Dear Autocar India Team, I need your advice on choosing a new car for my father, who is 65 years old. Our current car is a 2013 Maruti Dzire. The new car will be used mostly in a rural town in Kerala, with occasional city driving and 2-3 airport trips each year. Our requirements include a reliable, fuel efficient and spacious 5-seator petrol automatic car with good boot space that is comfortable for senior citizens under 18 lakhs (I can stretch it up to 20 lakh). The car should be easy to maintain for long-term ownership. I am looking for a car of major brand that has service centres within 15km. I am considering Honda Elevate, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Toyota Hyryder, Škoda Kushaq, Tata Sierra and Volkswagen Tiguan. Which one would you recommend, and are there any other better options in this budget? Thank you for your advice.

autocar.india

•2h

Considering your usage, CNG car would be a better fit. While an electric car will be cheaper to run, the charging network in rural areas is patchy, which will limit your usage. CNG is more readily available where you are and, on longer trips where you don't find a pump, you can still revert to petrol.In your budget, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a solid choice. It comes with a dual-tank setup, so the boot is only slightly smaller than the petrol version. Maruti has also done a good job of tuning the car to run on CNG and its service network is the largest in the country. The downside is that highway performance on CNG will feel a bit dull, requiring a downshift for an overtake.Alternatively, you could continue with a diesel car, as you are already comfortable with that. Running costs will be higher than on CNG, but availability of diesel is not an issue and you avoid the queues at CNG stations. In your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is the best bet. The manual will be fine for your use, but an automatic is available if you wish. The Creta diesel offers a similar experience, but Hyundai has a wider service network than Kia.Overall, the Victoris CNG makes the most sense for your needs but, if you want a bit more punch on the highway, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•4h

Consider the Kia Seltos DCT. For a 12km commute and occasional 5-6-hour road trips, you will find it comfortable in the city, quick on the highway and easy to own long term. The latest-generation Seltos is larger than before, so feels spacious inside. The cabin is tech-laden and upmarket, and the ride quality has improved too. The turbo-petrol DCT has good performance for quick overtakes on the highway, and the DCT is responsive. The downside is that it can occasionally hesitate in the city, but with your short commute this shouldn't be a deal-breaker. Kia's service is also amongst the best in the business.If you want something larger, the Mahindra XUV 7XO petrol automatic is also a solid choice in your budget. It is a genuinely comfortable car with a spacious cabin, excellent ride quality and strong highway manners. The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Mahindra's service network is strong in Thane and Mumbai. The drawback is that the big petrol engine will be thirsty in the city.An electric car makes sense if you can charge at home and if there are fast chargers on your usual highway route. In that case, the Hyundai Creta Electric is a safe bet. It is well suited to your short daily commute and offers very low running costs. In our real-world testing, it managed an impressive 486km on a single charge in the city and 378km on the highway.Overall, the Seltos is the best balance of comfort, reliability, running costs and ownership experience for your needs.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta Electric

autocar.india

•9h

With a daily commute of just 6 km and a budget of up to Rs 20 lakh, you are in a very comfortable position. Your usage is low, so fuel savings from a hybrid or EV will take a very long time to justify the premium. A petrol car is the most sensible choice for your usage pattern, especially since you plan to use it as a family car. In cars under 20 Lakh, you will get a midsize petrol SUV, but only a compact EV - and only a few base-model hybrids.There is no major reason to wait. The current crop of cars offers a vast and varied choice, and there are no imminent launches in your budget that would fundamentally change your options. In terms of what to buy, we would recommend looking at the Kia Seltos or the Hyundai Creta. Both are excellent all-rounders with strong petrol engines, comfortable cabins and a good balance of features and value. The Seltos is larger and slightly more premium, and is the one we would lean towards. You can get a high-ish variant comfortably within your budget.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta