Hi, I want to buy a large SUV (XUV, Scorpio, Safari) under ₹20 lakh, but I am concerned about petrol mileage. My driving is 40–50 km per day (city + highway), and every 3–4 months I take a 500 km trip. Should I buy a diesel car, and if yes, will it have any impact on the DPF?

Autocar India

•2d

Trips to New Delhi with family two or three times a month call for a roomy, safe, easy long-distance car that stays steady at highway speeds. For that use, we would pick the Toyota Innova HyCross VX Hybrid. It suits this job best because it rides comfortably over bad patches, has a very spacious second row, and with the third row folded, it swallows all the luggage a family carries. The hybrid runs on petrol with help from an electric motor, so it feels very smooth and quiet in traffic and uses less fuel on those long runs. The automatic gearbox makes the Delhi traffic parts far less tiring, and Toyota’s good service network is another plus.Two things to keep in mind. The Toyota Innova HyCross is priced on the higher side, and there can be a waiting period in some cities. Also, it is not as rough-road tough as your old Scorpio, so if you do a lot of broken village roads, drive it and see if the ground clearance and comfort work for you.If you prefer a diesel with strong pull and a higher driving view, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel automatic. It is more comfortable and modern than your older Scorpio and feels steady at highway speeds. Another good diesel family SUV is the Tata Safari automatic, which has a big cabin, a more spacious third row than the 7XO and a comfy ride.Overall, for frequent Delhi runs with family, the Innova Hycross VX Hybrid lines up best. If you want a diesel feel, the XUV 7XO or Safari will suit you better.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

•1h

Your usage involves low monthly running, mostly city, and heavy traffic. In this scenario, the Seltos IVT works in your favour. This is smooth, creep-friendly and very easy to drive in stop-go conditions. There are no jerks, no clutch fatigue and very light controls, which makes daily driving stress-free. In real-world use, this engine-gearbox combo is known to be refined and well-tuned for everyday driving rather than outright performance.Now about the “lag” you’ve heard. It’s not exactly lag, it’s typical CVT behaviour. When you accelerate hard, the engine revs rise first and speed builds gradually, which can feel like a delay. But in city driving, where inputs are gentle and speeds are low, this is barely noticeable. This Kia car only feels weak if you expect quick overtakes or sporty response. The upside is that Kia has tuned it well, so the rubber-band effect is limited compared to older CVTs.Compared to alternatives, the turbo petrol DCT version is quicker and more fun, but in Mumbai traffic it can feel jerky and less reliable in long term. The IVT is the safer, smoother and more relaxed choice. Compared to something like a Creta CVT, the experience is very similar, but the Seltos feels a bit more premium inside.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•2h

In the used car market, you will find a wide variety of cars at every price point belonging to various segments. We'd recommend you to get the newest possible vehicle you can find, that has been well maintained, with a clean ownership history and complete service records. Since you need a car for Mumbai's monsoons, a high-riding vehicle would be better than a low-riding sedan. Also, since automatic as well as mileage are priority, you can consider the petrol-automatic versions of the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder (badge-engineered version of Brezza) or even a Maruti S-Cross, all of which were available with a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 4-speed torque converter (automatic). 4-5 year-old, less-driven examples are likely to fall within your budget.For maximum peace of mind, you could consider finding cars on Spinny, wherein you're assured of a certified vehicle, that's backed by warranty.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Maruti Suzuki Brezza