Hi, I own a Ritz 2013 model petrol and it has been a good experience with it. I have driven around 60k till now. I now want to add another car keeping Ritz as well for few more years. I am looking for an upgrade having a better engine, automatic and good interiors. My budget is in the range of 20 to 25L. I do not want a bigger SUV like XUV 700 as it is too huge and difficult to drive within the city. I drive only on weekends in the city and most long drives are outside the city. I drive around 4000 to 5000 kms in a year. I was thinking of Tata Sierra, new Seltos, Creta and Hyryder but mostly liked the Sierra as it is a new car with good features. Can you please suggest which is the best option?

Autocar India

•1h

Since you want a proper automatic gearbox, it's the Kia Seltos CVT that you should go for out of the two you have mentioned. The Kia Seltos iMT is a clutchless manual, meaning there's no clutch pedal for you to operate but you do have to manually row through the gears like in a conventional manual.The Seltos CVT, on the other hand, is like any other automatic wherein you just have to shift the gear selector either to 'D' (Drive) or 'R' (Reverse). It's worth noting that the Seltos is also available with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox only with the 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo petrol and a 6-speed torque converter automatic only with the 116hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Kia Seltos

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Autocar India

•8h

The MG Hector is a good choice if you’re happy with the way it drives and feels. It’s a size up from the Sierra and offers a wider, more accommodating rear seat. In fact, Hector’s back seat is among the most comfortable in its class. It’s easy to get in and out of, and the soft ride only adds to the sense of comfort. The boot is larger than the Sierra’s too, with a generous 587 litres of space.The Tata Sierra is a good option as well and is nicer to drive, but it is a bit more expensive and not as spacious as the Hector. Yes, the Hector does have a reputation for being a bit of a gas guzzler, but, as you mentioned, since you don’t drive much, it shouldn’t hit your pocket too hard.

MG Hector

Tata Sierra

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Autocar India

•1d

If features are what you are after, then both cars are at the top of their respective segments on that front. The Mahindra XUV 7XO has an edge with its three-screen layout, and ventilated screens not just in the front but at the rear as well. It's also a larger and more spacious SUV overall with more powerful engines. However, that comes with its downsides, as fuel economy is not great, and the price will be higher overall. Plus, Mahindra's software for those screens is buggy and complicated to navigate, and its ergonomics aren't great either, with far too few buttons, making those features harder to access.The Kia Seltos is a bit smaller and misses those two unique features the Mahindra gets, but other than that, it is the better option for you overall. Its more compact dimensions make it easier to drive around town, which is your primary usage. Its electronics work far more reliably and are designed to be friendly while on the move.And given that you drive primarily in the city, the 1.5 petrol CVT might be the better option for you. You give up some performance, but the smoothness of the CVT over the DCT in stop-go traffic is too much of an advantage to ignore.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

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