Mumbai

•19w

I am looking to buy a compact car for my family, with an annual running of 30,000–40,000 km. My father strongly prefers diesel vehicles, while I am also considering an electric vehicle within a ₹20 lakh budget. We currently own a 2017 Hyundai i20 (top model), which is nearing 3 lakh km and needs replacement. The new car will be used mostly for city driving, along with occasional long trips of 300-500 km. We also have a 2021 Jeep Compass 4x4 Model S, which has clocked 1.2 lakh km and will be retained, although its fuel efficiency is around 11 km/l. Given our usage and long-term ownership plans (up to 3 lakh km), should we opt for an electric vehicle, a diesel car, or a hybrid? We also have an 8 kW solar setup at home with surplus power generation. I am considering EVs like the Tata Punch EV, Tata Nexon EV, MG Astor EV (if launched), and the upcoming Kia Syros EV. For diesel options, I am looking at the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Creta, and Tata Curvv. However, while I like Tata cars, I have some concerns about after-sales service. Could you suggest the most suitable electric or diesel automatic options for my needs?

•19w

With your kind of usage of 30,000-40,000 km a year, mostly city driving, long-term ownership and an 8 kW solar setup, going electric makes a lot of sense. Among cars under 20 lakh, an EV will give you the biggest saving in running costs, especially since you can charge at home using surplus solar power, and the smooth, silent nature of an EV suits city driving perfectly.

The Tata Nexon EV Long Range is still one of the most well-rounded options here. It offers a good balance of range, practicality and ease of use, and can handle your occasional 300-500 km trips with one planned charging stop. This Tata car is also a proven product with a wide user base.

However, since you have concerns about Tata’s service, it is worth considering alternatives. The MG Windsor EV with the larger battery pack is a strong option. It offers more space, a more premium feel and a bigger battery, which helps with range and reduces charging stops. The Maruti Suzuki e-Vitara is another promising option, especially from a long-term ownership perspective, thanks to Maruti’s strong service network and reliability.

Diesel is still a valid fallback. If you prefer complete flexibility and do not want to depend on charging infrastructure at all, options like the Hyundai Creta diesel automatic or Kia Sonet diesel automatic make sense, offering effortless highway performance and strong mileage. Kia Sonet mileage figures range from 18.6 kmpl to 24.1 kmpl. The 1.2 petrol-manual is rated at 18.8kpl, the 1.0 turbo-petrol delivers 18.7kpl with the manual and 19.2kpl with the DCT, and the 1.5 diesel achieves up to 24.1kpl with the manual gearbox.

So, the decision comes down to priorities. Given your high running and solar setup, an EV is clearly the smarter long-term choice. Among EVs, the Nexon EV is the proven option, the Windsor EV offers more space and range, and the e Vitara is the safest bet for long-term ownership. Diesel should only be considered if you want maximum convenience without planning charging stops.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Nexon EV

from ₹13.25 Lakh

Windsor

from ₹14.95 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

e Vitara

from ₹17.17 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.88 Lakh

Kia

Sonet

from ₹8.56 Lakh

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•1d

I’m interested in buying Hyundai Creta Electric and have a budget of around Rs. 16 lakh. I would like to know which EV variants and options are available within this budget.

•20h

With a budget of Rs 16 lakh, the Hyundai Creta Electric is unfortunately out of reach. The Creta Electric is positioned as a premium EV and its starting price is higher than your budget. Even the base variant sits well above Rs 16 lakh, so there are no variants or options available within your price range.If you are set on an electric SUV, the Tata Nexon EV is the most realistic alternative. It offers a well-rounded package with good range, strong performance and a spacious cabin, and it is available in multiple variants within your budget.If you are open to stretching your budget, the Creta Electric is a strong product with a premium cabin, good range and Hyundai's strong service network, but it is not realistically available at Rs 16 lakh.

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•4h

I am using a Datsun redi-GO 2016 model and am planning to upgrade to a 5-seater automatic car. I mostly use it in city traffic, with an average daily travel of 60 km. I have a bit of a back problem, so I need a car that is suited for long-term ownership. I am open to suggestions for current or upcoming cars, except Tata and Mahindra. I initially shortlisted the Creta S (O) and later tried the Kylaq, but the Creta is expensive for my budget. My budget is Rs. 15-18 lakh.

•3h

Given your requirements, the Skoda Kylaq automatic is the most sensible recommendation. Your daily running of 60 km in city traffic makes a petrol automatic the right choice, and the Kylaq's 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to stop-start conditions. The Kylaq also offers a comfortable ride and supportive seats, which is important given your back problem. It is also a more practical upgrade from your Redigo, offering a higher seating position and better overall comfort without stretching your budget.The Hyundai Creta S Optional is a good car, but it sits at the upper end of your budget and though it does offer additional value like a more spacious cabin. The Kylaq, on the other hand, offers a more engaging driving experience while still delivering a comfortable ride, making it better value for money for your requirements. If you are open to upcoming cars, the Honda Elevate facelift is worth considering as well, as it is expected to offer a comfortable ride and Honda's reputation for reliability. However, the Kylaq remains the stronger recommendation given your budget and requirements.

I live in Bangalore and have to commute to the office daily. I leave home at around 7:00 AM and log out at 3:30 PM from office. My average daily driving is about 50 km, mostly within the city, and I take an occasional highway trip about once a month. My budget is Rs. 15-16 lakh, and I'm looking for the most suitable vehicle considering reliability, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, maintenance costs, and long-term ownership. So far, I've shortlisted Kia Sonet HTX Diesel (concerned about DPF issues due to my city driving), Skoda Kushaq Signature Plus AT, Tata Nexon Creative+ PS Camo DCA and Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L. Based on my usage pattern, which of these would you recommend, and are there any other better options within my budget?

•22h

Based on your usage pattern of 50 km daily city driving with only occasional highway trips, the Kia Sonet diesel is not the best fit. Modern diesel engines with DPF systems are not ideally suited to predominantly urban driving, and while the Sonet is a good car, it is not worth the potential hassle given your usage. The Skoda Kushaq Signature Plus AT is a better option if you enjoy driving, but it is a segment up on the others, which means it will exceed your budget. The Kylaq is the direct rival to the others on your list, but its rear seat can feel a bit tight. The Tata Nexon Creative+ PS Camo DCA is a solid all-rounder with good safety credentials, but the DCA gearbox won't feel as smooth as the torque converter on the XUV 3XO.The Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L is therefore the recommendation here. It has a premium and spacious cabin, a strong feature set, good safety credentials and a comfortable ride, making it well suited to daily city commuting. The turbo-petrol engine is also punchy and the 6-speed automatic is very smooth. If you are open to alternatives, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic is also worth considering for its reliability, fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs and proven ownership experience, but it lacks the performance of the 3XO.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

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.

•6d

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.

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•1w

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?

•6d

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.

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•6d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

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