Delhi

•4h

I’ve been driving a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel manual for the last 9 years. I drive about 90 km a day, of which around 60 km is on the expressway and 30 km is in the city. I’m planning to buy an automatic compact SUV that’s comfortable to drive and fuel-efficient. I’ve been looking at something like a mid-spec Tata Sierra diesel. Which car would you recommend?

•3m

The Tata Sierra diesel automatic would be a good fit for your daily 90km commute, particularly with 60km on the expressway. It is comfortable and has strong highway cruising ability. The Aisin-sourced six-speed torque converter is smooth and well calibrated, making it easy to drive in city traffic as well. The Sierra also has a comfortable cabin and a well-sorted ride, which should make your daily commute less tiring. One drawback is that the diesel engine is not particularly refined, with noticeable engine noise and vibrations.

The Kia Seltos diesel automatic is another strong option. It is more refined, has a better-quality cabin and offers a more polished overall ownership experience. Its diesel engine and automatic gearbox make it particularly well suited to your mix of expressway and city driving.

Our recommendation would be the Sierra diesel automatic if comfort and highway ability are your priorities. However, if you value refinement, cabin quality and a more reassuring ownership experience, the Seltos diesel automatic is the one to choose.

Explore cars mentioned

Tata

Sierra

from ₹13.33 Lakh

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•2w

With a budget of Rs 23–24 lakh, should I consider the Hyundai Alcazar Turbo Petrol DCT or the Kia Seltos GTX Petrol, comparing both the IVT and DCT options? My annual driving is approximately 6,000–7,000 km, and I would like a detailed comparison focusing on long-term ownership over 10–15 years, reliability, maintenance costs, transmission durability, fuel efficiency and overall value for money. I would also like to understand the practical differences between Hyundai’s K2 and Kia’s K3 platforms, particularly in terms of structural strength, safety, ride comfort, handling and long-term durability. Given my relatively low annual usage and preference for hassle-free ownership, which car and transmission combination would make the most sense within my budget?

•2d

Our top recommendation is the Kia Seltos GTX Petrol IVT. It is likely to be the most sensible combination of performance, comfort, running costs and long-term mechanical simplicity for your usage.The Hyundai Alcazar Turbo DCT is tempting because of its larger cabin, more powerful engine and three-row practicality. However, unless you regularly need the third row, I don't think it offers enough additional value to justify choosing it over the Seltos.There is also an important distinction between the Seltos IVT and DCT: for your relatively low annual mileage and long ownership horizon, I'd favour the IVT even though the DCT is considerably more engaging.The Seltos has moved to the new K3 platform in its second generation, while the Alcazar continues on the K2 architecture. Interestingly, the K3 platform's biggest practical advantage might not be structural strength but its overall refinement. It absorbs bumps more effectively than the previous generation while retaining good body control and high-speed stability.All things considered, the Seltos in its IVT guise makes for a better buy.

Hyundai Alcazar

Kia Seltos

•2w

Hello, my monthly running is around 1600km which includes city traffic, narrow and bad rural roads as well as open highway express way drive. Currently, I am driving Corolla Altis Petrol with which I don't have any issues related to driving dynamics and outright performance. I am searching for a similar or more dynamic and powerful car for a family of 5. Kindly suggest a diesel suv that has good ground clearance for bad roads, good maneuverability for tight lanes and excellent engine performance for highway use along with great cabin comfort, best in class milieage and most importantly reliability. My budget is between Rs. 18-20 lakh (on-road Delhi). Also suggest if any EV alternatives are available under my budget.

•3d

For your needs, consider the Kia Seltos Diesel AT. It has the ground clearance you're looking for to tackle bad roads, is large yet reasonably manoeuvrable, and offers good engine performance and fuel efficiency. Kia also has a strong reputation for after-sales service and reliability, which is something you'd want coming from a Toyota. The cabin is also among the most spacious in its class, with enough room for a family of five and their luggage.If you can install an EV charger at home, an electric vehicle could be a good alternative. Within your budget, the MG Windsor Pro, Kia Syros EV and Tata Nexon EV are all strong contenders. All three offer sufficient range for your city driving and can manage your highway trips with a charging stop along the way. However, since they are smaller than the Seltos, you might find space a little tight for your family of five.Overall, the Seltos is the best diesel option for your needs. However, if you're open to an EV, the MG Windsor is worth considering.

Hello, Would the Kia Sorento work with the Hyundai Tucson’s 1999cc naturally aspirated petrol engine (156 PS and 192 Nm)? And why didn’t Kia offer a naturally aspirated petrol engine, which would have brought the price down further?

•1h

The Hyundai Tucson's 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and refined, but its performance is fairly modest for a car in this price bracket. At 156hp and 192Nm, it isn't particularly strong, and fuel efficiency isn't its biggest strength either. While using this engine in the Kia Sorento would certainly have brought down the starting price, the Sorento is even larger and heavier than the Tucson, so performance and efficiency would have taken an additional hit. Buyers spending that kind of money would expect stronger performance. This is why the diesel and strong hybrid powertrains make more sense for the Sorento, offering a better combination of performance, efficiency and suitability for a large SUV.

Kia Sorento

View all Posts

Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

Cars you may like

Mahindra Scorpio N

₹13.69 - ₹25.49 Lakhs

Hyundai Venue

₹8.00 - ₹15.65 Lakhs

Kia Seltos

₹11.00 - ₹21.82 Lakhs

Land Rover Defender

₹99.00 Lakhs - ₹2.62 Cr

Mahindra Thar OG

₹10.32 - ₹18.99 Lakhs

View all

Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•6d

I am planning to buy a car with a factory-fitted CNG kit, an automatic transmission, and cruise control within a budget of Rs 15 lakh. Please suggest some options.

•6d

There are quite a few options that would meet your requirements, so its hard to pinpoint a specific model without knowing a bit more about your requirements and driving conditions. If you are looking for a city car then pick the Tata Punch, the compact dimensions are easy to manage in tight city traffic and the elevated driving position gives you a decent view outside. If however you want something bigger and with more space then the Maruti Suzuki Dzire would be a good option as you will have more rear space as well as a larger boot. Both cars will fit well within your budget. If you want a larger CNG car then you will have to settle for a manual and the a model like the Kia Carens Clavis or the Maruti Victoris.

Tata Punch

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Kia Carens Clavis

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•4d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Dear Autocar India team, I am planning to purchase my first family car with a budget of Rs 11 lakh and have already booked the Kia Sonet HTK+ variant. However, concerns raised on social media about the performance of its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine have made me reconsider my decision. Since our monthly usage is relatively low and the car will primarily be used for occasional trips, would the Sonet HTK+ be a suitable choice for our requirements, or should I consider another model or an alternative powertrain within the Sonet range? I would appreciate your professional guidance in making the right decision. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

•4d

If your usage is primarily in the city, the 1.2-litre Kia Sonet will serve you just fine. It has a smooth, refined engine paired with a light clutch and gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Where it falls short is on the highway, where it may need a downshift to make an overtake.If you frequently travel on the highway with three or more passengers, you would be better off looking at a turbo-petrol version of the Sonet. Alternatively, consider something like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Hyundai Venue with a turbo-petrol engine. However, the trade-off for better performance from a turbo-petrol engine is lower fuel efficiency in the city.If you only plan on using the Sonet around town, stick with the naturally aspirated engine. But if highway performance is important, the turbo-petrol is a worthwhile upgrade.

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

View all Posts

Upcoming launch buzz

Community discussions on upcoming launches