Most people around me are automatically looking at SUVs now. But for someone who mainly drives on highways and doesn't need extra ground clearance, is there still a good reason to pick something like a City or Virtus?

autocar.india

•2d

With 200km a day, an EV only makes sense if you have reliable home charging and your usage is mostly predictable. Then too, such high usage will require frequent charging, which in turn will take a toll on battery health sooner, and this affects performance, range and resale value. A diesel or strong hybrid is the more practical choice for your usage - the diesel being better suited to greater highway use, and the hybrid to greater city use. The Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the best all-rounder. It is refined, efficient and will handle your daily mileage with ease. A strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is worth considering if your driving is a mix of city and highway, but at 200km a day, the diesel will still be more cost-effective. The Honda City Hybrid is a good car, but it is not as efficient on the highway as a diesel.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Honda City

autocar.india

•3h

Our top pick would be the Kia Seltos. It is the most well-rounded midsize SUV of the three, with a spacious cabin, good equipment levels and interiors that feel genuinely premium. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the manual gearbox is a smooth, easy-to-use combination, and that is particularly important given that 90 percent of your driving will be in the city. It is easy enough to manoeuvre in traffic, comfortable on the occasional highway run and feels like the most complete package overall.The Hyundai Creta would be our second choice. It uses the same 1.5-litre petrol engine and manual gearbox as the Seltos, so performance, drivability and likely running costs will be very similar. It is also well equipped in SX trim and Hyundai’s service network is a big plus. However, compared to the Seltos, the Creta feels a little less fresh in terms of its cabin ambience and overall appeal. With a replacement expected in the near future, it could also start to feel dated sooner. It remains a sensible option, but the Seltos currently has the edge.The Tata Sierra petrol manual would be our last choice for this specific usage. It is the most spacious of the three, has real road presence and feels the most secure, safe and planted on the highway, thanks to its excellent high-speed manners. However, the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine feels sluggish in a vehicle of this size and weight. You have to work it harder in city traffic, while highway overtakes need more planning than in the Hyundai or Kia. It is also larger and heavier, which makes it less convenient in Delhi’s traffic and tight parking spaces. If you are mostly driving yourself, the Seltos is the one we would recommend.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Tata Sierra