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

•11w

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.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.79 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.56 Lakh

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.37 Lakh

Soumya Sinha

•10w

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

Ragu

•10w

Excellent idea. Will this a successful model

More questions on similar cars

Chintan

•23h

I am confused between the Kia Seltos and the Skoda Slavia. My monthly running is under 1,000 km, with a usage split of 60% city and 40% highway. The car should comfortably accommodate five passengers and offer a practical boot space. My budget is under ₹16 lakh (on-road). Please suggest which option would be better, along with the most value-for-money and practical variant. Also, let me know if there are any other cars I should consider within this budget.

Autocar India

•15h

The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol HTK (O) MT fits your brief best. In daily traffic, the Seltos will be easy to drive thanks to its smooth, naturally aspirated petrol engine and light gearshift and clutch, and the higher seat makes getting in and out easy. It also rides over bad roads and tall speed breakers without worry, which matters on mixed city-highway use. Space is good for four and fine for five for shorter trips, and the boot will take a family’s weekend bags.The HTK (O) MT is a good value for money as it offers quite a few features for the price. Just bear in mind that, on the highway, the engine will require a bit more effort to make easy overtakes. If your trips are often with four adults and lots of luggage, and you value a bigger boot and stronger pull on the highway, look at the Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI Sportline MT. Its small turbo engine gives more punch. But it is a lower car, so entry is not as easy, and you have to be a bit more careful on rough roads. Compared to the Seltos' naturally aspirated 1.5, you'll also experience some turbo lag at city speeds, and at your budget, you won't get as many features. Overall, for your mix of city and highway and firm budget, the Seltos HTK is the most practical pick.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Slavia

Rahul

•3d

I am a 38-year-old professional planning to buy a new car. My usage is 60% city, 30% highway, and 10% rural, with a monthly running of 1,200–1,500 km. I am confused about whether to buy the Kia Seltos IVT, DCT, or diesel variant, or consider any other options.

Autocar India

•23h

With 60 percent city, 30 percent highway and a bit of rough-road use, and 1,200-1,500 km a month, the Kia Seltos 1.5 diesel with the 6-speed automatic is the stronger fit for you. It pulls well from low speeds, so city drives and rural patches feel easy without pressing the pedal hard, and on the highway, it sits at speed calmly with enough power for safe passes. This automatic Kia car is a 6-speed torque-converter unit, smooth in traffic. At your monthly distance, it will also use less fuel than the petrol options.A couple of watch-outs: the diesel costs more to buy and is a bit louder at idle. If most of your city trips are very short in heavy traffic, the diesel’s particulate filter can clog over time, so plan one longer run each week to keep it clear.If your driving is mostly city and you value a quiet, easy feel, the Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is the one to pick. The IVT feels smooth and is very relaxed in stop-go traffic. The turbo-petrol DCT offers the most performance, but the gearbox can feel a bit jerky in slow traffic.For your mix, we’d choose the Seltos diesel automatic.

Kia Seltos

VIJAY

•3d

Hi Autocar, I am planning to buy a car that offers good comfort and strong road presence with an on-road budget of ₹14 lakh. I have shortlisted the following options: Skoda Kushaq base variant, Kia Seltos base variant, Kia Carens Clavis base variant, Mahindra XUV 3XO base variant, and Citroen Aircross 7-seater. We travel long distances once a month, and I already own a 2017 Swift ZDi diesel variant. Kindly suggest which car I should choose from the above options and also recommend the most suitable variant. Since I have provided multiple options to the Autocar team, I would really appreciate your advice as a car enthusiast.

Autocar India

•2d

For one long highway trip a month, a ₹14 lakh on-road cap, and a step up in comfort from your Swift diesel, the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol manual suits you best. As far as base variants go, the Seltos is very well equipped, with features like cruise control, keyless entry, and an HD infotainment screen with wireless phone connectivity. The new generation also rides better than the last one, has a roomier cabin, and better road presence. Compared with your Swift, it will feel far more spacious and calmer at speed, and the big boot makes luggage easy.The Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV 3XO base variants are good choices, but will feel a bit smaller on the inside. If you need 7 seats, the Kia Carens Clavis offers a similar experience to the Seltos, but its base trim is not as well equipped. The Citroen Aircross 7-seater offers superb ride comfort, but the service reach is still limited in many cities.Overall, for your use, the Seltos base lines up best.

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