Autocar India
RI

Rikkin

•22w

I am planning to buy a new car with a budget of ₹25 lakh on-road for an EV and ₹20 lakh on-road for a petrol car. I am considering petrol expenses of around ₹5 lakh. I am confused between the Sierra and the 9S. Please advise.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•21w
The Tata Sierra engine worth going for is the 1.5-litre turbocharged one, but that is outside the budget you’ve mentioned. At this price point, you’ll have to make do with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which puts out 105hp. The performance is smooth and linear, but it isn’t very exciting.
Instead, we recommend the Mahindra XEV 9S Pack One Above 79kWh. Its claimed range of 521km (with an expected real-world range of around 420km) is sufficient for daily usage, and the fast-charging capability ensures highway trips are not stressful. It also delivers strong performance, a comfortable ride, well-weighted steering, and an overall enjoyable driving experience, with enough space for family and friends to travel comfortably.
Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9S

Explore cars mentioned

Tata Sierra

Tata

Sierra

from ₹12.91 Lakh

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra

XEV 9S

from ₹21.10 Lakh

Compare suggested cars

More questions on similar cars

AT

Aditya Tibrewala

•1w

I am currently confused between the Kia Seltos CVT Petrol and the Tata Sierra Petrol Manual. After test driving both cars, I found the Sierra’s fit and finish, interior quality, and overall polish to be noticeably behind the Seltos. However, most automotive reviews and magazines seem to be praising the Sierra very highly, which has made the decision more confusing for me. I am also slightly concerned about Tata’s long-term reliability, service experience, and whether the Sierra will age as well as rivals like the Seltos over the years. Please advice.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•9h

The Tata Sierra deserves the praise because it does a lot right. It is spacious, practical, has a strong road presence, and from a pure packaging point of view, it is an impressive product. But if your concern is long-term ownership confidence, consistency in quality and overall longevity, the Kia Seltos is the safer bet.The Seltos simply feels more polished and more mature as a product. Interior quality is better, the CVT automatic is smooth and stress-free in daily use, and Kia’s ownership experience and long-term consistency inspire more confidence than Tata currently does. That does not mean the Sierra is a bad car, but if you are the kind of buyer who notices panel fit, switch quality and overall finish, the Kia will likely keep you happier over time.The Sierra’s advantages are space and the fact that it feels like the newer, more interesting product. But if this is a rational long-term purchase and not an emotional one, we would pick the Seltos CVT.

VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleKia Seltos
SL

suresh lokala

•3d

I am looking for a 5-seater automatic car with all the essential features suitable for Indian roads. It should be comfortable for both city and highway drives and ideal for family use. My top priority is safety features. My budget range is Rs. 15-20 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is a spacious 5-seater midsize SUV. It is well-equipped with modern feels, has a high quality interior, and a smooth and refined powertrain. Its ride doesn't feel as comfortable, or it doesn't feel as tough as a Tata Sierra, which is also a good option to consider. However, you will have to extend your budget slightly to buy the turbo-petrol automatic version of the Sierra - the 1.5 NA petrol-DCA is simply too slow for highway use.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Sierra
MA

Maverick

•1w

I am confused between the Hyundai Creta Knight Edition and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder for mostly city usage. My long-distance driving is quite limited, with only around 5–7 trips a year, usually covering about 200 km per trip. I also live in a hilly region where road conditions are not very good, so ride comfort, suspension, and ability to handle rough roads comfortably are important factors for me. Could you please suggest which would be the better option, considering comfort, reliability, fuel efficiency, long-term ownership, and suitability for bad road conditions? Also, in your opinion, is there any possibility of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid being launched in India in the future?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•8h

Mostly city use, a few 200km trips a year, and rough hilly roads point to the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder automatic as the better fit. In daily traffic, it feels very smooth, ride comfort is good on broken roads, and the ground clearance is enough for rough patches, which suits your terrain.Two things to note: on steep climbs with a full load, performance may feel lacking, and the boot is smaller than rivals. The cabin is also not as modern as the Hyundai Creta’s.On the RAV4 question: there are currently no plans from Toyota to launch the RAV4 Hybrid in India.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleHyundai Creta

View all Posts

Expert reviews worth reading

Tata Sierra
TataSierra
Read expert review
Mahindra XEV 9S
MahindraXEV 9S
Read expert review

Popular discussions right now

LA

lakkhan

•4d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

VehicleAudi A4
VehicleAudi Q5
VehicleAudi Q7
SS

SS

•1w

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHyundai i20
UD

Udit

•5d

I currently drive a petrol Baleno that is about 8 years old. My monthly running has increased to around 2,500-3,000km. Should I install a CNG kit or look for a used BS6 diesel car? My maximum budget is Rs 6 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4d

At your kind of running, moving away from petrol does make financial sense, but we would first look at how that 2,500 to 3,000 km a month is split between city and highway use.If a large chunk of it is on a highway, a well-maintained used BS6 diesel can make sense because the fuel savings will be meaningful, and the usage pattern suits modern diesel engines far better. If, however, this mileage is mostly city traffic, we would avoid a BS6 diesel because DPF-related issues can become a headache with repeated stop-and-go use.Installing an authorised aftermarket CNG kit on your Maruti Baleno is absolutely legal, provided it is a government-approved kit, fitted by an authorised installer and the RC and insurance are updated accordingly. Financially, this is the lower-risk route if your Baleno is otherwise mechanically healthy, because you will recover the conversion cost relatively quickly with your kind of running. The trade-off is some loss of boot space and a drop in performance.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Baleno

View all Posts

Posted on: 25 Dec 2025