I am looking to buy an SUV with a budget of Rs 17 lakh and have shortlisted the Hyundai Creta S(O) Summer Edition with the 1.5 NA petrol manual. However, I am worried that the mileage will be too low. Should I increase my budget and go for the diesel instead? Also, what precautions should I take if I choose the diesel considering DPF-related issues? My colleagues say the Creta has an AdBlue tank, so there will not be any DPF issues and that these problems are mainly for cars without AdBlue. Is that correct? Please guide me.

Autocar India

•1d

The XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT is the cleanest fit for your requirement today, and frankly, none of the other current options line up as well with the exact brief you have laid out.The fact that you already own two Mahindra cars is not necessarily a negative from a financial point of view either, because right now Mahindra SUVs have some of the strongest demand and resale momentum in the market. In fact, from a resale perspective over a 3 to 4 year ownership cycle, the 7XO is probably the safest bet in your shortlist. It also solves the exact frustrations you had with the Fortuner by offering much lighter controls, modern ADAS tech and a far more feature rich experience while still maintaining proper SUV presence.The new Seltos diesel AT is a very polished product and will likely feel more premium inside, but you have already identified the key issue yourself. It still feels like a size smaller in terms of sheer road presence and overall “status factor” compared to something like the 7XO.The Venue diesel AT should not even be in this discussion. It may be sensible, but it does not deliver the sense of occasion, size or highway authority you are clearly looking for.As for waiting, the upcoming Creta and Seltos strong hybrids expected next year will make sense from an efficiency perspective, but they will still fundamentally remain mid size SUVs. The RAV4 Hybrid is not even a confirmed India launch yet, and even if Toyota does bring it here, expect it to be priced aggressively high because it will almost certainly come in as a CKD or CBU initially. By the time it lands on road, it could sit far beyond the sweet spot you are targeting today.So the verdict is simple: buy the XUV 7XO AX7L Diesel AT now. It is the one that best balances presence, tech, ease of use and resale value over your intended ownership cycle.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Toyota Fortuner

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•4h

A petrol automatic Skoda Slavia 1.0 AT in Pune at Rs. 16.09 lakh on-road sure is an interesting proposition. The price is about Rs. 1.1 lakh off the quoted Rs. 17.19 lakh, roughly 6 percent, which is a strong discount on this car right now.It fits well if you want an easy, smooth daily drive and lower running costs than the bigger engine. Skoda deals on the 1.0 vary month to month, so getting more than Rs. 1 lakh off on-road is good unless it is older stock. Ask for the VIN and build month. If it is very recent, the price is fair. If it is older, push for a bit more or ask for useful add-ons like dealer-matched insurance, basic accessories, and an extended warranty or service pack included.While there is no official date for the facelift, we expect it to come later this year. When it does come, expect a higher price and fewer early discounts. If the Kushaq facelift is anything to go by, the updated Slavia will sport tweaked styling and a few additional features. However, the biggest upgrades will be the new 8-speed automatic gearbox and the stronger AC. The new gearbox aids performance while the latter addresses one of the big weaknesses of the current version. The ongoing heat wave suggests that Slavia, with the stronger AC, might just be worth holding out for.

Skoda Slavia

Autocar India

•3d

With 70 percent city use, some highway trips, a family of four, and a strict manual requirement, the Volkswagen Taigun GT Plus Sport 1.5 TSI manual is a good upgrade from your Maruti Suzuki Swift. However, the manual transmission on the 1.5 TSI was discontinued earlier this year and has not returned with the recent facelift. This means the car you are considering is a pre-facelift version that may have been sitting at the dealer for a while. Moreover, Rs 28 lakh also seems very steep, as the last recorded on-road price of the 1.5 GT Plus Sport MT in Chennai, as per our records, was around Rs 22-23 lakh. Haggle hard if you proceed, do a very thorough pre-delivery inspection, and push for an extended warranty.As for the vehicle itself, the 1.5 petrol with the manual is an excellent choice. It feels quick and smooth, pulls cleanly from low speeds so you do not have to shift constantly in traffic, and has strong performance for safe highway overtakes. It is not too big for city lanes, the higher seating position improves visibility, and it feels stable at speed. Cabin quality and the overall safety focus are clear steps up from your Swift.Two things to note for your usage: the clutch is heavier than your Swift’s, and fuel consumption and upkeep costs will be noticeably higher.Alternatively, you could consider the Hyundai Creta N Line manual or the Renault Duster 1.3 manual, both of which are great options for keen drivers.

Volkswagen Taigun

Maruti Suzuki Swift

Hyundai Creta