Autocar India
•32w

I want to buy an SUV (petrol or diesel, manual) with a budget of ₹18–20 lakh. My average running is 1,200–1,400 km per month, mostly in the city with occasional long drives. Mileage is important. I’m confused between the Tata Harrier, Mahindra XUV700, and Hyundai Creta — can you suggest which one to pick, or recommend better options?

Verified
•32w

Since good fuel economy is a key consideration for you, a diesel will fit your needs better. 

Among your options, the Mahindra XUV700 diesel is the most well-rounded choice. Its diesel engine is smooth and powerful. The XUV700 mileage is 17kpl for the manual diesel engine, which is fair for an SUV of this size.

The Hyundai Creta is smaller, and its diesel engine is less powerful. Creta mileage is 21.8kpl for the manual diesel; therefore, fuel economy will be significantly better than the XUV700's in case your decision entirely hinges on fuel economy. 

Mahindra XUV700

Mahindra XUV700

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Hyundai Creta

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Creta

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

Which one do you think is better to purchase at this moment: the Hyundai Creta SX Premium Summer Edition 1.5 Petrol IVT or the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus A (PS) 1.2 DCA? I know they are not part of the same segment, but I think it is worth comparing them because Tata is offering almost all the features in the top-end version for around Rs 17 lakh, whereas the Creta costs over Rs 20 lakh with a similar feature list. Do you still think the Creta is a better value for money than the Nexon? As per my knowledge, both are doing well in terms of sales and resale value. I am a bit confused and looking for an opinion.

Verified
•1d

The Hyundai Creta SX Premium 1.5 Petrol IVT would be the recommendation here. On paper, the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus A DCA looks like the stronger value proposition because it offers a long list of features for significantly less money. However, the Hyundai Creta justifies much of its price premium through its larger cabin, superior rear-seat comfort, better refinement and a more polished overall driving experience. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT is also exceptionally smooth in city traffic.The Tata Nexon counters with stronger safety credentials and a richer feature-to-price ratio, but it still cannot quite match the Creta's sense of space, comfort and overall maturity. If you regularly travel with family, the difference is immediately noticeable.As for resale value, both cars perform well, but the Creta traditionally enjoys stronger demand in the used car market and tends to hold its value exceptionally well.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleTata Nexon
•21h

I am planning to buy a Hyundai Creta Automatic in 2026. I am not interested in the upcoming version, as I do not like its design. However, I am confused between the petrol and diesel variants because of the government's future fuel-blending policies, such as E30, and the uncertain long-term future of diesel vehicles. At the same time, I feel diesel is unlikely to disappear completely, given its widespread use in commercial vehicles and trucks. I live in a Tier-2 city and occasionally travel to Bengaluru and Pune. I am also concerned about whether E30 fuel could cause any issues for vehicles that are only E20-compliant. Ideally, I feel the government should continue offering E20 as a standard fuel option. Considering these factors, would you recommend the petrol or diesel Creta Automatic? Kindly guide me.

Verified
•16h

About E30, using it in an E20‑compliant car is not advised but the harm will be a drop in mileage rather than major material compliance issues. Most manufacturers have material compliance for blends in the higher 20's now mainly due to the fact that this is the case in international markets (like Brazil e27) and it makes little sense to develop a separate material standard for India. Thus, pick the Creta petrol automatic, because your life is mostly tier 2 city runs with only occasional Bangalore or Pune trips, and petrol avoids the DPF fuss that modern diesels can throw up in short, stop‑go use. It is already E20 compatible, so you’re aligned with current fuel, and the petrol is quieter and smoother in traffic.Go diesel only if you drive a lot every month and do long drives of about 20 to 30 minutes and with speeds above 50 to 60kph at least once in two weeks, where the DPF will get a chance to heat up and burn off the soot.

VehicleHyundai Creta
•1w

I'm confused between the Kia Seltos HTK Petrol Manual and the Hyundai Creta EX Optional Summer Edition. I'm getting both for around Rs. 15 lakh. Which one would be the better choice? Also, in what situations or for what reasons should I choose one over the other? Additionally, which brand offers the better after-sales service experience?

Verified
•2d

Pick the Seltos simply because it feels more modern and premium on the inside, and thanks to its larger dimensions, cabin space is a bit better too. Both cars share their 1.5-petrol engine, and both have light and smooth controls, which make them equally easy to drive. Performance and efficiency will be similar too. The Creta on the other hand, is a car you can't go wrong with, and you will also find more Hyundai service touchpoints than Kia. That said, if you have a Kia service centre near you, it is the Seltos we'd recommend.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I am confused between buying Skoda Kylaq and Kia Seltos. Please suggest.

Verified
•6d

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

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•1d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

Verified
•1d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleKia Sonet
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•3d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

Verified
•1d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

VehicleMahindra XEV 9S
VehicleMahindra XEV 9e

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Posted on: 30 Oct 2025