Autocar India
NI

Nithin

•26w

I travel around 1,800 km per month, with about 70% highway and 30% city usage. Please advise which fuel option to choose. My priority is mileage.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•26w
Considering your requirements, a diesel car makes a lot of sense. With your running exceeding 20,000 km annually, the higher fuel efficiency of a diesel engine will help you save a significant amount of money. And since most of your usage is on highways, you won’t face DPF issues that BS6 diesel engines often experience when driven primarily at low speeds in the city.
You could also consider a petrol-hybrid if one fits within your budget. Cars like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, or Honda City Hybrid can deliver over 20kmpl, whether you’re driving in the city or on the highway, making them highly efficient and practical options.
Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

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Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki

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Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

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More questions on similar cars

KU

Kumar

•2d

I own an Alto LXI 2011 and now want to upgrade to a new car. My requirements are mainly for family trips with senior citizens and kids, ranging from 250 km to 1200 km per trip. My usage is around 70% highway and hill driving, and 30% city driving. I live in a tier-3 city and am looking for a strong, safe, and comfortable family car that is also comfortable to drive. I am 5 feet tall. Please suggest a good car within a budget of ₹15-23 lakh. I am open to ICE, hybrid, or EV options.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•12h

On a Rs 15-23 lakh budget, the Kia Carens Clavis diesel automatic fits your use best. It rides comfortably on long trips, the low step-in makes it easy for elders, and the third row lets you carry six or seven or fold it to free up a big boot. The diesel pulls well on hills with a full load, and the automatic keeps driving effortless in traffic. For you at 5 feet, the high seat, wide glass area and light controls help with confidence in a tier-3 city, and Kia’s service reach outside big metros is a plus.Know that, compared to your Alto, it is a long car, so tight parking needs a bit more care. With all three rows up, boot space is small, so plan to fold one side when needed. If five seats are enough and you want a sportier feel on hills, look at the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 automatic. If smooth city running and lower fuel use matter more, you can go for Maruti Suzuki Victoris strong hybrid. Given your affinity for long family road trips, we would not recommend an EV at this stage. Overall, the Carens suits your family-first brief best.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
AT

Ambuj Tripathi

•5d

Hello, I am planning to buy a new car. My daily running is around 40 km, with 40% city driving and 60% highway use. I am confused between petrol and diesel, and am looking for an SUV. I am considering the Victoris Petrol, Nexon CNG, and Nexon Diesel. You may also suggest any other car that would suit my needs. My priorities are good mileage, long-term reliability, and low maintenance. Also, is the Nexon CNG a good option to own for 10 years?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

With 40 km a day and mostly highway, from your list, the Tata Nexon diesel fits best. It will use less fuel on long runs, feel more relaxed at 80-100 kph, and give easier overtakes with family and luggage. Your mix has enough highway, so the diesel’s exhaust filter should stay healthy. As a fuel type, CNG is cheap to run, but for 60% highway, it can feel slow, and needs more planning for refills. Better for mostly city use.Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol will be simpler to own and should be reliable, but on highways with a full load, it will use more fuel than the Nexon diesel. Also consider the Hyundai Venue diesel, which is available with a smooth 6-speed auto. Overall, from your choices, the Nexon diesel lines up best.

VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleHyundai Venue
VR

VR Reddy

•3d

Dear Ask Autocar Team, I am 62 years old, 5’11” tall, and currently suffering from sciatica/lower back pain. I am looking for a comfortable automatic car, mainly for city driving and occasional highway trips. My priorities are: Easy ingress and egress without bending too much Comfortable seats with good lumbar and thigh support Soft suspension and comfortable ride quality Automatic transmission for relaxed driving Good visibility and driving position Reliable long-term ownership My budget is under ₹20 lakh on-road. I would also prefer modern safety and convenience features such as: 360-degree camera ADAS features, if available in this budget Could you please suggest the most suitable cars for my condition and age?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Mostly city use with a sensitive lower back and an under Rs 20 lakh cap points to a taller, easy-to-drive automatic. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT HTX (A) fits this brief best. The seat height makes getting in and out simple without bending or climbing. So, the ride is soft at low speeds, thanks in part to this variant's smaller 17-inch wheels, so your back gets less shock from broken roads, and the automatic moves smoothly in traffic. You sit upright with a clear view out, the steering is light, and the 360 camera takes the stress out of parking. What's more, this should just about fit in your budget, and it gets you ADAS features as well. Kia’s wide service network helps with easy, reliable ownership over many years, too. The other good option is a Hyundai Creta, but getting these features will require you to move to a top-spec variant only, which is out of your budget. You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris 1.5 petrol AT, which offers even lower running costs but is not quite as comfortable as the Hyundai or Kia.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris

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Popular discussions right now

SU

Soumith Uppu

•5d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
VehicleTata Punch
VehicleHyundai Exter
AP

AVINASH PARWANI

•5d

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

VehicleKia Seltos
MW

Manik Walia

•1w

I want to buy a sedan. My usage will be approximately 25% city driving and 75% highway driving. My priorities are a fun-to-drive experience, good handling, strong highway stability, rear-seat comfort, and solid build quality. My budget is around ₹18-20 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

With 75% highway use and a Rs. 18-20 lakh cap, the Volkswagen Virtus with the 1.0 turbo petrol with the manual is the best fit. It feels quick when you press the throttle, so quick passes on the highway are easy, and it stays very steady at speed with a nice, weighty steering, which makes long drives calmer. The rear seat is wide with good legroom and a well-angled backrest, so two adults will be comfortable for hours. It also feels solid inside and out, and its crash test score is strong, which matches your build quality ask.A couple of things to note: at low speeds, the ride can feel a bit firm over sharp bumps, and Volkswagen’s service reach is smaller than Maruti or Hyundai in smaller towns, so check your nearest workshop.If you want the same driving feel but a slightly richer cabin vibe, look at the Skoda Slavia with the same 1.0 turbo. It shares the core strengths of highway stability and safety, and some find its seats a touch softer.For your brief, the Virtus 1.0 manual lines up best. However, do note that a facelift is expected later this year.

VehicleVolkswagen Virtus
VehicleSkoda Slavia

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Posted on: 15 Nov 2025