Autocar India
NK

Nitin Khuller

•17w

Want to buy a new car in the range of Rs 15 to 20 lakh. My driving is around 25,000 km per year, mostly on highways. We are a family of four. Good fuel economy is essential. Please advise which car I should buy.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•17w
Since you frequent highways and the economy is a priority, a diesel SUV would be a good choice for you. In the Rs 15-20 lakh price range, the Kia Seltos is the newest option and has the right makings with a strong diesel engine, a well-equipped cabin and Kia's widespread network. The HTK (O) trim comes well packed with features that you would need and makes for a strong case.
The Tata Sierra is also an option to consider if the Seltos' design is a bit too over the top for you. The Sierra has lots of room in the cabin, and the diesel engine is refined and punchy as well.
If both these dont sit well with you, the Hyundai Creta is the safest bet. It has a clean, no-nonsense design, a well-equipped cabin and the same strong diesel engine as the Seltos. It will also hold its value better since the Creta brand name is much stronger.
All three have good room in the cabin, and boot space for four is sufficient too.
Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

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Kia Seltos

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.02 Lakh

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.92 Lakh

Tata Sierra

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.60 Lakh

SS

Soumya Sinha

•17w

In case you can wait till second half of this calendar year don't forget to check out the new Renault Duster hybrid which will probably bring out the mix of both fun & efficiency

RA

Ragu

•17w

Excellent idea. Will this a successful model

New car launches to explore

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More questions on similar cars

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Adarsh Dodiya

•2d

I already own the MG Astor manual, but now it is giving too low mileage. I want to buy a new car, please suggest to me a car which is automatic and provides good mileage.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2h

Go for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid automatic - it will cut your fuel use sharply, often doing 20-plus kpl in city traffic where the Astor struggles. The automatic is smooth and stress-free, and because the hybrid runs on electric power a lot in stop-and-go, you get far better mileage without changing your driving style. Size, space and comfort are close to your Astor, so the switch is easy.Two things to keep in mind: the hybrid costs more upfront than a regular petrol automatic, and the boot is smaller. Also, when you press hard, the engine sounds a bit loud, but in daily driving, it stays quiet and efficient. Toyota backs the hybrid battery well, which helps long-term peace of mind.If most of your running is highway, look at the Kia Seltos diesel automatic instead - it returns strong highway mileage and feels relaxed at speed.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleMG Astor
VehicleKia Seltos
SA

Sankar

•1d

I own a Hyundai Xcent SX(O) Petrol (2014 model) and have been quite happy with it. I am now looking to upgrade to a compact SUV with an automatic transmission. I am not particularly concerned about fuel efficiency or features such as a sunroof, ADAS, and other premium equipment. My main priorities are interior space, safety and crashworthiness, boot space, and good after-sales service. My budget is around Rs. 20 lakh. Which SUV would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•8h

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT. It gives you proper family space and reasonable-sized boot, and it is has also secured a 5-star Bharat NCAP crash rating. Coming from a Hyundai, Kia’s service reach and experience will feel familiar and generally hassle free.Cabin quality is solid, seats are supportive for long drives, and it feels like a clear step-up compared to your outgoing car. You could opt for the entry-level HTE O IVT variant, which doesn't get a panoramic sunroof and some other features, so you are not forced into paying for things you do not want.If you prefer something smaller and more compact, you could consider the entry-level Skoda Kushaq or VW Taigun with the 1-litre turbo-petrol engine and 8-speed automatic. Both are nicer to drive than the Seltos, and their boot space is surprisingly better than what the numbers suggest.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VehicleVolkswagen Taigun
AY

Ayush

•1d

I am planning to buy a new Kia Seltos around October. Should I go ahead with the Seltos, or would it be better to wait for the new Hyundai Creta?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•8h

Go ahead with the Seltos in October; it already offers the same core package the new-gen Creta is likely to bring, without waiting on launch dates or risking a price jump. Both share engines and most features, and the Seltos’ facelift brought all the modern, feel-good bits, so you are not missing anything major. October also tends to bring festival deals, and quicker delivery on the Seltos, which you can actually use.The next-gen Creta is likely to hit showrooms in the first half of 2027. And even post launch, deliveries could take a few weeks. Hence, your wait is likely to get even longer.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta

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Popular discussions right now

JD

Jayvir Deol

•6d

I want to buy an SUV, and my budget is around 20 lakh. I have seen the MG Hector, the Mahindra XUV and the Tharr Rox. Which car should I buy, and given the current scenarios on the govt policies, should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
VehicleMahindra Thar Roxx
VehicleMG Hector
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Abhishek Das

•1w

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
•6d

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
AS

AS

•2d

I am confused between buying Skoda Kylaq and Kia Seltos. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kylaq

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Posted on: 12 Feb 2026