Mumbai

•9w

New Seltos or Carens Clavis? I'm pretty confused. The Seltos was always my first choice, but if the Carens has the same engine, why not go for a 6/7-seater with almost the same dimensions and for a little extra cost? I'm considering this because we're a family of 5, and occasionally our extended family joins us on drives.

•9w

If you need the added space and practicality, go for the Carens Clavis. With a family of 5 and extra folks joining at times, the third row and the longer wheelbase make everyday life easier. You get the same engines and gearboxes as the Seltos, so the driving experience and mileage will be similar, but the Carens gives you far more cabin flexibility - slide and recline second row, a usable third row for kids or shorter adults, and vents for everyone.

Bear in mind that with all three rows up, boot space is limited, so on full-house trips you will have to pack light or fold a seat. It's also worth noting that the 2026 Seltos is now a generation ahead of the Clavis, which means a wider body, softer suspension and new-age electronics and features.

However, for your use case and priorities, the Carens Clavis gets you some much-needed extra space and flexibility.

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Kia

Carens Clavis

from ₹13.30 Lakh

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from ₹12.98 Lakh

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•1w

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a midsize SUV and can wait for about six months. My main confusion is between the upcoming Renault Duster, specifically the strong-hybrid variant, and the Kia Seltos. We are leaning towards the new Duster because of its rugged design, impressive 212 mm ground clearance, interior colour theme, and expected hybrid fuel efficiency. However, the Kia Seltos remains a compelling choice due to its generous rear-seat space and feature-packed cabin. Given that we are a family of three, our priorities are design, ride quality on bad roads, and fuel economy, while also considering rear-seat passenger comfort. Is it worth waiting six months for the Duster Strong Hybrid instead of buying the Seltos now? How does the Duster's rear-seat legroom and overall highway comfort compare with the Seltos? Looking forward to your advice!

•19h

We would suggest that you go for the Kia Seltos now. The Renault Duster hybrid is an interesting proposition, but the Seltos suits your needs better. For a family of three, the Seltos offers a more spacious rear seat, a wider cabin and a more premium overall experience, which will matter more on long drives and daily use. The Duster hybrid will likely offer better fuel efficiency and a tougher suspension setup, but the rear seat is not as spacious as the Seltos, and the expected hybrid premium will take time to recover. The Seltos is a proven product with a strong ownership track record, and you can buy it today without waiting for an unknown price and availability. If you are leaning towards the Duster for its design and hybrid tech, it is worth waiting only if fuel efficiency is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, the Seltos is the better all-rounder for your needs. It's also worth noting that there will be a hybrid version of the Seltos too, but that's only coming in 2027.

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•1d

Hi, I own a 2014 (October) Duster diesel 85PS and have driven 1.25 lakh km. I am extremely happy with it. I want to change now, primarily because I want to upgrade to newer features. I have almost finalised the new Duster 1.3-litre, but the lack of a diesel option is the only factor stopping me. I am from Vizag and have a 50:50 city-to-highway usage pattern. Kindly advise.

•3h

Given your usage pattern of 50-50 city and highway driving, the lack of a diesel option in the new Renault Duster is not a deal-breaker. The 1.3-litre turbo petrol engine is a strong performer and offers good drivability on highways, while still being manageable in city conditions. This new Renault car also brings a significant upgrade in features, safety and overall refinement compared to your 2014 model, which seems to be your primary motivation for the upgrade.The only caveat is fuel efficiency. The diesel Duster was known for its strong efficiency, especially on highways, and the turbo petrol will not match that.If you drive a lot and prefer to stick to diesels with all the modern bells and whistles, the Kia Seltos and Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel are worth considering.

I want to buy a new diesel car under Rs. 15 lakh for my family and official tours. Please suggest.

•13h

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel. It is one of the few diesel options left under Rs 15 lakh, and it is well suited to your use. The diesel engine is punchy, efficient and well suited to highway driving, while the car itself is spacious enough for family duties and comfortable enough for long journeys. It also offers a good balance of features, safety and value for money. If you want something slightly more premium and are willing to stretch your budget a little, the Kia Seltos diesel is also worth considering, but the 3XO remains the stronger value proposition in this price range.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•6d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

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•1w

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•6d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•6d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

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