Hi, I am looking to upgrade to a mid-size SUV from my 8-year-old Baleno. The car is mostly driven by a driver within the city of Kolkata. It will run about 30 km a day, and I would prefer good fuel efficiency. My budget is around ₹15 to 18 lakh. Please help me choose my next car.

Autocar India

•6w

Since you have a low daily running, a petrol SUV would be a good choice for you. The Kia Seltos in its HTK (O) guise, featuring a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a CVT gearbox, would be ideal for your intra-city runs. The Seltos is one of the more modern SUVs in the segment and has a fantastic interior with high-quality build and features.

You could also wait for the new Renault Duster, as it also has a promising powertrain, and while the interior space or premiumness is not as high as the Seltos, it has a lot of character when it comes to design. That said, as of now, we would recommend the Kia Seltos as it is a very well-sorted SUV that gets the basics right and even in its mid-spec guise, feels modern and worth the money. It has a good ride, the rear seat is comfy, and it is light and convenient to drive in the city.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.46 Lakh

Renault

Duster

from ₹11.90 Lakh

Rakesh

•5w

Hi, i m from kerala i am looking to buy petrol compact suv on road price below 12 Lac. I m confused whether i should go for 1 ltr Turbo manual fonz delta plus or Hyundai venue Turbo 1 ltr hx2/hx5 or kia seltos htk varients. Automatic or manual whichever is ok. But my budget is tight upto 12 lac only I drive mostly in city plus weekends on Highway so a mix of both. Focusing on avg mileage which shouldn't go below 12km in any case. Which is the best choice for me?

Panuel Barik

•5w

I am 6ft 2in tall. I have 3 option of mid- size suv creta, seltos and elevate. Suggest me better option in terms of better comfort and ride quality or you can suggest me other cars in thelis segment.

Senthil

•5w

I am planning to purchase a car within a budget of ₹10-12 lakh (on-road) and would sincerely appreciate your expert recommendation. I am a soldier and require a dependable car mainly for family use (5 members including an elderly parent and children). My key requirements are: • Comfortable ride quality, especially on rough village roads • High reliability and low maintenance cost • Good safety features for family protection • Easy driving in city conditions with occasional long trips • Decent fuel efficiency • Spacious and comfortable cabin for family travel Kindly suggest the most suitable car options and variants that meet these needs, along with brief pros and cons. Thank you for your guidance.

Rantu Mahanta

•5w

You can consider the Maruti Breda it is a comfortable crossover suv with decent space for 5 people and relatively low maintenance costs

Adarsh

•5w

You can go for the Tata Nexon Creative Petrol. At ~₹11.8 lakh on-road, it delivers unmatched 5-star safety and rough-road capability for your soldier-family needs on village paths. The one thing you will not get is Hyundai's comfort cabin as Nexon feels slightly coarser on highways. If service centers are a priority over safety, consider Hyundai Venue S(O) Petrol instead. Do test drive the Nexon; specifically check rear AC vents cooling for elderly comfort on hot village trips.

More questions on similar cars

•3d

Hi, I currently own a 2013 Chevrolet Beat LT petrol and am planning to upgrade to an automatic car with a budget of under ₹25 lakh. My usage will be around 90% city driving and 10% highway driving, with a monthly running of approximately 1,000-1,200 km. I am confused between choosing a top-end 5-seater SUV or a mid-variant 7-seater SUV. I have been considering options like the Skoda Kushaq facelift, the new Renault Duster, and the Kia Seltos. On the 7-seater side, I am looking at the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. Which option would be the most suitable for my needs?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos GTX IVT petrol - with your 90 percent city use and under Rs 25 lakh budget, it will feel the smoothest and most hassle-free upgrade from your Beat.In daily traffic, the IVT automatic keeps the drive very smooth and calm. The Seltos is easy to steer and park, sits higher than your Beat, so you see the road well, and it has enough power for gaps in traffic without feeling jerky. It is still a handy size for the city, but you will feel a big jump in space, seat comfort and cabin quality. Kia’s service network is wide in most cities, so ownership should be simple.One thing to be aware of: the IVT is made for smoothness, not sudden bursts of speed. If you plan frequent fast highway runs, the turbo DCT feels quicker, but that dual-clutch can feel a bit nervous in heavy stop-and-go traffic.If you really need seven seats often, look at the Mahindra XUV 7XO AX5 diesel automatic. It is roomy and comfy on highways, but it is larger to park, and a diesel with short city trips may need occasional longer runs to keep the DPF clean. On your test drive, crawl in heavy traffic and try a tight parking space that will tell you how easy the car will feel every day. Overall, the Seltos IVT fits your use best and should keep city life stress-free.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Gautam

•2d

I am looking to buy a proper 5-seater SUV that offers a premium feel similar to the Mahindra XUV 7XO. My key requirements are excellent ride quality, strong reliability, and good fuel efficiency.

Autocar India

•1h

Go for the Kia Seltos, it matches very well with your requirements. With the new Seltos, Kia has tweaked the suspension setup, and you now have a ride quality that is comfort-oriented without sacrificing handling balance. Bumps are absorbed well without harshness, yet body control remains tidy. High-speed stability is also good, and the car feels composed on uneven surfaces. Kia is also known for delivering cars that are reliable, and the dealer network is widespread and delivers good service. As for mileage, the Seltos has a wide powertrain choice with a 115hp 1.5 naturally aspirated (NA) petrol, a 160hp 1.5 TGDi petrol, and a 115hp 1.5 diesel. So you can choose one ideal for your usage, since mileage is your priority, we would recommend you pick between the NA petrol or the diesel, the latter though only if your overall running is high, and once about every two to three weeks, you have a long drive of about 30 mins at speeds above 50kph. This keeps the diesel particulate filter in good health.

Kia Seltos

Atharva

•3d

I currently own a 2019 Kia Seltos HTX petrol IVT and have driven around 69,000 km, with approximately 70% of my usage on highways. I am now considering an upgrade and am confused between the Tata Safari Petrol Accomplished X+ and the Kia Carens Clavis GTX+ Could you please suggest which of these would be the better choice in terms of ride comfort, safety, space, and high-speed stability on highways for long journeys?

Autocar India

•3h

Pick the Tata Safari Accomplished+ petrol automatic for your highway‑heavy use, it gives a more comfortable ride, better stability and the strongest sense of safety. Coming from your Kia Seltos, the Safari will feel like a step up for long trips. The suspension smooths out bad patches better, the body feels more solid, and the wider seats with a relaxed driving position make hours behind the wheel easier. It also has a 5‑star crash test rating, and the petrol engine has plenty of grunt for quick overtakes on the highway.One thing to note: the third row in the Safari is fine for kids or short adults, but the Kia’s third row is easier to access and a bit more usable for grown‑ups. Also, the Safari is a large, heavy car, so parking in tight spots needs more care. If these are deal breakers, then consider the Kia Carens Clavis instead.During the test drive, cruise at 90‑100 kph on the highway and take on some broken patches.

Tata Safari

Kia Seltos

Kia Carens Clavis

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