Surajpur

•42w

I'm a 26-year-old planning my first car purchase. I'm smitten by the Thar Roxx for its looks and practicality, but high petrol running costs and the 10-year diesel ban worry me. I plan to do road trips all over India and have a maximum budget of ₹18 lakh on-road. Which safe, powerful vehicle would you recommend within this budget? Also, are there any upcoming launches worth waiting for - I can wait until April 2027 when CAFE-3 norms kick in.

•42w

Yes, the Mahindra Thar Roxx, in diesel guise, and especially in petrol guise, is not fuel-efficient. One car worth considering is the recently revealed Tata Sierra, which is likely to be available with multiple petrol engine options. And given Tata cars' recent track record of high NCAP crash test ratings, you can expect a good rating from the Sierra as well.

You could also wait for the next-gen Kia Seltos. It is expected to launch by late 2025 or early 2026. The new model is likely to be larger and more spacious than the current version. There are also rumours of a hybrid powertrain, which could be the answer to your long-distance road trips.

There will be many more new launches before April 2027, including models that haven’t been revealed yet. So if you’re not in a hurry, waiting could give you even better options.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.03 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹12.87 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•3d

I own a Tata Altroz DCA Petrol and have been driving it for almost one year. It has completed 30,000 km. I want to upgrade to a diesel automatic and have shortlisted the Sierra and Curvv. I need your help for choosing the best one and even suggestions about other models.

•2d

Given your usage of 30,000 km in a year, a diesel automatic is the right move, and both the Tata Sierra and Tata Curvv are strong options. The Sierra is the better choice if you priorities space, comfort and a more premium cabin experience. It offers a larger, more comfortable rear seat, a more spacious boot and a more relaxed long-distance touring character. There's also a lot of new features and tech with the Sierra, though on the higher trims. The Curvv, appeals with its coupe like styling but the trade-off is that it is not as spacious or as comfortable for rear-seat passengers. Between the two, the Sierra is also likely to hold on to its resale value better and it is the one we would lean towards.

Tata Sierra

Tata Curvv

•1d

I want to buy a car under Rs 20 lakh. My monthly running will be around 1,500km, mostly on weekends, with 70% highway and 30% city driving. Which car and fuel type would you suggest? I prefer a manual transmission.

•10h

With a monthly running of 1,500 km and 70% highway usage, a diesel car makes the most sense. The higher torque and better fuel efficiency on long runs will pay off over time, and your usage pattern justifies the premium over petrol. Since you prefer a manual car, you will also avoid the complexity and cost of automatic gearboxes, which is a plus for long-term ownership.The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual in a lower trim would be our first recommendation. It is a genuinely strong highway car with a punchy diesel engine, good stability at speed and a comfortable ride over long distances.If you want something a bit more compact and easier to live with in the city, the Kia Seltos diesel manual is also a very good option. It is more affordable, feels premium on the inside and is still very capable on the highway.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel manual is the best fit for your usage and budget.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

•13h

I am 52 years old and have been driving since my 20s. I need to drive around 2,500km a month, with 55% of the driving on highways, 30% on rugged rural roads and 155 in the city. My commute includes travelling to and from my farms, so I also need to occasionally transport 200-250 kg of fertiliser or farm produce. My budget is around Rs 10-12 lakh. Please advise which vehicle I should buy.

•10h

Given your usage pattern, the Mahindra Bolero is the most sensible recommendation. Your monthly running is high, with a significant highway component, but the key factor is the 30% rugged rural roads and the need to occasionally carry 200-250 kg of farm produce. The Bolero is built exactly for this kind of use case. It has a tough ladder-frame chassis, simple mechanicals and a reputation for durability on rough roads. The diesel engine is robust and well suited to long-distance running, and the suspension is designed to handle poor road conditions and heavy loads without complaint. It is not the most refined or feature-rich vehicle, but it is reliable, easy to maintain and has excellent service reach in rural areas. At your budget of Rs 10-12 lakh, it is also one of the few vehicles that genuinely meets your requirements without compromise.If you want something more comfortable and modern, the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is worth considering, but it will not be as rugged or as load-friendly as the Bolero. For your specific needs, the Bolero remains the most practical and dependable choice.

Mahindra Bolero

Mahindra XUV 3XO

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•4d

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.

Kia Seltos

Tata Nexon

•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.

Hyundai Venue

Kia Sonet

Mahindra XUV 3XO

View all Posts

New car launches to explore