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•42w

Hi team, I really enjoy the Autocar weekly podcast; it’s very entertaining. Wanted to check on my new car purchase. I previously owned an Altroz DCA but sold it as it was ergonomically unsuitable for my height of 6 feet and wider build. I am now looking for a new car in the ₹15 to 20 lakh range, preferably an SUV, with a focus on safety, reliability, and ease of driving for city use and occasional highway runs. My daily city driving is around 70 km. Is there a manual that is light and easy to use, or should I opt for an automatic?

•42w

Thank you for your kind words on the Autocar Deep Drive Podcast!

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the Hyundai Creta IVT or the new Kia Seltos IVT. Their CVT gearbox (IVT as the carmakers' brand them) is very smooth and works really well with the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine. Both models are known for their reliability and are easy to drive. Of the two, the Kia Seltos is newer (prices will be announced on January 2) and has its advantages in a roomier cabin, a more comfortable ride, and a few more features.

Among the manual gearbox options, models from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota have light clutches and easy-to-shift manual gearboxes. Even so, the experience won't be as convenient as a good automatic transmission.

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Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.66 Lakh

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•4d

Hi Autocar team, I am planning to buy the Hyundai Creta automatic but am confused between the petrol and diesel versions. I currently own a Swift diesel and drive around 10,000km a year, with a mix of city and highway use. I usually take 300-600 km trips every one or two months, along with occasional longer drives with family or friends. My city use includes hospital visits, school pickups and drops, shopping and family occasions. I am worried about DPF issues with diesel and petrol mileage. Which should I choose?

•1d

Go for the Hyundai Creta petrol automatic. With around 10,000 km a year and a genuinely mixed usage pattern, petrol is the safer and more sensible choice. Diesel will give you better fuel economy on your longer highway runs, but with your annual running, the savings are unlikely to justify the higher upfront cost and the potential hassle of DPF-related issues, especially given your city usage. Modern diesel cars are far better than they used to be, but short city runs and stop-start traffic can still cause the DPF to clog over time if the car is not regularly driven at sustained speeds.The petrol automatic is smooth, refined and well suited to your city driving, school runs and hospital visits, while still being perfectly capable on your longer highway trips.

Hyundai Creta

•3d

Hi Autocar team, I am confused between the Hyundai Creta EX(O) and the facelifted Honda Elevate V CVT. Which offers better value for money, and which is easier to overtake in?

•1d

Go for the Honda Elevate V CVT. Between the two, the Elevate's NA engine offers a bit more performance and will make overtaking easier. In terms of value, both are great choices, but the Elevate is a bit cheaper to purchase, while the Hyundai Creta offers a few more features in the trims you are looking at. Overall, they are both very evenly matched, but if highway performance is more important to you, then the Elevate is the stronger pick.

Honda Elevate

Hyundai Creta

•1w

I am planning to buy the Hyundai Creta Knight diesel, but is there a high chance of DPF issues, and is it a major concern? My driving is 30% city and 70% highway, but this varies, and I do not drive daily. I live in Bangalore and am upgrading from a Hyundai Aura. My annual usage is around 15,000-18,000 km at most. People say maintaining a diesel car is difficult and that it needs to be driven daily or every other day. Should I go for the diesel or petrol variant?

•2d

Go for the Creta diesel. Your usage pattern is actually well suited to a modern diesel. At 15,000-18,000 km a year with 70% highway driving, the diesel will deliver strong fuel savings over time, and the engine is well suited to long runs. The concern around DPF issues is often overstated. The Creta diesel uses a passive DPF system that regenerates naturally at highway speeds, and your usage pattern already includes the kind of driving that keeps the system healthy. The idea that a diesel needs to be driven daily is a myth; what matters is that the car gets regular runs at steady speeds, which your highway usage already provides. Diesel maintenance is not inherently difficult, but it is slightly more expensive than petrol. The key is to follow the service schedule and use good quality fuel. The petrol turbo is a good engine, but for your running and usage pattern, the diesel makes more sense. The only reason to avoid diesel would be if your usage was predominantly short city runs, which is not the case here. The Creta diesel is a solid upgrade from the Aura and will serve you well on Bangalore highways.

Hyundai Creta

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•1w

I currently own a Jeep Compass and want to get an additional car for my father, with good reliability, unlike the Jeep. My father still drives a 2008 Honda City, and I am torn between a few choices: the Honda City, Skoda Slavia, Nissan Tekton and Toyota Hyryder. Or should I wait for the Virtus facelift or the new-generation Creta? His usage is low, at almost 500 km per month. Please suggest.

•4d

With just 500km a month, petrol is the clear choice, and reliability and ease of ownership become the most important factors. The Honda City is the safest recommendation here. It is a proven product with a strong reliability record, a comfortable ride and a familiar ownership experience that your father will appreciate, especially coming from a 2008 City. The Skoda Slavia and Volkswagen Virtus are both excellent to drive, but the 1.0 TSI engine can feel a bit laggy at low speeds, and the 1.5 TSI is overkill for this kind of usage. The Nissan Tekton is a good value proposition, but engines are not responsive at low speeds and Nissan's service network is not as strong as Honda's, which matters more for a low-running, long-term ownership scenario. The Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder is a solid option if you specifically want an SUV, but the hybrid premium does not make financial sense at this running, and the naturally aspirated petrol is not as refined as the City's engine. The new-generation Hyundai Creta is worth waiting for only if your father specifically wants an SUV; otherwise, the City remains the more sensible choice. Overall, the Honda City is the most reliable, comfortable and hassle-free option for your father's usage.

Honda City

Skoda Slavia

Volkswagen Virtus

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Nissan Tekton

•1w

I’ve almost finalised the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, and I really like the car. However, I’m a little worried about Skoda’s long-term service and maintenance costs, especially after the warranty period. I’m planning to keep the car for around 7–8 years. Would you recommend taking the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) along with the car? Is it worth the additional cost considering regular servicing and potential maintenance expenses? Also, compared with the Brezza and Nexon, how is the Kylaq Signature Automatic in terms of long-term reliability, service costs and parts replacement? Would really appreciate your advice before I make the final purchase decision.

•4d

If you like the Skoda Kylaq Signature Automatic, go ahead and buy it. It is a genuinely good car and one of the best driver’s cars in the segment. The 1.0 TSI engine paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic is a proven combination, and Skoda’s reliability has improved significantly in recent years. The bigger concern is not reliability but long-term maintenance costs, which can be higher than Maruti or Tata once the car is out of warranty.This is where the Service Maintenance Package (SMP) makes sense. It locks in your service costs for the first 4-5 years, covers all scheduled maintenance and gives you peace of mind during the most expensive ownership period. If you are planning to keep the car for 7-8 years, it is worth the additional cost because it protects you from unexpected bills and helps you budget ownership costs more accurately.Compared to the Brezza and Nexon, the Kylaq is the better driver’s car with a more engaging driving experience and a stronger engine. The Brezza is the benchmark for long-term reliability and low maintenance costs, while the Nexon sits somewhere in between. The Kylaq is not unreliable, but parts and service can be more expensive once you are out of warranty.If you are buying the Kylaq, take the SMP and enjoy the car. If long-term ownership costs are your absolute priority, the Brezza is the safer financial choice.

Hi, I am planning to buy a new car and am confused between the Kia Seltos HTX (A) DCT and the Tata Safari Adventure Plus. I liked the interior quality of the Seltos, while the Safari’s road presence is impressive. My annual running is around 15,000km, including both city driving and highway trips. Could you please guide me on which car would be the better choice for my needs?

•5d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX(A) DCT. At 15,000 km a year with a mix of city and highway driving, the Seltos is the more sensible choice. This Kia car is easier to drive in the city, more efficient and still comfortable on long trips. The DCT gearbox is quick but a bit jerky in traffic, but the car feels premium inside, which you already like. The Tata Safari has great road presence and more space, but this Tata car is a much bigger car to live with every day and does not feel as well-finished inside. The Seltos is the better all-rounder for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Tata Safari

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