With a monthly running of 7,000 km, what is the most economical and practical option among an EV, CNG car, or petrol car? If I choose a petrol SUV, should I buy the Tata Sierra Adventure Petrol Manual or the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol Manual?

autocar.india

•1h

With a monthly running of around 2,000km split equally between the city and highway, a diesel automatic is well suited to your usage. The Venue HX10 Diesel AT offers a good feature list, is easy to drive and should return excellent fuel efficiency.That said, if your budget is up to Rs. 20 lakh, we'd recommend stretching to the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic. It uses the same proven 1.5-litre diesel engine and torque-converter automatic as the Venue, but offers a more spacious cabin, better rear-seat comfort, a more premium interior and superior highway manners. If you plan to keep the car for several years, it is the more complete package.The Mahindra XUV 3XO Diesel Automatic is another strong option. It feels more substantial than the Venue, offers excellent safety credentials and a comfortable ride. However, we'd still give the Seltos the edge for its overall refinement, cabin quality and long-term ownership experience.The Hyundai Creta Diesel Automatic is also an excellent choice, but with a new-generation model expected sooner than the Seltos, we'd lean towards the Kia if you're buying today.

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai Creta

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

Your 2017 Honda City Petrol CVT is E20 compatible. In fact, as reported by Autocar India, Honda has stated that its petrol cars sold in India have been E20 compatible since 2009. So, from an ethanol compatibility perspective, there is no reason to replace your current City.We also wouldn't be overly concerned about future ethanol blends. Even if India gradually moves towards E25 or E30, there is currently no official roadmap confirming such a transition. Modern E20-compatible cars have been engineered with a degree of tolerance beyond the mandated fuel standard, and the most likely impact of higher ethanol blends would be a small reduction in fuel efficiency and slightly accelerated wear of certain fuel-system components over a very long period, rather than any major reliability concerns.If this is likely to be your last new car purchase, we'd recommend choosing something comfortable, reliable and easy to own over the long term. If your budget allows, the Toyota Innova HyCross Hybrid would be our top recommendation. It offers outstanding comfort, excellent fuel efficiency, Toyota's proven reliability and should remain a dependable family car for well over a decade.If you're looking for something smaller, the Kia Seltos Petrol IVT is another excellent option. It combines a refined petrol engine, smooth automatic gearbox, a premium cabin and a strong ownership experience, making it one of the best all-round SUVs in its class.

Toyota Innova HyCross

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

Pick the Kia Seltos HTX diesel automatic. It is the nicer feeling of the two Seltos' and is worth the extra money. You get better night visibility from the LED headlamps and fog lamps, a roomier-feeling cabin thanks to the panoramic sunroof and nicer interior, and a more modern, larger infotainment setup. The core mechanics are the same, so the HTK(O) drives just as well and saves you cash, but you will miss these daily comforts, and it will feel basic faster over a 5-7 year ownership.One catch with HTX is that a larger wheel setup makes the ride a touch firmer on bad roads. If your budget is tight, the HTK(O) makes sense because you keep the same engine-gearbox and safety kit. Otherwise, it's worth stretching for the HTX.

Kia Seltos