Delhi

•18h

Hi team, hope you're doing well! We are planning to buy our very first car and would appreciate your advice before making a final decision. Based on our requirements, we have shortlisted three options: the Honda Elevate facelift, Kia Seltos 1.5 NA petrol (new generation) and Renault Duster 1.3 TCe 160 (new generation). We prefer a naturally aspirated petrol engine with a manual transmission, as we are looking for low maintenance, reliability and smooth everyday drivability. Safety is our top priority, including robust build quality, active and passive safety features, and stable highway manners. We also want a family-friendly car with a spacious cabin, comfortable rear seats and a good-sized boot. Our usage will be relatively low, with city driving once or twice a week and a highway road trip once every couple of months. As first-time car buyers, we also value ease of driving, predictable ownership costs and hassle-free after-sales service. The variants we are currently considering are the Honda Elevate ZX Plus MT Black Edition, Kia Seltos HTX (A) and Renault Duster Iconic. Given these priorities, which car would you recommend? Are there any specific pros and cons or long-term ownership factors we should keep in mind? We would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for your help!

•1h

Both are similarly priced, so it comes down to what you want from your car. However, the Kia Seltos is feels more sophisticated and modern than the Honda Elevate. It feels premium inside and out, and its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is more refined. The ride is comfortable, and better noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) insulation makes the cabin quieter, particularly on the highway.

The Honda Elevate remains a sensible choice if you prefer a simpler, more functional SUV, but the Seltos feels like the more upmarket product. Given your low usage and preference for comfort, we would lean towards the Seltos HTX (A).

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Honda

Elevate

from ₹13.69 Lakh

•1h•

@autocar.india Yes , I will also choose Kia Seltos, which is very comfortable and low noise.

•3m•

Hi @autocar.india Thank you for your valuable response, How good is the Safety between these two like Platform?. I have concerns on Automatic Flush door handles, Full pan sunroof on the Seltos.

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•16h

Creta vs Seltos. Same segment, similar prices, but which one do you guys actually like? Which would you pick and what makes it better??

•1d

Hi, my usage is around 2400 km monthly which includes 95% running on highways with 2 long family trips annually. I have shortlisted Grand Vitara Zeta (O) AT Smart Hybrid, Seltos Diesel AT HTK+(O) and Carens DCT HTK+(O) {for 7 members who travel occasionally). I am looking for lesser running costs, better service quality and peace of mind as I tend to keep the vehicle for very long as I am close to retirement. I drive quite a lot. Also since I have been using Citroen C3 for 4 years, I expect the same wonderful suspension which is best on both highway and within city. I am not looking at EV as the upfront price is high and I don't see that I will be having huge savings considering the additional insurance cost and tire change frequency. Kindly advice.

•20h

Given that you're upgrading from a Citroen C3, and looking at an excellent highway cruiser while keeping running costs in check, we'd strongly recommend you to consider the Renault Duster Hybrid Evolution variant, which is priced similar to other cars that you've shorlisted. The hybrid powertrain will be very efficient, and Duster's excellent suspension tune makes it ideal for your kind of usage. Sure, cabin space is not as generous as the Kia Seltos, and Renault's service network isn't as widespread as Maruti's. If you want to pick from the cars you've shortlisted, the Kia Seltos diesel-automatic is the one to get - it feels thoroughly modern; it gives you the most premium feel of the lot; and its diesel engine is smooth, refined and efficient.

I am planning to buy either Kia Seltos HTX ivt or Tata Sierra EV empowered 75. Since there is concern on petrol availability/pricing and ethanol blending in the future, which option would be better for our monthly usage of around 500km within the city which will also include 2 trips outside the city every year. If I take Seltos, I am concerned about its resale value in 5 to 10 years and more for an EV as it is more expensive as compared to Deltos and its infrastructure problems. What do you suggest?

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX IVT. Your usage pattern of around 500km a month in the city with only two outstation trips a year does not justify the premium of the Tata Sierra EV Empowered 75. The Seltos IVT is a smooth, refined and reliable petrol automatic that will handle your city driving effortlessly, and Kia’s service network and ownership experience are strong. Concerns about petrol availability and ethanol blending are largely overblown - E20-compliant engines are designed to handle the fuel, and there is no official roadmap beyond E20 at this stage. The Sierra EV is a very impressive product with a premium cabin and strong range, but it is significantly more expensive and you will not recover that premium through fuel savings at your level of usage. The Seltos is the more sensible and cost-effective choice for your requirements.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra EV

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•6d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•5d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•5d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•4d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

Honda Amaze

•2d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•1d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

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