I’m Kathir from Chennai. I have been following Autocar for many years, and it has always been interesting and useful, with clear explanations. I often recommend Autocar to others for reliable information, so thanks to the entire team! I currently drive a 2008 i10 1.2 Magna, and my wife drives a 2016 Grand i10 Asta automatic, which has now covered 92,000 km. We are planning to sell this car and buy a new automatic petrol car within a ₹20 lakh on-road budget. Earlier, choosing a car was easier, but now it feels more confusing. We like Hyundai cars but now, we are open to trying other brands. We have test-driven the Ertiga AT, Victoris AT, Creta AT, and Carens AT, and are also planning to test Volkswagen and Skoda models. I like the Sierra, Duster, and XUV 7XO, but I am not fully confident about buying them. I am also unsure whether to buy a new car or consider a used one. Please suggest both a new car option and advice on buying a used car.

autocar.india

•1d

With your daily running of around 15km and retirement approaching, the focus should be on a comfortable, reliable and easy-to-own car so your shortlist makes sense. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol is a good option, unless rear seat headroom and space are very important, in which case the Grand Vitara would be better.Mechanically, both the Vitara and Victoris are similar underneath, but the Victoris gets a slightly more premium interior and a better feature set at a similar price. Since your running isn't very high, you do not need to go for the hybrid; the regular naturally aspirated petrol engine would do fine, and it's smooth, refined and well-suited to your usage. If you want something smaller and easier to drive in the city, the Brezza is also worth considering, but the Victoris offers a more premium experience and better long-distance comfort.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

autocar.india

•9h

For your priorities of family comfort, easy driving and some fun, the Tata Sierra is a very strong fit. It is the roomiest SUV in this comparison, with excellent rear legroom and headroom, while its 1.5-litre turbo petrol and torque converter automatic make for smooth, effortless progress in traffic. The ride is also very good over broken roads, although the 19-inch wheels on the Accomplished do take away some of that comfort.The Kia Seltos is the more polished choice, with the best finished cabin, excellent space and strong refinement. However, the turbo DCT is not always smooth at low speeds and can fumble occasionally in traffic. That makes the Sierra's torque converter a better match if ease of driving is important. The Seltos is also more efficient, though the Sierra's 160hp engine has no shortage of performance.The Tata reliability concern should not be dismissed entirely, but neither can a percentage be put on the likelihood of a Sierra developing problems. The car is too new for meaningful long-term reliability data. The more legitimate concern is Tata's inconsistent after sales experience, which is also highlighted in the comparison. The local dealer and service centre therefore matter considerably.The Mahindra XUV 7XO can be considered, but if its size already feels excessive for Bengaluru, there is little reason to stretch to it. The Sierra gives you a genuinely spacious family cabin without moving into that larger footprint.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Mahindra XUV 3XO

autocar.india

•10h

The Tata Sierra Pure L Legend does add useful features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen, rear camera, cruise control, TPMS, rear wiper and washer, 17-inch alloys and an 8-speaker audio system. However, the underlying 1.5-litre petrol engine, manual gearbox and basic mechanical package remain the same.With a Rs 1.25 lakh discount on the July Pure, you are effectively getting the same core car for considerably less. The additional equipment on the Pure L is useful, particularly the rear camera and cruise control, but it doesn't justify giving up a Rs 1.25 lakh discount unless these features are important to you.The other advantage of taking the discounted car is that you can add accessories such as a good-quality reverse camera and upgrade the infotainment system later, although factory-fitted equipment is preferable where possible.

Tata Sierra