Karaikal

•24w

Hi, I had almost finalised the Kia Seltos IVT as the car I wanted to buy, but after reading reviews of the new Renault Duster, I am now slightly confused. My driving will be 90% city usage. While considering the naturally aspirated Seltos IVT, I came across feedback suggesting that its mid-range performance may feel weak even for city driving. So my confusion is between the Seltos and the new Duster, as well as between turbo and naturally aspirated engine options. Given my usage—mostly city driving with an occasional 250 km highway trip once every six months—which car and configuration would you recommend?

•24w

For your usage, which is 90% city driving, the Kia Seltos IVT automatic is still the more sensible and easier-to-live-with choice. The IVT gearbox is smooth, creep-friendly and very well suited to stop-and-go traffic, making daily driving stress-free.

Your concern about the naturally aspirated engine’s mid-range is valid, but in city conditions, it is not a major issue. You are rarely operating in that 40-80 km/h band where the lack of punch is most noticeable, and for regular driving, the engine feels smooth and predictable. For the occasional highway trip, it will cruise comfortably, though you will need to plan overtakes a bit more.

The Renault Duster turbo, on the other hand, will definitely feel stronger in terms of performance and mid-range, and it will be the more engaging car to drive. It will also likely offer a more comfortable ride over bad roads. However, for predominantly city usage, it may not feel as effortless or smooth as the Seltos IVT.

So the choice comes down to priorities. If you want a smooth, easy and low-stress daily driver, the Seltos IVT is the better fit. If you value stronger performance and a more engaging drive, and are willing to compromise slightly on ease of use in traffic, the Duster turbo is worth considering.

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Duster

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•24w•

I am planning to buy a new car under 26 lakhs on road, I am confused between the XEV9S pack two above 79kwh, XUV 7XO AX7 and AX7T, Tata Sierra top model and Safari adventure plus. All The ICE cars in diesel, and I am also confused between wether to buy manual of automatic as the price gap is huge and I won't be driving the car myself it will be mostly chauffeur driven.

•24w•

I have new Creta 2years old SXO IVT top end at 20k km right now. Trust me IVT you will never feel out of power for city and occassional.highwqy drive. There reliability smoothness and quality of Creta Seltos is incomparable in the market.

•24w•

Hi Team Autocar i also went through same situation and took test drive of both cars but I dont feel that Seltos IVT is more effortless in city traffic I felt both Duster & seltos in low end are good, especially in Duster they have so well controlled low end turbo lag

•23w•

Hi I had almost finalized a kis seltos htk (o)! automatic i currently drive a honda city will elevate be a better choice

•23w•

I have almost finalized a kis seltos htk (o) automatic but since I am currently driving honda city will honda elevate be a better option

•23w•

I'm planning to buy a car with budget of 25 lakhs.. I've to decide between the Renault Duster 1.3ltr.turbocharged and Kia Seltos 1.5ltr.turbocharged.. My driving is 80% Mumbai with flexible working hours. and have to visit many offices within city since mine is marketing job.. Please suggest

•23w•

Message Hi Tarun, I’d suggest taking a test drive of the new Duster. The Kia with IVT has an advantage in city and bumper-to-bumper traffic, and its interiors feel more premium and welcoming. That said, the new Duster won’t disappoint in the city either. It offers better ride quality, handling, dynamics, and steering feedback compared to the Seltos.

•23w•

I am planning to buy automatic car. My budget is 8 to 9 lakh on road price. Which one to buy mini suv. Please suggest

•24w•

Renault has been a super failure in india, where as kia with its good technology has kept audience engaged

•24w•

Beware engine and transmission were missfit in earlier launch

•24w•

Planning to buy vehicle which is better Mahindra Roxx & New Seltos; city drive 5 days and weekend may drive to ghats...

•24w•

Isn't Duster a 1.3LITRE 3 Cylinder engine? Will it not have vibration and jerks in comparision to seltos/creta? If its tuned for higer performance- will it not deliver lower fuel efficiency? What abour after sales, service and spares - its better with Kia

•24w•

No. Duster 1.3 is 4 cylinder and it's fantastic

•24w•

Hello Team, Is Mahindra xuv 3xo RevxA model is best for on road price of 14.92L in Bengaluru considering safety, performance and mileage

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•3d

I live in Bangalore and want to buy a car. My usage is around 20km per day, at least three times a week, along with a few day trips around Bangalore within 100km and a couple of weekend trips around Bangalore for leisure. I like the Syros EV Blackline and Duster Iconic Launch Edition. Both are in a similar budget. What would you recommend? Are there any other cars you would suggest?

•4h

Go for the Renault Duster Iconic Launch Edition. Your usage pattern - 20 km a day, a few 100 km day trips, and regular weekend getaways- points towards a car that is comfortable on highways, fun to drive, and easy to live with. This Renault car is exactly that. It has a strong turbo petrol engine, a well-sorted chassis and a ride quality that is among the best in the segment, especially on broken roads and highways around Bangalore. It is also a genuinely enjoyable driver's car, which will make those weekend trips more engaging.The Kia Syros EV is a good EV, but your usage does not justify an electric car. You are not doing enough daily kilometres to offset the higher upfront cost, and your weekend trips will require more planning around charging infrastructure. If you want a more premium and feature-rich alternative, the Kia Syros is worth considering, but the Duster is the better driver's car and offers a more engaging ownership experience.

Renault Duster

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•2d

I am planning to buy a new SUV under Rs 30 lakh and am open to both five- and seven-seater options. I have tried the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid, Mahindra XUV 7XO, Hyundai Alcazar, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, but I am confused about which one to choose. My main priorities are space, comfort and a good engine. My running is not very high, at just under 1,000km a month. Please advise.

•1d

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross non-hybrid. Your priorities are space, comfort and a good engine, and the HyCross delivers on all three. It is one of the most spacious cars in the segment, with a genuinely usable third row and a comfortable ride that makes it an excellent family car. The petrol engine is smooth, refined and well suited to your running of under 1,000 km a month, where the hybrid premium is harder to justify.The Mahindra XUV 7XO is a strong alternative with a more powerful engine and a more feature-rich cabin, but the HyCross has the edge on space, comfort and long-term ownership experience.The Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Seltos are good cars, but they do not offer the same level of space or comfort, and the Renault Duster is more of a driver's car than a family car. The Toyota car mentioned above is the car you will be happiest with after five years of ownership.

Toyota Innova HyCross

XUV 7XO AXT diesel automatic vs XEV 9S: which one should I buy? My driving is around 40-50km per day, with 80-90% of it in the city. I like to go on short trips almost every 15 days, so I believe DPF should not be a problem, but I would like your advice on this. I can also have a charger installed at home. Which one would you suggest?

•3h

Go for the Mahindra XEV 9S. With 40-50 km a day, 80-90% city driving, and the ability to install a home charger, you are the ideal electric car owner. The XEV 9S is a genuinely well-rounded electric SUV with a strong real-world range, a spacious and comfortable cabin, and a very refined driving experience in the city. Your regular short trips every 15 days are easily manageable with an EV, and the convenience of home charging will make ownership effortless.The XUV 7XO AXT diesel is a very good SUV, but your usage pattern does not justify a diesel. Modern diesel cars are far less problematic than they used to be, but DPF regeneration still requires regular sustained highway runs, and your usage is predominantly city-based. The XEV 9S, on the other hand, will deliver lower running costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and a smoother, quieter driving experience that is perfectly suited to your daily routine.The only caveat is long-distance touring. If your short trips are genuinely long highway runs, you will need to plan charging stops. But for your usage, the XEV 9S is the smarter, more future-proof choice.

Mahindra XEV 9S

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•6d

I am planning to buy a naturally aspirated petrol automatic car and have shortlisted the Toyota Hyryder mild hybrid and Honda Elevate. Which one would be the better choice?

•6d

Go for the Honda Elevate CVT. Both the Elevate and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder mild hybrid use naturally aspirated petrol engines, but the Elevate’s 1.5-litre engine is more refined, and the CVT gearbox is silky smooth, making it a more relaxed car to drive in everyday conditions. The Elevate also benefits from Honda’s strong reputation for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, which is exactly what you want from a naturally aspirated petrol automatic. The Hyryder is still a good car, but the Elevate is the more complete package for this brief.

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•4d

I am planning to buy a 7-seater car. My daily running is approximately 15-20 km, with occasional trips of 60-70 km once a week. I have shortlisted two cars based on my preferences: the Innova Hycross and XUV 7XO. I am confused between the two. Which one would be the best for my requirements, and which fuel option should I choose?

•3d

Go for the Toyota Innova Hycross strong hybrid. With your daily running of 15-20 km and occasional 60-70 km trips, a diesel does not make financial sense, and the hybrid will give you significantly better fuel efficiency in city driving than petrol. The Hycross is also the more comfortable and spacious 7-seater, with a proven Toyota ownership experience and lower long-term maintenance costs. The XUV 7XO is the better driver's car, offers more features and has a more premium cabin, but for your usage pattern, the Hycross strong hybrid is the more sensible and hassle-free choice.

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•3d

I’m considering the Volkswagen Tayron R-Line, Audi Q3, BMW X1, and MINI Countryman petrol. I drive myself and am looking for a car that offers a good balance of features, comfort, and driving pleasure. Which one would be the best choice?

•3d

The Audi New Q3 might be significantly more expensive than the other options you've listed. However, if you're referring to the outgoing model available at a discounted price, we'd recommend you to certainly consider it. The Audi Q3 has a strong 2.0 TSI engine, and its ride comfort is excellent too. Additionally, the all-wheel drive system makes it an able handler. So if you like to drive, this one is certainly worth considering. You'll also appreciate the cabin quality and seat comfort. And while it has the basics, some features like ventilated seats, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, powered tailgate, etc are missing.The BMW X1 will be a lot more spacious in comparison, however its turbo-petrol engine doesn't match the Audi's performance or responsiveness.

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