I am looking to buy a new petrol turbo car around ₹25 lakh on-road in Bangalore and am confused between the new Kia Seltos and Tata Sierra. I like the design and cabin experience of the Tata Sierra, while the Seltos is strong on aftersales and service. Sierra is generally considered better for safety, although Seltos has also improved safety with its new platform. My top priority is family safety, so I am inclined toward Sierra, but I want to know how significant Tata’s reliability issues are and whether I should instead choose the Seltos.

Autocar India

•8w

Your observations are correct. Neither the Tata Sierra nor the Kia Seltos has been crash tested by Global NCAP or Bharat NCAP yet. But Tata Motors cars have had a good track record with these tests. While the Kia Seltos uses an all-new global platform that should be safer than the outgoing model.

Both SUVs feature the latest in active and passive safety features, which should be a reassurance, and thus, on the safety front, you won't be wrong to go with either. As for other factors, the Sierra is certainly the more spacious of the two and edges the Seltos out on comfort as well.

However, in most other areas, it's the Seltos that comes out on top, including, as you have pointed out, after-sales experience. The Sierra is being produced at the ex-Ford plant in Sanand, Gujarat. It is said to have higher manufacturing standards, and the brand has been committed to improving its after-sales service across the country, but the results of that will take some time to show.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

Kia

New Seltos

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Nano

•4d

I am confused between the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 and Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 variants, as I prefer practicality over extra features. Alternatively, should I consider waiting for the Tata Sierra?

Autocar India

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If you don't mind the additional spend, we'd recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO in AX7 trim. Elements like its larger 18-inch alloy wheels and leatherette upholstery add greatly to the look and feel of things. While auto climate control, a 540-degree camera and front parking sensors are features you will appreciate every day. The Tata Sierra is not a like-for-like alternative to the Mahindra 7XO. The 7XO is larger, more powerful and also offers three rows of seating.Further, the 7XO is slightly pricier, too. Within Tata's range, the Tata Safari is an alternative to the 7XO.

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I am planning to buy a new mid-range SUV and have shortlisted the Kia Seltos HTX(A) and the Hyundai Creta Knight, both with petrol IVT transmissions. I am getting both cars for almost the same price (around ₹21.5 lakh). I have a few questions before making the final decision: One of the main reasons I am considering these higher variants is the 360-degree camera, as I am upgrading from a hatchback and feel it may help with the larger dimensions of an SUV. In real-world usage, does the 360 camera actually help, or is it just a matter of getting used to the car’s size? I don’t see much use for ADAS in Mumbai’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. I am eligible for a BH registration, but I am also considering a MH registration. Since I plan to keep the car for around 8 years, could selling a BH-registered car later become an issue? My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh, and at that price I would like to get maximum features. I have driven both cars and liked them, but which one would you say is more feature-rich overall? For example, the ambient lighting in the Creta seems limited to red, while the instrument cluster in the Seltos looks more modern. Are there any other SUVs in this segment that I should consider? I found the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Skoda Kushaq to be quite basic and didn’t like them much. From what I have seen so far, the Seltos and Creta seem to offer the best combination of reliability and features, so I ruled out other options without test driving them. Thanks, Team.

Autocar India

•2d

For you, we think the Kia Seltos would be a better option. The Seltos is a much newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta. Since you intend to sell your car about 8 years from now, the Seltos should be able to get you a better price. As for your other queries, yes, you would get used to the dimensions of your car. If you can easily manage the budget for the versions with a 360 deg camera, it's a nice-to-have feature as seeing the immediate surroundings comes in handy in some odd parking situations like placing a car over a pothole, or lining it up against a kerb.As for ADAS, yes, in Mumbai city traffic, it can often be an issue; thus, it's best to keep it only on highway drives. Coming to the BH plate, it makes sense if you are likely to be transferred and would live in another state, plus you do not have to pay the entire road tax upfront. However, you do have to make the effort to pay it every two years online and selling to non-eligible buyers does involve a bit more paperwork.

Kia New Seltos

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•1d

Hi, I currently own a Honda Amaze diesel 2014 model. Now, after using it for so long, I want to upgrade to a 7-seater. I shortlisted the Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Carens Clavis and have done test drives for both vehicles. My daily usage in the city is 25 km, and I occasionally do long family trips. Now I am super confused between both cars, as one has premiumness and the other has space. Please suggest the best vehicle for me. Is the turbo petrol good? Now I am super confused.

Autocar India

•17m

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

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