I want to buy a diesel car. My monthly use will be around 1,000-1,200 km, with roughly 30% city and 70% highway driving. My on-road budget is ₹15 lakh. My priorities are safety, mileage, features, and comfort - please suggest suitable options.

Autocar India

•19w

The Hyundai Creta would be our pick. It offers a good blend of an efficient diesel engine, lots of features, great comfort, and reasonable safety too.

If you’re looking for something with better crash safety, the Tata Curvv is a good option - so is the Scorpio N. However, keep in mind that while the Scorpio N has a good crash rating, its high-speed handling on highways isn’t as good as the Creta or Curvv. Also, mileage would be lower in this case.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.56 Lakh

Mahindra

Scorpio N

from ₹15.64 Lakh

Tata

Curvv

from ₹10.92 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

Sharmila

•1d

Please advise which car I should buy. I am confused between the Hyundai Creta EX(O) IVT, Kia Seltos HTE(O) IVT, and Honda Elevate V CVT, all 2026 models. My usage will be 50% city and 50% highway. I plan to sell the car in 3 to 4 years, so good resale value is important. Which of these cars would be the better value for money and easier to resell later? Please suggest.

Autocar India

•1d

Since your usage is split evenly between city and highway and you plan to sell the car in about 3–4 years, choosing the model that feels the most modern and premium today would make more sense.Among the three, we would suggest going for the Kia Seltos IVT. It is the newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta, and it is also slightly larger and more spacious, which helps it feel more premium overall. Both the Seltos and Creta share the same powertrain, so either car will offer a similar driving experience. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is one of the most refined units in this segment and the IVT/CVT transmission is silky smooth, making it well suited for both city and highway driving.Also, considering that the Creta is expected to be replaced early next year, it is unlikely to have a higher resale value compared to the Seltos in the coming years.The Honda Elevate is also a safe and reliable option. However, compared to the Creta and the Seltos, it does not feel as premium and the engine is a bit noisier than the Hyundai/Kia unit. It is also an older product compared to the Seltos.

Sudhir Singh

I am confused between the Tata Safari petrol and the Scorpio N. Which would be better, and what's the major difference between the Tata Safari Pure X and Adventure X Plus?

Autocar India

•1h

The Safari's three rows are much more comfortable and spacious than the Mahindra Scorpio N's, and its suspension feels a lot plusher too, making it better to drive as well. Overall, the Tata Safari feels more polished in comparison, hence it gets our vote.The price difference between Pure X and Adventure X Plus variant of the Safari is approximately Rs 1.40 lakh (on-road), with the latter being more expensive. For the premium, the Adventure X Plus variant gets larger 18-inch alloys (vs 17s in the Pure X), drive modes, one-touch up and down driver's power window, electonic parking brake with auto hold, rear defogger, leatherette upholstery and an electric driver's seat with memory.While these are nice to have, none of these features is a deal-maker. Instead, the Pure X variant is very well-equipped and actually a better value for money.

Tata Safari

Mahindra Scorpio N

Sant

•3d

I am looking to buy a new car, preferably an SUV with an automatic gearbox. My previous car was the Hyundai Elite i20, and now I am looking for something more comfortable, premium, and reliable. My budget is around ₹22 lakh, and my usage will be less than 1,000 km per month, mostly city driving with occasional long trips. I have already booked the Tata Sierra, but I am now having second thoughts due to the long waiting period and concerns about Tata’s service and reliability. I am open to other brands as well, but would prefer petrol or hybrid engine options. What would you recommend?

Autocar India

•1d

With your running of less than 1,000 km a month, going for a strong hybrid may not really make sense. Hybrids typically justify their higher price only when the running is higher, and you are able to recover the extra cost through fuel savings.In your case, we would suggest considering the Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT automatic. Since your previous car was the Hyundai i20, you are already familiar with the Hyundai brand and its ownership experience. The Creta’s 1.5-litre turbo petrol paired with the DCT offers strong performance and smooth shifting, making it both enjoyable on the highway and easy to drive in the city.Another strong option to consider is the Kia Seltos turbo-petrol with the 7-speed DCT. The Seltos is the newer car, slightly bigger and more spacious than the Creta, yet priced very similarly. It uses the same 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a DCT gearbox that delivers quick and smooth shifts.

Hyundai Creta

Kia New Seltos

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