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Saransh

5d

I am planning to buy a new SUV at around ₹17 lakh on-road price and have shortlisted the Honda Elevate ZX, Kia Seltos HTK and new Kushaq Prestige. I primarily need a car for 80% driving in the city and around 1000-1200 km per month. Which is better in terms of engine and mileage? Is the Honda Elevate outdated compared to other cars in the segment?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d
The Honda Elevate is a good option for your needs. The 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the CVT automatic gearbox is well-suited to city driving. The car is spacious and comfortable, and the ZX variant is well-equipped too. However, in comparison to the Seltos, it does not have the space or the modernity, and the cabin does not feel as plush.
The Kia Seltos HTK with the CVT gearbox is the best option considering all your needs. It is a lot better-equipped than the Honda, has a better ride quality, and the engine has a lot more punch and strong performance while still being easy to drive in the city. The smoothness, refinement and ease of use are why the Seltos will be our recommendation.
The Skoda Kushaq is a good option, too. The 1.0-litre TSI engine is quite efficient, but it is not as smooth as the 1.5-litre engines of the Honda and Kia. The facelift that was recently revealed will be launched in a few days, but it hasn't changed much in the rear seat space, where it is still not as spacious as the Seltos. So we would advise you to shortlist the Seltos.
Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos

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ADRvlogs

1d

1. Kia Seltos 2. Honda Elevate 3. Kushaq Since your drive is 80% in the city, Else would have put Kushaq 1.5 DSG in top slots ( if you carry not more than 3 adults beside you )

PN

Praveen N K

11h

1. Kia Seltos 2. New Skoda Kushaq 3. Honda Elevate. The above does not take anything away from the Kushaq & Elevate. It is just an all round holistic score.

CH

Chandan

30m

Hello I am looking to buy a car under 20 lakhs, my options are seltos, kushaq and harrier. Can u suggest which would be better if I'm going for automatic and roughly 1000km drive that too mostly in city.

Latest questions people are discussing

PO

pooja

3d

I am planning to buy a new petrol car with a manual gearbox. My budget is around ₹13 lakh. My usage will be 70% city and 30% highway. Could you please suggest SUV options within this budget?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

With a daily running of around 50 to 60 km, a diesel automatic makes good sense as your monthly usage will easily justify the better fuel efficiency and relaxed nature of a diesel engine.Between the two options, the Kia Seltos diesel automatic is the better choice overall. The diesel engine is refined, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic is smooth and well-suited for normal city traffic as well as highway drives.The Tata Sierra is also a strong Midsize SUV with more cabin space. But its diesel engine is noticeably noisier and less refined than the Hyundai-Kia diesel. It is also over a lakh more expensive in comparable automatic variants.For your usage and preference for an automatic, the Seltos diesel automatic is the more balanced and sensible option thanks to its refinement, smooth gearbox and lower price.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Sierra
SU

Subash

4d

I am confused about whether to buy the petrol or diesel variant of the Kia Seltos. I always prefer to drive a manual transmission and am not interested in an automatic at all. I was owning a Kia Carens 1.5 Petrol MT previously and am now looking for a new SUV. Suggest which one to take, either petrol or diesel in the Seltos MT. Also considering the Skoda Kushaq, but afraid of the high maintenance cost in Skoda.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

Since you have not mentioned your monthly running, the choice between petrol and diesel mainly depends on how much you drive and the kind of driving you do. As a general rule, if your running is more than about 1,300 to 1,400 km per month, then the diesel version of the Kia Seltos can make sense. You should also have regular highway drives so that the diesel engine can operate properly and avoid potential DPF related issues.If your running is lower than that or largely city-focused, the petrol Seltos will suit you very well. Since you prefer a proper manual gearbox, you should know that the turbo petrol engine is only available with the clutchless iMT. The conventional manual gearbox comes with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.While it is not as punchy as the turbo petrol, it is smooth and perfectly adequate for everyday driving, especially in the city. In fact, you are already familiar with this engine because your Kia Carens uses the same powertrain and transmission combination.Regarding the Skoda Kushaq, the brand has improved a lot over the past few years, and the earlier reliability concerns are largely sorted. However, since you already own a Kia car and are satisfied with the ownership experience, sticking with the Seltos would be the safer and more comfortable choice for you.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleKia Carens
VehicleSkoda Kushaq
VA

Vaibhav

5d

Hello Sir, I am looking to purchase an SUV within a budget of ₹15 lakh (on-road). Initially, the Tata Sierra was one of my preferred options, but after watching your video, I became a bit uncertain about it. Since then, I have also started considering the base petrol variant of the Harrier. I do not drive a car on a daily basis. My average monthly travel is around 400 km, and my annual usage is approximately 6,000-7,000 km. My driving is usually less in the city and more on highways. I frequently travel through the ghat sections of Pune and the Konkan region with five passengers and a significant amount of luggage. Therefore, I am looking for a car that is safe, fuel-efficient, and has relatively low maintenance costs. I would really appreciate your suggestion on which option would be the best choice for my requirements. Thank you.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

The Tata Harrier Smart turbo-petrol MT (base) should be close to your Rs 15 lakh budget (on-road). It is a spacious 5-seater with a large boot, and its turbo-petrol has ample performance to effortlessly drive through the ghat sections with a full-load of passengers and luggage. Do keep in mind that the Harrier is a heavy car, and turbo-petrol engines are very sensitive to your driving style, so we'd advise you to keep your fuel efficiency expectations low.Alternatively, you can consider the Kia Seltos HTE(O) Turbo-petrol iMT. It is spacious, and performance is adequate, too. And being lighter, fuel efficiency is likely to be a bit better.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleTata Harrier

Posted on: 13 Mar 2026