I am confused between the Hyundai Creta Electric and the Mahindra XEV 9e. Which one is the better car overall?

autocar.india

•17h

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With 20 km a day and only a few 200-300 km trips a year, the Seltos keeps life simple on highways and in the city, with wide service support and no charging stops to plan. It also gives you the most rounded mix of space, features and safety from your shortlist, and it feels easy to drive every day.The Seltos is E20 compliant, and material-wise, it should be fine with slightly higher blends. A drop in fuel efficiency, though, is to be expected from higher ethanol content. The honest catch is the running cost. An EV like the Mahindra XEV 9e will be cheaper per km and quieter. If you have a fixed parking spot with a plug at home, the XEV 9e starts to make sense for your short daily runs, but fast-charging on intercity routes can still be hit-or-miss outside big cities. Alternatively, consider the Hyundai Creta Electric.Overall, the Seltos makes the most sense for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XEV 9e

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•2d

The new Kia Seltos will feel like a proper step-up over your outgoing car on account of its space, feature set, and tech. And if your monthly running is significantly higher than before, it does make sense to opt for the diesel. Sure, a diesel-automatic will be more expensive to buy than a corresponding petrol-automatic; however, it will be much more fuel-efficient, so you will make up for the price difference if your usage is significant. The diesel engine is quite smooth, and its strong low‑end pull makes overtaking and cruising at full load easier. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and suits long drives well.Ensure you regularly drive the diesel Seltos on the highway to maintain engine health, as the DPF tends to clog in frequent slow-moving traffic conditions. But if your usage is primarily in the city, with infrequent highway running, we'd recommend opting for the petrol version instead. Or you could consider a Hyundai Creta Electric instead.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•4h

With an annual running of less than 7,000km, fuel efficiency should not be the deciding factor. Instead, you should focus on comfort, reliability, ownership experience and how well the car will age over the next 12-15 years. That's why we wouldn't prioritise the Grand Vitara, Hyryder or Victoris Hybrid. Their hybrid systems command a price premium that you'll struggle to recover with such low annual usage.Between the remaining options, the Kia Seltos strikes the best balance. It offers a refined and proven naturally aspirated petrol engine, a smooth IVT automatic, a spacious and premium cabin, excellent comfort and a strong ownership experience. It also feels newer and more upmarket than the Elevate, while the Creta is due for a generational update sooner.The Honda Elevate deserves a mention for its simplicity and reliability. If absolute mechanical simplicity is your priority, it is arguably the safest long-term bet. However, it doesn't feel as premium as the Seltos. The engine and CVT combination isn't quite as refined, and Honda's dealer network is smaller.As for ethanol blending, we wouldn't let it influence your purchase decision. While there is plenty of discussion around E25, E27 and E30 fuels, there is currently no confirmed roadmap for such a transition. More importantly, all of these cars are E20-compliant, and manufacturers have engineered a degree of tolerance beyond that. The most likely effect of higher ethanol blends would be a small reduction in fuel efficiency and slightly accelerated wear of certain fuel-system components over a very long period, not a major reliability issue.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder