Mumbai

•12w

I am concerned about the future increase in ethanol blending percentages. Will E20 continue to be available as the base fuel option alongside higher ethanol blends in the future? I am considering the Citroen BasaltX, Honda Elevate CVT, and Kia Seltos NA CVT. My usage is mostly in the city with occasional highway drives, and my annual running is around 10,000 km. I am looking for a long-term car for at least 10-12 years.

•12w

You do not need to worry too much about E20 or future ethanol blends while buying a new petrol car today, especially if you are planning to keep it for 10 to 12 years. All modern petrol cars from major manufacturers, including the Kia Seltos, Citroen Basalt and Honda Elevate, are already designed to run on E20 fuel. More importantly, cars that are only E20 compatible cannot run on E85 or higher ethanol blends, because those require dedicated flex fuel engines with significant changes to the fuel system and engine calibration. This means fuel companies and the government will still have to continue supplying E20-compatible fuel alongside any future higher ethanol blends for flex fuel vehicles.

For your usage, the Kia Seltos IVT is the best all-round choice. Since most of your driving is in the city, the naturally aspirated petrol with the IVT automatic will feel extremely smooth and effortless in traffic, while the cabin feels genuinely premium and well insulated for long-term ownership. It also strikes a very good balance between comfort, features and ease of driving, which is exactly what matters in a car you plan to keep for over a decade.

The Citroen Basalt is the alternative if you are more budget-conscious and want maximum practicality. It offers massive boot space, excellent rear seat room and a very comfortable ride, making it a superb family car for the money. However, it does not feel as polished, premium or as refined overall as the Seltos, especially inside the cabin and in terms of overall ownership experience. The Honda Elevate CVT sits somewhere in the middle with Honda’s strong reliability reputation and easygoing nature, but it feels less feature-rich and not as plush inside as the Kia.

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•5w

Safest car within 10 lakh

•6w

I have 7DCT KIA SELTOS 2019 is it compatible to use e20 ?petrol, my average running is 5000 km only

•6w

My budget is around 12-13 lakhs . I am planning to buy kia seltos HTE Petrol variant . My avg run is approx 12k per year which majorily includes highway runs only. I am concerned about the future increase in ethanol blending percentages. Should i wait further or i can go to buy the car as i am planning to keep it for atleast 5-7 years.

•12w

Good suggestion

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More questions on similar cars

•3h

I am looking to buy an SUV / compact SUV with a budget of around Rs 25 lakh. I have been using a 2014 Honda City i-VTEC CVT VX for the last 12 years with zero issues and have been really happy with it. The car has run just under 40,000km till date, as my monthly driving is only around 300km, mostly in the city. My spouse and I are not big car enthusiasts, so we do not know much about technical aspects, including engines and the like. Also, I am not a very big fan of too many digital controls on the dashboard. I need a good, spacious car with good exterior and interior quality and decent features.

•1h

The Hyundai Creta would be the best fit for your requirements. Coming from a Honda City that has served you reliably for 12 years, it sounds like you value hassle-free ownership, comfort and practicality over outright performance or flashy technology. This Hyundai car offers a spacious cabin, comfortable ride, refined petrol automatic, and a proven ownership experience, making it one of the easiest SUVs to recommend. The SX variant strikes the best balance between features and value, while the SX(O) is worth considering if you want a few additional convenience and safety features.If you prefer something familiar and your running remains 300km a month, the Honda Elevate ZX CVT is another excellent choice. It retains the Honda refinement and simplicity you're already used to, has physical controls for most functions and doesn't overwhelm you with digital interfaces.

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•1w

Hi Team, I am currently driving a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My shortlisted options are the Honda Elevate, Tata Harrier, and Mahindra XUV 7XO. My daily drive involves around 35 to 40 kms in heavy Bangalore city traffic, along with occasional highway trips. My primary priority is a car with a solid 5-star safety rating, along with good ride comfort and easy city drivability. Coming from a lightweight hatchback, I am looking for an option that offers a clear step up in safety and space without feeling overly cumbersome during my daily urban commute. Could you please evaluate these three models based on my usage and suggest the best option and engine-transmission combination for me?

•2d

Based on your usage, the Honda Elevate CVT is actually the best fit for your needs among your shortlist. With a 35-40 km commute in heavy Bangalore traffic, the CVT makes life easy; the engine is responsive enough to go for gaps in traffic, and the steering is light in the city. Importantly, this Honda car is not so large as to become cumbersome to drive in tight city traffic, which is important to you. The Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV 7XO are both physically larger, making them slightly more cumbersome to drive in traffic. Their petrol powertrains are also quite thirsty in the city, while their diesel engines do not suit your city-heavy usage, likely requiring additional highway trips just to keep the DPF happy.If you want an alternative similar to the Elevate, the Kia Seltos is a strong choice. It has a 5-star safety rating, is very well equipped in terms of features, and its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with the IVT offers a smooth, relaxing drive in the city.

I own a 2017 Hyundai i20 Asta (O) with around 60,000km on the odometer. I am planning to upgrade with a budget of Rs 20 lakh. My priorities are an automatic transmission, ADAS, a sunroof, and a powered tailgate. I have shortlisted the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Tata Sierra. Which of these would be the best long-term choice, and why?

•46m

Based on your priorities, the Kia Seltos would be our recommendation. It offers a well-rounded package with a strong feature set, including ADAS, a sunroof and a powered tailgate, while also delivering a comfortable ownership experience. The Seltos is a proven product with a good reliability record, and Kia’s service network is strong enough to inspire long-term confidence.The Hyundai Creta is mechanically very similar, but the Seltos feels more premium inside and offers a slightly better feature-to-price ratio.The Tata Sierra is a compelling option with a spacious cabin and a premium feel, but it is still a relatively new product and does not have the same long-term ownership track record as the Seltos. Given your budget and priorities, the Kia car mentioned above strikes the best balance between features, reliability and long-term peace of mind.

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I currently own a Skoda Kushaq Petrol AT. Everything is fine except the mileage. I am getting only around 10-13kpl with E20 petrol. My daily running is around 100 km. Should I buy a diesel car or an electric car?

•5d

With a daily running of around 100 km, fuel efficiency becomes a major factor in ownership costs. The Skoda Kushaq petrol automatic is a good car, but the 10-13kpl you are seeing is typical for a turbo petrol automatic, especially with E20 petrol. At this usage, a diesel or a strong hybrid makes far more sense.If you do regular highway runs, a diesel is still the most practical and cost-effective solution. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic would be the recommendation here. It is a strong highway car, comfortable, spacious and the diesel engine will deliver significantly better fuel efficiency than your Kushaq. Diesel running costs will be far lower over your kind of mileage. If that is out of your budget, something smaller like a Kia Seltos diesel, while not as powerful, is even more efficient.If your usage is mostly city a strong hybrid could be a better solution. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is the most practical and cost-effective option. It is well priced, has a proven track record and will dramatically reduce your running costs. The strong hybrid is better suited to the city, where it is more likely to run on its electric motor than use the engine and deliver the better mileage.

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•3d

I’m planning to buy an EV with a budget of Rs. 19 - 20 lakh. My heart says the Tata Sierra EV Pure 63, but my mind says the Kia Syros top variant because of features like ventilated seats. Kindly suggest which one would be the better choice.

•2d

The choice really comes down to your usage and what you value in the car. If you need more space for both passengers and luggage and have a few long drives that you would undertake, then opt for the Tata Sierra. It is a much larger car and has a very spacious interior. The ride quality is also very good over both bad city roads as well as high highway speeds. If, however, your usage is mainly going to be within the city, then the Kia Syros is the better buy. Its compact footprint will be much easier to manage while driving congested streets, and finding parking would be easier. You would also enjoy the top variant and its features.

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•6d

I am looking for a spacious car for three people, with a naturally aspirated engine, automatic gearbox, and good mileage in both city and highway driving. I have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza and Honda Amaze. My budget is Rs 10-15 lakh. Please suggest.

•5d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza automatic. It is the better fit for your requirements. You want a naturally aspirated petrol engine, good mileage in both city and highway driving, and a spacious car for three people. The Brezza delivers on all those points. The 1.5-litre petrol engine of this Maruti Suzuki car is smooth and reliable, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is well suited to Indian driving conditions. It is also a more spacious car than the Honda Amaze, with a wider cabin and better rear seat comfort for three people. The higher seating position and SUV stance also make it easier to drive in the city and over bad roads.The Amaze is a good car, but it is a compact sedan and does not offer the same level of space or practicality. The Brezza is the more complete package for your needs.

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