Mumbai

Sud

•3d

Hi, I need your advice. I drive around 1,000-1,500 km per month in Brahmavar/Mangalore, with 70% city use and 30% highway driving. We are a family of three, and I also travel with a large dog in the boot area. I plan to keep the car for 5-7 years. My budget is Rs. 15-20 lakh. I currently own a 2018 Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire Petrol ZXI. I am considering the Tata Sierra AT, Harrier AT, and Kia Seltos AT. I have a few questions: -Which one would be the cheapest to run per km over 5-7 years, considering fuel, service, insurance, and resale value? -Would petrol or diesel be better for my usage? -Which one is the most reliable and easiest to live with for city driving, carrying a dog, and luggage? -Are there any concerns with the Sierra being a completely new model?

Autocar India

•32m

With 70% city use in Brahmavar/Mangalore, 1,000-1,500 km a month, and a family of three plus a large dog, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic fits best. Diesel makes sense for your running. Your 30% highway mix each month helps keep the DPF system healthy, so city use should not be a worry. If most daily trips are very short stop-start runs, petrol is simpler, but your usage suits diesel better.

For reliability and ease in the city, the Seltos is the most proven and the easiest to steer and park. The trade-off is space: the boot will take a big dog, but dog plus large suitcases may be tight. If you often carry the dog and lots of bags together, the Tata Harrier diesel automatic is roomier, but it will cost more to run.

Overall, the Seltos diesel is a good fit.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 Lakh

Tata

Harrier

from ₹15.24 Lakh

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More questions on similar cars

Soumil

•3d

I’m on the hunt for a car with a budget of around ₹22 lakh on the road (Bh registration). I’m open to stretching the budget a bit if I find a truly amazing car or one with cutting-edge tech. Right now, I have an R-Pass booking for the Duster Hybrid. I took the Duster 1.3L DCT for a spin and absolutely loved the driving feel and the engine. The front cabin was also quite nice. However, my family felt the rear was a bit cramped and congested. It’s usually just my wife and me travelling; my family rarely joins us for long trips. So, we’re still deciding whether to stick with the hybrid or explore other options because of the cramped space at the rear. Also, if they launch it at ₹24-25L starting, it would make it overpriced for the quality and experience it offers. I also test-drove a Seltos Diesel Automatic. Everyone enjoyed it equally. The only thing it didn’t quite have was the performance of the VW or Duster 1.3. But overall, it’s a good, stable car with good comfort and a smooth drive. I’m a bit worried about the ethanol mixing updates without proper planning by the government, and how it would affect our petrol cars since they support E20 only. Hence, Diesel feels safer, especially since I can do weekly or bi-weekly highway trips through the Atal-Setu/Palm Beach Road to get the right amount of highway running to avoid DPF troubles. I don’t have a home charger for an EV for at least a year until I shift into our new apartment, so I’m not sure if I should consider them. Also, there aren’t any reliable EVs within my budget except for the Hyundai Creta EV. It’s a nice car, but it feels a bit outdated and isn’t rated as safe as a 5-star vehicle. Staying away from Tata cars. Any suggestions welcome.

Autocar India

•3h

Your observations are quite right, and given your requirements, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic seems to be the best fit. It takes care of your ethanol worry because diesel avoids that issue entirely, and your regular highway trips will keep the diesel particulate filter (DPF) healthy. Your family already likes its comfort and smooth, steady feel, and on the highway, it has strong enough pull for quick passes. As you have noted, it won’t feel as eager as the Renault Duster or the VW turbo petrols when you floor it, and the 1.5 diesel - though refined amongst rivals - is a bit louder than a petrol overall. Also, higher tech features come on costlier trims, so a top-spec trim could push that Rs 22 lakh limit on the on-road price.If driving fun is the top priority and you rarely use the back seat, the Renault Duster 1.3 turbo automatic still makes sense over the hybrid, which is as yet untested, but will likely sacrifice some punchiness given its naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle petrol engine. If the hybrid lands around Rs 24-25 lakh, it may not add enough value for your use. As for the rear seat, the Duster doesn't offer as much as rivals despite its grown dimensions (it seems to have gone into the boot), and the hybrid's battery could even hamper this further. Overall, for your requirements, the Seltos diesel auto still feels the better choice.

Kia Seltos

Renault Duster

suresh lokala

•1d

I am looking for a 5-seater automatic car with all the essential features suitable for Indian roads. It should be comfortable for both city and highway drives and ideal for family use. My top priority is safety features. My budget range is Rs. 15-20 lakh.

Autocar India

•20h

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is a spacious 5-seater midsize SUV. It is well-equipped with modern feels, has a high quality interior, and a smooth and refined powertrain. Its ride doesn't feel as comfortable, or it doesn't feel as tough as a Tata Sierra, which is also a good option to consider. However, you will have to extend your budget slightly to buy the turbo-petrol automatic version of the Sierra - the 1.5 NA petrol-DCA is simply too slow for highway use.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

Kalpesh dalia

•3d

Hi, I am planning to buy a diesel automatic SUV and am currently confused between the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus PS, Hyundai Creta, and Kia Seltos. My budget is around ₹17 lakh, and my weekly running is approximately 50 km.

Autocar India

•1d

With just 50 km a week, we would strongly advise against a diesel automatic. Your running is simply too low for a modern diesel to make sense, and repeated low usage can create DPF-related headaches over time.Between your options, the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic or Kia Seltos petrol automatic are the much smarter choices. If we had to pick one, we would lean toward the Seltos IVT because it feels slightly more premium inside, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in daily use. The Creta IVT is equally good mechanically and rides a touch softer, so if comfort is your absolute top priority, it remains a very strong option too.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

View all Posts

Compare suggested cars

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 lakhs

Tata

Harrier

from ₹15.24 lakhs

Compare now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 lakhs

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.78 lakhs

Compare now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 lakhs

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹12.66 lakhs

Compare now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 lakhs

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹13.02 lakhs

Compare now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 lakhs

Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹12.75 lakhs

Compare now

Popular discussions right now

•1w

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India

•5d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

lakkhan

•3d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India

•2d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

Ketav

I have a family of eight and currently own an Ertiga, but it feels underpowered. My daily commute is around 40km, and we do occasional outstation trips once a quarter. I want a powerful, comfortable 7/8-seater that I can keep for at least 6-7 years. The budget is around Rs 25 lakh. What should I buy?

Autocar India

•2d

For your requirements, the Toyota Innova Crysta diesel 8-seater (manual) fits you best. It is the only one here that can seat all eight comfortably, and its diesel pulls strongly even with a full load, so it won’t feel like your Maruti Suzuki Ertiga. Ride comfort is calm on bad roads, the seats are supportive for parents, and Toyota’s track record over 6-7 years is hard to beat.Two things to note: most Crysta trims are manual, so city traffic needs some left‑leg effort, and the on-road price may sit a little above Rs. 25 lakh depending on your city.Overall, for your family size and long-term, the Innova Crysta 8-seater is the right upgrade.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

View all Posts

Expert reviews worth reading