Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy the 2026 Kia Seltos but am confused between the turbo petrol DCT and the naturally aspirated petrol IVT. My usage will be around 60% on highways and 40% in the city. I feel the turbo DCT would be better for performance, especially on highways, but I am concerned about the long-term reliability of Hyundai/Kia DCT gearboxes and possible overheating issues in traffic. Could you please advise which option would be the better choice for my usage?

Autocar India

•3h

With 10,000-12,000 km a year and equal city and highway use, we would recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It feels smoother and quieter in daily use, the automatic is easy in traffic, and it has a strong pull for quick highway passes when the car is full. It also packs more active safety tech, which is reassuring on long trips with family. Most of all, it doesn't feel as cumbersome to drive around town.On your DPF worry: both the XUV 7XO and the Tata Safari use the same type of filter to trap soot. With your 50 percent highway mix, the system usually clears itself. DPF trouble mostly shows up with very short, slow city trips only. Simple habits help: once every week or two, do 15-20 minutes at a steady speed on a ring road, don’t switch off mid-cycle if you see a DPF message, use good fuel, and keep the car on the latest software at service.The Safari diesel automatic is the one to pick if you value a softer low-speed ride and a roomier third row, but its engine and gearbox aren't as smooth or refined as the XUV's. Overall, for your mix of city and highway, the XUV 7XO diesel automatic lines up best.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Autocar India

•5h

For your usage of around 70 km daily, running costs become very important, and since you are also hesitant about diesel due to future regulations, it makes more sense to go for the Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG.With this kind of running, CNG will be significantly more efficient and cost-effective compared to a modern diesel. Due to stricter emission norms, diesel cars are not as efficient as they used to be, so the cost advantage over CNG is no longer as strong as before. The Victoris CNG will help you keep running costs low while still offering a smooth and reliable ownership experience.One of the usual drawbacks of CNG cars is the loss of boot space, but in the case of the Victoris, this is less of a compromise. The CNG cylinder is smartly packaged under the boot floor, where the spare wheel would usually sit, so you still retain a usable boot. The only trade-off is that the car does not get a spare wheel, and instead comes with a puncture repair kit.The Kia Seltos diesel, on the other hand, is the better choice in terms of performance and driving experience, especially on highways. But given your hesitation towards diesel and the higher running costs compared to CNG, it may not be the most suitable option for your needs.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•8h

The Volkswagen Virtus is a strong fit for your driving mix, and the choice essentially comes down to whether you prefer a sedan or an SUV.The Virtus, in particular, has clear advantages. It offers a more compliant ride compared to the Skoda Kushaq, which tends to feel a bit firmer over broken roads. Its lower centre of gravity also gives it an edge in handling, especially on mountain roads, where it feels more planted and predictable. High-speed stability is another strength, making it well-suited for your highway usage.From a practicality standpoint, the Virtus also scores with a more spacious rear seat and a larger boot, which adds to its appeal as an all-rounder.The Kushaq’s main advantage is its higher ground clearance and taller seating position. This makes it easier to deal with rough patches, poor roads, and tricky urban conditions, while also giving a more commanding view of the road, something many drivers prefer in city traffic.So, if your priority is driving comfort, stability, and overall dynamics, the Virtus is the better pick. If you value ease of driving in tough road conditions and an SUV stance, the Kushaq makes a case. The 1.5 TSI version with the 7-speed DSG auto transmission for both the Virtus and the Kushaq suits your usage best.

Volkswagen Virtus

Skoda Kushaq

Autocar India

•23h

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.

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Punch

Hyundai Exter

Autocar India

•5d

With the kind of mileage you are already seeing from your 4th generation Honda City, I would not rush to fit a CNG kit. Around 16 kpl over 85,000 km is actually a healthy real world figure for a petrol sedan, and since the City is known for its smoothness and refinement, adding an aftermarket CNG kit will inevitably change the character of the car. Honda does not offer a factory CNG option for the City, so any retrofit will be third party, which means compromises in boot space, some loss in outright performance and the added variable of installation quality and long term reliability. Honda also recommends using fuel that meets the vehicle specifications, and aftermarket modifications can complicate warranty or support considerations on newer cars.A CNG conversion only starts making strong financial sense if your running is very high and you plan to keep the car for several more years to recover the kit cost. If your annual usage is moderate, the payback period can be longer than expected. The only real case for going CNG here is if fuel cost reduction is your absolute top priority. Otherwise, given how well your City is already performing, I would leave it as is and enjoy the refinement rather than fixing something that is not really broken.

Honda City

Autocar India

•5d

If you are waiting for the Tata Sierra EV, the good news is that it does not seem too far away. Current indications suggest a launch could happen either later this month or in June.Expect it to slot below the Tata Harrier EV in Tata’s electric line-up, likely with multiple battery pack options and a more premium positioning than the Tata Curvv EV. Tata has also indicated that both Rear Wheel Drive and All Wheel Drive versions are planned, which should make it one of the more interesting mainstream electric SUVs in India.

Tata Sierra EV

Tata Harrier EV

Tata Curvv EV