I am planning to buy the Renault Duster Techno 1.3 DCT. I also have the option of the Kia Seltos, but I am confused between the two. I drive very rarely, in the city two or three times a month, and on highways once a month.

Autocar India

•1h

The point we’ve made is that Renault has already proven flex-fuel technology in markets like Brazil, where Renault cars routinely run on high-ethanol blends, so it can be introduced here when there’s a clear policy push and E85 fuel availability. For now, the new Duster’s engine for India is calibrated for E20, in line with our fuel roadmap, but the hardware is material-compliant for higher blends, so there’s some headroom built in.So, in short, the current India-spec Renault Duster is not a flex-fuel E85 vehicle and is not designed to run on E85 today. What it means is that when (and if) E85 becomes commercially relevant here, Renault can fairly quickly localise a proper flex-fuel engine for the Duster, rather than starting from scratch, because the tech already exists in its global portfolio.On your Duster vs Seltos dilemma: If you want a daily driver and won’t be doing too many long out-of-town runs, the Kia Seltos is the more complete package right now, with a better-finished cabin, more features and a roomier, more premium overall experience. The Duster will appeal more if you prioritise driving dynamics and rough-road ability, but purely from a comfort, interiors and family-car perspective, the Seltos edges it out.

Renault Duster

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•23h

Mostly city driving with the odd highway run and a strong focus on features, in that case, from your two, I would pick the Tata Sierra 1.5 turbo-petrol automatic in the top trim. It is feature-packed, with a refined and powerful engine, and its torque-converter automatic is smoother in city traffic than the Kia Seltos’ DCT.That said, Kia has a more consistent reputation for service in most cities, which is one of your main requirements. Tata’s service has improved, but dealer experience can vary by city, so check reviews in your area. If that is a concern, then the Seltos is a good alternative, packed with the feel-good features you asked for, like a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. A trade-off to note for your city use: the DCT can hesitate a bit at slow speeds.Overall, for mostly city use and a feature-rich cabin, the Sierra turbo-petrol automatic in the top trim fits your brief.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•1d

For 60-70km a day inside Delhi NCR and mostly city use, the Kia Seltos GTX(A) diesel fits your brief better. It is easier to live with in traffic and tight parking than the Harrier Fearless Plus Dark; it will use less fuel in the city, and Kia’s service network is usually more consistent. It's diesel and automatic work smoothly at low speeds, and while it doesn’t have the grunt of the Harrier’s diesel, it is adequate for city use. Fuel efficiency is also a tad better on the Seltos. On service and reliability, Kia’s 1.5 diesel and this automatic have been around for years, and owner reports are generally good, while Tata has improved, but feedback on service quality still varies across workshops.There are trade-offs. The Seltos does not feel as big or have the same road presence as the Harrier, and you will feel sharp bumps a bit more at low speeds. If you often carry five adults or do long highway trips, the Harrier’s extra space and heavier, more solid feel are a plus.Overall, for your daily city grind and focus on service, reliability and fuel efficiency, the Seltos GTX(A) diesel is the better fit.

Kia Seltos

Tata Harrier