Please help me decide between the Kia Seltos DCT petrol and the 2026 Skoda Kushaq. Which one is good to drive and easy to own/maintain? I will be using it for around 1000 km per month, with 70% of my commute in the city.

Autocar India

•1h

Choose the Kia Seltos GTX IVT petrol - for your city-heavy use and focus on comfort. The IVT is Kia-speak for a CVT automatic gearbox which shifts seamlessly, so it feels very smooth in stop-go traffic. For your 30 km daily run, the light steering and good all-round visibility make it easy to drive, and it is steady and quiet enough for those few highway trips each year. Kia’s service reach is wide, so upkeep should be simple in most cities.One thing to be aware of: the IVT is not as quick as the turbo petrol DCT. If you really want stronger performance, the Seltos GTX 1.5 turbo DCT is the one, but its quick-shifting dual clutch automatic can feel a touch hesitant at low speeds.As for the Tata Harrier, it feels bigger, heavier and requires more effort to drive in the city. Alternatively, you can also look at the Hyundai Creta SX (O) IVT which is mechanically identical to the Seltos IVT but you get the benefit of Hyundai's more widespread service network.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Tata Safari Accomplished+ petrol automatic for your highway‑heavy use, it gives a more comfortable ride, better stability and the strongest sense of safety. Coming from your Kia Seltos, the Safari will feel like a step up for long trips. The suspension smooths out bad patches better, the body feels more solid, and the wider seats with a relaxed driving position make hours behind the wheel easier. It also has a 5‑star crash test rating, and the petrol engine has plenty of grunt for quick overtakes on the highway.One thing to note: the third row in the Safari is fine for kids or short adults, but the Kia’s third row is easier to access and a bit more usable for grown‑ups. Also, the Safari is a large, heavy car, so parking in tight spots needs more care. If these are deal breakers, then consider the Kia Carens Clavis instead.During the test drive, cruise at 90‑100 kph on the highway and take on some broken patches.

Tata Safari

Kia Seltos

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•3h

While the Hyundai Venue HX10 is tempting for its features and is an excellent car all around, its 1.0 T-GDi engine and 7-Speed DCT are not well suited to stop-and-go traffic, where you will encounter a lot of judder, hesitance and off-boost lag. You may have had a similar issue with your Altroz DCT that might have led to said problems. As such we would recommend a different kind of automatic for your specific application. Consider the Kia Seltos HTX (or if you can stretch your budget slightly, the GTX) but crucially with the 1.5 Petrol CVT powertrain. You'll get most, if not all, of the features you did in the Venue HX10, in a larger, more comfortable SUV. The powertrain will be a lot smoother than the 1.0 turbo DCT in the Venue and should likely give you less trouble in the long run too. It could even prove more fuel efficient than the heavily boosted Venue Turbo as well. Another alternative is the Honda Elevate CVT, which could prove a bit better value for money. But, as it's a slightly older car, you will sacrifice some of the new-age features and the wow factor you'll get in the Kia.

Kia Seltos