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YOGESH RAWAT

•7w

I am seeking your expert guidance to help me select a suitable car based on my driving style and usage pattern. My average monthly running is 2,000-2,300 km. I currently drive a Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo DCT, and over the last six years, I have covered approximately 1,15,000 km in it, with a monthly fuel expense of about ₹18,000-₹20,000. My usage pattern is 60% city driving and 40% highway driving. I would like to upgrade my car, and I am confused between the Kia Seltos (IVT 1.5 NA / 1.5L turbocharged) and the Tata Sierra (1.5L DCA / 1.5 turbo Hyperian). Considering the above, I would appreciate your recommendations on a car that offers a good balance of performance, fuel efficiency, reliability, and long-term ownership value. Looking forward to your valuable suggestions. Thank you in advance for your time and support. Warm regards, Yogesh Rawat

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•7w

Of the two cars you've suggested, and given your requirements, we would recommend the new Kia Seltos. 

For one, you'll find it a more natural upgrade from your Hyundai Venue 1.0 Turbo DCT, as both cars come from the same Hyundai Group family and use related hardware. That being said, the Seltos is built on a new-gen platform called K3 and comes with far more advanced tech. Especially when it comes to the infotainment system and connectivity. 

Because the Seltos engines are unchanged from before, we know what to expect from them - whether the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol or the 1.5 turbo petrol. Since your driving is 60% city, we would stick with the 1.5 petrol IVT, as it is the smoother and more efficient powertrain overall. 

Kia, like Hyundai, tends to be reliable in the long run - as you've no doubt seen with your Venue - and maintenance costs are reasonable too. The Tata Sierra has promise, but its all-new engines are as yet unproven, and in our experience. While its 1.5 turbo petrol is smooth and powerful, the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol feels underpowered in this size of car.

New Kia Seltos

New Kia Seltos

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Kia New Seltos

Kia

New Seltos

Hyundai New Venue

Hyundai

New Venue

Tata Sierra

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

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TK

Tarun Kumar

•5d

I am planning to buy a new mid-range SUV and have shortlisted the Kia Seltos HTX(A) and the Hyundai Creta Knight, both with petrol IVT transmissions. I am getting both cars for almost the same price (around ₹21.5 lakh). I have a few questions before making the final decision: One of the main reasons I am considering these higher variants is the 360-degree camera, as I am upgrading from a hatchback and feel it may help with the larger dimensions of an SUV. In real-world usage, does the 360 camera actually help, or is it just a matter of getting used to the car’s size? I don’t see much use for ADAS in Mumbai’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. I am eligible for a BH registration, but I am also considering a MH registration. Since I plan to keep the car for around 8 years, could selling a BH-registered car later become an issue? My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh, and at that price I would like to get maximum features. I have driven both cars and liked them, but which one would you say is more feature-rich overall? For example, the ambient lighting in the Creta seems limited to red, while the instrument cluster in the Seltos looks more modern. Are there any other SUVs in this segment that I should consider? I found the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Skoda Kushaq to be quite basic and didn’t like them much. From what I have seen so far, the Seltos and Creta seem to offer the best combination of reliability and features, so I ruled out other options without test driving them. Thanks, Team.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

For you, we think the Kia Seltos would be a better option. The Seltos is a much newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta. Since you intend to sell your car about 8 years from now, the Seltos should be able to get you a better price. As for your other queries, yes, you would get used to the dimensions of your car. If you can easily manage the budget for the versions with a 360 deg camera, it's a nice-to-have feature as seeing the immediate surroundings comes in handy in some odd parking situations like placing a car over a pothole, or lining it up against a kerb.As for ADAS, yes, in Mumbai city traffic, it can often be an issue; thus, it's best to keep it only on highway drives. Coming to the BH plate, it makes sense if you are likely to be transferred and would live in another state, plus you do not have to pay the entire road tax upfront. However, you do have to make the effort to pay it every two years online and selling to non-eligible buyers does involve a bit more paperwork.

VehicleKia New Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
NA

Nano

•4d

I am confused between the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 and Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7 variants, as I prefer practicality over extra features. Alternatively, should I consider waiting for the Tata Sierra?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•20h

If you don't mind the additional spend, we'd recommend the Mahindra XUV 7XO in AX7 trim. Elements like its larger 18-inch alloy wheels and leatherette upholstery add greatly to the look and feel of things. While auto climate control, a 540-degree camera and front parking sensors are features you will appreciate every day. The Tata Sierra is not a like-for-like alternative to the Mahindra 7XO. The 7XO is larger, more powerful and also offers three rows of seating.Further, the 7XO is slightly pricier, too. Within Tata's range, the Tata Safari is an alternative to the 7XO.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleTata Sierra
VehicleTata Safari
RN

Rojit Naorem

•4d

I am planning to buy a new car, preferably a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission, with a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Currently, my monthly running is around 900 km, but it is expected to increase to about 2,000 km per month after 1.5 years. I have a family of five, so I am looking for a comfortable and spacious car that can serve us well for the next 6-7 years. At present, I drive a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta and really appreciate its mileage and cabin space. However, mileage is not a major concern for my next car.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the new Kia Seltos. It's got plenty of space for five and their luggage, it's very modern, and it's comfortable too. At your budget you can get a reasonably high variant, which means you will get lots of features too. Moreover, like its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has a good reputation for reliability, and so you can safely hold on to the car for six to seven years. The best bit is you have the choice of three engines - the naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and diesel. The turbo petrol is not available with a traditional manual and gets a clutchless manual or iMT instead. It's a good option that mixes convenience with control, but frankly given your usage, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol with the 6-speed manual. It's a great combination of efficiency, smoothness and value for money.

VehicleKia New Seltos

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Posted on: 18 Jan 2026