Delhi

•4h

While there’s a lot of talk about the new Renault Duster strong hybrid, which cars in the segment above it offer a similar or better driving experience, ride and handling? I drive about 50 km a day in smooth traffic, and good fuel efficiency is also on my list. I’m open to an EV, a hybrid or a diesel. My budget is between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, and I’ll be exchanging my Hyundai Creta diesel manual.

•3m

Considering your budget, we would suggest looking at the Kia Sorento and waiting for the upcoming JSW Combat (based on the Jetour T2). The Sorento is already an excellent option, offered with both a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol strong hybrid and a 2.2-litre diesel. Both powertrains offer strong performance, and the Sorento has a modern, premium cabin, a comfortable ride and a more substantial feel than the Duster. The hybrid should appeal if fuel efficiency is a priority, while the diesel is better suited to those who enjoy strong torque and regular highway driving.

The JSW Combat is also worth waiting for. Based on the Jetour T2, it will come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and promises strong performance, modern technology and a rugged SUV character. It is expected to be revealed on December 4, 2026, although pricing and the final India-spec configuration will be important. Do keep in mind that JSW is a new entrant, so its service network and long-term ownership experience are yet to be established.

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Kia

Sorento

from ₹33.31 Lakh

JSW Motors

Combat

from ₹44.28 Lakh

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•1d

Current car: 2020 Kia Seltos HTX Budget: Rs 35 lakh, but I can stretch it, as I plan to keep the car for more than 13 years. Usage: About 80 percent city driving, and around 5,000 km a year for the first five years. I want a large family SUV that feels special, offers strong value and can be owned confidently for 12-15 years without becoming a maintenance headache. I’ll be driving it myself, not a chauffeur. Ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera are must-haves. I don’t want a diesel because of Delhi’s 10-year rule, and the idea of an expensive EV still worries me. So I’m looking at a petrol or a petrol-based strong hybrid, in the hope that E30 fuel never arrives. I’m also avoiding German brands, because of their high purchase price and very high maintenance costs. Cars I like that are currently on sale: Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L: the value king, but almost everyone has one, so it may not feel special. Kia Sorento HTK+ Black Line: a next-generation global model may launch next year, which could make it look dated within a year. Toyota Innova Hycross: its taxi image is a drawback. Upcoming models I might like: I’ll be watching the global launch of the new Toyota Fortuner this December, and I could stretch to Rs 45-50 lakh for it if you strongly recommend it. When will the Hyundai Santa Fe launch? Also, I’ve had an extremely good experience with my Honda Jazz. Is Honda launching any model that matches my requirements?

•1d

The Kia Sorento strong-hybrid will be an ideal upgrade from your outgoing Seltos. It is larger in size, feels noticeably more premium, and it also gets a third row of seats, giving you that added flexibility of a seven-seater. The strong hybrid performs well, and the Sorento feels confident to drive from behind the wheel.Like you rightly mentioned, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is great value for money, but the petrol-automatic won't be very efficient, so that is something you might want to take into consideration.You could consider the JSW Combat (plug-in hybrid) for its strong road presence, expansive feature list and powerful powertrain. If you want your car to stand out and feel special, this is certainly worth considering before finalising. It is scheduled to be launched in December this year.Lastly, Honda has the ZR-V, which is a strong hybrid SUV. While it drives well, it feels simply too expensive for what it offers.

Hi, I currently own a VW Vento petrol and am planning to buy a big SUV preferably Tucson or Tiguan. Unfortunately, both are unavailable and there is a dirth of cars in this segment. Hence, I am looking at 7-seater cars like VW Tayron, Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento. I am inclined towards Tayron but my brain is into Sorento. My usage is daily city drive and involves 3 to 5 long trips. I am quite unsure and confused with the future of petrol in india and also the longterm ownership of a hybrid. Look forward to your suggestion and take on this. Thanks.

•1d

The VW Tayron and the Skoda Kodiaq would both be more fun to drive. However, the Kia Sorento would be the more sensible buy with a well specced car at an attractive price. It would come down to what you want more from your new car. As for the future of petrol and hybrids, both are safe buys and should give you years of trouble free running. The hybrid system in the Kia is a proven unit too. The fuel issue if any is with diesel cars in Delhi where those cars older than 10 years are legally considered end-of-life vehicles.

Hello, Would the Kia Sorento work with the Hyundai Tucson’s 1999cc naturally aspirated petrol engine (156 PS and 192 Nm)? And why didn’t Kia offer a naturally aspirated petrol engine, which would have brought the price down further?

•1d

The Hyundai Tucson's 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is smooth and refined, but its performance is fairly modest for a car in this price bracket. At 156hp and 192Nm, it isn't particularly strong, and fuel efficiency isn't its biggest strength either. While using this engine in the Kia Sorento would certainly have brought down the starting price, the Sorento is even larger and heavier than the Tucson, so performance and efficiency would have taken an additional hit. Buyers spending that kind of money would expect stronger performance. This is why the diesel and strong hybrid powertrains make more sense for the Sorento, offering a better combination of performance, efficiency and suitability for a large SUV.

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)

•5d

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.

Dear Autocar India team, I am planning to purchase my first family car with a budget of Rs 11 lakh and have already booked the Kia Sonet HTK+ variant. However, concerns raised on social media about the performance of its 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine have made me reconsider my decision. Since our monthly usage is relatively low and the car will primarily be used for occasional trips, would the Sonet HTK+ be a suitable choice for our requirements, or should I consider another model or an alternative powertrain within the Sonet range? I would appreciate your professional guidance in making the right decision. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

•5d

If your usage is primarily in the city, the 1.2-litre Kia Sonet will serve you just fine. It has a smooth, refined engine paired with a light clutch and gearbox, which makes it easy to drive in city traffic. Where it falls short is on the highway, where it may need a downshift to make an overtake.If you frequently travel on the highway with three or more passengers, you would be better off looking at a turbo-petrol version of the Sonet. Alternatively, consider something like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza or Hyundai Venue with a turbo-petrol engine. However, the trade-off for better performance from a turbo-petrol engine is lower fuel efficiency in the city.If you only plan on using the Sonet around town, stick with the naturally aspirated engine. But if highway performance is important, the turbo-petrol is a worthwhile upgrade.

We’re a family of four, a couple with two kids aged one and three, and we’re upgrading from a 2013 Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. My daily office commute is a 20 km round trip in the NCR, usually with only me in the car. On weekends, the whole family drives about 100 km within the NCR. Three times a year, we take long trips of up to around 1,000 km round trip to Punjab or Himachal Pradesh. We intend to keep the car for about eight to ten years. We’re considering the Maruti Suzuki Brezza ZXi+ AT, Victoris VXi AT and XL6 Zeta AT. Which one would you suggest?

•6d

From your shortlist, we would go with the Maruti Brezza. The space on offer inside is quite generous, and given your family size, you do not really need a larger car. Moreover, since you drive daily within the city, the compact dimensions of the Brezza would be easier to manage in traffic and also in terms of finding parking. As for your yearly extended trips, the Brezza would also do just fine, though if you carry a lot of luggage, the Xl6 would be ideal. That aside the Brezza would more than suffice for you needs.

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