Autocar India
DA

Dabas

17w

I already have a 2019 Seltos petrol manual. Recently, I got a job, and my workplace is 45km away from my home, so it is a 90km daily drive. This long commute is taking a toll on my pocket, as I hardly get decent mileage. Moreover, pressing the clutch and brake in traffic during my return journey is frustrating and tiresome. Should I install CNG in my car, or should I sell it and buy a new one? If so, which one?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
17w
In our opinion, you should avoid retrofitting CNG to your around 7-year-old Seltos. Instead, it makes more sense to sell it and move to a newer car that is more efficient and easier on the pocket.
If you can set up home charging, an EV makes a lot of sense. It will significantly cut down your travel expenses, and, being an electric car, there is no hassle of changing gears. EVs are smooth and extremely easy to drive, which can greatly reduce daily driving stress.
Since you already own a Kia Seltos and would prefer something familiar, we would suggest considering the Hyundai Creta Electric. It is a very well-rounded product, and the calibration of the electric motor is spot on, making it extremely smooth and easy to drive. It also offers a single pedal regenerative braking mode that works beautifully, and once you get used to it, you will rarely need to use the brake pedal, reducing fatigue even further. Considering your running, we would recommend the larger 52 kWh battery pack, which should deliver over 350 km on a single charge, making it practical for your usage.
There are other, on-paper, more impressive EVs at this price point, such as the Tata Harrier EV and Mahindra BE 6. However, if you are looking for a car that is easy to drive, hassle-free and easy to live with, the Creta EV is a very strong choice.
If you prefer to stick with an internal combustion engine but want lower running costs, you should consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid. It runs in EV mode a lot of the time at low speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, making it very smooth and easy to drive. Being a strong hybrid, it is also extremely efficient, and even in the worst traffic conditions, you can safely expect over 20 kpl. Since it is still an ICE vehicle, occasional long highway trips don’t require planning, unlike an EV. What you will need to plan, however, is luggage, as the hybrid battery under the boot floor does eat into usable boot space.
If you are willing to wait, the new Renault Duster is expected to get a hybrid powertrain around Diwali, and the next-generation Creta and Seltos are also expected to receive hybrid options early next year.
Hyundai Creta Electric

Hyundai Creta Electric

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More questions on similar cars

KK

Kodali Kiran

17h

Hi, I am a photographer and am also planning to start an online garments business. I am looking for a spacious SUV that offers good fuel efficiency within a budget of Rs. 15-16 lakh. I am particularly interested in the Tata Sierra and would like to know whether it would be the right choice for my requirements. Additionally, could you please suggest whether a petrol or diesel engine would be a better option for my usage?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
10h

The Tata Sierra is a large and capable SUV, and for your work, would give loads of space for camera gear and garment boxes alike, but in your budget of Rs 15-16 lakh, you will only get the base model. Moreover, the downside of it being a large and heavy vehicle is that the mileage is not great compared to rivals, whether comparing the petrol or diesel versions. However, should you go with the Sierra and want to get the maximum mileage, the diesel is probably the best way to go, and if possible, we would recommend stretching the budget by at least Rs 1-1.5 lakh to get a few more features.Consider the Kia Seltos instead - it too has a large and spacious cabin, almost as big as that of the Sierra, and good boot space as well. However, its engines, comparable to what you get in the Sierra, offer better real-world mileage. And, as safety is another concern, the Seltos has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash test rating, just like the Sierra. What's more, you can get mid-spec variants, at least with the petrol engines, in your budget of Rs. 15-16 lakh, so you don't necessarily have to increase it so much. If you want even more space, and don't mind picking an MPV over an SUV, the Kia Carens Clavis is a far more practical option.

VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleKia Seltos
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Popular discussions right now

VV

Vaibhav Vats

1w

I own a Hyundai Venue Turbo Petrol, which is driven around 4,000 km per year and is occasionally used by my parents. I have been considering to upgrade it, as I am tired of spending money on maintenance. The car has been problematic since its second year of ownership. I am currently considering the Kia Syros HTK (EX) manual and HTK+ (DCT). However, some automobile enthusiasts have advised me against buying a DCT if I am looking for a hassle-free ownership experience, especially since the car will mostly be driven in Delhi’s office-hour traffic and the overall running is quite low. Could you please suggest whether I should opt for the DCT, stick with a manual, or consider a diesel automatic instead? Alternatively, if there are better options within a budget of Rs. 15 lakh, I would be open to considering them. I can also wait if there are any promising new launches expected this year within my budget. I am not interested in an EV at the moment. Thanks in advance.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
6d

Given your low annual running and predominantly city use in Delhi, a diesel does not make sense. Modern diesels are happiest when regularly driven on longer runs, and with just 4,000km a year, the higher purchase cost and potential emission system issues are difficult to justify.As for DCTs, they have become far more reliable than early examples, but if the priority is a smooth, stress-free ownership experience in heavy urban traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the safer bet. It is generally smoother at low speeds and better suited to constant stop-start driving.Rather than moving to a Syros DCT, it would be worth considering the Skoda Kylaq automatic or the Mahindra XUV 3XO automatic. Both use torque-converter gearboxes and offer a more relaxed driving experience in city conditions. The Kylaq feels particularly polished to drive, while the 3XO counters with a richer feature list and a more spacious cabin.If you like the Syros, the manual remains a sensible choice given your limited annual usage, but if an automatic is preferred, a torque-converter-equipped rival would be a better fit than a DCT.

VehicleKia Syros
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO

Posted on: 16 Feb 2026