Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of around ₹23-25 lakh and am considering a mid-size SUV. I am inclined towards the Kia Seltos due to its overall reliability compared to the Tata Sierra. However, I am confused between the DCT and IVT automatic options. My usage will be around 40% in the city and 60% on highways. My main concern is the long-term reliability of Hyundai/Kia’s DCT gearbox, especially in Indian conditions. I am also unsure whether choosing the IVT would lead to missing out on performance.

Autocar India

•22h

Your usage is the key here. With 70% highway driving, you are actually in the ideal scenario for a modern diesel. DPF issues are not brand-specific; they are usage-specific. The filter needs regular high-speed runs to regenerate, and that typically happens when you drive for 20-30 minutes at steady speeds above 60kph. Since most of your driving is on highways, the car will naturally regenerate the DPF, and you are very unlikely to face issues.The fear around Kia Seltos diesel DPF problems is often overstated. Yes, some owners have reported issues, but these are largely seen in cars used mainly for short, stop-and-go city drives without proper regeneration cycles. In regular highway use, these engines generally run without problems.Coming to the car itself, the Seltos diesel is a refined, efficient and well-sorted package. It is smooth, easy to drive and very comfortable on highways, which suits your usage perfectly. It also offers better refinement and overall polish compared to the Mahindra XUV 7XO.The XUV 7XO, on the other hand, offers a stronger engine and more space, but it is less efficient. Being a larger car, it is also harder to drive and park in everyday conditions, and it comes at a higher price compared to the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•14h

The Kia Seltos is smoother, more refined, and is likely to be more efficient than the Tata Sierra. Also, the ownership experience with Kia is likely to be a bit smoother than with Tata. Hence, since you've already booked it, we would suggest you go ahead with the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•1d

The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is the more sensible choice for your situation because it gives you better peace of mind on service, lower maintenance costs and a wider, more accessible service network. It becomes important in a place like Kannur with limited support. The Kia Seltos, in comparison, is a more premium and better-looking car with a nicer interior and smoother petrol engine, and it is also a well-proven product, so you are unlikely to face issues with the IVT transmission in regular use. The only drawback with the Grand Vitara is that it feels less rich and not as feature-loaded as the Seltos, but overall, it is the easier, more stress-free ownership choice, making it the one to go for.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•3d

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

•5d

With a 70 km daily mix of traffic and highway use, we would lean towards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your usage is high, and the hybrid will use far less fuel in city traffic while staying calm and smooth. It pulls away on electric power at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels quiet and easy.You like the Seltos for its cabin and stronger shove, and that is fair. The Seltos diesel feels stronger when you press the throttle for quick passes, and its cabin does look and feel richer. If most of your 70 km is open highway and you really value that strong pull and the Kia car interior, the Seltos diesel automatic is still a solid pick.On a Kia Seltos hybrid: Kia does intend to introduce a hybrid, but timing is not yet decided as they are trying to localise components. We estimate it could arrive in 2027, but that could change. For your mix of city and highway, the Hyryder strong-hybrid lines up best with what you need right now.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•3d

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