I am planning to buy an automatic car with a budget of up to ₹20 lakh (maximum). My priorities are automatic engine, safety and comfort. I am confused between the new-generation Kia Seltos and the Honda Elevate. Should I wait for the upcoming Taigun and Elevate facelifts?

Autocar India

•8w

The Kia Seltos is a very good all-rounder, and the new-generation car has had focused improvements in ride quality and rear seat space, so this should meet your requirements for a comfortable car. Safety equipment is good, with features like six airbags and ESC standard across the range. The car has not been crash tested by GNCAP or BNCAP yet.

The Volkswagen Taigun has secured a 5-star GNCAP rating, and the facelift should secure the same too. However, in terms of comfort, it would rank behind the Seltos and will take a few months to arrive, with the Honda Elevate being later still. Thus, on the whole, we think the Kia Seltos is a good buy that you can happily go ahead with.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.79 Lakh

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹12.33 Lakh

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Latest questions in the community

Saransh

•1w

I am planning to buy a new automatic SUV with a budget of around ₹16 lakh. I am considering the Honda Elevate, Kia Seltos, and the new Skoda Kushaq. My driving will be around 80% in the city, and I am looking for a car with a good performance engine and decent mileage. Which of these options would be the best choice for my requirements?

Autocar India

•11m

You should consider the Kia Seltos IVT for your requirements. The SUV is powered by a refined 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine that's mated to a smooth CVT automatic gearbox. As for the efficiency, we managed 10.31kpl in the city and 14.22kpl out on the highway, in our real-world mileage tests. The Kia Seltos also comes with a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride and a long list of features. Given your budget, go for the Seltos IVT HTE (O) variant, which costs Rs 15.55 lakh (on-road Delhi).

Kia New Seltos

Aadi

•1w

I am planning to buy a new car but am confused between the Tata Punch Pure Plus (2026), Maruti Suzuki Baleno Delta, and Maruti Suzuki Fronx. My budget is around ₹8 lakh, but I can stretch it up to ₹9 lakh. My usage will include both city and highway driving, and at times, there will be three passengers seated in the rear. I am also considering increasing my budget further to buy a Tata Nexon, which has added to my confusion. Could you please help me choose the right option?

Autocar India

•1h

The new Tata Punch is a solid choice in the Rs 8 lakh budget; however, it is quite narrow, which means seating three in the back seat can be a bit tight. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is better in this regard, with a slightly wider and more comfortable rear seat, but do visit both showrooms and experience them yourself. Both cars are comparable in terms of performance and efficiency, but the Baleno’s four-cylinder engine is more refined than the Punch’s three-cylinder unit.Apart from the different body style and slightly raised suspension, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx is essentially the same as the Baleno. Therefore, the main reason to upgrade to the Fronx is if you need the higher ground clearance or want the turbo-petrol engine, which is not available on the Baleno.Regarding the Tata Nexon, to get a reasonably well-equipped variant, you will need to stretch your budget to around Rs 10 lakh and opt for the Pure Plus petrol variant. For the additional money, you get an SUV body style, a roomier cabin with a better rear seat than the aforementioned options, and a turbo-petrol engine with much stronger performance. If it isn’t too much of a financial burden, it is worth stretching to get the Nexon. But if you want to stick to your budget, the Baleno remains a good choice.

PSR

I want to buy a petrol automatic SUV in the range of 17 to 18 lakh. I am considering the Grand Vitara Zeta AT, Victoris ZXI, and Creta S(O) IVT. My annual average usage is between 5000 and 6000km. Please suggest a good option among the three vehicles in terms of smooth journey, mileage, and maintenance cost.

Autocar India

•2h

The Hyundai Creta is the better all-rounder and offers more space, a stronger and smoother powertrain (1.5 P IVT) and marginally better comfort. However, given your priorities of mileage and maintenance costs, it's hard to beat Maruti Suzuki on these fronts.Whether you choose the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara or Victoris is a matter of preference (and which dealership is more accessible to you - Arena or Nexa), as they are essentially the same car underneath, using the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and 6-speed AT gearbox. Despite using a torque converter automatic gearbox, which is not typically associated with good mileage, both Maruti SUVs offer exceptional fuel economy, and maintenance costs over the course of their lives will be among the lowest in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta

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