Delhi

•2d

I am currently driving a 10-year-old Hyundai i20 and am planning to upgrade to an SUV. My annual running is relatively low, at around 8,000 to 10,000 km, with approximately 70% city driving and 30% highway driving. My top priority is safety, followed by fuel efficiency. My budget is around Rs 22 lakh on-road, and I am not considering an EV. Given these requirements, which SUVs would you recommend as the best options?

•3m

With your running of 8,000-10,000 km a year and a 70% city usage, petrol is the right choice. Your budget of Rs 22 lakh on-road puts you in the midsize SUV segment, where safety and fuel efficiency can both be prioritised.

The Kia Seltos is the most balanced recommendation here. It is one of the safest cars in the segment, with a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, and the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is efficient and well-suited to city driving. The IVT automatic is smooth and reliable, making it easy to live with in traffic. The Seltos also offers a premium cabin and a strong ownership experience.

The Hyundai Creta is the alternative. It shares the same engine and gearbox, so the driving experience is very similar but the Seltos feels slightly more premium inside. The choice between the two comes down to personal preference on design and interior feel.

If you are willing to stretch your budget slightly, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris Hybrid is worth considering. The hybrid system delivers excellent fuel efficiency, especially in city driving, and the car is well-equipped and comfortable. However, the Seltos and Creta remain the more balanced choices given your priorities.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.76 Lakh

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.18 Lakh

More posts on similar cars

•1d

Hi, I am an automotive enthusiast and go for track drive as well. Can you help me out with a suitable car under Rs. 15-17 lakh as I own Ritz diesel that has completed 2.3 lakh km in 10 years without any engine repair or changing timing chain with regular use of full synthetic oil. I do both city and highway driving regularly as my daily run would be 70 km and I do out station travel for work as I stay in Hyderabad and go for trip around Hyderabad to Bengaluru Chennai Pune and Mumbai. I have 3 elders who rarely travel outstation but they sometimes travel within city. My wife and children travel often with me especially for official and personal usage, suggest me a car with good driving dynamics that offers stability abd comfort. Can a 1 liter Skoda vehicle manage driving load or is 1.5 liter better. I don't have an opinion on Kia or Hyundai and I want to know if these brands are reliable and safe. Suggest me a suitable car.

•20h

Given your daily usage of 70km, and frequent highway trips, a diesel car will be a more economical choice. And in that price bracket, consider a higher-spec Mahindra XUV 3XO which has an excellent 1.5 Diesel engine that's punchy and refined, and its ride comfort and high speed stability easily matches cars from higher segments.If you insist on a petrol offering that'll appeal to an enthusiast like you, consider a Renault Duster or Nissan Tekton 1.3 Turbo, which are excellent to drive. The only real downside is that their turbo engine isn't efficient. A Slavia or Kushaq are great to drive too, and while their 1.0 TSI feels perfectly fine in the city, on the open road you'll certainly yearn for stronger performance and more effortless power delivery, something which is available with their 1.5 versions; unfortunately, these won't fit into your Rs 15-17 lakh on-road budget.The Hyundai Verna and Creta 1.5 Turbo variants are pricey, while a Kia Seltos with a 1.5 turbo petrol variant in your budget will be with an iMT (clutch-pedal-free manual transmission). It is a well-rounded car, and even though it drives well, it doesn't feel as engaging or as fun-to-drive as a Duster, Tekton or the Skoda offerings. Even the Kia's 1.5 diesel engine lacks outright punch and isn't likely to suit your driving style. Hence we'll suggest you to either consider the Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel, or look at the Renault Duster or Nissan Tekton 1.3 turbo instead.

I am currently driving Fronx and now I want to upgrade to diesel car for 2 people under a budget of 25 lakh to 30 lakh for my current running of 3000 km which includes 80% running on highways.

•1d

With 3,000 km a month and 80 percent highway driving, a diesel SUV is the right choice. The Mahindra XUV 7XO diesel is the best fit here. It is an excellent highway car with a powerful diesel engine, good ride comfort and a stable, planted feel at speed. It is also well equipped and offers a genuinely premium experience for the money. The Kia Seltos diesel is the alternative if you want something slightly more compact and easier to live especially since you might not need that extra space the XUV offers. The Seltos diesel is very effient and refined, but as far as outright performance goes, the XUV's larger 2.2-litre diesel gives it an edge.

Mahindra XUV 7XO

Kia Seltos

•2d

Hi, I am planning to buy a car that can comfortably fit 5 people (2 people are 6 feet tall and 3 people are healthy). I mostly ride in the city (Mumbai and Goa) and occasionally I drive between the 2 cities. So, it is an average of 300-400km per month. I am happy to buy Dzire as well but I have heard that five people cannot fit in it. Can you please help me with a 5-star safety rated car that offer decent mileage with less maintenance. Considering the bad roads, I need a car with good clearance. It can be a compact SUV or SUV.

•1d

The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is a good sedan, but the rear seat is not wide enough to comfortably accommodate three adults, especially when occupants are on the healthier side. Instead, you can consider the Maruti Suzuki Brezza 1.0 Turbo. Due to its boxy cabin, it feels airier than the Dzire, and its turbo-petrol engine will feel effortless on your highway drives between Mumbai and Goa. Its high ground clearance will give you more confidence over bad roads. If you want a more spacious 5-seater, that's reliable, efficient and 5-star rated within a budget of Rs 20 lakh, consider the Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol-manual. It is more expensive than the Brezza, but its cabin feels richer and more spacious, making it worth the stretch.

Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Kia Seltos

View all Posts

Has E20 fuel affected your mileage?

Cars you may like

Hyundai Creta

₹10.91 - ₹20.14 Lakhs

Hyundai Alcazar

₹14.51 - ₹21.81 Lakhs

Hyundai Creta Electric

₹18.03 - ₹23.82 Lakhs

Hyundai Venue

₹8.00 - ₹15.65 Lakhs

Hyundai Compact EV

₹9.79 - ₹12.99 Lakhs

View all

Is ADAS worth paying extra for in a car?

Popular discussions right now

•2d

Dear Autocar Team, I currently own a Dzire diesel manual (2018) and now I am planning to buy a new car but I am very confused between Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kwh and the XEV 9S Pack Two Above 79kwh. Although, I love diesel cars but since I live in Faridabad, my biggest concern is about increasing bans and restrictions on diesel cars. My main usage is on highways and bit within the city. I have clocked 1.3 lakh km on my Dzire in 8-9 years. I am getting the exact Harrier EV model for Rs. 22 lakh (on-road) whereas the XEV 9S will cost around Rs. 27-28 lakh (on-road) and that is my biggest confusion. Should I spend this additional amount on the XEV 9S for Harrier ev because I don't want any hassles as an since I plan to keep the car for the next several years.

•1d

Since your choice is between these two exact models, go for the Tata Harrier EV Fearless Plus 75kWh at Rs 22 lakh on-road. It is a much better value proposition given the Rs. 5-6 lakh savings over the Mahindra XEV 9S. The Harrier EV is a solidly-built, hardy SUV that's comfy for 5 adults and their luggage.Sure, the XEV 9S gives you the flexibility of three-rows of seating; a lighter steering with a tighter turning radius; and with a larger battery and a more efficient electric powertrain, real-world range will be better. But since you don't specifically need a three-row SUV, the Harrier EV's lower price makes it the more sensible buy.

Tata Harrier EV

Mahindra XEV 9S

•6d

Please advise which car would be the best choice for long-term ownership: the Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen SUV, or any other suitable option. My priority is reliability, long-term durability, and hassle-free ownership over the next 10 years or more. I would appreciate suggestions based on real-world ownership experience, maintenance costs, spare parts availability, and after-sales support.

•5d

For long-term ownership, the Mahindra Scorpio N is the safest recommendation from your shortlist. It has a proven track record, robust mechanicals and a strong service network, making it a dependable choice for 5-10 years of ownership. The Tata Harrier and Tata Safari have improved significantly, but the Scorpio N still has the edge on long-term reliability and ownership confidence. The Jeep Compass is a good product, but it is now an ageing model and does not offer the same value proposition as the Scorpio N. If you are open to alternatives, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is worth considering. It is a more modern product with a better balance of comfort, features and refinement, and it is a strong long-term ownership proposition as well. The Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq are excellent driver's cars, but they are smaller and do not offer the same level of space or road presence as the Scorpio N or XUV 7XO.

I am planning to buy a hybrid car within 25 lakh for 80-100 km daily running mostly within the city. I am considering the Renault Duster Strong Hybrid, but I am not a big fan of its looks, and the rear seat space is not enough. I just want to know when is the Kia Seltos hybrid, Duster 7-seater and Bigster launching so that I can plan accordingly.

•2d

With your daily city running of 80 to 100km, waiting for the Kia Seltos strong hybrid is worth considering if you can postpone your purchase until 2027. Since the Duster's design and rear seat space don't appeal to you, there's little point spending nearly Rs 20 lakh on a car you're already unsure about.The Seltos hybrid was showcased at the Paris Motor Show in October 2026, and an India launch is expected in 2027. Kia hasn't announced an exact launch date, battery capacity, India specific specifications or pricing yet, so these remain unknown.The seven seater based on the Duster, expected to draw on the Bigster, is anticipated to launch early next year. However, its powertrain line up and hybrid availability haven't been confirmed.

Renault Duster

Renault Bigster

Kia Seltos

View all Posts

Upcoming launch buzz

Community discussions on upcoming launches