Mumbai

•4h

I am confused between the following cars: Renault Duster Adventure 1.3 DCT, Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT, and Hyundai Creta S(O) IVT. We are a family of 3-4 with average builds, and we have comfortably used a Tiago for the last 6-7 years. I know I will enjoy driving the Duster, but from a practical standpoint, even the Kia and Creta seem very good at this point. Hence, the confusion. I haven't done many long trips in the Tiago, but I am planning to change that with the new car. I mainly want a car with comfortable ride quality that I can enjoy for a long time.

•4m

Go for the Renault Duster 1.3 DCT. You have already identified the key point: you will enjoy driving the Duster, and that matters a lot when you are planning to do more long trips. The Duster also has an exceptionally comfortable ride, and the 1.3 turbo petrol paired with the DCT is a strong, enjoyable combination on highways. It is also a proven package, so reliability is not a major concern.

The Seltos and Creta are both excellent cars, and from a purely practical standpoint, they are very strong options. The Seltos feels slightly more premium inside, while the Creta prioritises comfort and refinement. However, neither car offers the same level of driving engagement or ride comfort as the Duster.

The only real drawback with the Duster is that the rear seat is not the most spacious in the segment, but for a family of 3-4 with average builds, it is perfectly adequate. Overall, the Duster strikes the best balance between comfort, driving enjoyment and long-term ownership satisfaction.

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•1w

Hi, I am currently driving a Maruti Dzire VXi and am looking to upgrade. After researching different cars in the market, I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos DCT HTX(A) and Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 Petrol variants. I usually work from home, so my running is low, mostly on weekends, with a 60:40 city-to-highway split. I also like to drive in the mountains with my family of two and a small dog. Which car should I go for? Please advise.

•2h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 petrol. Your usage pattern involves low running with a 60:40 city-highway mix, and you enjoy mountain drives with your family and dog. The XUV 7XO is the better fit here. This Mahindra car offers a more spacious cabin, a larger boot and a more comfortable ride, which will make long drives and mountain trips more enjoyable. It also has a more powerful engine, which will be an advantage on hilly roads. It will feel more substantial than the Seltos, although this does come with a few drawbacks.The Seltos' smaller footprint makes it a bit easier to drive in the city, and it is also more fuel-efficient. However, the DCT can feel a little hesitant at low speeds, and highway performance won't feel as effortless as it does in the XUV 7XO. Overall, the XUV 7XO is the better fit for your use case.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

•1d

I am a bit confused between the Kia Seltos (Petrol) and Mahindra XUV 7XO (Diesel base model) for a family of five. My priorities are good boot space and fuel efficiency. Which one would be the better choice for my requirements?

•19h

In our real-world standard test cycles, we achieved an efficiency of 12.26 kpl for the 1.5 AT Kia Seltos and 13.10 kpl for the diesel AT Mahindra 7XO. So, going purely by numbers, the Mahindra would be better; it would also provide more boot space with the third row folded. However, an important point to note is to opt for the diesel Mahindra only if your driving includes a long drive at least once every 8 to 10 days, as this is important to prevent the diesel particulate filter from clogging up. A drive of about 20 minutes at speeds above 50 to 60kph is what is required to heat the filter enough to burn away soot. If, however, your driving is entirely within the city, you would be better off with the petrol Seltos.

Kia Seltos

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•4d

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•1d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

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Popular discussions right now

•2d

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•1d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

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•4d

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•2d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

Please suggest a car under a budget of Rs. 10 lakh with 20km approximate daily running and one vacation trip quarterly.

•2d

With a budget of Rs. 10 lakh, daily running of 20 km and quarterly vacation trips, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza is the most sensible recommendation. Your daily running is not high enough to justify the premium of a diesel or hybrid, and both the Brezza's petrol engines are reliable, relatively efficient and well suited to both city driving and occasional highway runs. This Maruti Suzuki car also offers a comfortable ride, good ground clearance and a spacious cabin, making it a practical choice for family trips. Maruti's service network and low maintenance costs further strengthen the ownership proposition. Opt for the 1.0 turbo petrol if you want a bit more performance or go for the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol if you want a more refined experience.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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Posted on: 13 Aug 2026