Karbi Anglong

Balgovind

•8w

I am planning to buy a car for family road trips and am confused between the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and the Mahindra Thar Roxx. My requirement is for a family of five, and I do not have any specific need for off-roading. My budget is around ₹15-20 lakh. Which of these would be a better choice for comfortable road trips, or should I consider other options within this budget?

Autocar India

•6w

Both the Maruti Suzuki Jimny and Mahindra Thar Roxx are hardcore off‑roaders first and family cars second, so they’re great on broken roads but compromised as primary road‑trip machines.

They really come into their own on dirt tracks, bad village roads and unpaved sections, and they also deliver that rugged, “tough toy” appeal - the Thar Roxx especially has a lot more visual muscle and emotional pull. But for a family of five, we’d immediately rule out the Jimny: it’s simply too narrow for three adults or growing kids to sit comfortably in the back for any length of time, and luggage space is also very limited.

The Thar Roxx can realistically take a family of five, but for long highway runs, its suspension is on the firmer, bouncy side, and overall refinement isn’t as good as some of the softer, more road‑biased SUVs. You’ll feel more vertical movement, more noise, and over a full day’s drive that gets tiring, especially for rear passengers.

If your main requirement is road trips with the family and you don’t have a specific off‑roading need, a “soft‑roader” is the better tool for the job. Something like the Tata Sierra 1.5 diesel gives you the same tough‑as‑nails image and presence, but with a far more comfortable ride, more space, better highway manners and a more relaxed driving experience over long distances.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

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Kulvinder singh

•6w

Buy Honda elevate , you will get there CVT variant in your budget gives 9 to 10kmpl in city driving with AC and 12 to 14 without AC. And on Highway gives 18 kmpl with AC

Vaasu

•6w

Don't buy TATA brand, service centres are very worst. They don't maintain a knowledgeable technicians at service centres. In case, new brands like Sierra they not even aware of assembling & alignments. Your vehicle is a testing piece for service centres.

Vaasu

•6w

Don't buy TATA brand. Service very worst they are running service centres only motive to loot customers money.

Kamal Dasila

•6w

Both of these options doesn't make sense for your use case. Specially Jimny, It's not a family car at all. Practically, It's a three people car with luggage. The backseat it highly uncomfortable. Go for Elevate, Seirra or Duster in your Budget.

Deepak Kumar

•6w

Maruti Jimney best of best 1500 cc with 4*4 premium in Australia Japan. Jimney top selling or skoda kushaq 1.5 is also best for build quality

Mayank s

•6w

Go for sierra, best in class features and road presence. Service is quite improved but totally dependable on service center near you.

Wangyal D Bhutia

•6w

Better go for Mahindra Thar. Best choice.

Bharaat

•6w

Tata siera or kia seltos witch is best in diesel

Vaasu

•6w

Kia seltos is good. Sierra service centres not able to handle the vehicle fixtures.

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More questions on similar cars

Aditya Tibrewala

•1w

I am currently confused between the Kia Seltos CVT Petrol and the Tata Sierra Petrol Manual. After test driving both cars, I found the Sierra’s fit and finish, interior quality, and overall polish to be noticeably behind the Seltos. However, most automotive reviews and magazines seem to be praising the Sierra very highly, which has made the decision more confusing for me. I am also slightly concerned about Tata’s long-term reliability, service experience, and whether the Sierra will age as well as rivals like the Seltos over the years. Please advice.

Autocar India

•15h

The Tata Sierra deserves the praise because it does a lot right. It is spacious, practical, has a strong road presence, and from a pure packaging point of view, it is an impressive product. But if your concern is long-term ownership confidence, consistency in quality and overall longevity, the Kia Seltos is the safer bet.The Seltos simply feels more polished and more mature as a product. Interior quality is better, the CVT automatic is smooth and stress-free in daily use, and Kia’s ownership experience and long-term consistency inspire more confidence than Tata currently does. That does not mean the Sierra is a bad car, but if you are the kind of buyer who notices panel fit, switch quality and overall finish, the Kia will likely keep you happier over time.The Sierra’s advantages are space and the fact that it feels like the newer, more interesting product. But if this is a rational long-term purchase and not an emotional one, we would pick the Seltos CVT.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

suresh lokala

•3d

I am looking for a 5-seater automatic car with all the essential features suitable for Indian roads. It should be comfortable for both city and highway drives and ideal for family use. My top priority is safety features. My budget range is Rs. 15-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•2d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is a spacious 5-seater midsize SUV. It is well-equipped with modern feels, has a high quality interior, and a smooth and refined powertrain. Its ride doesn't feel as comfortable, or it doesn't feel as tough as a Tata Sierra, which is also a good option to consider. However, you will have to extend your budget slightly to buy the turbo-petrol automatic version of the Sierra - the 1.5 NA petrol-DCA is simply too slow for highway use.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Omkar Kargutkar

•1w

I’m planning to buy my first car with a budget of around Rs. 10-12 lakh. My daily running will be mostly low, and I need a comfortable family car mainly for city use, along with occasional highway trips. My priorities are good safety, a large boot space, comfort, reliability, and easy maintenance. Right now, I am considering the Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, and Skoda Kylaq. Which one would you recommend for my usage? Also, are there any better options in this budget, and which variant would be the best to go for?

Autocar India

•31m

Mostly city use with some highway runs and a Rs. 10-12 lakh cap, points to the Kia Sonet HTK+ petrol (manual) as the best fit. It is easy to drive in traffic, feels steady at highway speeds, and the boot is usefully large for airport bags or a weekend trip. Safety is well covered in the mid trims, and Kia’s wide service network keeps upkeep simple. For a first-time buyer with low daily running, its petrol engine is smooth and hassle-free, and the cabin feels comfortable and well put together.A couple of watch-outs: the rear seat is not the widest for three adults, and if you want the automatic, you will need to opt for the turbo petrol which will push you over budget. Ride comfort on sharp bumps is a touch firm. If that is a deal breaker, consider the Hyundai Venue petrol manual which has a slightly softer ride.From your list, the Tata Nexon (look at a mid petrol manual trim) is the pick if you want the strongest safety focus and tougher suspension for bad roads, but service consistency can vary. The Skoda Kylaq is a solid choice but upkeep can be higher.If you want the easiest long-term ownership, also consider the Maruti Suzuki Fronx in a mid petrol trim; it is simple to own, though not as premium inside as the Sonet.

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Popular discussions right now

lakkhan

•4d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India

•3d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•6d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

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Udit

•5d

I currently drive a petrol Baleno that is about 8 years old. My monthly running has increased to around 2,500-3,000km. Should I install a CNG kit or look for a used BS6 diesel car? My maximum budget is Rs 6 lakh.

Autocar India

•5d

At your kind of running, moving away from petrol does make financial sense, but we would first look at how that 2,500 to 3,000 km a month is split between city and highway use.If a large chunk of it is on a highway, a well-maintained used BS6 diesel can make sense because the fuel savings will be meaningful, and the usage pattern suits modern diesel engines far better. If, however, this mileage is mostly city traffic, we would avoid a BS6 diesel because DPF-related issues can become a headache with repeated stop-and-go use.Installing an authorised aftermarket CNG kit on your Maruti Baleno is absolutely legal, provided it is a government-approved kit, fitted by an authorised installer and the RC and insurance are updated accordingly. Financially, this is the lower-risk route if your Baleno is otherwise mechanically healthy, because you will recover the conversion cost relatively quickly with your kind of running. The trade-off is some loss of boot space and a drop in performance.

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Posted on: 5 Apr 2026

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