Hi, We currently own a 2004 Hyundai Santro and are looking to upgrade to a new car suitable for my parents, who are around 55 years old. My father prefers the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios AMT, as the car will be mainly used for city driving of around 500–700 km per month. In Bangalore, the on-road price for the Sportz (O) variant comes to approximately ₹8.8–9 lakh. Considering this price, are there any better alternatives we should consider, or would the Grand i10 Nios AMT be a good choice for our needs?

Autocar India

•1h

You should look at the Kia Seltos GTX (A) 1.5 petrol CVT, which falls well within your budget. It's among the best new mid-size SUVs around, with loads of space at the front, and crucially in the rear seat as well. It's got ample ground clearance without being too high off the ground to be a challenge to get into and out of. It's easy to drive with light controls and good manoeuvrability, which should be handy on your daily commute. Most importantly, the 1.5 petrol CVT is the best suited to city use of all the options, and is strong enough to work on the highway as well, with decent fuel economy. It's comfortable around town, too, with good high-speed stability for your out-of-town trips. The GTX (A) is the fully loaded variant with all the bells and whistles, including ADAS, should you want it. The new Seltos recently scored 5 stars in Bharat NCAP crash test ratings, for a bit of extra peace of mind. Alternatively, you could consider the Hyundai Creta, which has the same engine and gearbox, but feels a little dated now compared to the Seltos.

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•2h

Go with the Kia Seltos 1.5-litre IVT. The HTK trim with the automatic costs Rs 14.39 lakh ex-showroom and comes very well equipped with features such as alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch HD infotainment system with six speakers, cruise control, and rear-seat sunshades. If you can stretch to Rs 15.49 lakh ex-showroom for the HTK (O), you will get a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and more.For your limited usage with five adults, the 1.5-litre engine offers adequate performance, while the IVT automatic is seamless in operation. The cabin is also quite comfortable and can accommodate five passengers with ease. However, the Tata Sierra offers even more space in the rear seat and is a good option if that is a priority. That said, performance from the Sierra's 1.5 NA engine and DCT combination is lackluster.Visit the showroom with your family members to check if they are comfortable with the space inside, and take a test drive to see if the performance is adequate with passengers on board.

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•3h

The Tata Safari petrol is a very good choice for your needs. During our first drive, we found its performance to be quite effortless despite the modest 1.5-litre displacement. We recorded a 0-100kph time of just 10.5 seconds, which is very respectable for a vehicle of this size. The engine has strong low-down grunt, which helps it pick up speed effortlessly, and it felt adequate even with six people on board. On the expressway, it maintained high speeds with ease and made quick overtakes when required. We haven’t yet driven it in the hills, but all evidence suggests it should be just fine.If performance is still a concern, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is a good alternative. The best way to address your concerns is to take an extended highway test drive with at least five passengers on board. Assess whether its overtaking performance feels adequate for your needs and, if possible, find a hill to do a gradient test.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO