•21h

Hi all, I’m planning to upgrade my 2013 Hyundai i10 to a stronger and safer vehicle. I live in Pune and plan to take monthly long-distance trips. My initial choices were the Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, but concerns about E20 or higher petrol blends have made me reconsider buying a pure petrol car. As a result, I’m now considering EVs. The Tata Punch.ev top model seems like an excellent value proposition, but is it a sensible choice for long-distance highway trips, such as Pune to Hyderabad or Goa? I would appreciate your insights and recommendations. I usually travel with my wife and occasionally with a full load.

•5m

For long drives from Pune to Goa or Hyderabad in any EV, you will be required to quickly charge once along the way, to reach your destination comfortably, without any range anxiety. The Punch EV is an excellent choice - it is compact, value-for-money, and its real-world range of over 300km is rather good.

Kia will be launching the Syros EV in the coming weeks. The Syros is surprisingly spacious, interior quality is top-notch, and going by the Clavis EV's efficient and smooth powertrain, the EV version of the Syros will certainly be worth considering.

Go for the EVs only if you can arrange for home charging. If not, then the Kia Seltos will be our pick. It is comfortable, spacious, feature-rich, and the petrol is smooth, refined and more efficient than the Renault Duster. The Duster's ride-handling balance is outstanding and its boot is larger than the Seltos too, however the Kia comes across as the more rounded option.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Punch EV

from ₹10.13 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.91 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

My daily running is 150 km, with a monthly running of 3,500-4,000 km. Around 75% of my driving is on highways and 25% is in rural areas. Every year, I take 2-3 family trips of 3,000-4,000 km. We are usually three to four members travelling daily. Please suggest the best car for me.

•21h

Go for the Kia Seltos diesel. Your daily 150 km and 75% highway use suit a diesel perfectly, and the Seltos' motor is efficient on long runs - expect an efficiency on highways in the high teens so your 3,500-4,000 km months won’t bleed your wallet. The Seltos also rides comfortably over broken rural stretches, has enough space for 3-4 people every day, and a boot sufficient for those 3,000-4,000 km family tours. Pick the automatic if you’re often stuck in traffic or drive long hours; the manual will squeeze out a bit more mileage. Safety kit and highway stability are solid, and the cabin keeps fatigue low on all-day drives.One caution: it’s not a hardcore rough-road SUV. If your “rural” is truly bad roads or light off-road trails every day, you’ll need to slow down, and tyre upgrades may help, or consider something like the diesel Mahindra XUV 7XO with AWD, though this would be a pricier option.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•2h

I am planning to buy a new car under 20 lakh. My daily drive is 50 kms on highways and a 700 km highway monthly trip to my hometown but city usage would be negligible. I have finalized the Kia Seltos HTX varient. I am confused between buying a petrol or diesel varient. While petrol version has low initial and maintenance cost, daily fuel cost is more. On the other hand, diesel would give me better mileage with less fuel cost but it will have expensive maintenance and initial cost. Or should I consider some other car. I am not interested to buy an EV. Please suggest.

•5m

We'd recommend the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic. Your usage is almost ideal for a diesel. A 50km daily highway commute combined with a 700km highway trip every month means the engine will spend most of its time at operating temperature, making it well suited to a modern diesel. You also shouldn't have to worry about DPF-related issues, as regular long-distance driving allows the system to regenerate properly.While the diesel does have a higher purchase price and slightly higher maintenance costs, you'll benefit from significantly better fuel efficiency, and with your usage, the savings at the fuel pump should more than offset the initial premium over time. The Seltos' 1.5-litre diesel paired with the torque-converter automatic is also one of the smoothest and most refined diesel-automatic combinations in this segment, making it an excellent highway cruiser.

Kia Seltos

•1d

Hi, I have been using the Hyundai Creta SX(O) diesel for the past seven years. I drive about 500 km on weekends, mostly on highways. I am planning to buy an SUV by the end of this year in the Rs. 25 lakh price range. I like the VW Taigun, Kia Seltos, and Tata Sierra. I prefer performance over mileage. Kindly suggest.

•19h

Based on your usage, we'd recommend the Volkswagen Taigun GT 1.5 TSI DSG.Covering around 500km on most weekends, primarily on the highway, and prioritising performance over fuel efficiency, the Taigun is the most engaging SUV on your shortlist. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine is strong and refined, while the DSG gearbox complements it beautifully, making it a genuinely enjoyable car to drive. It also has excellent high-speed stability and feels more involving than both the Seltos and the Sierra.One SUV that isn't on your shortlist but is well worth considering is the Mahindra XUV 7XO. While your Rs. 25 lakh budget won't get you the absolute top variant, it will still buy you a well-equipped model that feels like a significant upgrade over your current Creta. It offers a spacious cabin, strong performance and a more premium overall experience.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am planning to buy an SUV and prefer the German twins Škoda and Volkswagen. Which one is better? Also, how significant is the DSG issue in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the NCR region? This will be my fourth car, so I want to try a German brand.

•6d

Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

Skoda Kushaq

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•6d

Hi, I own a Wagon R 1.0 liter engine. I bought it in November 2025. I had done 2 free services of it. My car gives me about 13-15 kmpl in city driving when the AC is on. I drive at a speed of about 60 km in the city. Is this average ok? If not, then what should I do? My daily ride is about 20 km.

•3d

A city fuel efficiency of 13-15kpl with the air conditioning on is slightly on the lower side for a Wagon R 1.0, but it isn't necessarily a cause for concern, especially if you're driving in Lucknow's city traffic with frequent stops and the AC running throughout your journey.Your 20km daily commute should be enough for the engine to reach its normal operating temperature, but fuel efficiency can still vary depending on traffic conditions, idling time and driving style. We'd recommend checking that your tyre pressures are maintained at the manufacturer's recommended levels, avoiding hard acceleration and excessive idling, and using good-quality fuel from reputed fuel stations.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

•2w

I am planning to buy a family car. Should I choose the Toyota HyCross or the Hyundai Alcazar? Please suggest.

•4d

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross. For a family, it simply works better as the cabin is roomier, the third row is actually usable for adults, the ride is smoother, and the hybrid saves a lot of fuel in city traffic where most family cars spend their time. Long trips feel easier too, and Toyota’s hassle-free ownership and resale help over years.Pick the Hyundai Alcazar only if you’re on a tighter budget or you want a slightly smaller, easier-to-park 3-row. It’s great for four or five with the third row used occasionally, and the diesel suits heavy highway use. But the last row and boot are tighter, and it doesn’t feel as plush or relaxed on bad roads.One honest trade-off with the Innova HyCross is the higher price and possible waiting period, and the boot with all three rows up isn’t huge. If that stretch and wait are okay, it’s the better family car overall.

Toyota Innova HyCross

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