Mumbai

•9w

Hi, I’m planning to buy an automatic petrol SUV and I’m confused between these two options: Kia Seltos HTK(O) IVT Petrol and Hyundai Venue HX8 DCT Petrol. The on-road price difference is around Rs 3 lakh, so I want to understand whether the Seltos is truly worth the extra cost. My typical usage includes office commuting twice a week, with a one-way travel time of about 1 hour 15 minutes, mostly in city traffic. I also do weekend trips with my wife and occasional trips with family or friends, usually with 4-5 people. The only factor strongly pushing me towards the Seltos is the panoramic sunroof. However, I currently drive a Punch, so I am a little doubtful about handling the Seltos’ size in city traffic.

•9w

The reason is simple. Your driving is largely city traffic with occasional family use, and in that scenario, the Seltos’ naturally aspirated petrol with the IVT automatic is the more relaxing and long-term friendly package. The Venue’s 1.0 turbo DCT is peppier and quicker, but in heavy stop-and-go traffic like your 1-hour 15-minute office commute, a DCT is not the ideal transmission if smoothness and peace of mind matter. Hyundai itself positions the Venue turbo with the 7-speed DCT, while the Seltos IVT is Kia’s smoother CVT-style automatic option.

The Rs 3 lakh premium is not just buying you a panoramic sunroof. You are also getting a significantly larger and more comfortable cabin, much better rear seat space for family use, a more substantial boot and a car that simply feels a segment above the Hyundai Venue. Since you already own a Tata Punch, the Venue will not feel like a dramatic step up in size or cabin experience, whereas the Seltos will.

On the length concern, yes, the Kia Seltos is noticeably bigger than your Punch, and for the first few days in city traffic, you will be conscious of that. But, this is something most drivers adapt to very quickly, especially with a rear camera and parking sensors. It is not large enough to become a burden in everyday urban use.

So the real question is whether you value the extra space, comfort, and smoother automatic enough to justify Rs 3 lakh. For your usage, especially with regular traffic and occasional full family trips, we would say yes, the Seltos is worth it. If your use was mostly solo city driving and budget mattered more, the Venue would make more sense.

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•9w

Pl share details of fuel efficiency of skoda kushaq 10 tsi

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More questions on similar cars

•3d

Dear Sir/Madam, I would appreciate your advice regarding the purchase of a compact SUV for my parents, who are around 65+ years old. The vehicle will mainly be used for commuting within a rural town, with occasional city drives and around 2 airport trips per year. My requirements are: Petrol automatic transmission, Good interior space and comfortable seating for 5 passengers, Good fuel efficiency, Easy and stress-free ownership with long-term reliability, Comfortable ride quality suitable for elderly passengers, and good after-sales support (service centres of major brands are available within 20 km). I am considering models such as the Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun/Kushaq, and similar compact SUVs. Could you please advise which would be the best choice considering space, efficiency, comfort, reliability, and long-term maintenance? Is the Honda Elevate still a good buy compared with the newer competitors? Your suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

•7h

For your parents’ requirements, the Honda Elevate is still a very strong recommendation. It is a simple, reliable and easy-to-live-with SUV with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a CVT automatic, which makes it very smooth and stress-free to drive, especially in rural and city conditions. Honda’s reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs also makes it a sensible choice for ownership beyond five years.The Elevate’s ride quality is comfortable and well-suited to elderly passengers, and the seating position is upright and easy to get in and out of. This Honda car has a spacious cabin and a large boot, which will be useful for airport runs. The only drawback is that the engine is not as punchy as some turbocharged rivals, but for your parents’ usage pattern, that is not a concern.If you want something with a bit more space and a softer ride, the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid is worth considering. It is more fuel-efficient and has a comfortable ride, but the boot is smaller. The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, with their 1.5-litre NA engines and IVT, are good choices too, offering more modern interiors, though they will cost a bit more than the Elevate.Overall, the Honda Elevate remains one of the best choices for your parents’ needs - simple, reliable, comfortable and easy to own.

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•22h

Dear Autocar India Team, I need your advice on choosing a new car for my father, who is 65 years old. Our current car is a 2013 Maruti Dzire. The new car will be used mostly in a rural town in Kerala, with occasional city driving and 2-3 airport trips each year. Our requirements include a reliable, fuel efficient and spacious 5-seator petrol automatic car with good boot space that is comfortable for senior citizens under 18 lakhs (I can stretch it up to 20 lakh). The car should be easy to maintain for long-term ownership. I am looking for a car of major brand that has service centres within 15km. I am considering Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Škoda Kushaq, Tata Sierra and Volkswagen Tiguan. Which one would you recommend, and are there any other better options in this budget? Thank you for your advice.

•2h

For your father, the Kia Seltos IVT is a solid choice. The naturally aspirated engine and IVT auto combo deliver a smooth, calm driving experience, the cabin is spacious and the large boot will accommodate your airport runs. It is a sensible and stress-free choice for long-term ownership.Alternatively, look at the Honda Elevate. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the CVT is smooth, reliable and easy to drive. The car is also spacious enough for five adults and has a decent boot for airport runs. Honda's reputation for reliability and low maintenance costs makes it a safe bet for ownership beyond five years.If fuel efficiency is a priority, then the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is worth considering, though the cabin will feel tighter than the above two.Overall, choose between the Seltos and the Elevate for the most stress-free ownership experience for your father.

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•12h

I am from Punjab and currently own a diesel car. Now I want to try either a CNG or an EV, as I belong to a small city. My monthly running is around 3,500 km, and my budget is around Rs. 15-20 lakh. However, I have range anxiety with EVs. Are EV charging stations available everywhere, including developing areas such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh?

•4h

Considering your usage, CNG car would be a better fit. While an electric car will be cheaper to run, the charging network in rural areas is patchy, which will limit your usage. CNG is more readily available where you are and, on longer trips where you don't find a pump, you can still revert to petrol.In your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a solid choice. It comes with a dual-tank setup, so the boot is only slightly smaller than the petrol version. Maruti has also done a good job of tuning the car to run on CNG and its service network is the largest in the country. The downside is that highway performance on CNG will feel a bit dull, requiring a downshift for an overtake.Alternatively, you could continue with a diesel car, as you are already comfortable with that. Running costs will be higher than on CNG, but availability of diesel is not an issue and you avoid the queues at CNG stations. In your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is the best bet. The manual will be fine for your use, but an automatic is available if you wish. The Creta diesel offers a similar experience, but Hyundai has a wider service network than Kia.Overall, the Victoris CNG makes the most sense for your needs but, if you want a bit more punch on the highway, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

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•5d

I currently own a Toyota Innova Crysta 2.8 ZX Variant AT, which has covered 55,000 km and has been an absolute peace of mind. I am now planning to upgrade my vehicle with a budget of around Rs. 30 lakh. Which car would you recommend?

•2d

If you have enjoyed 55,000 km of trouble-free ownership with the Innova Crysta, the most logical upgrade is the Toyota Innova HyCross. It retains the core strengths of the Crysta - reliability, comfort and Toyota's experience - while offering a genuinely meaningful step up in refinement, technology and efficiency. The Toyota Cars hybrid powertrain is particularly well-suited to Indian conditions, delivering strong fuel economy in the city and a smooth, effortless driving experience on the highway. The cabin is a significant upgrade over the Crysta, with a more modern layout, better materials and a more premium feel overall. The only caveat is that the HyCross does not offer the same diesel torque as the 2.8, so if you are a very heavy highway user who values that diesel punch, you may want to consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel as an alternative. However, for most owners, the HyCross represents the best balance of reliability, comfort and long-term peace of mind.

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•5d

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

•1d

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

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•5d

Hi, I live in Ahmedabad. My daily travel is around 85 km. I already own a Maruti Suzuki Baleno and a Hyundai Accent. My budget is Rs. 25-27 lakh. Kindly suggest a few good options.

•1d

With a daily commute of 85 km, your running is very high, so fuel efficiency and running costs become the most important factor. At the same time, you already own a Baleno and an Accent, so this car should feel like a meaningful upgrade in terms of comfort, space and overall ownership experience.The best option for your usage is the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid. The hybrid system delivers excellent fuel efficiency in city and highway conditions, and the petrol engine ensures long-term reliability and low maintenance costs. The Victoris is also a very comfortable and spacious car, making it well-suited for long daily commutes. The hybrid system of the Maruti Suzuki car is particularly effective in stop-and-go traffic, where it can significantly reduce fuel consumption.If you are open to diesel, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is also a strong option. It is a larger and more powerful SUV with excellent highway performance and a comfortable ride.Overall, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the best fit for your needs. It offers the right balance of fuel efficiency, comfort, reliability and ownership experience for a high-mileage daily commuter.

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