I am confused about whether to buy the petrol or diesel variant of the Kia Seltos. I always prefer to drive a manual transmission and am not interested in an automatic at all. I was owning a Kia Carens 1.5 Petrol MT previously and am now looking for a new SUV. Suggest which one to take, either petrol or diesel in the Seltos MT. Also considering the Skoda Kushaq, but afraid of the high maintenance cost in Skoda.

Autocar India

•2d

With mostly city use, a few highway runs, and some mountain trips on broken roads, the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5 petrol manual fits your brief best. It rides tough over bad patches, has good ground clearance, and its turbo petrol pulls well at low speeds, which helps on steep hill sections and in slow city traffic. It is also one of the nicer cars to drive in this price range, so when you want to enjoy a winding road, it will put a smile on your face, and the AX5 gives you a good mix of safety and comfort features without blowing the budget.Two trade-offs to note. If you often carry a full load of luggage, the boot is not very large, and at low speeds, the steering is not as light as most other SUVs in the class. Is it worth stretching to the base Seltos? Only if you really need the extra space. The base Kia Seltos skimps on features, and its non-turbo petrol will feel weaker on mountain climbs with a full family. Also check on-road pricing in your city, as it may push past Rs 13 lakh.The Hyundai Venue HX5 Turbo Petrol is also a good option and a great all-rounder, with a bigger boot, but given your needs, the better-riding, more enjoyable to drive XUV will suit you better. If you want another option to check out, look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, which is unexciting but offers hassle-free long-term ownership.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Autocar India

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Stick with the Kia Seltos IVT. It is still the better choice for your usage, and those ARAI numbers do not reflect real-world city driving.The key point is how these gearboxes behave in traffic. The IVT is tuned for smooth, steady driving and low-speed efficiency, which is exactly what your 95% city usage demands. It keeps the engine relaxed, avoids unnecessary revs and delivers consistent mileage in stop-and-go conditions. The DCT, on the other hand, is designed for performance. Even though the official numbers may look better, in real-world city traffic, it tends to run hotter, shift more frequently and can drop efficiency, especially in slow-moving conditions.This is where your salesman’s input was directionally correct. In dense city use, the IVT will usually return better and more consistent mileage, while the DCT can dip significantly if you are crawling or constantly accelerating and braking.Also, turbo-petrol engines like the one paired with the DCT are very sensitive to accelerator inputs. Drive gently, and they can be efficient, but even slightly aggressive inputs cause the turbo to spool up, fuel consumption rises quickly and mileage drops. In daily city driving, it is hard to maintain that discipline all the time.Compared to the IVT, the DCT will feel quicker and more responsive, especially on highways, and is more enjoyable to drive when you push it. But that advantage matters only for your occasional highway runs, not your everyday usage.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

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On a Rs 18 lakh budget, for your requirements, the Hyundai Verna HX6+ IVT automatic is a good pick because it meets your 5-star safety needs and feels the most relaxed in traffic. The IVT, a CVT by another name, is a type of automatic that does not shift in steps, so it feels very smooth at low speeds, which makes stop-and-go driving easy. The back seat is roomy, the ride is comfortable over rough patches, and Hyundai’s wide service network adds peace of mind on those occasional trips out of town. The latest Verna has a 5-star Global NCAP crash test rating in India, so you are not compromising on your main ask. You could stretch to the HX8 variant if you want more features and your budget is flexible.Two things to keep in mind with the Verna: it sits lower than a taller car like the Skoda Kushaq, so you need a bit more care on big speed breakers, and the rear seat is set a little low, so elderly family members who prefer a higher seat may not love it. If you want a higher seating position and more ground clearance without giving up 5-star safety, go for the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol CVT, which recently got a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. Though you might sacrifice some features in this variant on your budget.

Hyundai Verna

Skoda Kushaq

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

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Between the three, the Skoda Kylaq is the best automatic for the money. It doesn’t use an AMT but a proper 6‑speed torque-converter with the 1.0 TSI, which is smooth, robust and easily the nicest for your occasional highway runs.The Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.0 turbo also gets the same 6‑speed torque-converter auto, and while it is refined and efficient, it doesn’t have the same solid, European feel or driving dynamics as the Kylaq. However, from an overall cost-of-ownership point of view - price, fuel efficiency and service, the Fronx is likely to work out cheaper.The Tata Nexon in your budget doesn’t get a torque-converter. You mainly have a 6‑speed AMT, which is convenient but nowhere near as smooth or quick as a proper automatic. There is also a 7‑speed DCA dual‑clutch option, which is noticeably better than the AMT, but still not as seamless as the autos in the Kylaq and Fronx, and it can push the price higher.For 11-13 lakh, 1,000km a month in the city and the odd long drive, we would pick the Kylaq auto. If budget discipline and running costs are top priority, go for the Fronx 1.0 turbo automatic.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Tata Nexon

Autocar India

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Between the two, the Tata Safari does a great job of projecting toughness. It feels solid, has that reassuring heft, and its suspension setup really shines on broken roads and you can carry speed with confidence and it just shrugs off rough patches.That said, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is the more rounded package overall. Its 2.2-litre diesel is not just more modern, but also noticeably smoother and stronger than the older Fiat-sourced 2.0-litre unit in the Safari. It delivers better drivability in everyday conditions, which makes a difference in city use as well as on the highway.Mahindra car has also worked well on the suspension, and the improvements show. The 7XO feels more composed, offers better ride comfort over a wider range of surfaces, and is simply easier to drive. It has lighter controls, better balance, and a more user-friendly nature overall.Where the Safari still holds an edge is in the third row. It’s more usable and accommodating, whereas the 7XO’s last row is quite tight and best reserved for occasional use.So unless third-row space is a priority, the 7XO stands out as the better all-rounder. It’s more refined, easier to live with, and ultimately the more modern SUV.

Tata Safari

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Autocar India

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Go for the Tata Sierra torque converter. The key difference lies in how these gearboxes behave in the real-world conditions. The Seltos turbo-petrol DCT is quick and exciting, but in slow, crawling traffic, it can feel hesitant and slightly jerky, as it constantly works the clutch. This is not ideal for long-term ease in heavy city conditions. The Sierra’s torque converter is the opposite. This Tata car is smoother at low speeds, more forgiving in stop-go traffic, and generally better suited to this kind of usage, making daily driving far less tiring.There is a trade-off, though. Torque converter automatics are typically less fuel efficient than DCTs, and in a large, heavy car like the Sierra, you will notice this in real-world mileage. So, you are essentially choosing smoothness and durability over outright efficiency.

Tata Sierra

Kia Seltos