Mumbai

•5h

I am a first-time car buyer with a budget of Rs. 24 lakh. I really like the Kia Seltos X-Line (A) CVT petrol variant. Around 80% of my driving will be in the city, with the remaining 20% on highways. However, I am quite confused about whether I should buy a petrol vehicle or consider an electric car, especially given the increasing ethanol blending in petrol. I am planning to keep the car for at least 10 years, so long-term reliability and running costs are important to me. What would you recommend in my situation? Should I go ahead with the Seltos petrol, or would an EV be a better choice for the next 10 years and which EV?

•4m

Go ahead with the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol CVT (IVT). Your usage is 80% city and 20% highway, and you plan to keep the car for 10 years. In this scenario, a petrol automatic is the most sensible choice. The Seltos CVT is smooth, easy to drive in traffic and well suited to your usage pattern. It is also a proven product with a strong ownership track record.

On ethanol blending, there is no need to worry. Modern petrol engines are engineered to handle E20, with a higher threshold for future blends. The impact is mainly a slight reduction in fuel economy, not a major long-term reliability concern.

An EV only makes sense if you have home charging. If you were to consider an EV, the Hyundai Creta Electric would be our recommendation.

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