I am currently driving a 2019 Ford EcoSport automatic petrol (Titanium Plus) and am looking to change. I am considering the Sierra Pure Plus DCA and the Kia Seltos HTK IVT (O), both petrol, and I am a little confused about which one to go for. My daily commute is from Delhi to Gurgaon, and once in a quarter, I do a road trip with a maximum distance of 600km one side.

Autocar India

•2w

You’re coming from a 2019 Ford EcoSport automatic petrol, so you’re used to a compact SUV that feels reasonably peppy and easy to drive in city traffic. With your daily Delhi to Gurgaon commute and the occasional 600km highway trip, drivability and effortlessness do matter.

The Tata Sierra is a very appealing SUV. It stands out for its striking looks, well-appointed cabin and exceptional comfort. In fact, riding on the smaller 17-inch wheels with 215/65 R17 tyres, the Sierra has an outstanding ride quality and simply smothers bad roads with ease. The cabin is also very spacious, offering more legroom than the Seltos, and the seats are very comfortable, making it a pleasant place to spend long hours.

However, the Sierra’s main weakness is its 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine. When paired with the dual-clutch automatic (DCA) transmission, it feels quite slow. It takes over 20 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100kph, which is on the slower side for this segment. In real-world terms, this means overtaking on the highway requires more planning and patience.

On this point alone, we would steer you towards your other option, the Kia Seltos HTK with the IVT (CVT) transmission. The Kia Seltos feels livelier and more responsive than the heavier Sierra. It’s easier to drive in everyday conditions and requires less effort on the highway, especially during overtakes. For your mix of city commuting and occasional long road trips, the Seltos would feel more relaxed and confidence-inspiring overall.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.79 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sylvester Mathew

•1d

I have been driving a 2012 Ford EcoSport diesel with a manual transmission, and I am quite impressed with its performance. Since the fitness certificate (FC) renewal is due soon, I am planning to upgrade. I am specifically looking for a diesel manual SUV and have shortlisted the Tata Sierra and Tata Harrier. However, I am inclined towards the Harrier mainly for two reasons: Build quality The Fiat-sourced diesel engine That said, the Sierra appeals to me because of its design and features. I am comfortable with the Pure+ variant, but I am not convinced that a sunroof should be mandatory on higher variants. Could you please suggest which of these two would be the better option? Also, if there are any other alternatives, please let me know. My main priorities are build quality and ride comfort.

Autocar India

•5h

Given what you're looking for in your SUV, the Tata Sierra makes more sense than the Harrier for you. It will feel like a considerable upgrade from your Ford EcoSport Diesel MT, most notably in size and features. And yes, as you mentioned, its standout design is really one of its biggest selling points. The Harrier has a much stronger engine, though build quality isn't too far off, but the premium Tata Motors is asking over the Sierra, spec for spec, doesn't feel worth it when the latter is such a good package. The sunroof, unfortunately, has become an inescapable feature in modern cars, especially in these segments, and it's something that you'll just have to accept and not use if you want the rest of the features as well. Tata is known to update its models regularly and add new trim levels, and maybe it will introduce more variants that have the rest of the features minus the sunroof. All things considered, the Sierra represents far better value than the Harrier.

Tata Sierra

Tata Harrier

pooja

•4d

I am planning to buy a new petrol car with a manual gearbox. My budget is around ₹13 lakh. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway. Could you please suggest SUV options within this budget?

Autocar India

•2d

With a daily running of around 50 to 60 km, a diesel automatic makes good sense as your monthly usage will easily justify the better fuel efficiency and relaxed nature of a diesel engine.Between the two options, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the better choice overall. The diesel engine is refined, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and well-suited for normal city traffic as well as highway drives.The Tata Sierra is also a strong Midsize SUV with more cabin space. But its diesel engine is noticeably noisier and less refined than the Hyundai-Kia diesel. It is also over a lakh more expensive in comparable automatic variants.For your usage and preference for an automatic, the Seltos diesel automatic is the more balanced and sensible option thanks to its refinement, smooth gearbox and lower price.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Saransh

•5d

I am planning to buy a new SUV at around ₹17 lakh on-road price and have shortlisted the Honda Elevate ZX, Kia Seltos HTK and new Kushaq Prestige. I primarily need a car for 80% driving in the city and around 1000-1200 km per month. Which is better in terms of engine and mileage? Is the Honda Elevate outdated compared to other cars in the segment?

Autocar India

•2d

The Honda Elevate is a good option for your needs. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the CVT automatic gearbox is well-suited to city driving. The car is spacious and comfortable, and the ZX variant is well-equipped too. However, in comparison to the Seltos, it does not have the space or the modernity, and the cabin does not feel as plush.The Kia Seltos HTK with the CVT gearbox is the best option considering all your needs. It is a lot better-equipped than the Honda, has a better ride quality, and the engine has a lot more punch and strong performance while still being easy to drive in the city. The smoothness, refinement and ease of use are why the Seltos will be our recommendation.The Skoda Kushaq is a good option, too. The 1.0-litre TSI engine is quite efficient, but it is not as smooth as the 1.5-litre engines of the Honda and Kia. The facelift that was recently revealed will be launched in a few days, but it hasn't changed much in the rear seat space, where it is still not as spacious as the Seltos. So we would advise you to shortlist the Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Skoda Kushaq

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