Hi, I have been using a Maruti Ritz diesel car for the past 15 years and am planning to buy an SUV, preferably automatic. My budget is around ₹20 lakh, and I expect to drive about 1,000 km per month. I am interested only in diesel models. I am considering the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Tata Sierra, but am a bit confused about which one to choose. Could you please suggest which one would be the best option? Or any other option I should look at?

Autocar India

•9h

Pick the Maruti Suzuki Jimny. For Spiti’s narrow, broken mountain roads with light to moderate snow, the Jimny’s small size and low weight make life easier. It is simpler to place on those cliff-edge tracks, its narrow tyres bite better on packed snow, and visibility is excellent. The 4x4 with low range works cleanly, and Maruti’s service reach in Himachal is wider if you do need help.Be ready for one compromise. The 1.5 petrol loses power at high altitude, so climbs will be slow and you will use lower gears more often. Cabin and boot are smaller too.If you regularly travel with four adults plus big luggage, or you expect fresh, deeper snow, the Thar’s extra torque and higher clearance give you more headroom. But for a typical winter, Spiti run in light to moderate snow where control and confidence matter more than brute force, the Jimny is the better tool.

Maruti Suzuki Jimny

Mahindra Thar

Autocar India

•9h

For your usage, we would suggest the Innova HyCross Hybrid rather than the XEV 9e or XEV 9s. The reason is that you are replacing a Crysta, and once you have lived with an Innova, you tend to appreciate things like space, practicality and long distance comfort more than headline technology. The HyCross feels like a natural evolution of what you already have. It is significantly more fuel efficient than the Crysta, the hybrid system is exceptionally well suited to a 60 km daily city commute, and for your monthly 500 km highway trips, it remains one of the most effortless cars you can buy.The XEV 9e and 9s are impressive EVs with strong performance, big batteries and low running costs. If your driving was almost entirely city based, they would be easier to recommend. However, for a family that regularly does longer highway trips, the HyCross still offers a level of convenience that is hard to beat.Between the two Mahindra cars, the 9e is the better choice. It has a more balanced ride and handling setup, feels more premium inside and out, and is the more complete product overall. The 9s feels noticeably softer, which can make it feel slightly bouncy over undulating roads.

Mahindra XEV 9e

Mahindra XEV 9S

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•21h

Neither the KTM RC 450 (currently on sale) nor an expected RC 490 (touted to use a new sub-500cc, twin-cyl platform) are currently confirmed for an Indian launch. The RC 450 is based on the CFMoto 450 SR-S platform and is manufactured by the Chinese brand, so an Indian arrival is all but out of the picture. The RC 490, if it even materialises in the first place, is at least 2-3 years away, if not more.