Mumbai

•12w

I am looking to buy an automatic car within a budget of around ₹18 lakh. I am currently considering the Tata Curvv and the Kia Seltos, but I am open to other options as well. My main priorities are safety, good looks, ease of driving (especially for a female driver), and low maintenance. The car will be used primarily in the city. Could you please suggest which would be the best choice for my requirements?

•12w

The Kia Seltos works very well for your usage because it is extremely easy to drive in the city, thanks to its smooth IVT automatic. It delivers a very seamless driving experience at low speeds, which makes traffic driving stress-free, and this is exactly where it stands out.

It also feels like the more premium and newer car overall, especially on the inside. The cabin quality, fit and finish give it a more upmarket feel, and importantly, it offers a more spacious rear seat, which adds to overall comfort and practicality.

The Tata Curvv is an interesting option and scores well on design and road presence. But as a package, it is still not as refined or as easy to drive as the Seltos, particularly in city conditions.

If you specifically want a Tata car, you can consider the Tata Sierra. It is larger and more comfortable than the Curvv, but within your budget, you will likely be looking at the 1.5 NA petrol with the DCA automatic. While this engine is refined and well-suited for city use, it is not as powerful, and the DCA gearbox is not as smooth as the Seltos’ IVT.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.60 Lakh

Compare suggested cars

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 lakhs

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.60 lakhs

Compare Now

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 lakhs

Citroen

Basalt

from ₹10.03 lakhs

Compare Now

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 lakhs

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.92 lakhs

Compare Now

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 lakhs

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.02 lakhs

Compare Now

Tata

Curvv

from ₹11.36 lakhs

Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹12.75 lakhs

Compare Now

More questions on similar cars

•12h

I am comparing the Hyundai Creta King petrol IVT, Kia Seltos petrol GTX A IVT and Tata Sierra petrol accomplished turbo. The car will be required for long ownership, expected annual mileage of around 8-10000 kilometres with almost 70-80% in Delhi NCR limits. Please suggest which one is a better option.

•8h

The Kia Seltos GTX+ IVT would be the recommendation here. Given your annual running of 8,000-10,000km and predominantly city-based usage in Delhi NCR, a naturally aspirated petrol automatic is the right choice. That's why we'd suggest narrowing your decision down to the Creta IVT and Seltos IVT, rather than the Tata Sierra Turbo AT. While the Sierra is an impressive package, the turbo-petrol powertrain is likely to be less efficient and more expensive to run over the long term than the Hyundai-Kia 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.Between the Creta and Seltos, the nod goes to the Seltos. It is the newer product, feels more premium inside, offers a slightly more spacious cabin and remains one of the most feature-rich SUVs in the segment. Ride comfort is also very good, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally well-suited to urban driving.Another factor worth considering is that the next-generation Creta is expected within the next year or so, whereas the Seltos has a longer lifecycle ahead of it, making it the safer long-term bet.

I am a first-time car buyer. My regular commute will be around 20 days a month, primarily on highways, with a round-trip distance of approximately 130 km per day. I have shortlisted the Renault Duster Techno 1.3 Turbo and would like to know whether it would be a good choice for my requirements. I am also open to other recommendations. Additionally, could you please suggest some good diesel cars within a similar budget?

•1d

The Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo is a good choice, especially if you enjoy driving. The turbo-petrol engine offers strong performance, effortless overtaking ability and makes long highway commutes far more enjoyable than most naturally aspirated rivals.However, your usage pattern is quite demanding. A daily round trip of around 130km for 20 days a month works out to nearly 3,000km every month. In our real-world fuel efficiency tests, the Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT returned 7.47kpl in the city and 13.47kpl on the highway. While those figures are acceptable for a performance-oriented turbo-petrol SUV, your monthly fuel bills will be fairly substantial given the distances you cover.For that reason, it may be worth waiting for the Duster Hybrid, which should offer significantly lower running costs while retaining much of the Duster's practicality and appeal.You should also consider the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Hybrid. They may not be as engaging to drive as the Duster, but they are exceptionally efficient and are likely to save you a considerable amount in fuel costs over the years.If you'd prefer a diesel, the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic and upcoming Tata Sierra Diesel Automatic are worth looking at. Both should be considerably more fuel efficient than the Duster petrol and are well suited to high-mileage highway use.

Renault Duster

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Tata Sierra

•5d

Hello Autocar. Thank you for continuing to solve our doubts in such a genuine way. I have a small query. We currently own a 2022 Tata Altroz XZ+ diesel. Since I have to travel about 100km daily, we are planning to upgrade to an EV. However, everyone at home, including me, is attached to the Altroz and is looking for a similar experience. I wanted to ask if an Altroz EV is in the works or if there has been any development on that front. Otherwise, could you suggest whether the Punch EV or the Nexon EV would be better for a family of four?

•1d

Pick the Tata Nexon EV. It will feel closest to your Altroz while giving you more range cushion and more room for four. With 100 km daily, that larger battery and stronger AC performance mean less charging stress and easier weekend runs, and the Nexon’s wider rear seat and bigger boot make family life comfier. The Nexon's larger footprint also translates to greater confidence, especially at higher speeds.The Punch EV is a great value and very easy to drive in traffic. If your use is almost all city and parking is tight, the Punch EV can be considered as an option. However, for an Altroz owner used to that solid, grown-up feel, the Nexon EV will feel more familiar.About an Altroz EV, there’s nothing on sale or officially announced for the near term. Tata showed a concept years ago, but the current focus is Punch EV, Curvv EV, Harrier EV and Sierra. If you want an EV now, do not wait.

View all Posts

Expert reviews worth reading

Popular discussions right now

•5d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•3d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

Mahindra XEV 9S

Mahindra XEV 9e

•6d

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•4d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

Tata Altroz

Honda Amaze

•3d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•3d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

View all Posts

Posted on: 23 Mar 2026