Hi, I am upgrading from a Tata Vista Quadrajet. My usage will be mostly within the city, with drives of up to 20 km at a stretch. Occasionally, my family of four goes on 3–4 day trips to nearby hill stations, which involve steep inclines and sharp bends. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos 2026 and possibly the Tata Sierra. Please advise on the best engine variant and transmission that would offer a comfortable and pleasant driving experience. Also, would choosing a diesel automatic be a bad decision, considering I am willing to pay an additional ₹1.5–2 lakh?

autocar.india

•1d

Given your requirements, the best option is the Hyundai Alcazar petrol DCT. It's available as a six- or seven-seater, giving you the flexibility you need when your extended family joins you on your journeys, and its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is relatively fuel efficient for a car of its size. The dual-clutch automatic is smooth enough, though it can be a bit clunky at low speeds if not driven smoothly and carefully. Also worth noting is that even the base model petrol-AT Alcazar costs around Rs 21 lakh on road, and the Alcazar has not been tested by any NCAP authority.The next best option is not an SUV but arguably a more practical option - the Kia Carens Clavis. It uses the same engine and gearbox in a lighter package with more space on the inside. Other 7-seat SUV options with more space - like the Mahindra XUV 7XO, Tata Safari, Mahindra Scorpio-N and MG Hector Plus are available, but are nowhere near as fuel-efficient and will be out of your budget as well. All things considered, the Hyundai Alcazar is your best option.

Hyundai Alcazar

Mahindra Scorpio N

MG Hector

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Tata Safari

Kia Carens Clavis

autocar.india

•15m

Wait for the upcoming JSW Jetour T2-based SUV. If your priority is specifically a turbo-petrol hybrid, this is the most interesting option to wait for. JSW is expected to bring the Jetour T2 to India as a locally assembled plug-in hybrid, using a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with electric motors. It is expected around late 2026/early 2027, and we expect JSW to price it at around Rs 35-40 lakh ex-showroom price bracket.If you want to buy right now, the choices become more limited because most hybrids in this price range use naturally aspirated petrol engines. The Toyota Innova HyCross is the obvious option if you want a proven hybrid and maximum practicality, although it won't give you the turbo-petrol character you're looking for.The newly launched MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV is another interesting option. It uses a plug-in hybrid system with a 20.5kWh battery and offers over 115km of claimed electric range.

JSW Motors Jetour T2

Toyota Innova HyCross

MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV

autocar.india

•3h

With a monthly running of 800km, the financial case for an electric car is not particularly strong. The savings on fuel are real, but at this usage level it will take a long time to offset the higher upfront cost of the Punch EV 40kWh. Your Grand i10 Asta petrol is a reliable, well-maintained car and still has plenty of life left in it, so from a purely financial perspective it makes sense to continue with it for a few more years.The decision to switch to the Punch EV should be driven more by your desire for a modern, feature-rich car and the EV ownership experience rather than running cost savings alone. The Punch EV 40kWh is a well-rounded product with a usable real-world range of over 300km, good ride comfort and a strong feature set.If you are happy with the Grand i10 and it is serving your needs well, the sensible decision is to continue with it. If you are keen on the EV experience and want a new car, the Punch EV 40kWh is a good choice, but do it for the ownership experience rather than the savings.

Tata Punch EV