Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos GTX+ (Automatic) and am confused about which engine to choose: 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5L turbo petrol, or diesel. I have heard that the NA petrol is not very powerful. My monthly running is around 500-600 km in Ahmedabad city, with highway trips of 500-600 km once every 4-5 months. Could you please suggest which engine would be best suited for my usage? Also, should I consider the Mahindra XUV7XO, and if yes, which variant? My budget is not a constraint.

autocar.india

•12h

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With 20 km a day and only a few 200-300 km trips a year, the Seltos keeps life simple on highways and in the city, with wide service support and no charging stops to plan. It also gives you the most rounded mix of space, features and safety from your shortlist, and it feels easy to drive every day.The Seltos is E20 compliant, and material-wise, it should be fine with slightly higher blends. A drop in fuel efficiency, though, is to be expected from higher ethanol content. The honest catch is the running cost. An EV like the Mahindra XEV 9e will be cheaper per km and quieter. If you have a fixed parking spot with a plug at home, the XEV 9e starts to make sense for your short daily runs, but fast-charging on intercity routes can still be hit-or-miss outside big cities. Alternatively, consider the Hyundai Creta Electric.Overall, the Seltos makes the most sense for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XEV 9e

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•16h

The Kia Seltos IVT would be our recommendation. While the Honda Elevate undoubtedly offers the best value for money at current prices, there are two factors working against it in your case. First, you don't have a Honda showroom in your city, which could make routine servicing and warranty-related work less convenient. Second, the Elevate facelift is expected in the not-too-distant future, which could impact resale values of the current model.Between the Seltos and Creta, we'd pick the Seltos. It feels a little more premium inside, has a richer feature set and remains one of the best-looking SUVs in the segment. It is also newer than the Creta and therefore likely to remain fresh for longer. The naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT automatic is smooth, refined and perfectly suited to your low daily running and occasional 400km trips.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

autocar.india

•15h

Get the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic because, for Bangalore, it nails the tough-build, sorted ride and sharp handling you asked for while staying near Rs.15 lakh ex-showroom in Signature trim. The turbo-petrol engine has real shove at city speeds, so gaps are easy to exploit, and on your twice-a-year highway runs it cruises calmly with enough punch for quick overtakes. It feels solid, has strong crash-test ratings, and its suspension handles broken roads and speed breakers without the nervous bounce you get in some rivals.Go for the automatic over the manual since it will make your life a lot easier in heavy Bengaluru traffic. NVH levels are generally good; at idle, the three-cylinder thrum is a bit audible, but it fades once you're moving.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5-litre petrol IVT in HTK (O) trim. It fits your budget, is a physically larger car with more interior space than the Kushaq, and is very smooth and effortless to drive in the city. The catch is that it won't have the turbo-petrol punch of the Kushaq on the highway. Test-drive both to see which you prefer.

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos