I am from Bangalore and planning to buy a new car. My usage is around 70% highway, and my running is relatively high, so I am considering a diesel. I have already booked the Kia Seltos HTX diesel (manual), but I am now confused whether I should stick with this choice or consider the Tata Sierra Adventure+ diesel (manual) instead. Given my usage and priorities, which would be the better option?

Autocar India

•4h

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kylaq

Autocar India

•13h

For your usage, the Kia Seltos diesel AT is a strong fit. With 75-80km a day and a mix of city and highway driving, the diesel will be economical to run, and the automatic will make city driving stress-free. Choose the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder only if the majority of your driving is in slow-moving city traffic, where it can run in EV mode and save a lot of fuel.The Kia Seltos diesel AT suits long, fast highway runs better. It feels stronger during quick overtakes, has a much bigger boot, and offers a more modern interior.It all boils down to your usage split. If your daily route involves a lot of traffic lights, congestion and urban speeds, the Hyryder will save you more money each month and feel easier to live with. But if your driving is a mix of highway and city use, the Kia Seltos is the better choice overall.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Autocar India

•6h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos