Hi, I’m planning to buy my first car with a budget of around 13-14 lakh. My usage will be minimal, mostly occasional office travel and a few long drives each year (like Ladakh or Spiti). Based on this, I’ve decided to opt for a petrol manual, naturally aspirated engine, as I prefer a simpler and more reliable setup (also a bit concerned about future fuel changes, like E85). Initially, I shortlisted the Kia Sonet because of its looks, but I’ve seen reviews mentioning it lacks power on highways and in hilly terrains, especially during overtakes. I also considered Honda Elevate, Toyota Hyryder, and Hyundai Creta. However, after comparing base variants, I found the Kia Seltos (2026) to be the most value-for-money option. It offers key features, like a display, all-disc brakes, steering-mounted controls, cruise control, TPMS, Rear view camera, parking sensor, speakers, etc., which are missing in the base variants of the other cars. I’m also not interested in a sunroof. Given my usage and priorities, would you recommend going ahead with the Seltos, or should I reconsider any of the other options?

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Autocar India team · Accepted Answer

Light daily use with a few tough hill trips in a Rs. 13-14 lakh cap points you straight to the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol base manual. From your list, it fits your brief best because the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated motor feels adequate on highways and hills compared to smaller engines, and the base trim still gives you the useful everyday features you care about without paying for a sunroof or extra frills.Why does it suit you? First, power and gearing. Versus the Sonet’s smaller petrol, the Seltos feels stronger when you need a quick overtake or a climb with luggage, so you will shift less and feel more relaxed on the highway. Second, you’ve called out features like a touchscreen, steering controls, cruise control, rear camera and TPMS. The Seltos base packs most of these, so you don’t need to step up to a variant just to avoid living with a bare cabin. Third, your choice of a simple petrol manual lines up well with the Seltos 1.5, which is a proven, easy-to-own engine.A couple of trade-offs to note. On broken roads at low speeds, the Honda Elevate and Hyundai Creta ride softer over bad patches, but their base trims miss many of the features you want. Also, like any non-turbo petrol at high altitude, you will need to use lower gears on steep climbs.Given your priorities, go ahead with the Seltos 1.5 petrol base manual. It lines up with your needs and budget the best.

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