autocar-logo
Delhi
VN

Venkatesh Naidu

1w

With a budget of 25L, I'm looking for a 5-seater car. It should be fun to drive and provide a comfortable ride. Safety, reliability and after sales service should be too-notch. I'll be driving this 60% in city and 40% on highways. It should also have a good interior and features including ventilated seats, wireless carplay/android auto, panaromic sunroof, 360 degree camera.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1w

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.

If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.

If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Related questions you may find helpful

VA

Vaibhav

5d

Hello Sir, I am looking to purchase an SUV within a budget of ₹15 lakh (on-road). Initially, the Tata Sierra was one of my preferred options, but after watching your video, I became a bit uncertain about it. Since then, I have also started considering the base petrol variant of the Harrier. I do not drive a car on a daily basis. My average monthly travel is around 400 km, and my annual usage is approximately 6,000-7,000 km. My driving is usually less in the city and more on highways. I frequently travel through the ghat sections of Pune and the Konkan region with five passengers and a significant amount of luggage. Therefore, I am looking for a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and has relatively low maintenance costs. I would really appreciate your suggestion on which option would be the best choice for my requirements. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

The Tata Harrier Smart turbo-petrol MT (base) should be close to your Rs 15 lakh budget (on-road). It is a spacious 5-seater with a large boot, and its turbo-petrol has ample performance to effortlessly drive through the ghat sections with a full-load of passengers and luggage. Do keep in mind that the Harrier is a heavy car, and turbo-petrol engines are very sensitive to your driving style, so we'd advise you to keep your fuel efficiency expectations low.Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Seltos HTE(O) Turbo-petrol iMT. It is spacious, and performance is adequate, too. And being lighter, fuel efficiency is likely to be a bit better.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Harrier
VI

Vivek

3d

I am interested in buying the Mahindra XUV700 AX7 L diesel automatic. However, since I work in the Navy, my car will remain parked in the garage for about 4-5 months each year. My concern is whether there could be any issues with the diesel engine if the car remains unused for 4-5 months. When I return from ship duty, my monthly running is around 2,000-3,000 km. I am not interested in the petrol version due to its lower fuel efficiency. Could you please advise whether going for the diesel model would still be a good choice in my situation?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

With your usage pattern, the diesel version of the Mahindra XUV 7XO actually makes sense. Once you are back from deployment, your monthly running of around 2,000-3,000 km is more than sufficient to justify a diesel, both from an efficiency and performance point of view.Leaving a modern diesel car unused for 4-5 months is generally not a problem as long as it is stored properly. Before leaving, it is advisable to keep the fuel tank almost full and disconnect the battery or have someone start the car occasionally if possible. The main thing to watch out for is the battery, which can drain if the car sits unused for long periods.When you return and start using the car again, make sure the car gets a longer highway drive early on. This helps the diesel particulate filter regenerate properly and keeps the engine running smoothly.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO

Posted on: 7 Mar 2026