Delhi

Every helpful action can earn a badge.

•28w

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?

•28w

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 ₹11.16 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.33 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

More posts on similar cars

•3d

Which is a better buy between Maruti Suzuki Brezza VXi Turbo or Tata Nexon Pure Plus? I am interested in usable features. Please suggest accordingly.

•2d

Go for the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 VXi Turbo. It is the better long-term ownership proposition. The Brezza is a proven, reliable product with Maruti's extensive service network and low maintenance costs, which makes it a hassle-free car to own over many years. The 1.0-litre turbo petrol is a refined and relatively efficient engine that delivers more than adequate performance for both city and highway use, and the Brezza is known for its comfortable ride and practical, well-built cabin.The Tata Nexon 1.2 Pure+ Turbo is the more feature-rich car on paper, and the 1.2-litre turbo petrol is the stronger engine. However, Tata's ownership experience is not as consistent as Maruti's, and the Brezza's overall reliability and ease of ownership make it the safer long-term choice.If you are specifically interested in usable features, the Brezza VXi Turbo offers all the essentials you need without overcomplicating the ownership experience.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tata Nexon

•3d

I am planning to buy a new car under a budget of Rs. 22-23 lakh. I drive a 12-year old Chevrolet Sail diesel now. I really enjoy driving this car, particularly its MultiJet engine with a good mid-range torque. I value driving dynamics and pleasure of driving more than fuel efficiency and features. I prefer sedan over an SUV. My dad owns a 2022 Skoda Slavia 1.0 MT. I really like that car but in city driving, I've felt noticeable turbo lag at low speeds. Other than that, Slavia is a very good car. So I have shortlisted 2026 Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. But only thing that I worry about is the reliability of a DSG with its dry clutch system, because I tend to keep the car for at least next 7-8 years. Also, I have doubts about its city driving manners. But I live in a tier-2 city and encounter stop and go traffic rarely. I hit the highways often though. So, will the Slavia 1.5 satisfy my needs coming from a good torquey diesel engine? Another SUV that I am interested is the Duster/Tekton, because I have heard that they are the closest to the German twins in driving pleasure and dynamics. Can I go with the Slavia 1.5 DSG or should I go with Duster/Tekton 1.3 DCT?

•2d

Go for the Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG. You will appreciate the 1.5 TSI's strong mid-range punch and the way it pulls on the highway. Since you live in a tier 2 city with minimal stop-and-go traffic and do frequent highway runs, the DSG should not be a major concern over a 7-8 year ownership period. The 1.5 Slavia also offers a more engaging driving experience than the 1.0 TSI, with noticeably stronger performance and less turbo lag once you are on the move.The Renault Duster/Tekton twins are genuinely good to drive, with excellent ride quality and strong dynamics, but they aren't as involving to drive or as agile as the Slavia. The Slavia also benefits from a more premium cabin and a better overall ownership experience. Overall, the Slavia 1.5 TSI DSG is the car that will keep you happiest over the long term.

I am planning to buy a VinFast VF7 with the 70.8kWh battery pack. However, after going through various online videos of users reporting serious issues such as paint chipping, suspension leaks, dashboard cracks and inefficient service support, I am having second thoughts. The trouble is that options such as the Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9e also have user-reported issues, particularly around software. Is buying an EV in the Rs 25-30 lakh price range risky? If not, which would you choose between the VF7, BE 6 and XEV 9e? There will be three rear passengers.

•3d

The VinFast VF7 is a genuinely interesting product, but your concerns are valid. The brand is still relatively new in India, and while the car itself is well-specced, there have been reports of quality and service inconsistencies. That said, the Mahindra BE 6 and XEV 9e are not without their own issues, particularly around software glitches and niggles.The bigger question is whether an electric car in the Rs 25-30 lakh range is inherently risky. The answer is no, but you do need to be realistic. This is still a relatively young segment, and even established manufacturers are ironing out teething issues. The key is to buy from a brand with a strong service network and a proven track record of resolving problems quickly.Between the three, the Mahindra XEV 9e is the safer choice. It is a more mature product, has a stronger service network and compared to the BE 6, it is much more practical. The VF7 is the wildcard. It is a genuinely compelling product, but the brand's service and support ecosystem is still developing.With three rear passengers, the XEV 9e is also the better choice. It has a wider rear bench and better overall space management than the VF7, which is more of a coupe-style SUV. The BE 6 also suffers from a space perspective and is not as complete as the XEV 9e.

Vinfast VF7

Mahindra BE 6 Sporteq

Mahindra XEV 9e

View all Posts

Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

Expert reviews worth reading

Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•4d

Hi Autocar Team, I am confused between the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual and automatic. My current ride is a Fluidic Verna diesel manual, which is nearing 15 years of ownership and has clocked nearly 2.5 lakh km. My usage consists of mixed city and highway driving, with around 40km daily and weekend highway runs of about 400km. For long-term ownership, which would be the better choice: the manual or automatic?

•4d

Go for the XUV 7XO AX7T diesel automatic. The diesel engine is well suited to your high running, and the automatic gearbox is a proven torque converter unit that is reliable and well matched to the engine. This Mahindra car will make your daily city driving far less tiring, while still being smooth and efficient on the highway. Coming from a 15-year-old Hyundai Verna diesel manual, the automatic will feel like a significant upgrade in terms of comfort and ease of use, without compromising on long-term reliability. The manual is still a good option if you strongly prefer the engagement, but for your usage and ownership horizon, the automatic is the smarter choice.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Verna

•6d

I am confused between Creta SX IVT and Elevate CVT for 8000 km of annual running with long trips of 1200 km 3-4 times in a year for a family of 4. Apart from this, day to day usage is less than 100km per month. I am looking for a car for long term ownership and travel comfort.

•6d

The Creta SX IVT is the better fit for your requirement. It offers a quieter, more refined cabin, comfortable rear seats and a smoother CVT, which are particularly valuable when spending several hours on the highway with four people and luggage. Autocar's long term experience with the Creta petrol IVT also found it refined, comfortable and particularly well suited to road trips.The Honda Elevate CVT has advantages of its own. Its 220mm ground clearance, long travel suspension and large 458-litre boot make it particularly good on poor roads, while its naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine and CVT make for a relatively simple powertrain. However, the cabin is noticeably noisier, particularly when accelerating hard, and the CVT can produce the typical rubber band effect.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

•1w

Hi, I am planning to buy a CNG SUV and am considering the Tata Nexon CNG and Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG. I will be driving around 150km every day for office, so my main concerns are fuel economy and maintenance costs. Many people have suggested the Brezza because of its mileage and lower running costs, but Tata is also a large company and has a wide service network. So, why do buyers generally recommend the Brezza over the Nexon CNG? I personally prefer the Nexon, but I am confused about whether it would be the right choice for my daily usage. Which one would make more sense for my requirements?

•1w

Go with the Tata Nexon CNG if that is your preference. At 150 km daily, CNG is the right fuel choice, and both the Nexon and Maruti Suzuki Brezza are factory CNG cars, so reliability and safety are not a concern. The Nexon CNG is a strong product with good performance, a comfortable ride and a well-equipped cabin. The reason many people suggest the Brezza is Maruti's reputation for low maintenance costs, wide service reach and a long-standing reputation for hassle-free ownership. The Brezza CNG is also a very reliable and efficient package. However, the Nexon CNG is the more modern car and feels more premium inside.At 150 km daily, the key is to choose the car you will enjoy driving every day. The Nexon CNG is a solid choice, and there is no reason to change your decision.

Tata Nexon

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

View all Posts

Upcoming launch buzz

Community discussions on upcoming launches