Mumbai

•4w

Hi, I'm planning to buy a new petrol car. I recently learned to drive and have never owned or regularly driven a car before. My budget is around Rs. 12.5 lakh. I've shortlisted the Hyundai Venue HX5 Petrol DCT, but I also checked out the Kia Seltos HTE Petrol Manual and really liked its interior. Now I'm really confused about which one to buy, especially since I've heard that DCT gearboxes can have issues in heavy traffic. At the moment, my driving will mostly be on highways, with a 70:30 highway-to-city split. However, my city usage could increase in the future. One more thing I noticed during the test drives is that the Venue's manual clutch felt extremely light. The Seltos also has a light clutch, but it isn't as effortless as the Venue's. Please help me decide which one would be the better choice.

•4w

Go for the Hyundai Venue HX5 Turbo Petrol DCT. It's the best choice among your shortlisted options. Since you're a new driver, its compact dimensions will be easier to get used to, and as you mentioned, the lighter controls are a big advantage.

With 70% of your driving on highways, the manual gearbox is a straightforward and dependable choice. At the same time, the clutch is light enough to remain comfortable in city traffic. Sticking with the manual also allows you to move up to the better-equipped Hyundai Venue N Line N6 Petrol MT variant within your budget.

It's not that the Venue's DCT has inherent issues in traffic. Rather, it can feel jerky at crawling speeds, and it requires slightly more careful use, such as shifting to Neutral or Park when stopped for longer at traffic lights, to minimise premature wear.

The Kia Seltos HTE Petrol MT gives you a larger car and a bigger engine, but being the base-spec variant, it misses out on several features. As a first-time buyer, the size may be more of a hindrance than a benefit.

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Hyundai

Venue

from ₹9.24 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

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•1d

My wife is 5'0", and we are looking to buy an automatic car primarily for city commutes, with occasional highway trips. We are considering the Kia Seltos. Is it a good choice, particularly in terms of seating ergonomics and visibility for a 5-foot-tall driver? Another option I am considering is the Skoda Kushaq. Which one would be better for our requirements?

•11h

The Kia Seltos is a very good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, the Skoda Kushaq is actually the better choice. The Kushaq has a more upright seating position, a lower dashboard and a more compact bonnet, which makes it much easier to judge the car's extremities and improves overall visibility. The Seltos has a higher dashboard and a longer bonnet, which can make it harder for shorter drivers to judge the front of the car, even with the seat height adjusted.The Kushaq is also slightly narrower and easier to manoeuvre in city traffic, which is important for your primary usage. The Seltos does feel more premium inside and offers a slightly more spacious rear seat, but from a driver's perspective, the Kushaq is the more confidence-inspiring car.Go for the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic. It uses an 8-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Seltos IVT is also a good gearbox, but the overall ergonomics of the Kushaq give it the edge for your specific requirement.

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•1w

I am looking for a car in the range of mid-size SUVs. I have shortlisted two cars: Kia Seltos and Skoda Kushaq, latest versions of both. Which one should I buy and Why? My daily commute for work to home would be around 30-35km in Delhi.

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos. With a 30-35 km daily commute in Delhi, you need a car that is comfortable, refined and easy to live with in traffic, and the Seltos delivers exactly that. It has a more premium and spacious cabin, a smoother ride over broken city roads and a wider service network, which is important for hassle-free ownership in Delhi. The Skoda Kushaq is the better driver's car with sharper handling, but for your usage, the Seltos is the more complete package. It is also worth mentioning that the Seltos feels more premium inside and offers slightly better rear seat space, which makes a difference on longer commutes. And the Seltos offers a very smooth 1.5-litre petrol engine with a CVT gearbox, which is friendlier to drive in stop-and-go traffic than the Kushaq's 1.0 TSI engine with an 8-speed auto, and is likely to be more efficient too. Overall, the Seltos is the better fit for your daily routine and long-term ownership.

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•6d

I’m looking to buy a mid-size SUV mainly for city use in Mumbai, with occasional family weekend trips. I like the Seltos HTX (A) IVT overall, but I’m not a big fan of its looks. Should I buy the Seltos now or wait for the next-generation Hyundai Creta? And when is the next-gen Creta realistically expected to launch?

•2d

If you like the Kia Seltos HTX IVT as a product but are not a fan of its looks, waiting for the next-generation Hyundai Creta could be a sensible option. The current Seltos and Creta are mechanically very similar, so the decision really comes down to design and personal preference. This next-generation Hyundai car is expected next year, so if you are not in a hurry, it is worth waiting for. If you need a car now, this Kia car remains a strong choice for your use case, thanks to its smooth CVT gearbox and comfortable cabin. Ultimately, if the Seltos’ design is a deal-breaker, waiting for the new Creta is the better decision.

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•2d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•1d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

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•5d

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•4d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•3d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

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