I want to change my car. I primarily drive within the city, dropping kids off at school or running short errands. Have driven around 76k km in the current car in 12+ years. Usage may slightly increase as I may do a 500km+/- trip every month. So that's like 6k km more per year. So, all around 10k to 12k km per year will be my usage, of which half or more will be city. Which car should I buy? I am more inclined towards foreign brands with good safety ratings. Open to suggestions. Should I also look at used cars?

Autocar India

•23h

For your usage, which is largely short in-town drives with occasional hill trips carrying family, the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol with the IVT automatic is the most suitable choice. It offers a very smooth and easy driving experience, especially in stop-go city conditions, with light controls and seamless power delivery that will feel far more relaxed compared to your current Vista. On hill drives, while it may need to be worked a bit harder on steep inclines, it has enough power and is easy to manage.A diesel automatic is not a bad choice, but in your case, it is not the most ideal fit. With mostly short city runs of around 20km, modern diesel engines can sometimes require longer, sustained drives to maintain optimal health, and you may not fully utilise the diesel’s strengths. The extra cost also becomes harder to justify given your usage pattern.The turbo petrol with DCT is another option, but for your kind of driving, it is not the best fit either. Dual-clutch automatics can feel less smooth at low speeds, in crawling traffic, and in hilly conditions; they require a bit more care.So, overall, the petrol IVT strikes the best balance of smoothness, ease of driving and long-term peace of mind. If you are also considering the Kia Carens Clavis, it could be worth a look for its added practicality. But if you specifically want an automatic petrol, you will have to opt for the turbo petrol with DCT, as the 1.5 naturally aspirated engine is offered only with a manual transmission.

Kia Carens Clavis

Autocar India

•1d

For your usage of just 400-500 km a month, it makes more sense to hold on to your Toyota Innova Crysta diesel automatic. It already offers the space, comfort and reliability you are looking for, and with such low running, you are unlikely to benefit financially from switching to a new car. The cost of upgrading will be significantly higher than any savings or advantages you gain, especially since your current car is still relatively new.That said, with low usage and mostly short drives, you should ensure the car gets an occasional longer run to keep everything in good condition.If you are still considering a change, it should be more for a different experience rather than a direct replacement. The Toyota Innova Hycross hybrid is the closest alternative in terms of size and practicality, while offering a more modern cabin and a smoother petrol-hybrid driving experience that suits low running better.So, unless you specifically want newer features or a different driving experience, it is best to continue with the Crysta, as it already fits your needs very well.

Toyota Innova Crysta

Toyota Innova HyCross

Autocar India

•1d

Purely financially, it isn’t optimal to sell your car so soon, as 12-18-month-old cars take the sharpest depreciation hit. Expect a resale value of approximately Rs 20 lakh for your outgoing car - a financial hit of around 20 percent. If you still wish to satisfy your itch to upgrade to a larger car, consider the Mahindra XUV 7XO. It is thoroughly modern, and it’s a genuine size upgrade over your Hyundai Creta with a punchier engine, and the nicest drive in this class. Of course, it isn't the most spacious 7-seater out there; space in the third row is tight, but for occasional use it does the job.If you plan to use all three rows regularly, you could even opt for the Tata Safari. It is more spacious than the Mahindra, and its road presence is great too.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Hyundai Creta

Tata Safari