Autocar India
AL

Alamdar

20w

I am looking for a car with a premium look and all the latest features under ₹22 lakh. My daily run is about 30 km (city + highway). Please suggest a car, and advise whether a petrol or diesel automatic would be best for my daily run.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
20w

When it comes to the latest tech and features, within your budget, you should check out the Kia Seltos GTX. Its latest infotainment system, powered by NVidia hardware, is among the slickest around. It includes high-res graphics, bright colours, and an extremely sharp parking camera display. 

It's also a software-defined vehicle (SDV), meaning functionality can be added or fixed with an over-the-air (OTA) update in future. And the best part is, you can choose to have it with or without ADAS functionality. While retaining all the other fully-loaded features, both of which will fit in your budget of Rs 22 lakh. 

Given your limited running, stick with the petrol IVT, as it is the smoothest of the three powertrains. The turbo petrol DCT is also a good option, but you may find the gearbox jerky at low speeds.

Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

More questions on similar cars

LI

Lingesh

12h

Hi, I am based in Chennai, and my monthly running is around 1,000 km, mostly on the outskirts of the city. I also make four trips a year to my hometown, which is about 400 km away. I am planning to buy a Hyundai Creta Automatic. Kindly suggest whether it would be the right choice for my usage.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
7h

Pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 diesel automatic - it is the one that best suits your 1,000km a month usage. On Chennai’s outskirts and your 400km trips to your native place, the diesel’s readily available torque at low revs makes highway cruising and overtaking effortless. Hilly sections are also taken with ease even with family and luggage, and it cruises at low revs, so fuel use on the highway will still be low. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and well suited to the engine, and the suspension is a great mix of softness and stability.However, the diesel variants cost more and the engine is a bit noisier than the petrol engine. Plus, Hyundai's 1.5-litre diesel engine is not as punchy or exciting as its 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. Do also note that a new-gen Hyundai Creta is going to be launched next year, in case you are able to wait for that. Another alternative you can buy now is the Kia Seltos, which is a new-gen model, with similar strengths as the Creta and a more spacious cabin.If budget allows, choose a mid or top variant with all safety kit and ADAS functions, including adaptive cruise control - both will help on your long highway drives. If your budget is tight, maybe consider the diesel manual, rather than the automatic, which is also smooth and easy to drive.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos

Popular discussions right now

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Saransh Parnami

5d

I am confused between the Nexon, XUV 3XO, and Venue as my first car. My running is expected to be 1,000-1,200 km per month. My priorities are: 1) Performance, 2) Mileage and ownership cost, 3) Features, and 4) Rear-seat and boot space. Please advise and suggest the best-value variant as well. I am inclined towards a manual.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4d

Our first recommendation would be the new Venue Turbo Petrol Manual. It strikes the best balance for your priorities. The turbo petrol engine is punchy and enjoyable to drive, fuel efficiency is respectable, and Hyundai's ownership experience is generally hassle-free. The latest Hyundai Venue is also more spacious than before, particularly in the rear seat, and feels like a very well-rounded first car. For value, we would look at the SX Turbo Manual, which gets a good mix of features without stretching the budget too much.Our second choice would be the Mahindra XUV 3XO. If outright performance and rear seat space are your priorities, it is arguably the strongest car here. The turbo petrol engine is lively, the rear bench is among the widest in the segment, and it feels more substantial than the Venue. The downside is that fuel efficiency is not as strong, and the boot is one of the smallest in the class. The MX2 Pro or AX5 Manual would be the variants to consider, depending on your budget.The Tata Nexon would be our third choice. It remains a good all-round package with decent space, a strong feature list and good road presence. However, compared to the newer Venue and 3XO, it does not feel quite as polished, and neither the driving experience nor the ownership proposition is as compelling.

VehicleHyundai Venue
VehicleMahindra XUV 3XO
VehicleTata Nexon
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Abhishek Das

6d

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
4d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq

Posted on: 18 Jan 2026