Autocar India
•20h

For a daily city commute of around 50 km, would you recommend an EV or a petrol car?

Verified
•21m

We'd recommend an electric car for a daily city commute of around 50 km, as your usage perfectly suits an electric vehicle's strengths and you'll benefit from significantly lower running costs. City traffic is where EVs shine, instant go, smooth crawl, and they recover energy when you slow down, so you waste less in jams. With most EVs now giving real 250-400 km between charges, you’d plug in at home or office roughly twice a week, and routine upkeep is lighter than a petrol.

 

The catch is charging. If you don’t have a dependable parking spot with a socket or wallbox, living with an EV can get annoying. In that case, a simple petrol automatic is easier and cheaper to buy upfront, and it’s also better if you often do long highway trips.

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More questions on similar cars

•20h

I own a 2017 Hyundai i20 Asta (O) with around 60,000 km on the odometer. I am planning to upgrade with a budget of Rs. 20 lakh. My priorities are an automatic transmission, ADAS, a sunroof and a powered tailgate. I have shortlisted the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Renault Duster. Which of these would be the best long-term choice, and why?

Verified
•21m

Pick the Hyundai Creta. It is the smoothest step-up from your i20 and the most complete long-term choice here, with a calm CVT automatic for city traffic, a comfortable ride, and Hyundai’s wider service reach and resale backing you over 8-10 years.The Creta gets ADAS on the top automatic trims, and you still get the big sunroof and all the tech you’d want. However, it does miss out on a powered tailgate, which the Duster gets. If you're okay with not having that feature, the Creta represents the best option here.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleRenault Duster
•4d

Dear team, I currently own a 2017 Maruti Wagon R and now wish to upgrade. We are a family of five, and our monthly driving is not more than 800km. We are planning to buy the Mahindra XUV 7XO, but we're confused about whether we should opt for the petrol or diesel version. My wife also likes the Honda Elevate and the Kia Seltos. Our budget is Rs 18 lakh on-road.

Verified
•1h

Go for a petrol SUV, and among your shortlisted options, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is the best fit for your Rs 18 lakh on-road budget. With only 800 km a month, diesel’s higher price and possible DPF trouble with short city runs are just not worth it. The Seltos is an easy step up from your Wagon R, with upright seating, light controls, comfy ride, and the rear bench that works well for five.If you do frequent long highway trips with five and a loaded boot, the XUV 7XO petrol gives stronger pull and extra space, but you’ll likely stretch the budget and fuel efficiency in the city will be poor. The catch with the Seltos is that its petrol is relaxed, so quick overtakes need a downshift. If you need a bit more performance, the Elevate has a slight edge on the Seltos.Overall, the Seltos is a great fit for your needs.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
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•3d

I've been driving my Swift automatic for the past eight months, and it's a nice car, giving around 17-18kmpl in mixed city and highway driving. But I'm planning to buy another car. We are a family of five, and the car should look good and deliver decent mileage because I spend most of my time driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, with at least one 50-100km highway trip every week. Please suggest a few options in the Rs 10-20 lakh price range.

Verified
•2h

Consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your bumper-to-bumper use is where this car shines, sipping fuel while the automatic glides along, and it still feels relaxed on a 50-100 km highway run. It looks sharp, seats five fine, and the hybrid’s smoothness will spoil you after the Swift. The boot is smaller than rivals, and the hybrid variants sit near the top of your budget, but the city savings are real.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos IVT. It is roomy for 5 passengers, the IVT is seamless in city traffic, and fuel efficiency is good for this class, too. If you value a solid, fun drive, try the Skoda Kushaq or VW Taigun 1.0 automatics, though they will use a bit more fuel in the city.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
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Popular discussions right now

•1w

Hi, I have a budget of Rs. 40 lakh and am confused between the Skoda Kodiaq Lounge, the Toyota Innova Hycross ZX(O), and the Toyota Fortuner Petrol. I am 28 years old and want a car that is fun to drive but also comfortable for my family. My driving will be split 80:20 between on-road and off-road use.

Verified
•2d

Pick the Innova HyCross ZX(O). For a hard Rs. 40 lakh cap it fits cleanly, it is the most comfortable and spacious for family, and it is far easier to live with daily. The smooth hybrid makes city drives effortless and quiet, and on broken roads, it just takes the abuse without rattling everyone. Your 20 percent off-road sounds like rough trails rather than rock crawling, and the HyCross will handle that sort of bad-road stuff better than you expect. But, the Innova isn't particularly fun to drive.If you really crave driver fun, the Kodiaq is the one that puts a smile on your face. The 2-litre turbo petrol and AWD make it genuinely enjoyable on highways and hills and the cabin feels richer. Two catches, though. It likely stretches past Rs. 40 lakh on-road in most cities, and its third row is tighter, and you have to be a bit careful off the beaten path.The Fortuner petrol is the most capable off-road, but for 80 per cent on-road use, it feels heavy and bouncy, the steering is not friendly in town, and it guzzles fuel.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
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•1w

I was planning to buy a Maruti Ignis, but it’s been discontinued. I prefer small cars for city driving and office commutes, but I also need something highway-capable for an occasional 900 km trip to my hometown. It will mostly carry three of us (my spouse, child, and me), but needs to fit five people when my parents join. With a 12-lakh budget, what are the best compact cars that balance city manoeuvrability, highway stability, and occasional 5-seater comfort?

Verified
•6d

Pick the Maruti Fronx turbo within your Rs. 12 lakh budget, because it stays easy to park in the city yet feels secure on a 900 km run with enough room for five. The 1.0 turbo has decent mid-range for quick overtakes, and the suspension is absorbent and yet keeps the car steady at highway speeds. If you are opting for the automatic, then the Fronx torque converter auto is a very smooth unit and will make life much easier in the city.If you want an even smaller, lighter car with lower running costs, go for the Maruti Swift. It is smooth in the city, easy on fuel, has a usable boot for three, and will cruise comfortably at 100. It can take five in a pinch, but it will feel tight on shoulder room and lack the highway punch of the turbo Fronx.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
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•4d

Hi, I'd like to buy a new 7/8-seater diesel car. I've looked at the Toyota Innova Crysta, Innova HyCross and the Mahindra XUV 7XO. I will mostly be using the car on highways, covering around 50,000km per year. I also want good resale value. Kindly suggest which car would be the best choice.

Verified
•2d

Buy the Toyota Innova Crysta diesel. For 50,000 km a year on highways, nothing in your list matches its long-distance durability, relaxed cruising and true 7/8-seat comfort. It also holds value better than almost anything else on our roads, and Toyota’s highway service reach makes life easy when you’re far from home.The honest catch is it isn’t the most modern inside and costs more than the Mahindra, but it pays you back in lower hassle and stronger resale. Innova HyCross doesn’t fit your brief because it’s petrol-hybrid, not diesel. It’s smooth and efficient in the city, but for heavy highway use, a diesel Crysta is cheaper to run.If you want a second option from your shortlist, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel. It’s quick, packed with features and priced keenly. For resale, though, it still trails the Crysta, and the third row isn’t as adult-friendly on long trips.So, for a 7/8-seat diesel highway workhorse with the best resale, pick the Innova Crysta.

VehicleToyota Innova Crysta
VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO

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Posted on: 3 Jul 2026