Mandya

•14w

I want to buy both Mahindra Thar 3-door and a Kia Seltos. I am considering the base variants of both vehicles. The Thar will be used mainly for leisure, while the Seltos will be used primarily for city driving. In that case, would the petrol variant of the Seltos be a good choice? Also, I am looking at the base variant of the Thar, which is priced at around Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom. Would this combination make sense for my requirements?

•13w

Yes, that combination actually makes a lot of sense if the roles are clearly defined. For the Seltos, the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol is perfectly adequate if it is going to be your city car. It is smooth, refined, easy to drive in traffic and ownership costs are reasonable. You do not really need the turbo petrol if the car's primary duty is urban commuting. The NA petrol may not feel particularly exciting, but for city use it will feel relaxed and effortless. Even in its lower variants, the Seltos is surprisingly well equipped, so it does not feel bare bones.

As for the Thar 3-door, if it is purely a weekend fun vehicle, the base model can make sense from a value perspective. However, it is worth remembering that the Rs. 9.99 lakh ex-showroom variant is a 4x2 model, so you do not get the full off-road capability that most people associate with the Thar.

You can expect the Mahindra Thar Mileage to be around 9 to 11 kpl in the city and 13 to 15 kpl on the highway. If your idea of enjoyment is primarily the lifestyle, road presence and occasional beach or trail drives, it will still do the job. However, if you genuinely want to explore tougher trails and off-road terrain, it is worth stretching to a 4x4 variant.

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Mahindra

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from ₹13.53 Lakh

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•1d

Ladakh trips are becoming almost a rite of passage for every Thar and Scorpio N owner now. Is this actually good for those roads long term?

•2d

I am looking for a mid-size SUV in the Rs 15-16 lakh range. I have narrowed my list down to the new Duster 1.3 Turbo Techno+ and the Hyundai Creta 1.5 NA S(O). I really like the Creta's interior, but I am concerned that since Kia has already launched the new-generation Seltos, the new-generation Creta may not be far away. My daily running is approximately 80km, mostly on the highway, with some city driving. Please suggest which would be the better buy.

•1d

With an 80km daily run, mostly on the highway, the priority should be a car that is comfortable over long distances, stable at speed and easy to live with. The Duster 1.3 Turbo Techno+ is the better fit here. The Renault Duster’s ride quality is genuinely excellent, soaking up bad roads and undulations in a way few cars in this price range can. It also feels planted and confidence-inspiring at highway speeds, which makes long daily commutes far less tiring. The 1.3 turbo petrol engine is punchy and well-suited to highway driving, giving you strong overtaking performance when you need it. Moreover, the Techno+ variant represents excellent value in this price range, especially for your needs.The Hyundai Creta 1.5 NA S(O) is a very good car, but the naturally aspirated engine is not as strong on the highway, especially when fully loaded. You're right about the new generation; Kia has already launched the new Seltos, and Hyundai is expected to bring the next-generation Creta to India in early 2027. That said, the current Creta is still a very competent product, and Hyundai’s ownership experience and service network are strong.Given your usage, the Duster’s ride comfort, highway stability and stronger engine make it the better buy.

My wife is 5'0", and we are looking to buy an automatic car primarily for city commutes, with occasional highway trips. We are considering the Kia Seltos. Is it a good choice, particularly in terms of seating ergonomics and visibility for a 5-foot-tall driver? Another option I am considering is the Skoda Kushaq. Which one would be better for our requirements?

•2d

The Kia Seltos is a very good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, the Skoda Kushaq is actually the better choice. The Kushaq has a more upright seating position, a lower dashboard and a more compact bonnet, which makes it much easier to judge the car's extremities and improves overall visibility. The Seltos has a higher dashboard and a longer bonnet, which can make it harder for shorter drivers to judge the front of the car, even with the seat height adjusted.The Kushaq is also slightly narrower and easier to manoeuvre in city traffic, which is important for your primary usage. The Seltos does feel more premium inside and offers a slightly more spacious rear seat, but from a driver's perspective, the Kushaq is the more confidence-inspiring car.Go for the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic. It uses an 8-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth and well-suited to city driving. The Seltos IVT is also a good gearbox, but the overall ergonomics of the Kushaq give it the edge for your specific requirement.

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•3d

I have a Tata Nexon Creative AMT that is only a year old, but I have already had to replace the spark plugs four times and the ignition coil once. I am still facing engine misfires and vibrations inside the car. I am honestly fed up with Tata's service, as they have been unable to resolve the issue. I am therefore planning to sell the Nexon and buy a Kia Seltos with a manual transmission this time. My priority was safety earlier, and it remains my top priority. However, I now also want peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience. Would selling the Nexon and switching to the Seltos be a good decision?

•3d

Yes, it is a good decisionYes, it is a good decision to sell the Tata Nexon and move to the Seltos manual. The Nexon is generally a safe and well-engineered car, but if you are facing repeated engine issues and the service centre is unable to resolve them, it is understandable to lose confidence in the ownership experience. The Kia Seltos is a very well-rounded SUV with a strong safety package, a more refined ownership experience and a good service network. The manual transmission is also a good choice if you want to avoid any potential automatic gearbox-related issues. Overall, if peace of mind and a hassle-free ownership experience are your top priorities, the Seltos is a sensible upgrade.

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•5d

I am planning to buy a sub-compact SUV. My budget is Rs. 13-14 lakh, and my priorities are a smooth automatic transmission and good mileage. I am considering the Brezza ZXi AT, Sonet HXT DCT, and Venue HX6 DCT. I am very confused because the Brezza’s torque-converter automatic offers good fuel efficiency but lacks some features, while the Sonet and Venue offer all the features I need. However, I am concerned that the DCT may be less fuel-efficient and could involve higher maintenance costs. My daily commute is around 30 km, mostly in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. Please suggest which one would be the best choice for my requirements.

•5d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI AT. Your priorities are a smooth automatic, good fuel efficiency and a daily 30km commute in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic. The Brezza’s 6-speed torque converter automatic is the best fit for this usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start conditions, and the naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and easy to live with. Maruti’s service reach and low maintenance costs add to the ownership peace of mind.The Sonet and Venue DCTs are good cars, but the DCT gearbox is not ideal for heavy traffic. It can feel jerky at low speeds.Alternatively, if you can arrange for home charging, the Tata Punch EV is an excellent option.

I currently drive a Grand i10 Manual petrol and am now planning to buy a new compact SUV that is comfortable, fuel efficient and has low maintenance. My usage is 35km of daily office commute in Delhi-NCR traffic. Please advice which option is best fit amongst Hyundai Venue HX 6T, SONET HTK+O and XUV 3XO.

•6d

Go for the Hyundai Venue. With your daily 35km commute in Delhi NCR traffic, comfort and low maintenance are key, and the Venue delivers on both. The 1.2 NA petrol is smooth, refined and easy to drive in stop-start conditions, while Hyundai’s service network and ownership experience are among the best in the segment. The HX6T variant also gives you a good balance of features without pushing the budget too far.The Sonet HTK+O is mechanically very similar, but the Venue is a newer model and offers a more spacious cabin. The XUV 3XO is also a good option, but its turbo petrol engine won't be as efficient as the Hyundai’s.Overall, the Venue is the most sensible upgrade from your Grand i10 for daily city use.

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