Hi, I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the Kia Seltos HTX (A) DCT and the Tata Safari Adventure Plus. I liked the interior quality of the Seltos, while the Safari’s road presence is impressive. My annual running is around 15,000km, including both city driving and highway trips. Could you please guide me on which car would be the better choice for my needs?

Hello, With the new Honda Elevate now launched, how would you suggest choosing between the Kia Seltos and the new Elevate? I had finalised the Seltos HTK(O) six months ago, but I was not able to purchase it for some reason. Now, I am keen to book a new car next month, around Diwali. My primary usage will be commuting to and from the office, which is around 20km daily. There will also be occasional highway trips of around 200km from Mumbai to small hill stations. Which car would you recommend for a 6ft-tall person? I will definitely go for a petrol automatic, but I’m confused between the two.

Go for the Honda Elevate VX CVT. At 6ft, the driving position matters most to you, and that's where this Honda car wins. Its seat is upright, and there's plenty of headroom. The new Seltos's front seats, by comparison, feel a bit snug, and the seat base is short for taller drivers. For 20km a day in Mumbai traffic, get the CVT. It's smooth in stop-go conditions, and you won't miss working a clutch.The VX is the sweet spot in the range, and it costs about the same as the Kia Seltos HTK(O) CVT. The Honda Elevate facelift launched this week and fills many of the old car's equipment gaps. It also has a bigger boot than the Seltos.

Honda Elevate

Hi, which would you recommend between the new Honda Elevate and the Kia Seltos HTK(O)? Which Elevate variant should I consider? I am 6ft tall and live in Mumbai. My daily usage will be around 20km of city driving between home and work.

Go for the Honda Elevate VX CVT. At 6ft, the driving position matters most to you, and that's where the Elevate wins. Its seat is upright, and there's plenty of headroom. The new Kia Seltos's front seats, by comparison, feel a bit snug, and the seat base is short for taller drivers. For 20km a day in Mumbai traffic, get the CVT. It's smooth in stop-go conditions, and you won't miss working a clutch.The VX is the sweet spot in the range, and it costs about the same as the Seltos HTK(O) CVT. The Elevate facelift launched this week and fills many of the old car's equipment gaps. It also has a bigger boot than the Kia car mentioned above.

Honda Elevate

I want to move from a hatchback to a midsize SUV. I am looking for a reliable family SUV with good comfort, legroom and boot space. My daily driving is only 10-20 km, but every fortnight I drive 200km to work. I have no fixed budget and am ready to buy now, but the reviews of the new Kia Seltos are confusing. With so many new cars being launched, should I wait? Petrol seems ideal, but should I consider a diesel or hybrid instead? I am based between Bengaluru and Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh and work at both places for 15 days each. I am also considering buying the car from Gujarat, my home state, as I could save a significant amount. Is this sensible, or could I face any issues with the RTO?

Go for the new Kia Seltos petrol, and there's no need to wait. Your driving is fairly light: short daily runs plus a 200km trip every fortnight, and that's exactly what the 1.5 petrol with the IVT gearbox does well. It's smooth in Bangalore traffic and settles down nicely on the highway. A diesel only pays off if you drive a lot more than you do. A strong hybrid would sip less fuel in town, but it costs more and eats into the boot, and you've said boot space matters.As for waiting, the Seltos you're looking at is the brand-new generation, so it isn't about to be replaced. If you want a second opinion on the road, drive the Hyundai Creta too, but keep in mind that an all-new one is due next year.On buying in Gujarat, we'd advise against it. Road tax goes to the state where the car is registered and used. Once it's running in Karnataka or Andhra Pradesh, you'll have to re-register it and pay tax there anyway. Whatever you save upfront will likely disappear, and you'll have the paperwork on top. Register the car where you live and drive most, and check the exact charges with your local RTO.

Hyundai Creta

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I am a 6 ft driver who loves driving. I've driven the Swift 2013 petrol, Creta 1.6 Diesel Auto and the XUV500 the most on long trips. Now that I am planning to buy a car with a strict budget, do you think the 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol variant will be a wise decision to make, as I will be travelling once a month for short trips from Bangalore to Coorg, Pondicherry, GOA, and Mangalore? Which other car can be a perfect match for me, keeping a budget of 12 lakhs max? Also, the 3XO AX5 I'm getting from a friend who has hardly driven 6k km for 10 lakhs.

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 TCMPFI petrol from your friend for Rs 10 lakh. At that price, it is a very good deal and a sensible upgrade from your Creta 1.6 diesel automatic. The 3XO is one of the most spacious compact SUVs in the segment, with a wide cabin and good rear seat comfort, which will make your long drives to Coorg, Pondicherry, Goa and Mangalore more comfortable. The turbo petrol engine is smooth and is well suited to both city driving and highway cruising. At Rs 10 lakh for a car with only 6,000 km on the clock, you are getting a nearly new car at a significant discount, which makes it a far better value proposition than buying new.If you are looking for alternatives under Rs 12 lakh, the Skoda Kylaq 1.0 TSI manual is the best option for an enthusiast driver. The new Brezza turbo-petrol could also be a good choice. Overall, the 3XO from your friend is the most sensible choice. It offers a good balance of comfort, reliability and value, and will serve you well on your monthly road trips.

I currently drive a 2018 Hyundai Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, which is very comfortable. Its mileage is around 7-8 kpl, and my monthly running is 1,000-1,200 km. Please advise on a good vehicle with decent mileage and comfort. I look forward to your advice.

•6d

With 1,000-1,200 km a month and a 7-8 km/l Creta 1.6 petrol automatic, the priority should be better fuel efficiency without sacrificing comfort. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible upgrade. It delivers significantly better real-world fuel economy, especially in city driving, while still offering a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The hybrid system is proven and reliable, and the ownership experience is straightforward.If you want a more premium feel and are willing to accept slightly lower fuel efficiency, the Kia Seltos petrol IVT is a strong alternative. It offers a more upmarket cabin and a comfortable ride, but it will not match the Victoris Hybrid on fuel savings.The Hyundai Creta petrol IVT is also worth considering if you want to stay within the Hyundai family. It offers a familiar ownership experience and a comfortable ride, but again, it will not be as efficient as the Victoris Hybrid.Overall, the Victoris Hybrid strikes the best balance between fuel efficiency, comfort and long-term ownership costs for your usage pattern.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Hyundai Creta