Mumbai

•22h

I currently own a 2010 Hyundai i20 and a 2013 Honda City, and I'm looking to upgrade to a sedan or midsize SUV under Rs 30 lakh as my primary family car for five people. While I enjoy driving, I tend to prioritise features over outright driving performance, which is why I chose the i20 over the VW Polo back then. I had almost booked the Renault Duster Iconic, but the limited rear legroom, awkward rear door handle placement, concerns about the turbo-petrol's fuel efficiency, and the lack of some modern features made me reconsider. I've test-driven the Kia Seltos, and it ticks almost all the boxes, but I'm still struggling to get used to the flush door handles. I also considered the Tata Sierra (quality concerns and lacking the outright luxury or performance of its rivals), Hyundai Creta (feels dated), the Volkswagen/Skoda duo (look too small, and my wife ruled them out), and the Mahindra XUV 7XO (no physical switchgear), but ruled them out. I've been waiting nearly three years for the right car, and now I feel like I'm running out of options. Am I being too picky, or is there another car I should consider?

•5m

The Kia Seltos is the right car for you, as it meets your requirements of features, size, space, quality and performance. The flush door handles can be annoying, especially during the rains when they collect dirt inside, but are not a deal-breaker and can be grown accustomed to. The Seltos is the most complete package in this segment: it offers a premium cabin, strong feature list, good rear seat space for five, and a driving experience that strikes a nice balance between comfort and engagement. The turbo petrol is punchy and not as thirsty as some others, and the overall ownership experience is dependable.

Your concerns about the other cars are valid, and while no model is perfect, this Kia car feels like the one that suits your needs best. If you're looking for an alternative, don't rule out a sedan. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both due for facelifts soon, and the updated versions might be worth your while, offering driving pleasure, space and features in good measure.

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Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Skoda

Slavia

from ₹11.55 Lakh

Volkswagen

Virtus

from ₹12.64 Lakh

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More questions on similar cars

•1d

I own a 2022 Hyundai Venue Diesel (base model), and I'm planning to upgrade to a new car. I'm looking for a vehicle that is more comfortable, more spacious, and offers good fuel efficiency. My monthly driving is around 700-800 km, with most of it in the city and only occasional highway trips.

•1d

Given your requirements, the Tata Sierra Turbo is a good option to consider, but it may not be the best fit for your usage pattern. Your monthly running of 700-800 km, mostly in the city with only occasional highway trips, means fuel efficiency and ease of driving are more important than outright performance. The Sierra Turbo is a spacious and comfortable SUV with a modern design and a premium feel, but its turbo petrol engine is more performance-oriented and may not deliver the best fuel efficiency in city conditions.A better fit for your needs would be the Kia Seltos with the 1.5 litre petrol engine and the CVT automatic gearbox. The powertrain is smooth and easy to drive and perfect of cities and even on the highway the performance and overtaking ability is adequate. With the new generation Seltos, Kia have improved cabin space - especially at the rear - and the ride quality too. These are not class best but good enough and something you should be happy with. Being a Kia reliability is also good and the service network is quite wide spread.

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•1w

Hi, we are a family of three living in Pune, where traffic is extremely congested. Our budget is 15-20 lakh, and we're looking for a car, preferably a hybrid, with good fuel efficiency. I'm 6ft 2in tall, so cabin space is also important. We currently own a Kia Sonet HTX Plus. What would you recommend?

•1d

Given your height, the family of three and Pune’s congestion, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is the most sensible recommendation. Its hybrid powertrain delivers excellent fuel efficiency in stop-start city driving, while the light controls and comfortable ride make it easy to live with every day. Headroom in the front seat is adequate for someone who is 6'2'', but it will feel a bit tight in the back seat. If you are the one who is driving, then it shouldn't be an issue. The sunroof also takes away a little headroom, so it's best avoided. The other drawback is that the boot is on the smaller side for the segment, but for a family of three, it should still be manageable.If you don't mind compromising on fuel efficiency, the Kia Seltos IVT is also worth considering. It is not a hybrid, but a reliable and comfortable SUV with a spacious cabin and a strong ownership reputation. However, given your focus on fuel efficiency in heavy traffic, the Maruti Suzuki car remains the stronger recommendation.

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•4d

I am planning to buy a petrol manual SUV with a budget of around Rs. 15 lakh. I am unable to decide between the Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Creta. Whichever car I choose will be a huge upgrade, as I currently drive a 2010 Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo that is 16 years old. My usage is very minimal, around 200 km per month. Which one would you recommend?

•2d

With just 200km a month and a 16-year-old Zen Estilo as your current car, the priority should be a comfortable, reliable and easy-to-live-with upgrade rather than chasing the biggest or most feature-rich SUV. The Kia Seltos petrol manual is the best fit here. It is a well-rounded SUV with a comfortable ride, good refinement and a proven ownership track record. It will feel like a huge step up from the Estilo in terms of space, safety and overall driving experience without being unnecessarily large or complex for your low running.The Tata Sierra is a more premium and spacious option, but with such minimal usage, the extra size and cost are difficult to justify. The Hyundai Creta is a solid alternative too, but it will be replaced by a new one next year. The Seltos also feels more premium and is the better value proposition in this price range. Go for the Seltos petrol manual and enjoy a simple, dependable upgrade that will serve you well for years.

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Popular discussions right now

•6d

I want to buy a low-maintenance car for my father, who is 65 years old. My budget is around 15 lakh. His daily commute is around 30-40km, and he also visits our farm 7-8 times a month. Which car would you recommend?

•5d

For your father, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza petrol automatic is the most sensible recommendation. At 65, ease of use, reliability and low maintenance are far more important than outright performance or flashy features. The Brezza’s naturally aspirated petrol engine is simple, proven and well-suited to a 30-40 km daily commute, while the automatic gearbox makes city driving effortless. Maruti’s service network is the best in the country, which means low running costs and peace of mind over the long term.This Maruti Suzuki car also has enough ground clearance and a robust suspension setup to handle occasional farm visits without any fuss. It is not the most exciting car in the segment, but it is comfortable, easy to drive and built for hassle-free ownership. At Rs 15 lakh, it is one of the most dependable choices you can make for your father. Since the Brezza facelift is just around the corner, you can wait for that or try to get a good deal on the outgoing model.

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•1w

I'm planning to buy a small automatic car for my wife, who is 5'1" tall. The car will be used mostly in the city, with occasional highway trips. Which would be the best option?

•6d

For your wife, consider the Hyundai Exter. At 5'1", she will benefit from its good all-round visibility, light steering and compact dimensions, which make it very easy to manoeuvre in city traffic and tight parking spaces. This Hyundai car also gets driver's seat height adjustment from the base trim, which will be very handy for your wife. The AMT gearbox is smooth enough for daily commuting, and the car is very easy to drive. Fuel efficiency is decent; expect 9 to 10kpl in the city and 15kpl on the highway.If you want something a bit more efficient, consider the Maruti Suzuki Swift. In our testing we managed 12.7kpl in the city and 19kpl on the highway with the AGS. However, height adjustment for the driver's seat is only available on the ZXi trim onwards.Overall, the Hyundai Exter AMT is the better fit for your requirements. It is simple, reliable, easy to drive and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway trips.

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•5d

I am 37, now I want a low-maintenance car for me. Also, I have to run sometimes 300 km in a day, so suggest me a better mileage and low maintenance car under the budget of 5-6lakh.

•4d

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the best fit for your requirements. It is one of the most fuel-efficient petrol cars in the segment, has a proven ownership track record, and Maruti's service network ensures low maintenance costs over the long term. The 1.0-litre petrol engine is simple, reliable and well-suited to both city use and occasional highway runs. You even have the option of an AMT automatic for greater convenience. If you are open to CNG cars, the Celerio CNG is also worth considering, as it will significantly reduce running costs on your longer trips. The only drawback is that the Celerio is a compact hatchback, so if you regularly carry more passengers or luggage, you may want to look at the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R instead, which offers more space while retaining the same low maintenance and reliability advantages. Overall, the Celerio strikes the best balance between fuel efficiency, reliability and low ownership costs for your usage pattern.

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