Autocar India
DE

Deeps

•1d

I want to upgrade to a new car. Less city usage, maximum long trips. The old car was a Swift Dzire VXi 2010 model. I want a low-maintenance premium car within a 15-17 lakh budget, for long-term usage.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•56m
For your usage, we would recommend the Kia Seltos diesel manual. Since your driving is primarily long distance and you plan to keep the car for the long term, the diesel makes complete sense, and the Seltos is a very easy car to recommend in this budget. It feels like a significant upgrade from your old Dzire in every way, with a far more premium cabin, much better comfort and stronger highway performance.
The new Seltos is also larger than the Hyundai Creta, and offers more cabin space, a bigger boot and overall feels more premium. Kia has also improved the ride quality over the previous generation, so it feels more comfortable and settled on long journeys while still being easy to drive.
The Creta diesel manual remains a strong alternative because it uses the same dependable diesel powertrain, but the current Creta is now the older product and due for a generational replacement in roughly the next year or so.
Kia New Seltos

Kia New Seltos

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Hyundai Creta

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.78 Lakh

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KD

Kalpesh dalia

•3d

Hi, I am planning to buy a diesel automatic SUV and am currently confused between the Tata Nexon Fearless Plus PS, Hyundai Creta, and Kia Seltos. My budget is around ₹17 lakh, and my weekly running is approximately 50 km.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

With just 50 km a week, we would strongly advise against a diesel automatic. Your running is simply too low for a modern diesel to make sense, and repeated low usage can create DPF-related headaches over time.Between your options, the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic or Kia Seltos petrol automatic are the much smarter choices. If we had to pick one, we would lean toward the Seltos IVT because it feels slightly more premium inside, and the IVT automatic is exceptionally smooth in daily use. The Creta IVT is equally good mechanically and rides a touch softer, so if comfort is your absolute top priority, it remains a very strong option too.

VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleKia Seltos
SO

Soumil

•3d

I’m on the hunt for a car with a budget of around ₹20 lakh ex-showroom. I’m open to stretching the budget a bit if I find a truly amazing car or one with cutting-edge tech. Right now, I hold a R-Pass booking for the Duster Hybrid. I took the Duster 1.3L DCT for a spin and absolutely loved the driving feel and the engine. The front cabin was also quite nice. However, my family felt the rear was very cramped and congested. I don’t want people sitting in the rear complaining about my car space. It’s usually just my wife and me travelling; my family rarely joins us for long trips. So, we’re still deciding whether to stick with the hybrid or explore other options because of the cramped space at the rear. Also, if they launch it at ₹ 24-25 L, starting it would be overpriced for the quality it offers. I also test-drove a Seltos Diesel Automatic. Everyone enjoyed it equally. The only thing it didn’t quite have was the performance of the VW or Duster 1.3. But overall, it’s a good, stable car with good comfort and a smooth drive, the best overall. I’m a bit worried about the ethanol blending updates without proper planning by the government, and how it will affect our petrol cars, as the maximum supported blending is E20. Diesel feels safer, especially since staying in Mumbai, I can do weekly or bi-weekly highway trips through the Atal-Setu/Palm Beach Road to get the right amount of highway running to avoid DPF issues. I don’t have a home charger for an EV for at least a year until I shift into our new apartment, so I’m not sure if I should consider them. Also, there aren’t any reliable EVs within my budget except for the Hyundai Creta EV. It’s a nice car, but it feels a bit outdated and isn’t rated as safe as a 5-star vehicle. Staying away from Tata cars. Any suggestions welcome

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Coming to the first part of your question, you mentioned that you loved the driving experience of the Renault Duster 1.3 Turbo DCT, you are planning to skip it because your family wasn't happy with the space at the back. We would strongly advise you to reconsider.Yes, space is tighter than most rivals in this class, and ingress/egress (for rear passengers) is a bit difficult, but if you're rarely going to have passengers at the back, it shouldn't be a deal-breaker for you. If you really enjoyed the drive experience, it is certainly worth going for. The turbo-DCT isn't very fuel efficient, but keep in mind that the hybrid is likely to command a significant premium over it, so unless your usage is over 1500km per month, it is worth opting for the turbo-petrol DCT.The Kia Seltos is an excellent all-rounder, when it comes to space, comfort, interior quality and it is one that checks all the right boxes, however unlike the Duster, it lacks that emotional appeal, so it won't tug at your heartstrings. If you go for it, you won't go wrong with it.Your concern of whether the petrol engine will be capable of handling higher Ethanol blend is valid, so opting for an EV could be an option, but be prepared to pay a premium for an electric powertrain. As far as the Hyundai Creta Electric goes, yes, it does feel a bit old compared to the modern offerings, however it is an excellent car - one that we easily recommend.

VehicleRenault Duster
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
AB

Aakash B

•5d

Hi Autocar Team, I am planning to buy a used SUV in Pune with a budget of up to ₹10 lakh and would really appreciate your suggestions. We are a family of four, and I am the only driver. I am 6’2” and slightly on the heavier side, so cabin space, seat comfort, and good driving ergonomics are very important to me. My usage includes a daily office commute of around 20 km, along with regular weekend trips and frequent drives to Konkan. Because of this, good ground clearance, ride comfort, and highway stability are essential requirements. My priorities are: Safety Comfort Reliability Low maintenance costs Decent fuel efficiency Good boot space Could you please advise on the following: Best used SUVs under ₹10 lakh for my requirements Whether petrol or diesel would suit my usage better Manual vs automatic transmission Ideal model year/age of vehicle to target Which models or engines should be avoided in the used car market Reliable platforms to buy from, such as Spinny, Cars24, CarDekho, etc. Important things to inspect before finalising a used SUV purchase Looking forward to your advice. Thanks!

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

City commute plus frequent Konkan runs, a family of four, and a tall driver - in this brief, a used Hyundai Creta diesel is the best fit under Rs 10 lakh. It rides well over broken roads, stays steady at highway speeds, has a big boot, and the wide seat and upright driving position suit a 6’2” frame well. The diesel is reliable and uses less fuel on long trips.A strong alternative, if you don’t find a clean Creta, is the Renault Duster diesel manual for its comfy seats and torquey engine.On petrol vs diesel: a petrol would be better with just a 20km daily commute, but since you are frequently heading out of town with family in tow, a diesel makes more sense. Manual vs automatic: an automatic eases Pune traffic, and the Creta's smooth torque-converter auto is the reliable pick in this price range.Target 2018-2021 cars with under 70,000km. Buy from reliable sources like Spinny with inspection and return/warranty. Check the full service history, accidental/flood signs, clutch and suspension health, tyre age, underbody rust, A/C, electricals, and do an OBD scan. Ensure the driver's seat adjusts far enough back for you.

VehicleHyundai Creta

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Popular discussions right now

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SS

•1w

My wife and I earn around ₹4.5 lakh per month. We are planning to buy our first car, and we prefer the EMI to be around ₹15,000-₹20,000. What car would you suggest we should buy?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

It really depends on how much down payment you are comfortable putting in, because your EMI target of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 can get you very different cars depending on the loan tenure and upfront payment.That said, for a first car that is easy to drive, safe, comfortable and still feels special, one of the strongest picks today is the Skoda Kylaq Signature automatic. Skoda’s official pricing puts the Signature automatic in a range where, with roughly Rs 2.3 down payment and a 7 year loan, your EMI can sit broadly in your target bracket. The turbo petrol engine feels punchy without being intimidating, the torque converter automatic is smooth and fuss free, and the size is just right for a first time buyer.If you want to spend less and prioritise maximum ease of use, the Hyundai i20 IVT is another excellent first car. It is easier to drive than most SUVs, the IVT automatic is extremely smooth in traffic, and ownership is straightforward. You give up the higher seating position of an SUV, but for urban use, it is arguably an even easier first car.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq
VehicleHyundai i20
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lakkhan

•3d

Is it worth considering buying an Audi in India at the moment over rivals like Mercedes-Benz or BMW? Could you please explain whether there are any risks associated with purchasing an Audi currently?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

From a pure product perspective, Audi’s cars like the A4, Q3 and the Q7 remain genuinely strong. Cabin quality is excellent, refinement is top-notch, quattro-equipped models are hugely capable, and the overall ownership experience can be perfectly satisfying. Where Mercedes and BMW currently have the edge is brand momentum, product freshness and showroom pull. Mercedes has the broadest luxury portfolio, while BMW arguably has the more engaging cars to drive in several segments. Audi, by comparison, has felt quieter in recent years, with fewer headline launches and slightly less buzz.Audi India remains committed, and service support for existing owners is not a concern in the way people sometimes fear.

VehicleAudi A4
VehicleAudi Q5
VehicleAudi Q7
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Amit Gupte

•3d

I want to drive from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar. Which route would you recommend? I can see multiple routes on Google Maps and don't know which one is best.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

The fastest route is the old NH66 route via Karnala. However, if you want a more enjoyable drive with your Audi A4 with prettier scenery and generally better road surfaces, we would suggest taking the Pali Road via Imagica towards Wakan, where you can connect back onto NH66.Also, try to leave before 7 am so you can cross the Mangaon section before around 10 am, because this stretch can get heavily congested later in the morning.

VehicleAudi A4

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Posted on: 23 May 2026