being too low or too tall. It is also one of the easiest cars here to live with long-term.Given your running and the fact that 60 percent of it is highway, the diesel manual options in the Maruti XUV 3XO or Hyundai Venue are worth serious consideration too. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel in particular is the enthusiast’s diesel pick here because the engine is strong, punchy, and the chassis is genuinely enjoyable. The only trade-off is that it does feel a bit heavier in everyday use than the Brezza.

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•1w

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•5d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

lakkhan

•3d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India

•2d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

Amit Gupte

I want to drive from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar. Which route would you recommend? I can see multiple routes on Google Maps and don't know which one is best.

Autocar India

•3d

The fastest route is the old NH66 route via Karnala. However, if you want a more enjoyable drive with your Audi A4 with prettier scenery and generally better road surfaces, we would suggest taking the Pali Road via Imagica towards Wakan, where you can connect back onto NH66.Also, try to leave before 7 am so you can cross the Mangaon section before around 10 am, because this stretch can get heavily congested later in the morning.

Audi A4

View all Posts

Posted on: 2 Mar 2026

Need expert advice?

Ask the Autocar community and experts.

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?

Still have questions?

Need expert advice?

Our brands

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?

Still have questions?

Need expert advice?

How can we help?

What vehicle do you own?

Your details