I want to purchase a new car. We are a family of five, with 60% city and 40% highway driving (approximately 1,600km per month). Which SUV should I choose that offers good road presence, comfort, mileage and safety? I am looking for an automatic petrol or diesel within a budget of Rs 17 to 20 lakh.

Autocar India

•14h

Your usage involves low monthly running, mostly city, and heavy traffic. In this scenario, the Seltos IVT works in your favour. This is smooth, creep-friendly and very easy to drive in stop-go conditions. There are no jerks, no clutch fatigue and very light controls, which makes daily driving stress-free. In real-world use, this engine-gearbox combo is known to be refined and well-tuned for everyday driving rather than outright performance.Now about the “lag” you’ve heard. It’s not exactly lag, it’s typical CVT behaviour. When you accelerate hard, the engine revs rise first and speed builds gradually, which can feel like a delay. But in city driving, where inputs are gentle and speeds are low, this is barely noticeable. This Kia car only feels weak if you expect quick overtakes or sporty response. The upside is that Kia has tuned it well, so the rubber-band effect is limited compared to older CVTs.Compared to alternatives, the turbo petrol DCT version is quicker and more fun, but in Mumbai traffic it can feel jerky and less reliable in long term. The IVT is the safer, smoother and more relaxed choice. Compared to something like a Creta CVT, the experience is very similar, but the Seltos feels a bit more premium inside.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Autocar India

•1d

Considering your requirements, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is a good fit and will do the job. The IVT is Kia’s smooth automatic that feels very easy to drive in stop-and-go traffic, which is what you face most days. On hills, it will climb cleanly if you don’t rush it. With a full load, you will need to press the throttle a bit more, but it will hold speed fine on steady inclines.A few things to set expectations. When you ask for quick bursts, like an overtake uphill with five on board, the engine will need a moment to build speed, and it will sound louder when you push it hard. On the highway with a full car, you will find it happier at a calm, steady pace.If you see yourself doing those sections very often with all five seats filled and lots of luggage, and you want stronger performance, the Seltos turbo-petrol automatic or the diesel automatic will feel noticeably stronger on climbs and during quick overtakes. But for mostly city use with occasional trips, the Seltos IVT keeps life simple and stress-free, which suits your routine best.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•11h

With mostly city use, occasional highway drives, and ₹20-21 lakh on-road, you are clearly looking for a smooth and stress-free automatic zone. In your case, we’d pick the Hyundai Creta 1.5 IVT. You already liked how the Creta drives, and that matters more in daily life than anything on a spec sheet. The 1.5 petrol with the IVT feels calm in stop-go traffic, and the steering is light, so parking and tight turns are easy. This Hyundai car is a touch softer than the Seltos, which takes the edge off bad roads and will keep you fresher after long city days. Hyundai’s service network is also wider, which should ease your worry after a poor Tata experience.While the K3 is a notable upgrade on the K2, bringing larger dimensions, improved structural rigidity and more features, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like how it drives.Two things to note with the Creta IVT: it is not very quick, so fast highway overtakes with a full load need a firmer press of the accelerator and a bit of planning. If you prefer a slightly sportier feel and a few extra features at this price, the Seltos 1.5 IVT HTX is a solid pick. But since you prefer the way the Creta drives, it’s the better choice for you.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos