I have a question about the Kia Caren Clavis diesel HTE optional model for a monthly drive of 2000 kms highway, whether to go ahead or not.

autocar.india

•1d

The on-road price of the base Clavis HTE petrol might be a bit more than Rs 13 lakhs. However, as a family car, it beats all the other options. It is more spacious and gives you the flexibility of a third row of seats, which you can also fold down and make use of a huge boot space. Purely as a sensible, practical option, it is hard to beat the Clavis' proposition.Alternatively, Syros is an excellent, well-packaged car that's surprisingly spacious despite its sub-4-metre footprint. While its design isn't universally appealing, if you don't mind its styling, this is an excellent choice. You will get a well-equipped HTK+ turbo-petrol manual version.The Seltos and Tekton belong to a segment above and are larger cars. Only their entry-level variants will fall within your Rs 13 lakh budget. So you need to decide whether you need a seven-seater, a well-equipped sub-4-meter car, or an entry-level five-seater mid-size SUV from a segment above.

Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Seltos

Kia Syros

Nissan Tekton

autocar.india

•2h

The Hyundai i20 IVT is the best fit for this usage. With daily bumper-to-bumper driving in Bengaluru and occasional 200km highway trips, a petrol automatic is the right choice. The i20's IVT gearbox is one of the smoothest automatics in this price range, making it far more relaxing in heavy traffic than an AMT, while remaining comfortable on the highway.There is also no reason to delay buying a petrol car because of concerns around ethanol blending. Modern E20-compatible petrol engines are designed to run on E20 fuel, and there is currently no official roadmap beyond E20. The impact on ownership is limited to a slight reduction in fuel efficiency, and it is unlikely to affect the car's longevity or resale value if it is maintained as per the service schedule.At a budget of Rs 10 lakh, an SUV with a conventional automatic is difficult to find. Most options in this price bracket use an AMT, which is not as smooth or refined as the i20's IVT in stop-start traffic. If a higher seating position is a priority, the Maruti Fronx AMT is worth considering, but it requires accepting the compromises of an AMT.

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

autocar.india

•6h

Yes, the Kia Seltos HTK iMT is a reliable choice if it is driven normally and maintained as per the service schedule. The iMT system itself has proven to be dependable in the market, and because there is no clutch pedal, it also reduces driver fatigue in city traffic.For typical city and highway use, the iMT works well and does not require any special driving techniques. Avoiding aggressive launches, riding the accelerator on inclines and repeated hard acceleration will help maximise clutch life, but that is good practice with any manual transmission. There is no need to be overly cautious or alter normal driving habits.If annual running is low to moderate and the appeal of a clutch-free experience is important, the iMT is a good middle ground between a manual and a conventional automatic. However, if most driving is in heavy stop-start traffic and convenience is the top priority, the IVT automatic remains the better option because it is smoother and requires even less driver input.

Kia Seltos