Hi I am looking for a new petrol automatic car with a running of 70% city and 30% highway with strong road presence and milege should range in between 12 to 16 kmpl. I am confused in between Tata harrier petrol , new kia sealtos and scorpio N Please suggest which option to go for in a budget of 18 lacs

Autocar India

•2h

With a budget of around Rs 25 lakh and your priorities of fun to drive performance, comfort, safety and strong after sales support, the Kia Seltos fits your requirements very well. The current Seltos is larger than before, spacious and very comfortable for daily driving. Interior quality is among the best in the segment and it comes loaded with premium features, including the ones you have mentioned such as ventilated seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof and a 360 degree camera. The 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine paired with the 7 speed DCT transmission offers strong performance while remaining refined and smooth in city use. It also fits comfortably within your budget and Kia’s after sales service network is generally reliable.If you want something different, the Tata Sierra with the turbo petrol automatic is another good option. It offers even more cabin space than the Seltos and its wider body makes it a more comfortable five seater. The ride quality is also very comfortable and it comes with all the features you are looking for. The downside is that it is about Rs 1.5 lakh more expensive than the Kia, and although Tata’s after sales service is improving, Kia still has the stronger reputation in that area.If you want something larger, you can also consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 within your budget. Even though it is a seven seater, with the third row folded it becomes a very spacious and comfortable five seater. It gets a powerful 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine producing over 200 hp paired with a smooth six speed torque converter automatic that delivers effortless performance. The handling is good, the ride is comfortable and it comes with most of the features you want. The only notable omission compared to your list is ventilated front seats. If you can live without that feature, it is another strong option to consider.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Reply

Autocar India

•1d

If performance is a big concern for you, then the Kia Seltos with the turbo-petrol iMT would be a good choice. However, given that the majority of your driving is within the city, performance from the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and IVT transmission should be more than adequate.The IVT does a good job of keeping the engine within its powerband and effectively masks any deficit in the city. It responds nicely to small throttle inputs, and in average day-to-day driving, there is little to complain about. The IVT is also seamless in operation and much more convenient than the iMT in the turbo-petrol.We recommend that you test drive both back-to-back, if possible, to see which you prefer.

Kia Seltos

Reply

Autocar India

•2d

Since most of your driving is on the highway, you should probably go with the more powerful, more enjoyable turbo-petrol version of the Kia Seltos. While the 1.5 NA petrol is not underpowered by any means, the added power and torque will be beneficial for overtaking and cruising comfortably at high speeds. The DCT gearbox can feel jerky in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but since that's the less-frequent scenario, it should not deter you from choosing this powertrain.As for maintenance costs, the difference will not be that significant, though if you intend to keep the car for 10+ years, it will add up over time, potentially more for the gearbox than the engine itself. XP95 is not a requirement for the turbo petrol version, and instead would be optional - and beneficial - for both engines as and when you see fit.

Kia Seltos

Reply