Latest questions answered by experts

Sriram

Hello, I am from Coimbatore, and I have a budget of Rs. 17-20 lakh. I have a family of 5 and am looking to buy an SUV. My usage is mostly family trips (highways), and occasionally I drive a car to the office (city use). Suggest a good, comfortable car.

Autocar India

•1h

For mostly highway trips with a family of five and a budget of Rs. 17-20 lakh, the Kia Seltos petrol with the IVT automatic is the one we would pick. It rides comfortably on long roads, the back seat is wide enough for three, and the boot takes family luggage without a fuss. The IVT, which is an automatic that does not shift gears in steps, feels very smooth in the city and keeps the engine calm on the highway. Kia’s service reach in Coimbatore is strong, which makes ownership easy.Two things to note. The top automatic trims can stretch the budget in some cities, so check local on-road prices. And while performance is adequate, highway overtakes with 5 onboard may require some planning. If you find that the performance is not enough, then consider the turbo petrol instead.Overall, for your family trips and mixed use, the Seltos IVT lines up best for comfort and ease.

Kia Seltos

Krishnanunni

•2d

I am currently using a Maruti Suzuki Alto LXI (2012 model) and am planning to upgrade to a 5‑seater SUV. I live in Bangalore, and my usage is primarily city driving, along with occasional highway trips. Around twice a year, I undertake a long drive from Bangalore to Kollam, Kerala (approximately 662 km one way). Given Bangalore traffic conditions, I am specifically looking for an automatic transmission for convenience. I prefer an SUV‑type vehicle with good ride comfort, ease of use in the city, and stability on highways. My budget is 15 lakh, which I can stretch up to 17 lakh if the vehicle offers better comfort, reliability, safety, and long‑term ownership value. Could you please suggest the best automatic SUVs that would suit my requirements, considering city usability, highway comfort, service support, and overall reliability?

Autocar India

•2h

City-heavy use in Bangalore with a few long Kochi-Kerala runs each year, and a Rs. 15-17 lakh cap, in that mix, the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT is the strongest fit for you. The IVT is a smooth automatic that suits stop-and-go traffic very well. The tall seat and light steering make it easy to handle tight lanes and ramps, and it stays steady at highway speeds, so the 662 km run feels calm. Coming from an Alto, you will notice the big jump in ride comfort over bad roads, a far more solid feel on the highway, and far better cabin space for five plus luggage. Kia’s service reach in both Karnataka and Kerala is wide, and long-term reliability is a strong point.Trade-offs to note: the CVT is built for smoothness, not quick bursts, so hard acceleration makes the engine sound loud. If you want a bit more performance, then the Honda Elevate is a better bet.Overall, for your traffic-first use with yearly long drives, the Kia Seltos lines up best in terms of comfort, ease, and peace of mind.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

Koustav Dutta

•2d

Hi, I’m planning to buy my first car with a budget of around 13-14 lakh. My usage will be minimal, mostly occasional office travel and a few long drives each year (like Ladakh or Spiti). Based on this, I’ve decided to opt for a petrol manual, naturally aspirated engine, as I prefer a simpler and more reliable setup (also a bit concerned about future fuel changes, like E85). Initially, I shortlisted the Kia Sonet because of its looks, but I’ve seen reviews mentioning it lacks power on highways and in hilly terrains, especially during overtakes. I also considered Honda Elevate, Toyota Hyryder, and Hyundai Creta. However, after comparing base variants, I found the Kia Seltos (2026) to be the most value-for-money option. It offers key features, like a display, all-disc brakes, steering-mounted controls, cruise control, TPMS, Rear view camera, parking sensor, speakers, etc., which are missing in the base variants of the other cars. I’m also not interested in a sunroof. Given my usage and priorities, would you recommend going ahead with the Seltos, or should I reconsider any of the other options?

Autocar India

•2h

Light daily use with a few tough hill trips in a Rs. 13-14 lakh cap points you straight to the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol base manual. From your list, it fits your brief best because the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated motor feels adequate on highways and hills compared to smaller engines, and the base trim still gives you the useful everyday features you care about without paying for a sunroof or extra frills.Why does it suit you? First, power and gearing. Versus the Sonet’s smaller petrol, the Seltos feels stronger when you need a quick overtake or a climb with luggage, so you will shift less and feel more relaxed on the highway. Second, you’ve called out features like a touchscreen, steering controls, cruise control, rear camera and TPMS. The Seltos base packs most of these, so you don’t need to step up to a variant just to avoid living with a bare cabin. Third, your choice of a simple petrol manual lines up well with the Seltos 1.5, which is a proven, easy-to-own engine.A couple of trade-offs to note. On broken roads at low speeds, the Honda Elevate and Hyundai Creta ride softer over bad patches, but their base trims miss many of the features you want. Also, like any non-turbo petrol at high altitude, you will need to use lower gears on steep climbs.Given your priorities, go ahead with the Seltos 1.5 petrol base manual. It lines up with your needs and budget the best.

Rahul

Hi, I am planning to purchase an SUV. My family has seven members (six adults aged 25+ and 53+, and one child). Currently, I own a 2025 Maruti Baleno (petrol), a 2018 Maruti Swift Dzire (petrol), and a 2010 Maruti Swift (diesel). I am planning to exchange my 2018 Swift Dzire for an upgrade. I am considering the Toyota Innova Crysta, Mahindra Scorpio N and Mahindra XUV 7XO. However, the base variant of the Innova Crysta (GX) is not available for booking at the dealership. My budget is around 25 lakh. Please suggest the best option for my family with low maintenance. Thanks in advance.

Autocar India

•15h

Seven people, mostly adults, and a Rs 25 lakh cap points to one clear choice, the Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel. It rides smoother than the Scorpio N and the Innova Crysta. The step-in height is friendlier for elders, and you get more features at this price.One thing to note is that the XUV 7XO's third row is not the most spacious around. Alternatively, also consider the Kia Carens Clavis diesel. It is refined and comfortable, easy to drive in the city, and the third row is comfortable for adults.We would avoid the Scorpio N for your use. Its third row is tight for adults, access is not easy, and the high step can bother older family members, even though it is very strong on rough roads.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel 7-seater fits your family and budget best.

Shiv Sagar Mathpati

I am planning to buy the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual, but I am concerned about DPF issues. Some of my friends say that modern engines are more advanced now, and there is no need to worry. What is your view?

Autocar India

•15h

For mixed city and some highway use, you can go ahead with the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7T diesel manual. Don’t drop it only because of DPF worry. The DPF is a filter in the exhaust that catches soot, and it needs a bit of heat and steady running now and then to clean itself. On the latest XUV 7XO, Mahindra has improved the software and the system over the past few years, so your friends are right that things are better now, but it is not completely worry-free in every case.If your daily use is mostly short trips in slow traffic, the filter may not get hot enough to clean. That’s when you may see a warning. The fix is simple: take the car for a longer drive on a clear road for 15-20 minutes, keep the engine revs a little higher than usual, and don’t switch off if you see a “drive to clean” message. Do this once in a while, even before any light shows, if your routine drive consists of only short hops. Also, fill diesel from a trusted pump, avoid driving at very low speeds in a high gear, and at delivery, ask the service advisor to confirm the car has the latest software.If you do some highway runs every week or two, DPF issues are rare. Where it can be a pain is if you mostly do many 2-3 km trips and almost never leave the city. So, if your usage is mixed, you’re fine to buy it. If it’s almost all tiny trips, think twice about diesel. Overall, with a bit of these simple habits, the AX7t diesel manual will serve you well.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Abhijeet sinha

•3d

Hi, Abhijeet this side. I am looking for a car with good mileage, as my daily run is around 100 km from Bhiwadi to Gurgaon and back. My usage is roughly 60% highway and 40% city traffic, although highways can get heavily congested during peak hours. I have a family of five, including my parents, and I prefer using my car for long trips rather than public transport. EVs are not an option for me due to infrastructure concerns. Currently, I own a Nissan Magnite XV Red Edition (manual, NA engine), but its mileage has dropped to around 11.5 kpl. I am not sure if this is due to E20 fuel. I plan to sell this car and do not want to keep two vehicles. Please advise whether I should opt for a hybrid or a diesel car. My budget is up to 20 lakh, but I would prefer to stay closer to 15 lakh if possible. It all depends on your guidance.

Autocar India

•16h

Opt for a strong hybrid, specifically the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong hybrid. It is the best fit for your usage and long-term ownership. Your daily running is very high, with a mix of highway and heavy traffic. In this kind of use, the stop-and-go sections hurt fuel efficiency the most, and this is where a strong hybrid makes a clear difference. It can run on battery at low speeds, cuts fuel use in traffic and makes the drive smoother and less tiring compared to a diesel or petrol car. Over time, this will reflect in significantly lower running costs.A diesel car, such as the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos, will still do well on open highways and feel stronger during quick overtakes. But your route is not purely highway, and the traffic component reduces that advantage. Also, being in the NCR region, diesel ownership comes with long-term limitations, which the hybrid avoids completely.

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos