I own a 2016 Hyundai Creta diesel and a 2025 Carens Clavis diesel. It is now time to replace the Creta. Please suggest a good 5-seater, excluding Hyundai and Kia. I want a petrol automatic with all the latest features. My budget is ₹15 lakhs.

Autocar India

•1d

If you're an enthusiast and a keen driver, your best bet is the Hyundai i20. It is a much larger hatchback than your Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, which should be comfortable for your family of five, and in your budget, you should get the fully loaded N8 variant too.It is available with a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT auto gearbox, and both are a good mix of fun and ease of use. However, it has to be said that the i20 is now starting to show its age, and fun as it is to drive, you may want to look at a more modern offering.If so, check out the Skoda Kylaq, which is even more spacious and practical, but also comes with a punchy and enthusiastic 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It's got great dynamics and a smooth 6-speed automatic gearbox, if you want it. However, do note that it is more expensive, and you will have to settle for a mid-spec variant in your budget.

Skoda Kylaq

Hyundai i20

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

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Autocar India

•2d

For a budget of Rs 14 lakh, it is admittedly difficult to find a mid-size SUV automatic that offers genuinely strong performance. The 1.5 petrol in the Kia Seltos HTE is smooth and refined, but it isn’t particularly punchy, which explains why it felt underpowered on your test drive.If you are primarily driving yourself and rear seat space isn’t a top priority, it would make sense to look at the compact SUV segment instead. This is where you’ll find turbo-petrol engines that feel noticeably more energetic.Since you liked the Seltos’ fit, finish and feature list, the Kia Sonet HTX is worth considering. It comes with the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol (118hp), which feels much more responsive in everyday driving. The Hyundai Venue (particularly the higher variants with the same 1.0 turbo engine) offers similar performance with a slightly different interior feel and feature mix.Another very strong option is the Mahindra XUV 3XO. Its 1.2 TGDi engine (up to 131hp) is the most powerful in this class, and it combines strong performance with a spacious cabin and generous features for the money.In short, if power is high on your priority list, moving to a turbo-petrol compact SUV will give you a much more satisfying driving experience within your budget.

Kia New Seltos

Kia Sonet

Hyundai Venue

Mahindra XUV 3XO

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Autocar India

•23m

Considering that a big chunk of your driving is in Bangalore city, we would recommend sticking with the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA Petrol IVT. The 115hp engine is strong enough for your occasional highway journeys, helped by the IVT gearbox, which is designed to get the most out of the engine. Moreover, the smoother IVT gearbox is much better suited to low-speed driving than the DCT.Potential heating issues aside, the DCT can feel clunky as it engages and disengages in stop-and-go traffic, and this also serves to exacerbate the 1.5 T-GDi's turbo lag at low speeds. The chain-driven CVT (IVT) is both durable and smoother than most belt-driven CVTs you find in a lot of other vehicles, and overall, the Seltos IVT is the one to go for in primarily urban driving conditions.

Kia Seltos

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