I m planning to buy a new Diesel Car/SUV for highway and long drive 80% city drive 20% Approx running 3000 km per month. Currently having creta diesel running 2.0 lac km in 5 years Pls guide . Budget is approx 18 lac ex showroom Option mahindra 7XO, TATA SIERRA, TATA HAREER, HYUNDAI CERTA, KIA SELTOS

autocar.india

•2d

Given your usage of 30,000 km in a year, a diesel automatic is the right move, and both the Tata Sierra and Tata Curvv are strong options. The Sierra is the better choice if you priorities space, comfort and a more premium cabin experience. It offers a larger, more comfortable rear seat, a more spacious boot and a more relaxed long-distance touring character. There's also a lot of new features and tech with the Sierra, though on the higher trims. The Curvv, appeals with its coupe like styling but the trade-off is that it is not as spacious or as comfortable for rear-seat passengers. Between the two, the Sierra is also likely to hold on to its resale value better and it is the one we would lean towards.

Tata Sierra

Tata Curvv

autocar.india

•19m

With a monthly running of 1,500 km and 70% highway usage, a diesel car makes the most sense. The higher torque and better fuel efficiency on long runs will pay off over time, and your usage pattern justifies the premium over petrol. Since you prefer a manual car, you will also avoid the complexity and cost of automatic gearboxes, which is a plus for long-term ownership.The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel manual in a lower trim would be our first recommendation. It is a genuinely strong highway car with a punchy diesel engine, good stability at speed and a comfortable ride over long distances.If you want something a bit more compact and easier to live with in the city, the Kia Seltos diesel manual is also a very good option. It is more affordable, feels premium on the inside and is still very capable on the highway.Overall, the XUV 7XO diesel manual is the best fit for your usage and budget.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

The Kia Seltos is a good all-rounder, but for a 5-foot-tall driver, it is not the easiest car to live with. The seat height adjustment is limited, and the bonnet is relatively high, which can make judging the front of the car difficult. The A-pillars are also quite thick, which can create blind spots at junctions. The Seltos is also a larger car than you really need for city commutes, which makes parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces more challenging.A better option would be the Kia Syros. It has a higher seating postion, lower bonnet line, better all-round visibility and a more compact footprint, which makes it much easier to drive and park in the city. The seat height adjustment is also more accommodating for shorter drivers. The Syros is also a very comfortable and reliable car with low running costs, which makes it a great long-term ownership proposition.

Kia Seltos

Kia Syros