My budget is 20 lakh, and the car is for family use. My driving includes 10% peak traffic, 60% stop-and-go traffic, 30% highway. The car should be petrol. I am considering the Hyundai Creta IVT and the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TC. I am stuck between these two because of the trade-off between safety and mileage. However, mileage is slightly more important to me. Which should I choose?

Autocar India

•8w

Given your usage and requirements, the Hyundai Creta 1.5 Petrol IVT is the better bet. While it hasn't been crash-tested by BNCAP or GNCAP like the Skoda has (and scored a 5-star rating), it does have all the latest safety features, including ADAS on top-spec variants. Plus, Hyundai's track record on safety has been decent, if not excellent.

This powertrain is generally more efficient than the Skoda 1.0 TSI with the 6AT, but driven carefully, you could extract good mileage from that car too. The bigger reason is your heavy traffic usage, in which the Hyundai's excellent belt-driven CVT gearbox and linear naturally aspirated petrol will feel much smoother and easier to manage.

The Skoda's 1.0 TSI, punchy as it is, suffers from a lot of turbo lag at low speeds, and the 6-speed torque-converter auto is overly eager when moving off from a standstill, which becomes tiresome in stop-and-go traffic. Besides all this, the Creta is the more spacious and comfortable of the two.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.56 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.42 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

PSR

•1w

I want to buy a petrol automatic SUV in the range of 17 to 18 lakh. I am considering the Grand Vitara Zeta AT, Victoris ZXI, and Creta S(O) IVT. My annual average usage is between 5000 and 6000km. Please suggest a good option among the three vehicles in terms of smooth journey, mileage, and maintenance cost.

Autocar India

•1h

The Hyundai Creta is the better all-rounder and offers more space, a stronger and smoother powertrain (1.5 P IVT) and marginally better comfort. However, given your priorities of mileage and maintenance costs, it's hard to beat Maruti Suzuki on these fronts.Whether you choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Victoris is a matter of preference (and which dealership is more accessible to you - Arena or Nexa), as they are essentially the same car underneath, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed AT gearbox. Despite using a torque converter automatic gearbox, which is not typically associated with good mileage, both Maruti SUVs offer exceptional fuel economy, and maintenance costs over the course of their lives will be among the lowest in the segment.

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Sharmila

•1d

Please advise which car I should buy. I am confused between the Hyundai Creta EX(O) IVT, Kia Seltos HTE(O) IVT, and Honda Elevate V CVT, all 2026 models. My usage will be 50% city and 50% highway. I plan to sell the car in 3 to 4 years, so good resale value is important. Which of these cars would be the better value for money and easier to resell later? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

Since your usage is split evenly between city and highway and you plan to sell the car in about 3–4 years, choosing the model that feels the most modern and premium today would make more sense.Among the three, we would suggest going for the Kia Seltos IVT. It is the newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta, and it is also slightly larger and more spacious, which helps it feel more premium overall. Both the Seltos and Creta share the same powertrain, so either car will offer a similar driving experience. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is one of the most refined units in this segment and the IVT/CVT transmission is silky smooth, making it well suited for both city and highway driving.Also, considering that the Creta is expected to be replaced early next year, it is unlikely to have a higher resale value compared to the Seltos in the coming years.The Honda Elevate is also a safe and reliable option. However, compared to the Creta and the Seltos, it does not feel as premium and the engine is a bit noisier than the Hyundai/Kia unit. It is also an older product compared to the Seltos.

P Kumar

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos HTX (A) with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and automatic transmission. What are your thoughts on this variant? Is it a good choice, or would you recommend any other cars in the same segment?

Autocar India

•23h

The Kia Seltos with the 1.5 NA petrol engine is a nice pick if you are not necessarily looking for exciting performance. Power delivery is smooth, refinement is good, and there's enough performance for average city driving. There is enough power for gentle cruising on the highway, too. You will miss the punch from the engine when you want a fast overtake, though. The 1.5 NA petrol engine works particularly well with the IVT auto gearbox. If it's a punchy performance you are looking for, the Seltos with the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is worth a look. Alternatives include Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun, whose 1.0-litre/ 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines feel strong and exciting.

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Skoda Kushaq

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