Hi, I am a doctor and drive 90-100km daily, with 90% highway usage and 10% city driving. I currently own a Hyundai Aura SX CNG, which has done 87,000km in 2 years. I am looking to buy a new car. My priorities are mileage, safety, and comfort. Most of my driving is solo, but for trips (6-7 times a year), we are five people. My budget is flexible, up to 18-20 lakh, but I prefer to spend as little as possible.

Autocar India

•19h

Buy the Kia Seltos; it hits your mix of big-city commuting in Hyderabad/Mumbai, and 1-2 highway runs a month better than the others. The 1.5 petrol with the automatic is easy in traffic, returns sensible mileage, and the light controls make it a painless jump from the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. Cabin space and boot are genuinely family-friendly for 4-5 with luggage, and higher trims add city-friendly kit like the 360 camera and ventilated seats that you will actually use in summer. The only real trade-off is a slightly firm low-speed ride, and that top trims can stretch the budget.The Hyundai Creta is a close second if you prefer a softer, comfier feel. The Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun are the most fun to drive, but the rear seat and boot are tighter for five. The Honda Elevate is simple and efficient, but it feels a step behind on features.About waiting: the next-gen Hyundai Creta is expected early next year. Test mules have been spotted in India, which usually means it is in the final testing stages. It will move to the current Seltos K3 platform, which should mean a roomier cabin. It will also feature a new design language and a significantly improved interior. It's worth remembering that new launches are frequently delayed, and it's hard to be certain until an official confirmation from Hyundai. If you need a car soon, then get the Seltos now.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

Hyundai Creta

Skoda Kushaq

Volkswagen Taigun

Autocar India

•2d

Since your usage isn’t particularly high, and considering the 10-year diesel vehicle restriction in the Delhi-NCR region, we’d recommend opting for a petrol-powered model.The Hyundai Creta’s 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth, refined and feels adequate for city driving, but it lacks the effortless performance of the turbo-petrol on highways. In fact, out on the open road, the turbo-petrol is also likely to be more fuel efficient.Hyundai has limited the Creta turbo-DCT to a single variant priced at Rs 20.05 lakh, or you have to opt for the Creta N Line, which is priced between Rs 17.83 lakh and Rs 21.21 lakh. Interestingly, the Hyundai Alcazar turbo-petrol engine with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic is available across a broad price range of Rs 14.50 lakh-21.20 lakh (ex-showroom). Overall, the Hyundai Alcazar scores over the Creta not just because of its three-row seating, but also due to its added practicality. When not in use, the third row can be folded down to free up a large luggage area, giving the Alcazar a clear versatility advantage. As a family car, it is therefore the more sensible choice.

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai Alcazar

Autocar India

•2d

Stick with the Hyundai Creta 1.5 petrol S(O) manual unless you regularly do long highway runs and rack up 1,500-2,000 km a month. In typical city-heavy use, the petrol will do about 10-12 kpl in traffic and 14-16 kpl on open roads, which is fine for your budget and avoids diesel complexity. The diesel costs more to buy and only pays back if you cover roughly 60,000 km or more; its real-world is about 13-15 kpl in city and 18-21 kpl on highways.Your colleagues are mixing things up. AdBlue and DPF are different. AdBlue (SCR) cuts NOx. The DPF traps soot. The Creta diesel has a DPF either way, and AdBlue does not prevent DPF clogging. DPF trouble pops up with short, stop-start city use.If you truly need the diesel, it’s manageable with a few habits: do a 15-20 minute steady-speed drive every week or two, don’t shut the engine mid active-regen, use good fuel, and avoid chronic short hops and idling. You will also need to top up AdBlue occasionally.

Hyundai Creta