•8h

My daily running is 150 km, with a monthly running of 3,500-4,000 km. Around 75% of my driving is on highways and 25% is in rural areas. Every year, I take 2-3 family trips of 3,000-4,000 km. We are usually three to four members travelling daily. Please suggest the best car for me.

•4m

Go for the Kia Seltos diesel. Your daily 150 km and 75% highway use suit a diesel perfectly, and the Seltos' motor is efficient on long runs - expect an efficiency on highways in the high teens so your 3,500-4,000 km months won’t bleed your wallet. The Seltos also rides comfortably over broken rural stretches, has enough space for 3-4 people every day, and a boot sufficient for those 3,000-4,000 km family tours.

Pick the automatic if you’re often stuck in traffic or drive long hours; the manual will squeeze out a bit more mileage. Safety kit and highway stability are solid, and the cabin keeps fatigue low on all-day drives.

One caution: it’s not a hardcore rough-road SUV. If your “rural” is truly bad roads or light off-road trails every day, you’ll need to slow down, and tyre upgrades may help, or consider something like the diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO with AWD, though this would be a pricier option.

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Kia

Seltos

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Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹15.58 Lakh

•9s

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

I am confused between the Kia Seltos and the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. I am also unsure whether I should buy the base variant and customise it or choose a mid variant with the necessary features. I live in Chennai and drive around 1,000 km a month, with a 50:50 split between highway and city use. I like the Seltos for its design, interior and premium feel, but the Victoris seems to offer better fuel efficiency. Please suggest.

•9h

Pick the Kia Seltos mid variant. With half your running on highways, the Seltos feels calmer at speed, gives you more confidence, packs in more performance, and, as you mentioned, the cabin is more premium. At 1,000 km a month, the Victoris' better mileage likely saves only around Rs. 1,000-2,000 monthly, so the nicer drive and cabin may be worth more.Go mid variant rather than base-plus-accessories. Safety and basic features like a proper touchscreen with Android Auto, rear camera, cruise control and more come integrated, work reliably, and stay within the standard warranty. Aftermarket bits rarely work as well, and you cannot add some safety features later.If your main priority is fuel efficiency, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris will help keep costs low. Just know it is not as quick for highway overtakes and does not feel as rich inside. For your city-highway split, the Seltos mid variant is the sweeter long-term pick.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•3d

I am planning to buy kia seltos in some time before the end of this year. With this Ethanol controversy going on, should I buy the petrol variant or go for the diesel variant of Seltos?

•21h

Buy the Seltos petrol. Kia’s current petrol engines are E20-ready, so the ethanol noise should not worry you, and the real-world hit is usually a small drop in mileage, not reliability. For mostly city use, the petrol is smoother, quieter and simpler to live with, and you avoid diesel’s soot filter quirks that show up on short trips. You also save on the higher upfront price of the diesel and sidestep longer-term policy risk around diesels in big cities.Go diesel only if your running is high and largely highway. The diesel will give you noticeably better mileage and relaxed cruising, so if you do something like 1,200-1,500 km a month at steady speeds, the maths can work in its favour. Just keep in mind it needs occasional longer drives to keep the DPF happy.If you are buying before year-end and plan regular mixed city use, the petrol Seltos is the safer, easier choice. The only real trade-off is fuel cost on long trips, where the diesel will sip less.

Kia Seltos

•2d

My usual running is approx 500 km in a month. I am a family of 3 plus 1 pet. We currently have a Kia Seltos 1.4 Petrol DCT and want to upgrade to a bigger vehicle. Which would be suitable for my use between the Innova Hycross and the Skoda Kodiaq?

•1d

The Skoda Kodiaq would be the right choice for you. Assuming you opted for a Kia Seltos 1.4 Turbo DCT for the way it drives, you'll like the Kodiaq's driving manners. It's got a peppy engine and neat handling, and there's also the added safety net of all-wheel drive. The Kodiaq also feels like an upgrade thanks to a more premium and upmarket interior ambience. Quality levels are really good, and it feels like an expensive car. Fuel economy isn't great, but for your kind of usage, running costs won't pinch. Routine service and spares will be pricier than the Toyota, though.The Toyota Innova Hycross is roomier and more efficient (if you take the hybrid), but doesn't match the performance and general feel-good factor of a Kodiaq.

Skoda Kodiaq

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am planning to buy an SUV and prefer the German twins Škoda and Volkswagen. Which one is better? Also, how significant is the DSG issue in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the NCR region? This will be my fourth car, so I want to try a German brand.

•5d

Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

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•1w

I have a Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid, and I am extremely satisfied with its mileage (900-1000 km from 45 liters). However, I am losing the joy of driving. I migrated to this car after owning a Swift Dzire Diesel and an XL6. The mismatch between engine revs and acceleration is becoming unpleasant. Overtaking feels riskier, and even the brakes feel spongy. I have experienced a few unpleasant situations because of this. As a result, I have reduced my overall speed, making the safety of my family a bigger priority. But the driver in me is unhappy. Should I upgrade to the Duster Hybrid, the Hycross Hybrid, or the newly launched Sierra EV? Also, do diesel engines still make sense today?

•6d

From what you've described, the Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid has impressed you with its efficiency but left you wanting more from behind the wheel. If driving enjoyment is back on your priority list, the Duster Hybrid looks like the most natural upgrade. It is expected to offer a much more engaging driving experience while retaining the fuel efficiency benefits of a strong hybrid.The Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid will certainly improve on comfort, refinement and performance, but it won't fundamentally change the character you're looking for. It is still geared towards relaxed family motoring rather than enthusiastic driving.The Tata Sierra EV is an interesting option and has now been launched. It promises strong performance, a premium cabin and a spacious interior. However, if the "driver in you" misses the involvement and confidence of your earlier diesel cars, we'd still wait to experience how the Duster Hybrid drives before making a decision.As for diesels, we don't think they should be ruled out altogether. With the right usage, they continue to make sense. However, given your appreciation for the fuel economy of your Grand Vitara and the direction the market is heading, we'd lean towards a strong hybrid rather than going back to diesel.

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•1w

Hi. I am planning to purchase an automatic car under Rs 15 lakh. My driving is split equally between traffic and normal roads. The options I'm considering are: Mahindra XUV 3XO REVX A TC, Hyundai Venue HX6 DCT, Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus TC, and Kia Sonet HTX DCT. Please suggest the best option for me.

•6d

Pick the Skoda Kushaq Classic Plus automatic. Your driving mix of traffic and open roads suits its 6-speed torque converter very well. It creeps smoothly in jams and never overheats, and the 1.0 turbo petrol is punchy for quick passes. It also feels more surefooted at speed than the others here, which makes longer runs less tiring, and it’s among the safest in this lot thanks to its 5-star crash safety rating. It's also the only one here that's not a compact SUV (sub-4 metre).The Hyundai Venue and Kia Sonet are tempting for the features they offer, but their DCTs aren't as smooth. The XUV 3XO with the torque converter is also a good fit and roomier, but the Kushaq still feels nicer to drive overall.Be aware that the Skoda’s cabin and feature list in Classic Plus isn't on par with the Koreans, and Skoda’s service reach is smaller. If you value a calm, durable auto for daily congestion and a confident feel on weekend runs, the Kushaq Classic Plus AT is the one to buy under Rs. 15 lakh.

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Posted on: 8 Jul 2026