Autocar India
•2d

I am looking for a secondary car, which I plan to keep for only two to three years. My daily running is around 90km, with roughly 50% of the route covering city roads and the other 50% on highways. Should I consider a new or a used car? I am open to both options.

Verified
•3m
Since you already own a Ford EcoSport and you're looking for a secondary car, with a daily usage of 90km, we'd suggest you pick a diesel car with strong and efficient performance for your mixed (city and highway) use. That said, with a Rs 5 lakh budget, your options are limited to diesel models older than 5 years, which shouldn't be a problem since you've mentioned that you'll keep this car only for 2-3 years.
We'd suggest you narrow down your search to the newest pre-owned diesel hatchback that you can find. Keep the Tata Altroz 1.5 diesel as your top choice for its excellent driving manners, spacious cabin, lengthy equipment list, and efficient engine. You should get multiple options of the Altroz. Other strong contenders are the diesel iterations of the 2019-2020 VW Polo and 2020-2021 Hyundai i20, but finding these models in that price range will be a challenge.
Tata Altroz

Tata Altroz

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•1w

I’m planning to buy a new car, and my annual running is around 40,000km, primarily involving highway drives and ghat sections. I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX and the upcoming facelifted Toyota Innova Hycross ZX. I’m considering two approaches: either buy the Innova Hycross and keep it for the next 10 years, given its reputation for longevity and the expectation that its engine can last at least 4 lakh kilometres, or buy the Seltos, drive it for around 2 lakh kilometres over 4–5 years, sell it and upgrade to a brand-new Seltos or another car of a similar price and size. On paper, the Innova Hycross Hybrid seems like the better choice, considering its long-term reliability and features such as the Ottoman reclining seats. However, I’m concerned that I might get bored of it after four years or that it may start feeling outdated as newer technologies and features enter the market. This makes the second option appealing, as it would allow me to upgrade to a brand-new car every 4–5 years. Which approach would make more sense in the long run, considering my high annual running and ownership costs?

Verified
•6d

It seems like you're leaning towards the Kia Seltos Diesel HTX, and we think it is a good choice. The diesel engine feels adequately powered for highway usage and ghat driving, and it is likely to return respectable efficiency too. Moreover, despite being modern with all the latest tech and features, the Seltos will be substantially more affordable than the Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid. So unless you need the Innova's extra space, or you frequently travel with six or seven passengers, the Kia Seltos diesel is your best bet.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross

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Posted on: 6 Nov 2026