I am planning to buy a new car for my family of five, including a 3-year-old child. My driving will be around 60% in the city and 40% on highways, with a monthly running of approximately 1,500 km in a tier-3 city. I also take a trip to Vrindavan every 1-2 months. We plan to keep the car for over 7 years, so space, low running cost, and safety are my top priorities. My budget is between ₹15-20 lakh. I am considering the Kia Seltos HTX (A) IVT. Would this be a suitable choice for my requirements, or are there better alternatives I should consider?

Autocar India

•1d

With your monthly running of 500-700 km and 80% city usage in Hyderabad, both EV and petrol automatic can work. But we would suggest leaning towards a petrol automatic as the safer and more practical choice.Your running is relatively low, so the cost advantage of an EV will not be very significant. While EVs are easier to drive and very smooth in the city, the initial cost is higher, and with your usage, it will take a long time to recover that premium.A petrol automatic like the Kia Seltos IVT or the Skoda Kushaq torque converter automatic will be more flexible and hassle-free, especially if you plan to keep the car for a long time. You won’t have to worry about charging infrastructure, planning trips, or battery-related concerns, and it will also handle occasional highway drives effortlessly.If you are specifically inclined towards EVs and have reliable home charging, then something like the MG Windsor EV can still work well for your city usage. But purely from a practical and value standpoint, it is not a necessity in your case.

Kia New Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

MG Windsor

Autocar India

•4h

The Kia Seltos works very well for your usage because it is extremely easy to drive in the city, thanks to its smooth IVT automatic. It delivers a very seamless driving experience at low speeds, which makes traffic driving stress-free, and this is exactly where it stands out.It also feels like the more premium and newer car overall, especially on the inside. The cabin quality, fit and finish give it a more upmarket feel, and importantly, it offers a more spacious rear seat, which adds to overall comfort and practicality.The Tata Curvv is an interesting option and scores well on design and road presence. But as a package, it is still not as refined or as easy to drive as the Seltos, particularly in city conditions.If you specifically want a Tata car, you can consider the Tata Sierra. It is larger and more comfortable than the Curvv, but within your budget, you will likely be looking at the 1.5 NA petrol with the DCA automatic. While this engine is refined and well-suited for city use, it is not as powerful, and the DCA gearbox is not as smooth as the Seltos’ IVT.

Kia New Seltos

Tata Curvv

Tata Sierra

Autocar India

•36m

For your requirement of comfortable long-distance travel with a focus on rear seat comfort, we would suggest going for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor in the S Plus variant.The biggest advantage of the Taisor is its slightly higher stance as compared to similarly sized hatchbacks, which makes getting in and out easier, especially for elderly passengers. This becomes very important on long journeys with multiple stops. It also offers a comfortable rear seat with good support, which will help your mother stay relaxed over a 600+ km drive.In terms of ride quality, the Taisor is actually quite well sorted. It is equipped with a comfortable suspension setup that handles bad roads and undulations well, and feels stable and composed on highways, making it suitable for long-distance travel. This balance works well for your kind of usage, where you will be covering long distances but also encounter varying road conditions.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor