Delhi

•4h

I live in Bangalore and am planning to buy my first car. I prefer a low maintenance, reliable and smooth everyday drive. It should be a family-friendly car with a spacious cabin, comfortable rear seats and a spacious boot. My usage will be relatively low, with city driving once or twice a week and a highway road trip once every couple of months. As a first-time car buyer, I also value ease of driving, predictable ownership costs and hassle-free after-sales service. The cars that I am currently considering include Kia Seltos, Skoda Slavia and Hyundai Creta. My budget is somewhere around Rs. 17 lakh (all inclusive). I am eligible for a BH number plate. Would appreciate your advice before making a final decision.

Tap if an answer actually helped you decide.

•3m

Go for either the Hyundai Creta IVT or the Kia Seltos IVT within your budget. Both cars share the same 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which is refined and paired with a silky smooth CVT gearbox, making them easy to drive.

Between the two, the Hyundai Creta has strong brand value, a wide dealer network and attractive offers currently available, making it a safe buy. However, as a product, the Seltos is slightly better as it is the newer car. It is more spacious, has a larger boot and its interiors feel more premium.

The Skoda Slavia is a great driver's car, but if you are looking for a safe buy, go for either the Kia Seltos or Hyundai Creta.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.15 Lakh

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•3h

I am using a 2019 Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol Manual NA and am happy with this car. I am planning to change the car. I am considering buying the Duster hybrid now and am also considering waiting for Seltos/Creta hybrid by the end of 2027. We are a family of 3 so the current Seltos is perfect. I use an HTK variant as we are not into extra features. I am a driving enthusiast and have an inherent passion for fast acceleration, perfect handling and highly engaging car that is also easy to maintain and extremely reliable over a period of 7-years. What should I do? I also have a garage limitation of 1700mm height for any car.

•1h

Since the Renault Duster hybrid is already on sale, it deserves a serious test drive before you decide whether to replace your Seltos or wait for the next generation of Seltos or Creta hybrid. For a driving enthusiast, the Duster hybrid is an unusually appealing option. In our review, its 160hp powertrain delivered strong acceleration, while the steering, high speed stability and ride comfort impressed us. We also saw 16.9kpl in city driving. The main compromise is practicality. The Duster hybrid's rear seat is less spacious than the Seltos, and its boot shrinks to 372 litres because of the battery. Since you are a family of three and already find the Seltos' space ideal, check whether these compromises matter to you.

Creta vs Seltos. Same segment, similar prices, but which one do you guys actually like? Which would you pick and what makes it better??

•1d

With the third-gen Creta already under testing, what is Hyundai’s long-term plan for a 7-seater SUV positioned above it? Could the upcoming Ni1i hybrid SUV simply be launched as the second-gen Alcazar, or will the Alcazar be discontinued? There has been news about Ni1i for a long time. Will the Alcazar get a new generation, move upmarket to rival the Mahindra XUV 7XO, or make way for an entirely new model as it approaches the end of its lifecycle?

•1d

Hyundai is unlikely to simply replace the Alcazar with the upcoming hybrid SUV (Ni1i), as the two are expected to occupy different positions in its line-up. We had previously reported that Ni1i is planned as a larger, three-row hybrid SUV positioned above the Alcazar and below the Tucson, targeting rivals such as the Mahindra XUV 7XO and Tata Safari. If that positioning holds, the Alcazar would continue to fill the gap between the Creta and the larger hybrid SUV.The Alcazar is also expected to receive a new generation around 2027–28, while Ni1i has gone quiet and is unlikely to arrive before late 2027. Hyundai has not confirmed the final positioning or launch timeline for either model, so it is too early to say whether the Alcazar will move upmarket or be discontinued.For now, the most plausible plan is for Hyundai to retain the Alcazar as its more accessible three-row SUV and position Ni1i as a larger, more premium hybrid offering. The arrival of the third-generation Creta could influence that strategy, but there is no confirmed indication that Ni1i will simply become the next Alcazar.

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•6d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•5d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

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•5d

I am looking for a petrol automatic car under Rs 12 lakh with good features. My first choice is the Honda Amaze, but I am concerned about its ground clearance and engine performance. Around 70% of my driving will be in the city. Would the Amaze be a good choice?

•4d

With 70% city driving, the Honda Amaze is actually a very sensible choice. The CVT automatic is smooth and easy to drive in traffic. The engine is reliable, and the car’s compact dimensions make it easy to manoeuvre and park.The only real drawback is that the engine is not particularly torquey, so it can feel a bit flat on highways or when fully loaded. However, for predominantly city use, that is not a major concern. The ground clearance at 172 mm is adequate for most urban conditions, but a fully loaded car can cause the rear suspension to compress significantly, requiring caution over large speed breakers. If you like the Honda Amaze petrol automatic for what it offers, go for it.

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•2d

For my personal requirements, I have shortlisted two cars including Mahindra 3XO Edge automatic and Brezza VXI automatic. The only reason for which I have shortlisted Brezza is because of its simple engine. Otherwise, everyone in my family wants to go with 3XO for its space, unique looks and bigger width. I want to know about TCMPFi engine. Will it be reliable and at least better than Nexon's Revotron?

•2d

Go for the Mahindra XUV 3XO Edge automatic. The Brezza VXi automatic is a safe, simple and reliable choice, but the 3XO is the better fit for your requirements. It offers a wider cabin, more space and a more premium feel, which your family clearly values. The TCMPFi engine is a turbocharged petrol unit and is fundamentally a sound engine. It is not a new or unproven powertrain, and Mahindra has had time to refine it. It is also paired with a 6-speed torque converter automatic, which is a proven and reliable gearbox type. Compared to the Nexon’s Revotron engine, the 3XO’s powertrain is more refined and the gearbox is smoother and more conventional in its operation. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simpler and will likely be marginally more reliable over a very long ownership period, but the 3XO’s engine is not something to worry about from a reliability perspective. Given your family’s preference for space and the more premium feel, the 3XO is the better choice.

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