Sirmaur

•24m

Currently driving a 4-year-old Baleno Alpha AT (2022 model). My monthly running is around 500-600 km in Mumbai, mostly in bumper-to-bumper traffic, and I have a small family. Roughly 90% of my driving is in the city, with occasional trips outside town. I am considering upgrading to a mid-size SUV in the Rs. 17-20 lakh range. I would appreciate recommendations based on my usage.

•4m

With 500- 600 km a month in Mumbai traffic and 90% city driving, your priorities should be ease of driving, comfort and reliability. A petrol automatic is the right choice here, and given your budget, the Kia Seltos IVT is the recommendation. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well suited to stop-start traffic; the car feels premium inside, and the Seltos is one of the most refined and comfortable midsize SUVs on the market. It is also a genuine step up from your Baleno in terms of space, comfort and overall ownership experience.

The Hyundai Creta is also a good alternative with a similar mechanical package, but the Seltos feels slightly more premium inside and offers marginally better rear seat space. Overall, the Seltos IVT is the best fit for your usage and budget.

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Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.32 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.22 Lakh

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•1d

I’m currently driving a Honda City MT i-VTEC as my daily driver in the city, but I’m not happy with its mileage. My daily usage in the city is around 20-30 km. I’ve shortlisted the Kia Seltos MT Diesel and MG Windsor. Please suggest which of these would be the better choice. Thanks.

•22h

With a daily city usage of 20-30 km, a diesel Seltos is not the right choice. Modern diesels need regular highway runs to keep the DPF healthy, and your usage pattern is predominantly short city trips. The fuel savings from diesel will also take a very long time to justify the higher purchase cost at your running.If you can arrange for home charging, the MG Windsor EV seems to be a better fit for your usage. This MG car is a very spacious, comfortable family car with a premium feel. Since your usage isn't much, you could consider the small battery version instead of the Pro - it'll be more affordable.

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•1d

Hello, I have been using a Creta manual for the past 11 years. I have now sold my Creta and am planning to buy a Seltos automatic. Please suggest which automatic variant would be better for me - petrol or diesel. My annual running is around 10,000- 12,000 km. Should I go for the diesel or petrol automatic?

•23h

With 10,000-12,000 km a year, the decision between petrol and diesel comes down to your usage pattern. Sure, a diesel automatic will be a bit more economical to run; however, you are paying a higher premium upfront. Hence, we'd suggest you pick the Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT version, which is smoother, quieter and easier to live with in stop-start traffic, and you will not have to worry about DPF-related issues that can arise with modern diesels if the car is not regularly driven on periodic highway runs.Pick the diesel automatic only if you do regular highway runs for its stronger performance and more effortless cruising ability. The diesel's fuel efficiency will be better too.

Kia Seltos

•1d

Hi everyone, I have a budget around 13 lakh and my annual running is around 8,000 km. I'm confused between buying a sedan or compact SUV like Kia Seltos etc. as I have sold my Tata Punch last month that I owned almost for 4.5 years but now I want to purchase good and elegant looking car that can last for 7 to 9 year without any hassle. Me and my wife have shortlisted cars like New Honda City SV variant, New Skoda Slavia Base one, or Upcoming Virtus in sedan segment. In suv segment, I have shortlisted cars like Seltos, Grand Vitara, etc. My wife wants to shortlist sedan. Please suggest me which one should I go for as it's the matter of investing my hard earned money. Also, which car will have good resale value in future.

•1d

Go for the Honda City SV petrol manual. With your annual running of 8,000km, petrol is the right choice, and the City is one of the most reliable and hassle-free cars you can buy. It is also a car that is known to last well beyond 7-9 years with proper maintenance, which fits your ownership plan. The SV variant gives you the essentials within your budget, and the City’s strong resale value and Honda's wide service network make it a sensible long-term investment.The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the City is the safer long-term bet. Skoda and Volkswagen have improved their ownership experience, but Honda still has the edge when it comes to reliability and peace of mind over a long ownership period. On the SUV side, the Seltos and Grand Vitara are both good cars, but at your budget you will be looking at base variants, and neither will have as much resale as the City.Since your wife prefers a sedan and you are looking for a car that will last without hassle, the Honda City SV is the best option.

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Popular discussions right now

•2d

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•2d

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

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•3d

I’m planning to buy my first car and would appreciate some suggestions. My budget is around Rs. 13-15 lakh ex-showroom, and I’m planning to register the car under the BH series. Safety is my top priority, so I strongly prefer a car with a 5-star safety rating, preferably from Global NCAP. An automatic transmission is a must. The car will mainly be used for weekend family trips and highway drives rather than daily commuting. Since it will be a family car, I’d prefer something that looks classy and elegant while offering good comfort. A premium-looking interior would be a plus, and features such as leather/leatherette upholstery and ventilated seats would be nice to have, but they aren't deal-breakers. At the same time, I don’t want a car that is purely comfort-oriented. I enjoy driving, so I’d like something with a good engine, enjoyable handling, and a fun-to-drive character. Good rear-seat comfort and reasonable luggage space for family trips would also be appreciated.

•1d

Based on your requirements, the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the recommendation. It strikes the right balance between safety, driving enjoyment and family usability. The 1.0 TSI engine is strong, the handling is engaging, and the car feels solid and confidence-inspiring on the highway. The interior feels premium, and while it may not be the largest in its segment, overall comfort is quite good. If you prefer the look of the VW Taigun, it offers largely the same experience as the Kushaq. The Renault Duster 1.3 DCT is also a strong alternative, offering excellent driving dynamics and a larger cabin. Overall, though, the Kushaq 1.0 TSI automatic is the car that best aligns with your requirements.

Hi Experts! I am a first-time car buyer and a new driver. I want to buy a sub-4-meter SUV. My daily usage will be between 25- 30 km. It is mostly for city driving in Delhi NCR. I intend to buy an automatic and like the Kylaq as an option. But my understanding is that it is expensive to maintain. Among other options that I am considering are the Venue and the 3XO. However, Venue has DCT, which I understand is not great for city driving. Could you give me some more guidance on maintenance of the Kylaq and, generally, if I have to choose among these 3, what should be the best option? To clarify, my budget is 12-15 lakhs. I have already looked at the Brezza as an option but did not like the feel of it. Sonet has been disregarded because there is a new Sonet coming next year. Thank you for your input!

•6d

Go for the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI automatic. This Skoda car is the best fit for your usage and budget. The Kylaq uses a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is smooth, reliable and well suited to stop-start traffic. It is not a DCT, so you do not have to worry about overheating or jerkiness in city conditions. The 1.0 TSI engine is proven and has a good ownership track record. Skoda's maintenance costs are not significantly higher than Hyundai or Mahindra, especially with service packages available. The Kylaq is also one of the best driver's cars in the segment, with a solid, planted feel and good ride quality.The Hyundai Venue DCT is a good choice but not ideal for your usage, as DCT gearboxes are not ideal for heavy city traffic. The Mahindra XUV 3XO is a strong alternative. It is spacious, feature-rich and has a good torque converter automatic gearbox, but it does not feel as engaging to drive as the Kylaq. Since you have already ruled out the Brezza and Sonet, the Kylaq is the clear recommendation. It will give you the best ownership experience and driving enjoyment over the next 5-10 years.

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