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I’m an NRI and visit India at least twice a year. During my visits, I travel frequently on highways and in cities. I’m looking for a car that will be used for about two months annually and driven up to 2,000 km per year. It should be comfortable for a family of five, with good boot space, ground clearance, and safety features. When I’m away, the car may be used by my single dad with a driver. Fuel efficiency and performance are not deal breakers, but comfort and features are important. My budget is ₹10-12 lakh. Please suggest.

Asked by: Raj

The Kia Syros is an option worth considering. It's got an amazingly roomy cabin, good boot space and ample ground clearance for our road conditions. It packs in ample safety features and there's comfort in knowing that its a 5 star Bharat NCAP rated vehicle. The 1-litre turbo-petrol HTK Plus is within your budget and gets some key features such as a crisp 12.3-inch touchscreen. 

Other options you could look at include the Mahindra XUV 3XO in AX5 trim (though the boot isn't largest), Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI (a well rounded package) and Nissan Magnite Turbo (service network isn't very widespread).  

Kia Syros

Kia Syros

Answered by
AI
Autocar India team23 Dec' 25

Latest questions

Asked by: Raj

I’m an NRI and visit India at least twice a year. During my visits, I travel frequently on highways and in cities. I’m looking for a car that will be used for about two months annually and driven up to 2,000 km per year. It should be comfortable for a family of five, with good boot space, ground clearance, and safety features. When I’m away, the car may be used by my single dad with a driver. Fuel efficiency and performance are not deal breakers, but comfort and features are important. My budget is ₹10-12 lakh. Please suggest.

The Kia Syros is an option worth considering. It's got an amazingly roomy cabin, good boot space and ample ground clearance for our road conditions. It packs in ample safety features and there's comfort in knowing that its a 5 star Bharat NCAP rated vehicle. The 1-litre turbo-petrol HTK Plus is within your budget and gets some key features such as a crisp 12.3-inch touchscreen. Other options you could look at include the Mahindra XUV 3XO in AX5 trim (though the boot isn't largest), Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXI (a well rounded package) and Nissan Magnite Turbo (service network isn't very widespread).
AI
Autocar India team
23 Dec' 25
Asked by: Mayank

We currently own a Mahindra XUV 300, which we bought in May 2019, and earlier had a Maruti Swift for 10 years. Our family size is increasing, so we want to upgrade to a more superior car, preferably a 6- or 7-seater. We live in a small town and use the car locally and for 3-4 trips per month to nearby cities, mostly within a 300 km range. We want a car with good boot space, low maintenance, luxurious interiors, and strong social prestige/optics. We are a business family with a budget within ₹40 lakh. Please suggest.

The Toyota Innova HyCross is the ideal pick for you. Its large size not only lends it great road presence but also gives a very spacious interior. There's genuinely usable space in the third row, and luggage space is decent with all rows up. Also, you can fold the third row to make more room, and second row comfort is very impressive. Versions with captain's chairs in the middle row go the distance with powered seat adjust and adjustable legrests. We'd recommend you opt for the strong hybrid in ZX(O) trim that gets you good economy and all the features.
AI
Autocar India team
23 Dec' 25
Asked by: Raghu Charan

I am planning to buy a new car and travel about 140 kilometers every day. I am confused about whether to choose an electric vehicle (EV) or an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Please suggest.

If you travel 140km every day, an electric vehicle (EV) would be a good choice. The running cost of an EV is much lower than that of a petrol or diesel car, and the maintenance costs are also lower.The only downside is that the initial cost of an EV is higher than that of a petrol car. However, the running cost savings will help you recover this cost over time.If you are looking for a compact SUV for city commutes, you can consider the Tata Punch EV, which is a good option.
AI
Autocar India team
23 Dec' 25
Asked by: Ravi kumar

I plan to purchase a car next June with a budget of up to ₹17 lakh on-road. Should I choose the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Tata Sierra, or the new Kia Seltos?

Without knowing further requirements, it is hard to recommend the ideal pick for you. However, we feel the New Kia Seltos will be the best pick in your budget. Prices will only be announced on January 2, but assuming a reasonable increase over current model prices, you should be able to get a decently equipped model within Rs 17 lakh. The Seltos has the edge over the other two with a far superior naturally-aspirated petrol engine. The Seltos also scores for space. The Maruti Suzuki Victoris is a sensible package and is good value. However, the dull engine and relatively small cabin mark it down. Tata's Sierra is the roomiest of the three options, but versions within your budget miss many features that you'd expect. The bigger issue is that the Sierra's 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine feels underpowered, and performance is disappointing.
AI
Autocar India team
23 Dec' 25