Mumbai

•3d

I am looking to buy an SUV under Rs 25 lakh with good comfort, a powerful engine, plenty of features and strong road presence. I do not like the look of the Mahindra XUV 7XO or Scorpio N. I am currently leaning towards the Thar Roxx. Are there any better options? I am open to EVs as well.

•14m

The Thar Roxx is a good choice if you are prioritising road presence. It has strong engines, good performance and is well equipped. It is also reasonably comfortable for a ladder-frame SUV. However, it cannot match the XUV 7XO in terms of passenger comfort and ride quality.

Alternatively, you could consider the Tata Safari or the Harrier if you do not need seven seats. They ride well on bad roads, have comfortable cabins, and offer the broad-shouldered stance you are after. The 2.0-litre diesel has strong torque for quick highway overtakes and hill driving, and the automatic makes traffic easy to deal with.

The Thar Roxx looks great and is brilliant off-road, but in daily use, the ride is busier, the rear seat is tighter, and the boot is smaller.

If you want a petrol SUV with a more tech-heavy feel, the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol automatic is also a solid choice within your budget, but it will not have the same road presence as the Harrier or the Roxx.

Explore cars mentioned

Mahindra

Thar Roxx

from ₹14.66 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.02 Lakh

Tata

Harrier

from ₹15.24 Lakh

Mahindra

XUV 7XO

from ₹16.14 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•2w

I previously owned a 110hp, 6-speed diesel Renault Duster, which I have since sold. I am now looking to buy a new diesel SUV and am currently managing with a Maruti Celerio. My daily running is around 60-70km, mostly in and around the city, although I do travel outside the city regularly. I have shortlisted the Tata Sierra 1.5 Diesel Automatic and the 2026 Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic. Which one would you recommend? I have also been told that the Sierra diesel does not require AdBlue. I would appreciate your advice as I need to make a decision soon.

•2h

The Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic would be the recommendation here. Coming from a Duster diesel, both the Seltos and Sierra will feel like significant upgrades, but the Seltos is the more rounded package today. The 1.5-litre diesel is refined, proven and very efficient, while the automatic gearbox is smooth and well-suited to your 60-70km daily running. It also offers a premium cabin, good ride comfort and a strong ownership experience.The Tata Sierra Diesel Automatic is certainly appealing. It offers more road presence, a spacious cabin and should be an excellent long-distance cruiser. One advantage is that its diesel engine does not require AdBlue, as Tata has achieved the latest emission norms using a different emissions control strategy. However, it is important to remember that the Sierra still has a DPF, so it isn't completely free of modern diesel emissions hardware. Fortunately, your usage pattern of 60-70km a day with regular out-of-town driving is well-suited to a modern diesel and should help keep the DPF healthy.

Kia Seltos

Tata Sierra

•20h

I am comparing the Hyundai Creta King petrol IVT, Kia Seltos petrol GTX A IVT and Tata Sierra petrol accomplished turbo. The car will be required for long ownership, expected annual mileage of around 8-10000 kilometres with almost 70-80% in Delhi NCR limits. Please suggest which one is a better option.

•15h

The Kia Seltos GTX+ IVT would be the recommendation here. Given your annual running of 8,000-10,000km and predominantly city-based usage in Delhi NCR, a naturally aspirated petrol automatic is the right choice. That's why we'd suggest narrowing your decision down to the Creta IVT and Seltos IVT, rather than the Tata Sierra Turbo AT. While the Sierra is an impressive package, the turbo-petrol powertrain is likely to be less efficient and more expensive to run over the long term than the Hyundai-Kia 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol.Between the Creta and Seltos, the nod goes to the Seltos. It is the newer product, feels more premium inside, offers a slightly more spacious cabin and remains one of the most feature-rich SUVs in the segment. Ride comfort is also very good, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally well-suited to urban driving.Another factor worth considering is that the next-generation Creta is expected within the next year or so, whereas the Seltos has a longer lifecycle ahead of it, making it the safer long-term bet.

I’m looking for a compact SUV for India. My main consideration is great driving dynamics and power. I’m looking for a petrol variant and an automatic transmission. I’ll be using it mainly on long road trips and broken road explorations. Our dream is to do all India / global trips. In about 2 years, there’s a chance we’ll travel with four people (including me) more regularly, so I don’t want the car to struggle then. I don’t need features like ADAS, and I’ll want to upgrade the sound system and camera after purchase. While I’m leaning towards Renault, Skoda, and Volkswagen, could you give me 4-5 options and the best variant? My budget on road is 23-24 lakhs max.

•1d

Pick the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG, in either Prestige or Monte Carlo. It’s the most fun-to-drive in your budget, with strong mid‑range power for four-up highway climbs, and a suspension that rides well on broken roads without feeling floaty. It stays stable at speed, and the steering feels natural on long drives. One honest caveat: the 7‑speed dual‑clutch can feel a bit jerky in stop‑go traffic, but your use is mostly highways, so it suits you fine.Close second is the Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI DSG. Same punchy engine and gearbox, and equally enjoyable on twisty hill roads. Between the two, buy the one that gets you the better deal or closer service centres in your city.From Renault, the new Duster turbo‑petrol DCT is a solid choice too. It’s also great on rough roads and enjoyable in the twisties with enough performance for quick highways. Its DCT uses a wet clutch compared to the dry clutch from VW/Skoda, which means shifts are smoother in the city. Wet clutch transmissions are also generally more robust than dry clutch units.Alternatively, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT. It has a roomier cabin, which will be important when you are travelling four up. It isn't quite as sharp as the above competitors, but it is enjoyable with plenty of performance.If you are going to be travelling to remote locations, service availability can be scarce. If that is a concern, then include the Maruti Victoris or the Grand Vitara 1.5 petrol. They can also be had with AWD, which can be very useful on rough roads and in icy conditions.

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Popular discussions right now

•5d

I have a 5kW solar connection at my house. I would like to buy an EV with a range of 500km+ on a full charge, within a budget of Rs 25-28 lakh. Which is the best option?

•3d

The Mahindra XEV 9S and XEV 9e would both be excellent choices within your budget. The key difference comes down to your space requirements. The XEV 9S is the one to choose if you need the flexibility of a 7-seat layout, while the XEV 9e is a 5-seater with a sleeker design and more emphasis on style. Beyond that, both models share the same battery packs and electric motors, so there is little to separate them in terms of performance, charging capability or range.While both have claimed ranges comfortably above 500km, in the real world you should expect closer to 450-470km on a full charge, depending on your driving style, speed and usage conditions. Even so, that remains among the best figures available in this price range.Your 5kW solar setup is an added advantage and should help keep charging costs very low over the long term.

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•1w

I was planning to buy the Honda Amaze CVT earlier, but due to uncertainty around a higher percentage of ethanol blending, I have decided to go with the Tata Altroz diesel. But now I read that the government is also planning to blend isobutanol in diesel. Should I buy a diesel vehicle or not? Will isobutanol adversely affect diesel engines and affect fuel economy?

•4d

There is no reason to avoid either a petrol or a diesel car purely because of future fuel-blending plans.Just as modern petrol cars are being engineered to handle higher ethanol blends, any future diesel blend regulations will be accompanied by corresponding changes from vehicle manufacturers. If isobutanol blending is introduced, it will be done in a controlled manner, and vehicles sold in the market will be calibrated accordingly. There is currently no evidence to suggest that such blends would cause adverse effects on modern diesel engines when used within the prescribed limits.The more important question is whether a diesel suits your usage pattern. If your running is high and includes regular highway trips, the Altroz Diesel remains a compelling option. However, if your usage is predominantly urban, the Honda Amaze CVT is still the more sensible choice. It offers a smoother driving experience, lower complexity and none of the DPF-related concerns associated with modern diesel engines.

Tata Altroz

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•4d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car for my daughter. She recently obtained her driving license and is currently driving an automatic Tata Nano. Now that she is comfortable and confident with it, I am considering upgrading her to a larger vehicle. I am evaluating options such as the Kylaq and the Kia Sonet. However, my wife is insisting on an electric car. I am a bit sceptical about EVs, as they are not yet fully proven to be trouble‑free, and her weekly commute is around 150 km. I am also waiting for the launch of the updated Brezza, and my preference is for a torque‑converter automatic rather than a DCT. I would appreciate your opinion on electric cars, the Kia Sonet diesel, the Brezza, and which one I should go for. This car will be mostly used for city drives since I have an Ertiga manual for long trips.

•3d

Of your shortlisted cars, go for the Skoda Kylaq automatic. For mostly city use and just 150km a week, its punchy turbo petrol engine with a smooth torque converter is a great mix of fun and ease of use. Its light yet sharp steering, upright seating and compact size feel like a natural step up from a Nano, and the interior feels fresh and upmarket too.The Kia Sonet diesel automatic is quick and efficient, but a diesel engine is overkill for your daughter's limited usage. Not only is it pound-for-pound more expensive than an equivalent petrol to buy, but it also requires extra care, such as regenerating the DPF (diesel particulate filter) every so often via a high-speed run, as well as top-ups of the ad-blue tank. The Brezza is a good option thanks to its simple, naturally aspirated engine, which should deliver better fuel economy than the Kylaq. But in its current form, it's just a bit uninteresting and unenthusiastic an offering, and it's best to wait for the facelift, which is right around the corner, before making that decision.For 150 km a week, an electric car is actually ideal if you have a private parking spot with a 15A socket or a home charger. The powertrains these days are much smoother, batteries carry long warranties, and city running is silent and cheap. Upfront cost, charging access and resale value are the only real hurdles, so if you are interested, a compact EV like the Tata Punch EV is a great option.

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