Autocar India
•49w

I am planning to buy my first luxury car for a family of three. My priorities are safety first, then luxury. My monthly running in the city will be around 200-300 km. I’m confused between the new Volvo S90, the ES90, and the Lexus 300h. I want a car without a sunroof, but with ventilation for both front and rear seats, and good under-thigh support in the back seat. Please advise.

Verified
•34w

Unfortunately, the Volvo S90 is no longer on sale in India, and the ES90 has not been launched in India. That leaves the Lexus ES 300h, which is an excellent choice. Though your usage is not much, it is mostly in the city, and the strong hybrid powertrain of the Lexus car is a smooth and mostly silent companion that will run in EV mode for the most part. 

It has an excellent rear seat experience, including powered recline and, yes, ventilation too; plus, thigh support is excellent, and the seat itself is very comfortable. Sadly, a sunroof is an almost inescapable part of any luxury car today; you'll just have to keep it closed.

Lexus ES

Lexus ES

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•4d

I’m planning to buy the 2026 Kia Seltos GTX (A) and am confused between the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol IVT and the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT. The car will be used by two people. On weekdays, it will primarily be used for city commutes, where fuel efficiency, smoothness and reliability are important. On weekends, it will be used for a mix of city driving and occasional highway trips, where good performance and driving pleasure are also desirable. I’ve heard that the IVT is smoother and more stress-free in traffic, while the DCT offers significantly better performance but may face overheating issues in stop-and-go conditions. Which would you recommend for long-term ownership over 7–10 years, considering real-world mileage, reliability, maintenance costs and driving pleasure? Would you choose the IVT for greater peace of mind or the DCT for its turbocharged performance? I’d appreciate advice based on real-world ownership experiences. Thanks in advance!

Verified
•3d

Go for the Kia Seltos GTX(A) Petrol CVT 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol IVT. For your usage pattern, it is the more sensible and stress-free choice. The IVT is smooth, reliable and well-suited to daily city commutes, where stop-and-go traffic is the norm. It delivers decent fuel efficiency and is generally easier to live with over a long ownership period. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol DCT is the enthusiast's choice, offering strong performance and a more engaging driving experience on highways. However, DCT gearboxes can get a bit jerky at low speeds and are not as happy in prolonged stop-and-go traffic, where they can heat up and become less smooth. For a 7-10 year ownership horizon, the IVT is the safer bet. It may not be as quick as the turbo, but performance is decent and consistent and dependable in everyday use. If you are looking for a balance between reliability, running costs and some driving pleasure, the IVT is the better fit.

VehicleKia Seltos
•4d

Hello, I regularly follow Autocar podcasts and episodes because I trust your reviews and opinions. I have been driving a Fiat Punto for over a decade, and I find it difficult to connect with Japanese cars, regardless of how feature-rich they are. There is a group of buyers like me who value the European driving experience, especially now that diesel options from the VW Group are no longer available. Do you think the Tata Sierra diesel automatic comes close to offering that European driving feel, and is it worth considering for long-term ownership, particularly given its relatively low sales numbers? Thanks in advance!

Verified
•3d

The Tata Sierra diesel automatic is worth considering if you are coming from a Fiat Punto and value that European driving feel. The Sierra’s diesel engine and automatic gearbox is well-matched, and the car has a solid, planted feel on the road that is reminiscent of older European cars. It also rides well and feels robust, which is something you will appreciate coming from a Punto. You can also consider the Kia Seltos, the diesel engine is stronger and more refined and the ride is quite planted. It may not be a European product but its built in a manner that does feel closest to one. If you really want to stick with a European car then consider something like a Skoda Kushaq or a Volkswagen Taigun. They are petrol driven but offer the most authentic European driving experience in the segment.

VehicleTata Sierra
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VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
VehicleKia Seltos

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•1w

I am planning to buy my first car. I want to have a 7-seater and need it for long term ownership. I liked the Citroen Aircross X design for 5+2. I am planning to choose a car with automatic transmission. I have couple of major concerns for which I would like your advice. First one is Mileage, I heard Aircross has a mileage issue and its real-world city mileage is 8 kpl while on highway it is 14 kpl. Is it the same for X version also? Second advice is for its service network. I have heard from the people that its service is slow. Regular servicing also takes around 2 days of time. I have a service center within 10 km from my home. My budget is Rs. 20 Lakh and I need an automatic transmission with rear and front parking camera or 360-degree camera since I am a new driver. Are there any 7-seater alternatives within this budget?

Verified
•1w

The Citroen Aircross X is a good-looking car, now with a premium interior. It is the only SUV in its category which offers a 5+2 seating configuration, and even though the third row is not particularly spacious, it works for occasional use. The real-world fuel efficiency figures as per our tests are 9.5kpl and 13.62kpl in city and highway conditions, respectively, which is quite decent given the strong and smooth performance this 1.2-turbo-petrol-AT delivers. What's more is that ride comfort is outstanding, perhaps the best among all midsize SUVs. So as far as comfort and practicality goes, the Aircross X is a good car.Citroen's service centre network is limited, but since you have a touchpoint close to your home, your vehicle's regular servicing and maintenance is likely to be taken care of smoothly. If you love the Aircross X for what it is, go for it - as far as value goes, it is an outstanding proposition. If you're looking for proper seven-seater alternatives, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Carens Clavis HTK+ turbo-petrol automatic version. All three rows are properly spacious, well-suited for adults. This variant will be within your Rs 20 lakh on-road budget, and it has front and rear parking sensors, as well as rear-view camera to make parking easy for you. Sure, it isn't an SUV, but it is a very sensible car, if you need a proper seven-seater.

VehicleCitroen Aircross
VehicleKia Carens Clavis

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Posted on: 1 Mar 2026