I am planning to buy the MG Hector Plus 7-seater. Is it advisable to buy one?

Autocar India

•19m

With 70 km a day in city traffic and one 500 km trip a month, in the Rs. 10-15 lakh range, the Kia Seltos HTE (O) IVT fits your use best because its seamless automatic is very smooth at low speeds and makes long city drives easy. It is easy to see out of, the steering is light, and it rides comfortably over broken roads, so you will reach home less tired after those daily runs. It is also steady on the highway, and the cabin has enough space for family and bags on that monthly trip.You will need to stretch your budget slightly, but the Seltos is a segment above your other choices and feels it. If you are on a tight budget, then the Mahindra XUV 3XO with the turbo petrol automatic combo is also a good choice. If running cost is your top concern, given your high monthly km, the Hyundai Venue HX 5 diesel auto is worth a look too.Overall, for heavy city use with some highway travel, the Seltos IVT lines up best with what you described.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Autocar India

•1h

For a 20 km daily run with five long highway trips in a year, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid is the best fit for you. It keeps the Toyota badge you like, gives you a petrol-hybrid setup, and suits your mostly city use while still handling those highway drives with ease.In slow city traffic, it starts and moves on electric power most of the time, so it feels very smooth and quiet while using less fuel. After a Scorpio, you will find it far easier to park and thread through gaps, yet it still sits a bit higher than a small car so you get a good view out. On the highway, it cruises calmly, and the hybrid has enough pull for safe overtakes when you press the pedal.A couple of things to note for your use. The strong-hybrid does not come with all-wheel drive. If AWD is a must for you, the Hyryder offers it only with the regular petrol but not the hybrid. Also, the hybrid’s boot is smaller than many rivals, so packing for those five long trips will need some planning.If you want more space and long-distance comfort, and you are okay with a bigger, costlier car, the Toyota Innova HyCross hybrid is the other strong Toyota hybrid to look at. As of now, Toyota has no concrete plans to bring the Toyota RAV4 to India in 2026 or anytime soon, so we wouldn't wait for it.Overall, for your daily commute and occasional highway runs, the Hyryder strong-hybrid suits your brief best.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•3h

The Hyundai i20 is the one that fits your brief best. Given your city-heavy use, we recommend an automatic, so look at an i20 with the 1.2 petrol and CVT (Hyundai calls it IVT), which feels very smooth in slow traffic. While it's tempting to go for the more powerful 1.0 turbo-petrol, its DCT gearbox is not as smooth as the CVT at low speeds, hence we don't recommend it. Also, while the i20 1.2 IVT Asta (O) could go out of your budget, we would recommend you to stretch it, as that will get you the Bose sound system, which sounds excellent. Hyundai resale is also strong in Mumbai, which meets your first priority. The Honda Amaze is easy to own and has good resale value too. It's reliable, good on maintenance, fuel efficient, fun to drive and spacious. But the interiors and music system are nothing to write home about. The Sonet, Venue and Kylaq are good options, but won't give you the kind of features and high-spec interior you are seeking in this budget. That said, when it comes to resale value, none are quite as good as Maruti cars, since that is your number one priority.

Honda Amaze

Kia Sonet

Hyundai i20

Hyundai Venue

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•4d

You want a car that is comfortable in the city, easy to drive and capable of doing long trips for the next 10 years. The Toyota Innova Hycross fits this very well. The hybrid system makes it very smooth and quiet in city driving, and the automatic gearbox is effortless, which becomes more important with age. On highways, it is stable, comfortable and built for long-distance travel, which is what the Innova name has always stood for.What really works in your favour is long-term ownership. Toyota’s reliability, strong service network and resale value make it one of the safest bets if you plan to keep the car for many years. The Hycross also offers excellent space, easy ingress and egress and a comfortable ride, which are important for everyday use and for passengers as you grow older.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•4d

For your usage, a naturally aspirated petrol with a CVT or IVT is the best fit. These setups are smoother, easier to drive in traffic and more predictable, which matters far more in city conditions than outright performance. So yes, in your case, NA engines are better suited than turbo petrol.The Hyundai Verna IVT stands out as the most well-rounded option for city driving. The engine is smooth, the IVT gearbox is very intuitive in stop-and-go traffic, and the overall driving experience is effortless. It feels refined and easy to live with daily.The Honda City Hybrid is worth considering if your running is high. It offers excellent fuel efficiency, strong performance and is very easy to drive in the city thanks to its hybrid system. However, it comes with a higher upfront cost, and the battery placement results in a higher boot floor, which slightly affects practicality.Compared to the Verna, the standard Honda City CVT is also an option, but the engine feels a bit noisier, and the gearbox is not as intuitive as the Verna’s IVT in everyday use.

Hyundai Verna

Honda City

Autocar India

•6d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTK (O) MT fits your brief best. In daily traffic, the Seltos will be easy to drive thanks to its smooth, naturally aspirated petrol engine and light gearshift and clutch, and the higher seat makes getting in and out easy. It also rides over bad roads and tall speed breakers without worry, which matters on mixed city-highway use. Space is good for four and fine for five for shorter trips, and the boot will take a family’s weekend bags.The HTK (O) MT is a good value for money as it offers quite a few features for the price. Just bear in mind that, on the highway, the engine will require a bit more effort to make easy overtakes. If your trips are often with four adults and lots of luggage, and you value a bigger boot and stronger pull on the highway, look at the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Sportline MT. Its small turbo engine gives more punch. But it is a lower car, so entry is not as easy, and you have to be a bit more careful on rough roads. Compared to the Seltos' naturally aspirated 1.5, you'll also experience some turbo lag at city speeds, and at your budget, you won't get as many features. Overall, for your mix of city and highway and firm budget, the Seltos HTK is the most practical pick.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Slavia