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?

Autocar India

•5d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Mahindra Thar Roxx

MG Hector

Autocar India

•6d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

Honda Amaze

Skoda Kylaq